All restrictions to end?

Did anyone hear a recent programme on Radio 4 called "More or Less"? Amazingly it is very interesting while being about statistics .......hard to believe but true! Made by the Open University and BBC. They looked at claims made repeatedly in Parliament by Boris saying crime has gone down and employment has gone up. Not true. Even an official statistical body has said it isn't true. But that does not stop Boris saying it. So I conclude we cannot now trust that lifting Covid restrictions is based on evidence at all.

montymops

I am not a particular fan of Boris- I have met him and was not really impressed- however, I really think much of what is said and written about him is Boris bashing as a result of the last 2 difficult years for us all - some of the bashing is unreasonable. Many people are still fearful and afraid - have got used to living in a restricted bubble - maybe hard to ‘break free’ (Freddie Mercury). Fortunately I am not one of those. I have had long Covid - I have had 3 jabs, and am classified CEV. I am getting on for 80- I have had more operations in the last 10 years than hot dinners, I am not fearful- I actually do not want any politician feeling sorry for me- or caring for me- I want them to get on with Far more important business, so that I can get back to doing as much as I can before the old bod packs up completely. I want to break free.

How does wearing a mask or insisting on better ventilation in public places stop the government from getting on with other things?

GrannyGear

Restrictions to end? Really?
From what I hear and read we will still be expected to wear facemasks on public transport, in shops and in gatherings such as church services. This is a slight lessening of the restrictions - and a welcome one for many of us - but an end? No Way!

Good! I hope they continue.

katy1950

Thank goodness the restrictions are being lifted we can't continue living our lives in fear. It's up to the individual to take responsibility for their well being I will continue being caution but not fearful

What about those who are clinically vulnerable, who will be less well protected? Their freedom to have some kind of normality is being restricted. Don't they matter?

Restrictions to end? Really?
From what I hear and read we will still be expected to wear facemasks on public transport, in shops and in gatherings such as church services. This is a slight lessening of the restrictions - and a welcome one for many of us - but an end? No Way!

Bluecat

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.

Yes, where are the voices of the scientists?

The 'lockdown sceptics' in government are now controlling the narrative. Their willing mouthpiece is Johnson. They will get what they want, and he will too - by remaining in power because he's "got Covid done".

I don't know if he really did say "let the bodies pile high" but there are those willing to testify that he did. Either way, I don't think he's much bothered - those bodies will largely be comprised of the elderly for whom I genuinely believe he cares not one jot. To a free-market, right wing libertarian, they are simply a drain on the public purse.

IMO this is not about what's best for the nation, it's entirely about Johnson preserving his position.

If I seem over sceptical it's because I am. I am sceptical of a man who dismissed the fears of business leaders over Brexit with the remark, "f**k business"... and then excused himself by saying it was a "stray remark".

And I'm even more sceptical about the man's accusation against Starmer over Savile when he, himself, said that the police spending money on historic cases of child abuse was a "waste"... money being "spaffed up the wall".

Boris Johnson is looking after Boris Johnson.

Thank goodness the restrictions are being lifted we can't continue living our lives in fear. It's up to the individual to take responsibility for their well being I will continue being caution but not fearful

I am not a particular fan of Boris- I have met him and was not really impressed- however, I really think much of what is said and written about him is Boris bashing as a result of the last 2 difficult years for us all - some of the bashing is unreasonable. Many people are still fearful and afraid - have got used to living in a restricted bubble - maybe hard to ‘break free’ (Freddie Mercury). Fortunately I am not one of those. I have had long Covid - I have had 3 jabs, and am classified CEV. I am getting on for 80- I have had more operations in the last 10 years than hot dinners, I am not fearful- I actually do not want any politician feeling sorry for me- or caring for me- I want them to get on with Far more important business, so that I can get back to doing as much as I can before the old bod packs up completely. I want to break free.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

@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.

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…

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

Oh yes I agree MayBee.

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...

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…..