All restrictions to end?

I know someone who worked with him years ago. I wouldn’t disagree based on what he says!

I know- my BIL worked with him when he was a social worker 40 odd years ago, and he hasn’t changed.

Germanshepherdsmum

Sparklefizz

I want to hear from Chris Whitty.

Me too but I think he's been told not to comment. Why else would he remain quiet?

Knighthood?

Germanshepherdsmum

Sparklefizz

I want to hear from Chris Whitty.

Me too but I think he's been told not to comment. Why else would he remain quiet?

Me too but I think he's been told not to comment. Why else would he remain quiet?

I think that might be true - as you say, why else would he remain quiet?

I appreciate that, at some point, life has to return to some kind of near normality, but I'm not convinced this move is for the right reasons.

I've read various newspapers - both Left and Right to try to get a balanced view - and this particular paragraph in The Guardian stood out...

"In a sign that the prime minister still faces pressure from inside his party, lockdown-sceptic Conservatives demanded he go further, calling for a guarantee of no future restrictions and changes to public health laws to generate “competitive” scientific advice in future pandemics.

In theory, it sounds reasonable - we know that scientists do not necessarily agree with each other's findings or conclusions, and that sounds like 'good' science to me, where eminent and experienced scientists question the assumptions of their colleagues in order to come up with an exact - or as exact as possible - judgment or determination on an issue. That in itself is "competitive" - it is naturally competitive.

What I am worried about is the so-called "lockdown sceptics" are trying to change the law so that they can choose which science fits their agenda. And, if they are also demanding a guarantee of no further restrictions, that means that they will automatically ignore any scientific advice that recommends it, regardless. They are making decisions in advance without knowing what might lie round the corner.

It seems like the 'lockdown-sceptics' are in charge here, not the scientists, not Boris Johnson. They are in fact running the show, and Johnson's is simply their mouthpiece.

Johnson has not convinced me that he's coming from the right place on this. I don't believe he's studied all the available science, I don't believe he's given the issue the composed, objective and careful consideration it needs. And frankly I don't think he cares much about people who are compromised, CEV, ill or vulnerable. They are expendable because they are often not productive units of the economy but a drain on it, and a drain on the free-market, libertarian ideology he espouses. He's happy to enact the wishes of the ultra right wing of his party - it will keep him in power, and appease all his supporters among the electorate.

I.do.not.trust.him.

I remember Johnson’s fathers comment that ‘he’s taken one for the team’ and the fact that Johnson refused to take his illness seriously (and, according to Cummings, had to be prevented from going to see the Queen) so I think he regards people who are ill as big girls blouses. Which, combined with his leadership being under threat and being dependent on the support of the ERG and CRG doesn’t make him the ideal person to be responsible for the health and safety of the country. Even less so if he’s no longer taking any scientific advise. He’ll probably get away with it with Omicron being so mild. He took a huge gamble with it before Christmas and struck lucky. Let’s hope, for our sake, that his luck holds out.

Surely if there are no official restrictions, then it is up to each of us to do what we think is best - no-one is saying we can’t wear masks or we have to go to crowded places etc. Use our own common sense.

It has to get to that point eventually doesn't it Sameijb and there will always be some who worry about restrictions ending regardless of when that happens.

apologies for getting your name wrong.

Smileless2012

It has to get to that point eventually doesn't it Sameijb and there will always be some who worry about restrictions ending regardless of when that happens.

Yes. But we have to be sure that those restrictions are being lifted because it is safe to do so and not part of Operation Save Big Dog…..

My friend told me last night that the Government wants to get rid of people over 70 so that they can save on their pensions.

Catching covid is a good way...

Oh yes I agree MayBee.

Rather than just keep announcing with a flourish the latest daily infection fugues and deaths (which are WITH Covid not necessarily OF Covid) can we not have the suspected deaths from cancer, heart disease et al which are happening because of these restrictions published too? Not to mention the mental health catastrophe and the poverty that the pandemic and spiralling prices are inducing amongst our fellow citizens. We are the most tested nation in Europe so no wonder our Covid figures appear worse than others! Restrictions must end. If people want to carry on as before, of course that is their right and should be respected. But the government cannot keep following SAGE’s constantly over egged worst case scenarios and allow the NHS waiting lists to continue to rise to near impossible heights (although they were astonishingly bad before the pandemic!). We have to get back to some kind of normality as soon as possible for the sake of our nations health, physical, mental and economic. Unfortunately, I think it will be some time before the fear that this administration has managed to imprint upon many of our population (with the aid of the helpful Behavioural Science Unit in Whitehall) begins to dissipate.

Annaram1

My friend told me last night that the Government wants to get rid of people over 70 so that they can save on their pensions.

Catching covid is a good way...

I heard it was the Chinese.

Annaram1 I completely agree with you. Looking up the data, the graphs of who is dying, it is largely the old so of course, it'll save billions. Cynical isn't it?

I also agree with those who are pointing out that this is all aimed at saving Johnson's Prime Ministership. He is a disgrace and we are all going to pay the price. I wonder what is going to happen if a dangerous new variant appears. It isn't necessarily the case that a virus mutates into a less virulent version in time. If a decision to avoid lockdown at all costs is legally enshrined what will happen then? Supposing it was a kind of ebola or Lassa fever which has just reappeared by chance?

Read only minutes after his announcement no one in the scientific advisory side had been consulted on the change. Surprised not at all.

I hesitate to suggest a podcast but I was listening to this one from Australia www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/coronacast/an-unexpected-covid-crisis/13745728
which was a discussion about a million+ person study which has thrown up serious heart conditions coming about in people who have suffered Covid.
I understand the drive to return to 'normality' but perhaps we need to get real and understand that this virus is not just like flu but is very serious in its own right with many long term implications.

Smileless2012

It has to get to that point eventually doesn't it Sameijb and there will always be some who worry about restrictions ending regardless of when that happens.

When the restrictions on masks were lifted it didn’t cause an increase in infection rates they are still dropping.
I have just come back from the supermarket many are still wearing masks taking their own personal responsibility.
I have had a nasty cough up until today so I have cancelled meetings and appointments I was due to attend. The majority of people have the common sense to do what is right the ones who don’t care won’t even bother testing in the first place so no need for isolation

Just because they say masks and distancing are to stop does not mean you have to go along with it for goodness sake. If you want to wear a mask then wear one. If you want to keep your distance then do so. Nobody is going to tell you not to. I intend wearing a mask in shops etc.

It seems there wre no scientific advisers involved in the decision. Remember Boris was the one who said he wouldn’t mind if the bodies piled high in the streets before a third lockdown…

@MissAdventure Sir JVT has wisely deserted the sinking ship and gone back to his University, the other two, I think, have also been quietly knighted and hidden, because they spoke the inconvenient truth - Boris wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him in the ?, which hopefully, one day soon, is EXACTLY what will happen.

Only in England.
Viruses are always with us, we must learn to live with them and take responsibility for our own behaviour.

As the Daily Mash said, science and the UK have decided to go their separate ways.....

It seems that the government feels that the virus will do what they want it to do. If they say it's over, it's over. If they want it to be okay for people not to isolate, then it's okay.

I think it's insane.

Many countries are ending restrictions right now, so it may not be a distraction on Boris Johnson's part, you know.

That said, as far as I can see the general public in most countries tends to feel that it is too soon, and some doctors are saying the same.

We all fear a rise in the number of cases, and many of us will be still observing precautions.

Apart from that, all we can do is wait and see what happens.

If life is to get back to "normal" in other words back to what it was before Covid 19, I suppose the attempt of cancelling all restrictions has to be made sooner or later.

No-one seems to be prepared to consider whether life necessarily should go back to the way it was in 2019, or whether some of the changes we were forced to make have actually benefited society and should not be reversed.

Just another dead cat from as ruthless operator, callous of extra deaths. No scientific evidence quoted. But I see Wales is being equally gung ho.

I just despair. Yes it is too early to lift the restrictions as in mask wearing and the isolation if testing positive. I do not want to be in a supermarket or shop standing next to someone who could be infectious. I have been shielding. CEV and have been extremely careful. Friends who have had the virus have been quite ill and they have a normal immune system. BJ is trying to take the spotlight off himself (I could be quite rude but I will behave). Some sensible thinking would be much more beneficial and let us be led by the science.