PM Press Conference. Anyone else feeling despair?

I feel this too, but I think we need to accept it and adapt our lifestyles accordingly. If wearing a mask prevents the kind of sickness I heard from my SIL and BIL this morning, then I would gladly wear my mask from now to eternity! As anti vaxxers they are now bitterly regretting not having the vaccines. This terrible virus cannot be underestimated, but as Whitewave2 says, there are worse things being endured across the world, so is it such a big ask? Keep those upper lips nice and stiff!!

Feeling desperate too, I dont mind wearing masks and keeping distance from people the one worrying thing for me at present is I am hoping with all my heart that I can get to the UK on Sunday next, and be able to come home again in a few weeks, before Boris does another U turn.
I really desperately need to get to the UK I just want it to be Sunday!I am sure I will feel fine when I reach the shores of England (even if I am flying)

It is annnoying certainly that new mutations of the virus keep cropping up, but I honestly don't think there is any reason to despair.

We know now what to do to avoid infection to a far greater extent than we did when the pandemic started.

There are vaccines and treatment that are proving effective and scientists are working on developing new ant better ones

Working from home and not travelling so far by car or plane may not suit everyone, but it has been shown to benefit the environment, which can only be a good thing.

I am sorry so many of you feel despair, but we are better off now than at the beginning of the pandemic, when we had no vaccines, no knowledge of how dangerous the illness was, and precious little knowledge of how to combat it.

I do feel a bit down going into another winter with no social life in view because I feel I have to shield myself. Also the endless vaccinations and the fear of what they may be doing to my already damaged immune system. I find it helpful to remind myself that others are suffering and have suffered. . And to be grateful for the good things I do have. Feeling hopeless and despairing reduces resilience. Feeling joyful is an act of resistance.

growstuff

I apologise if I've offended people

Why? Why apologise - and then re-iterate what you've already said?

I'm not offended, I am irritated by the assumption that someone else's problems don't warrant any sympathy - and in fact require condemnation - because they don't measure up on a subjective ruler which approves or disapproves their concerns.

Individual response and resilience is a variable. What might upset one person will not necessarily bother another. There is no principle that says anyone must first consider everyone or anyone else's problems before worrying about their own.

... and most people do - as I did when I recently received news that upset me - sit down and count their blessings. I "got over it" - but not because someone else haughtily told me to.

Happysexagenarian

I think the current precautions and restrictions etc will continue in varying degrees for many years to come (even generations perhaps), unless they find a way of stopping the virus from mutating. It doesn't surprise me and it doesn't really bother me. Wearing masks, distancing and sanitizing etc is not a big deal and just necessary for the moment. Socialising, eating out, travelling, mixing with family and friends will be done as and when we can do it safely. We may miss out on lots of events and occasions etc, that's just unfortunate. It is what it is.

What does bother me is the number of people still refusing to be vaccinated, or even denying that Covid even exists! They are the ones perpetuating the spread of the virus and putting others at risk because of their selfishness. If we ever want to be free of this virus everyone must be vaccinated in every country around the world. Impossible? Maybe. But this is the 21st century and it should be possible.

I make no apologies for my opinions about this, but I'll dive for cover now....!

Well I'm sure that's cheered us all up.

Anybody got the energy to refute all this? No? Me neither.

It’s already put the kybosh on our planned far-flung family meet up next week, since two of the parties will have returned from holidays abroad too soon beforehand.

I’m resigned, not despairing - just hoping we can rearrange for later before Christmas - not much good afterwards since it’s a present swop too.

TBH I’d have felt it a lot more this time last year, when none of us had had even one jab.

I think the current precautions and restrictions etc will continue in varying degrees for many years to come (even generations perhaps), unless they find a way of stopping the virus from mutating. It doesn't surprise me and it doesn't really bother me. Wearing masks, distancing and sanitizing etc is not a big deal and just necessary for the moment. Socialising, eating out, travelling, mixing with family and friends will be done as and when we can do it safely. We may miss out on lots of events and occasions etc, that's just unfortunate. It is what it is.

What does bother me is the number of people still refusing to be vaccinated, or even denying that Covid even exists! They are the ones perpetuating the spread of the virus and putting others at risk because of their selfishness. If we ever want to be free of this virus everyone must be vaccinated in every country around the world. Impossible? Maybe. But this is the 21st century and it should be possible.

I make no apologies for my opinions about this, but I'll dive for cover now....!

Josianne

Yes, annie61, normally I am an optimistic and upbeat person, but even I am feeling low. One activity after another being cancelled, my choir's concert on Dec. 18th and now my lovely GS's school nativity for the second year running. He will never get to be a Wiseman with his parents' proudly watching and for that I cried today. In fact I feel I am more likely to be an angel or a star in heaven before this is over.
But tomorrow is another day and all we can do is make the best of it.

I can identify with how you ( and others, including the OP) are feeling. Just when we thought it was safe to ‘go back in the water’ along comes another shark.
Josi am glad to see you are confident of where you will be heading in the future.I may be heading for the ‘other place’..and I don’t mean Cambridge.?

You hit the nail on the head with your post because I think you feel the same as most folk. We are all weary and desperate to get back to a proper normality.

You are not alone. Look after yourself.

We are learning to live with a rather indeterminate process which requires patience and acting calmly. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. There are a lot of bright scientists working toward solutions and I hope politicians (especially some backbench, intellectually-challenged MPs) don't mess up. It's a pity far too many politicians lack a science education.

The government has to play safe doesn’t it?
They were presented with the initial facts that a new variant had been found with a lot of mutations, so obviously the first thought would be to wonder if the vaccines would still protect us, and might the new variant be more dangerous.

Whatever they had done would have been wrong to some people. They haven’t over-reacted, and reintroducing the wearing of face mask in some situations is such a small price to pay surely?

We will know more about what we are dealing with in about a couple of weeks, so until then we just need to adhere to the advice and otherwise just get on with our lives.

My vulnerable DGS has covid and is recovering OK atm. I'm feeling elated as the whole family thought he would end up on ventilation due to his asthma and lung conditions. He's on antibiotics due to GP phone diagnosis of tonsillitis before PCR positive test, and always has steroid inhaler so perhaps that's helped. He had 1 vaccination 2 weeks ago. At least DD and DSiL haven't caught it.
Yes it's going on and on but less people are dying so that's positive and Pfizer say there vaccination works against the new varient in the press today. Hopefully this varient will be mild for everyone.

I sympathise with people who have lost family and friends and those very vulnerable people who had to isolate, often alone.
However, thinking back to when cold and 'flu nearly disappeared when rules were stricter and how hospitals n ambulances are now struggling with outcome of relaxation I have no sympathy whatsoever with anti-vaxers and anti'maskers who have blood on their hands. Is it so hard?? This will all end similarly to the Spanish 'flu but we can help in tbe meantime.
Winter is a rough time anyway so some mood swings will get to us but we are so lucky with our NHS free vax etc. Not perfect but excellent

Pammie1

I appreciate that this may sound a little bit ‘conspiracy theory’ but does anyone feel that there’s something we’re not being told about Omicron ? I don’t remember this amount of caution centred around the emergence of Delta. With Omicron we’re being told to ‘wait and see’ when all the data is in, but in the meantime the booster campaign is being stepped up, masks have been reintroduced, travel restrictions imposed and self isolating mandatory on return to the UK, even if vaccinated. Now there’s reports of people cancelling plans based on a comment from a medic, about mixing not being sensible until things are clearer. I just get the feeling that something is different.

I know what you mean about it sounding 'a little bit conspiracy theory', but my own theory is that the government was already quite scared about the rising covid numbers before Omicron was detected, starting to fear that the hospitals (already struggling if reports on ambulance waiting times are anything to go by) might well be totally overwhelmed by Christmas.

The trouble is, they've said so many times that they don't intend to reintroduce the restrictions on what we can do, that they desperately didn't want to lose face by backtracking on that

I think that they might have pounced on Omicron as a get-out-of-jail-free card that gives them the perfect excuse to reintroduce measures that were already needed!

Yes, very down at the moment. Have a relative seriously ill in hospital with Covid which brings everything home. I think that short term, it's very difficult to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. I never thought that it would go on for so long.

I have no problem wearing a face mask as I have continued doing that anyway and I'm very pleased that it will become mandatory again.
But I also am feeling very down. This new variant is very worrying. I just hope it isn't as vaccine resistant as some scientists seem to fear it might be.

annie , remember how glad we all were to hear the wonderful news about AstraZeneca. We have flu jabs every year, so an extra one won't be too onerous. Every generation has a black cloud of some sort, and from time to time it does get too much to bear or think about. Take heart - we are all in this together, and life has improved a great deal in the past twelve months for most of us.

I like to think I am a philosophical, positive, pragmatic person but even I am struggling at the moment. I am happy to wear a mask wherever I need to. I have had all of my vaccinations so feel very grateful to the NHS for their unwavering service.
I am just struggling with the same old, same old which is getting tedious despite us being able to visit places. I want to see my brother in Australia, he will be 70 next year ?‍♀️ My concern is my lack of confidence in flying again.
I am concerned that our infrastructure is creaking at the seams ; that hospitality venues will not survive; that people will return to their “I’m all right Jack” ways and we will have learned very little over the past two years. BUT I am not giving up.

Feel just the same it’s very depressing let’s hope this new variant nowhere near as bad as they think it may be. I’m low because Japan have closed borders to all foreigners. They were just easing a bit as well. Will be three years early this next year since I saw my DS n my grandchildren as he lives and works in Tokyo. Let’s really hope with boosters that things may not be as bad as we think. Wearing a mask isn’t a problem if it helps contain the virus.

This thread matches my mood as I am down about several things over which I have no control and feel so sad. Yesterday, I finally managed to cry. As for the Covid situation, I am used to it and abide by the rules while keeping myself well informed. Hugs to anyone feeling sad. xx

I think it's best to jump on this new strain from the start. The government will get blamed for dragging its feet again otherwise. We are in a much stronger position now too, so there's reason to hope. Yes, please wear your mask. So simple.

pascal30

I am eternally grateful that I live in a country with such amazing scientists and the resources to action their wonderful results in the form of vaccines

Exactly. Makes one so cross that people like Clair come up with nonsense about guinea pigs and unproven vaccines

If people are down you sympathise with them and hope that it can only get better for them. Telling them to cheer up is a no no, they would do that themselves if they could.
Sympathy to you annie1 I hope you feel better soon

I am eternally grateful that I live in a country with such amazing scientists and the resources to action their wonderful results in the form of vaccines