All restrictions to end?

apologies for getting your name wrong.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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

Haha Germanshepherdsmum. If Mark Drakeford has a Covid party shaped nail in his political coffin I think the whole of Wales will be completely gobsmacked regardless of our personal affiliation, and we are not known for being quiet. He’s the epitome of Mr Sensible.

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?

Callistemon21

No, not Mark Drakeford.
I bet he's never been to a party in his life!

You're probably right. Not exactly the life and soul of any party.

I want to hear from Chris Whitty.

No, not Mark Drakeford.
I bet he's never been to a party in his life!

Probably secretly at parties Callistemon. All will be revealed, mark (?) my words.

Germanshepherdsmum

Couldn’t agree more AGA. Mark Drayford had covid now. Perhaps that will influence things in Wales.

Oh, has he?

He's been quite strict.

It is not over yet, but how much does it matter, is the question. Personally I think it is too soon, and like Rosie, I would like to hear from Chris Witty and other scientists.
Two issues affect me and my family.
Our son is about to start chemo and will have no functioning immune system. How can he feel safe? We will want to visit him. DH has health issues himself though he is not CEV, but he worries about encountering the grandchildren who are all of school age, the youngest not yet vaccinated as too young. How safe is he?
It is hard to know the right time to lift restrictions or how to interpret them personally.

Prince Charles succumbing again is a timely reminder that it's not over yet.

Couldn’t agree more AGA. Mark Drayford had covid now. Perhaps that will influence things in Wales.

I hope Wales doesn't follow lifting all restrictions.
It seems irresponsible to me to allow people who have covid to mix with others. If they use public transport, sit in a busy office then go to the pub they could infect so many people and some of those may be badly affected.

growstuff

LtEve

People haven't been isolating for months now, especially as the symptoms do not always follow the governments criteria. Back in May 2020, when I tested positive I didn't have a temperature, cough or change in taste or smell. I only got a test as my DH had a mild fever for a day and , as I worked for the NHS, he was entitled to a test as was I.
I speak to people every working day who have symptoms such as runny noses, headaches etc but haven't tested/isolated.

And I know people who are more responsible - thank goodness!

Everybody I actually know tests and isolates if necessary, it's just lots of patients don't.

growstuff

rosie1959

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.

Deaths still remain over 200 a day on average.

I expect there will be an end to reporting the death rate soon. I am ambivalent about this; on one hand, I acknowledge that sometime we have to get back to some kind of normality, but on the other hand, I would feel more confident if the statement about ending reporting and restrictions came from scientists, not from the Liar in Chief as he tries to save his career.

rosie1959

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.

Deaths still remain over 200 a day on average.

LtEve

People haven't been isolating for months now, especially as the symptoms do not always follow the governments criteria. Back in May 2020, when I tested positive I didn't have a temperature, cough or change in taste or smell. I only got a test as my DH had a mild fever for a day and , as I worked for the NHS, he was entitled to a test as was I.
I speak to people every working day who have symptoms such as runny noses, headaches etc but haven't tested/isolated.

And I know people who are more responsible - thank goodness!

Now maybe the time for constituents to let their MP know what their view is. I understand a final decision will not be made by the House of Commons until after the February recess.

People haven't been isolating for months now, especially as the symptoms do not always follow the governments criteria. Back in May 2020, when I tested positive I didn't have a temperature, cough or change in taste or smell. I only got a test as my DH had a mild fever for a day and , as I worked for the NHS, he was entitled to a test as was I.
I speak to people every working day who have symptoms such as runny noses, headaches etc but haven't tested/isolated.