All restrictions to end?

Where’s Alegrias when we need her?

I think we’d still be concerned in March, but I agree it’s too early now. But then so many aren’t testing or wearing masks or probably not isolating already.

Do I detect a “dead cat” ? And no, nothing to do with that footballer.

Surely hospital admissions and deaths are the most important figures the amount of cases now although important is not so relevant.
I also have a friend who is a paramedic she hasn’t been on call to a Covid case for several months
We may get new variants but the rules will have to be changed if we do, not kept just in case of something that may or may
not happen.

Johnson just wants to boast that we’re the first country to lift all restrictions. As with the lockdowns ( hey everybody, we’re going to lock down next week so I’m just giving you the chance to go out and party for a few days to infect everybody) he likes announcing everything in advance if it makes him look good. Remember the ‘it’ll be gone in 12 weeks/by Easter/ by Christmas statements’. He’s probably thought up a catchy soundbite to use already.

If only we could hear from Chris Whitty about this. His silence speaks volumes.

Rosie puts it well. It's the sudden rush that is so alarming (remember 'tis the season to be jolly cautious'?). 1st March would have been more reasonable: schools and hospitals need time to adjust and the public needs to see some data and evidence (remember 'I will level with you'?). As someone else has just said, he PM owes the public that much.

Another off-the-cuff wheeze that may misfire. BJ is beginning to seem like Macbeth rushing about, and that isn't a look to inspire anybody.

Sparklefizz

^...and his hair looked particularly stupid.^

I don't care about his hair, but I do care about the restrictions ending, and it's much too soon. The only reason the numbers are going down at the moment is because people with Covid don't have to do a PCR after a positive LFT, and don't even have to report a positive LFT apparently.

I feel we are being thrown to the dogs, just as I was trying to feel less anxious about going out and about.

Absolutely right Sparklefizz. We have no idea what the case numbers are now and can only rely on hospital admissions and deaths. Reckless in the extreme and all to save his political skin. As far as I know Delta hasn’t gone away and Omicron will morph into another variant at some point - or a new variant will be brought in from overseas.

Cases were shooting up in an area near here recently but started going down according to yesterday's numbers.

I'm a paramedic and am seeing infections and serious illness reduce massively, the vast majority of my colleagues have had Covid despite wearing proper PPE so are now not so worried.

I really don't think we are going to control the rates of infections by any other methods now apart from natural immunity and vaccines. I spoke to a London based A&E consultant at a training session last week and this was his private opinion.
I do think people who have symptoms should be able to take time off work with pay and no effect on their sickness record which is not the case in a lot of companies.

You never know- he might do one of his favourite things a 'u-turn', and I'm banking on the fact that when he says he or the govt are planning to do something, or something is going to change, often the opposite happens as he was just 'testing the waters'.
This is my only positive way of thinking about his latest outburst- probably though to the detriment of all of us- it'll be the first and last time he sticks to his guns!

I would be happy for restrictions to end if we had control over infections and our best scientists said that was the way to go. I spoke to a senior paramedic on Monday and they said the were being ultra cautious in their private life as they has seen the effect of this virus first hand.

I would be happy for them to end after a proper address from the prime minister, with facts and figures which are backed up by the people that used to stand alongside him and explain them (where are they now?)
He owes the public that much.

Scotland won’t follow until convinced it is appropriate Granny23, neither will Wales. Both countries are still following the scientific and medical advice.

At what point would people be happy for restrictions to end?

Realistically speaking Covid is never going away so do we keep restrictions for ever or is there a point when people will feel relaxed enough to not need restrictions?

* Sarnia* said If Boris abolishes the rules then he can't get caught for breaking them.

And therein lies the truth of the matter. My only hope is that Scotland does not follow this folly. My family have strictly followed the rules and are all good so far. We will continue to be careful no matter what Boris says.

Hmmmm...
Not convinced, personally, but as I said, I know nothing about the figures and statistics .

MissAdventure

I saw last night Johnson saying that.
Apparently no forethought, no warning, just thrown out there...
Who knows?

It was actually planned for the 23rd March and was suggested this may come forward if circumstances allow
It was always going to happen there is no other contagious illness that you have to isolate for by law
Like with masks it’s bringing it back to personal responsibility if you are sick or have symptoms you stay away from other people the only thing that has changed is you can’t get fined for not doing so
Isolation relies on people testing in the first place how many people are already going about their day without knowing they are carrying Covid because unless you test very regularly you can well have it without even realising
We may be the first country to do this but we won’t be the last tracking and tracing of infected people cannot carry on indefinitely

I'm beginning to doubt what is true and what isn't.
Are the figures encouraging?
Is the virus still likely to produce other variants, and if so, will they be weaker still?

Callistemon21

Has he consulted the scientists or just thrown this out there as a distraction?

No apparently not.

This is all about saving King Johnson by throwing a piece of meat to the right wing loons in his party, and zero to do with what is best for the vulnerable, sick and elderly.

Has he consulted the scientists or just thrown this out there as a distraction?

We all care about the restrictions.

youtu.be/7hEs6sXCyC8

...and his hair looked particularly stupid.

I don't care about his hair, but I do care about the restrictions ending, and it's much too soon. The only reason the numbers are going down at the moment is because people with Covid don't have to do a PCR after a positive LFT, and don't even have to report a positive LFT apparently.

I feel we are being thrown to the dogs, just as I was trying to feel less anxious about going out and about.

Because it suits him! No surprise there.