The decision to end restrictions is dangerous and premature, unethical and illogical.

But what if 80% of the adult population never gets vaccinated Bossyrosy, do we never relax the regulations?

GrannyGravy13

Bossyrossy

We should not be relaxing Covid regulations until 80% of the adult population has been vaccinated. This would be a huge incentive for those who are reluctant to get the jab to have it done.

I suggest you inform Professors Whitty and Valance as at the press conference just now they explained clearly the reasoning behind opening up on 19/07 .

They all looked quite uncomfortable to me and everything they said seemed to contradict the scientific evidence. I’m appalled that Whitty is backing the PM in his opening up strategy.

I’m also sick of hearing the myth that Sweden’s approach to the pandemic has been a successful one.

"As of April 16, 2021, more than 13 700 people have died from COVID-19 in Sweden. The country has one of the highest infection rates in western Europe"

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00885-0/fulltext

Alegrias1

When a scientist makes a claim or pronouncement about something scientific, other scientists will ask, What are their credentials? Are they qualified to comment on this topic from a position of knowledge?

When it is said that 122 scientists have signed this letter, or that science shouldn’t be political, another scientist will ask, well who are the 122? How can anyone think science isn’t political?

Scientists will wonder how a group of unaccountable scientists manage to get their views so widely disseminated around social media. They’ll wonder why they think they should be undermining the advice and decisions of their colleagues on accountable bodies. They’ll particularly wonder why one of their members is on SAGE but feels the need to be on Independent SAGE as well and cast doubt on the position held by SAGE.

If anyone has the time to read everything I’ve posted about this, you’ll see that I’ve never disagreed with what they say about keeping some restrictions. I didn’t say anybody wasn’t a real scientist either. I don’t expect anybody to trawl though and read my posts, so you’ll just have to take that on trust. But I’m reserving the right to ask what their motivation is and whether the opinion of a mathematician who works on gravity waves (i.e. one of the 122) is really valid in a scientific sense, at this time. If it is, then the opinion of a physicist who worked on solar cells is also valid. (Guess who that is?)

I agree.

We need to get the economy back! We have the vaccine so I want my freedom, and medics are concentrating so much on Covid they are neglecting other medical procedures and operations. People are being diagnosed with cancer when it is too late to treat them. I had my cataract op cancelled 3 times. We have the vaccine. Let's get back to normal.

MayBee70 where have I posted that the Swedish approach was successful please?

I asked Maremia if the world was also looking on in disbelief at Sweden after she claimed the world was looking on at disbelief at the UK.

growstuff yes I know Sweden’s figures, please see my response to MayBee70

They can’t do operations if the hospitals are full of covid patients or if staff are off sick with it. Ignoring covid won’t make everything better.

I dont know what that means in terms of the economy. Two of the businesses in my village, 1 restaurant and 1 pub are closed due to staff testing positive. Do you think that will stop happening because of freedom day.

songstress60

We need to get the economy back! We have the vaccine so I want my freedom, and medics are concentrating so much on Covid they are neglecting other medical procedures and operations. People are being diagnosed with cancer when it is too late to treat them. I had my cataract op cancelled 3 times. We have the vaccine. Let's get back to normal.

I don't follow your logic.

So what do you think medics should do about the inevitable rise in cases from the lifting of restrictions?

There will be more Covid cases, so even fewer beds for non-Covid patients and it's going to take even longer to get through the back log.

Galaxy

I dont know what that means in terms of the economy. Two of the businesses in my village, 1 restaurant and 1 pub are closed due to staff testing positive. Do you think that will stop happening because of freedom day.

Don't be silly! Somebody's going to have a word with one of the virus molecules and just tell it that the game's over.

Galaxy

I dont know what that means in terms of the economy. Two of the businesses in my village, 1 restaurant and 1 pub are closed due to staff testing positive. Do you think that will stop happening because of freedom day.

Yes.

Just like covid took a holiday for Christmas.

Mr.Starmer pronounced that the Euros should not go ahead with capacity crowds, he is then pictured at the Wembley final last night, unmasked.

Tonight he is advocating against further loosening of Covid regulations, total hypocrisy. Stinks of keeping the little people down

I’m currently on holiday in the North East and the local television has just stated that the rates of covid are higher than at any point in the pandemic.

The mitigation measures should remain and they should wait until the maximum adults have been double vaccinated.

Hospital admissions are surging and people are very ill indeed.

This decision is like all the others.

Johnson is responsible for the decision, and wrong.

As he has been responsible for so many wrong decisions that have cost lives Wwm2

That’s terrible GrannyGravy13 - a fully vaccinated person follows the government guidance at an outdoor event. Whatever next?

I'm sure there will be something from one or other of them.

Casdon

That’s terrible GrannyGravy13 - a fully vaccinated person follows the government guidance at an outdoor event. Whatever next?

I would have no problem with him being there if he hadn’t continuously called for it not to go ahead in the format that it did.

That is what I found hypocritical, it seems to be a trend across both sides of do as we say, not what we do , these messages are coming across from both main parties.

After all the sports events along with the G7 , the general public were/are beginning to rebel

Disclaimer - I have followed every Covid regulation.

Do you have a link to what Starmer actually said?

This is what Jon Ashworth said in the House yesterday. Was it different?

"Mr Speaker we want to see the economy reopen in a balanced, safe and sustainable way.

That means maintaining certain mitigations to contain the speed at which infections are rising and help reduce transmission and to limit the numbers exposed to the virus before they themselves are vaccinated.

Instead he’s taken a high risk, indeed fatalistic approach, trying to game what might happen in the winter, deciding that infections are going up anyway.

And instead of caution, he’s pushing his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off.

He admits that could mean 100,000 infections a day.

With potentially thousands suffering debilitating long Covid.

And the threat of a new more transmissible variant emerging.

Two weeks ago he justified unlocking suggesting it would make us healthier, now he warns waiting lists could hit 13 million.

Hospital admissions running at over 400 a day, there are now 393 people in ICU – up over 100 since the start of July. Any significant increase in admissions knocks on to the NHS’s ability to provide wider care.

He says the infection rates will not put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

But last week, in Leeds, cancer patients have had surgery cancelled. Last week, ambulance services across the country were reporting some of their busiest days ever. 111 is under increasing levels of pressure.

At the weekend he warned that the elective waiting lists could rise as high as 13 million.

So can he define what he means by unsustainable pressure?

What does he predict hospital admissions will peak at?

He has told he expects 100,000 infections, how many hospital admissions does he expect?

Does his confidence mean that the NHS will get no extra resources to get through this summer third wave?

He again highlights vaccination. Why are vaccination rates slowing down?

What will he do to drive up vaccination amongst young people?

Where still only 56 per cent of 18-24 have been vaccinated?

When will we begin vaccination of adolescents? Other countries are doing it why aren’t we?

Just to rely only on vaccination alone as infections climb is the approach of the one club golfer.

He needs other measures in place.

Labour would continue mandatory mask wearing. I notice his tone has shifted from last week.

It’s now his view that it’s irresponsible not to wear a mask in a crowded room, so surely it is equally irresponsible to abandon mandatory mask wearing?

Secondly on working from home, Susan Hopkins from PHE yesterday, said:

“If you are able to do your business effectively from home then I think over the next four to six weeks, with a rise in cases, we should try our best to do that.”

So will he guarantee that anyone who wants to continue working from home will be eligible to do so?

Thirdly, fresh air. Germany funded air filtration systems in public buildings.

Last week he referred to the infection control funding given to social care. But that wasn’t for ventilation.

There are British firms that manufacture air filtration and ventilation units, lets support jobs and offer grants for premises to install them.

Will he use the summer to install ventilation systems in all schools?

Fourthly, as more virus circulates, more people will be exposed, more people will become ill and more will have to isolate.

But some people still can’t isolate because of finances, and those with caring responsibilities for someone who has to isolate can also be financially penalised.

Given furlough is being withdrawn, financial support for isolation becomes more urgent.

Will he ensure those who need to isolate access adequate sick pay and support.

Fifthly, to get through this third wave and flatten the curve we will need ongoing testing and contact tracing will need capacity.

Will he give local authorities resources to lead enhanced contact tracing?

And will he abandon the proposed charges for lateral flow tests he is introducing?

Finally, when he was appointed he said any easing on July 19th would be ‘irreversible.’

Other countries have thought the same with their roadmaps, yet Israel reintroduced masks, the Netherlands closed nightclubs two weeks after reopening them.

Is it still his view the 19th is terminus day and that everything he has announced is ‘irreversible’ or does he agree it would be more sensible to have regular review dates in place through the summer as we deal with this third wave?"

Please note he has NOT advocated against loosening of restrictions. He's urging mitigations.

GrannyGravy13

Casdon

That’s terrible GrannyGravy13 - a fully vaccinated person follows the government guidance at an outdoor event. Whatever next?

I would have no problem with him being there if he hadn’t continuously called for it not to go ahead in the format that it did.

That is what I found hypocritical, it seems to be a trend across both sides of do as we say, not what we do , these messages are coming across from both main parties.

After all the sports events along with the G7 , the general public were/are beginning to rebel

Disclaimer - I have followed every Covid regulation.

I haven't noticed you call out Johnson's hypocrisy (an there's been plenty to choose from).

So what did Starmer actually say about "safety concerns"?

I repeat, GG13, the world is looking on in disbelief at us, Right Now, as we offer up our young people as guinea pigs, while there is a surge in the Delta version of Covid. Tell me, GG13, is anywhere else in the word completely opening up, just now, in similar circumstances? No. Just us. Just our youngsters being sacrificed. GG13, why don't we come back to this in one month, and see how we have fared?

A BBC report today says that the Dutch PM has just apologised to his nation for doing, three weeks ago ,what Johnson proposes for us on the 19th. The Netherlands is now going back under restrictions.

We all know how its transmitted, just be careful. Normal life needs to resume, we have to live along side Covid.

Sparkling

We all know how its transmitted, just be careful. Normal life needs to resume, we have to live along side Covid.

Absolutely not! Mitigation must continue. Wait until vaccination is complete.