COVID-19 etiquette and good manners after 19 July 2021

I will wear a mask on public transport, and in crowded areas indoors,I will try to socially distance in the future too, we must be cautious, and not let our guard down. Covid will be lurking for some time to come!

I am going to give myself a little star, the country where we live have had no lock down, but restrictions which havent affected us too much. I have been lucky to have a hip replacement and a double cataract operation this year, and I am soon to achieve my goal, to visit the UK, in a few weeks time, later on this year I will be 80 and still going strong, have got a will of steel, maybe obstinate some might say!

There will never be a right time to remove restrictions the general public need to build up immunity. I will still wear mine on public transport and in busy shops.

Im watching the news at the moment. The infection rate is rising and the government are insisting on the lockdown easing. I appreciate that the economy must get going again and that we must learn to live with the virus, but not everyone is fit, strong and healthy. Some of us are immuno compromised and many are receiving cancer treatment or such like and are vulnerable. I think the Government should have a responsibility to those of us who are vulnerable and at least respect that much as we would like to start going out we need to feel safe. It does not hurt to wear a mask in public indoor spaces and on public transport at least until the science approves and the infection rate is under control. I am expecting some to disagree with me, but I will be wearing my mask when I have to go out and may return to full time on line shopping for food.

Lindy56

There will never be a right time to remove restrictions the general public need to build up immunity. I will still wear mine on public transport and in busy shops.

How can the public build up immunity without being vaccinated or infected?

Why not wait until the group who now make up the biggest number of cases (ie under 18s) are immunised?

How do you factor in the cost of Long Covid for those who acquire immunity via infection?

What happens to those who can't be vaccinated or for whom the vaccine doesn't work?

Israel is reporting that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination only has about 64% against the delta variant? And what about the Lamda variant, which has now entered the UK and caused havoc in South America?

Go JoeSoap - that’s the spirit!

I think those with health issues and serious anxieties will have to exercise their own common sense. Just because something is allowed doesn’t mean it is compulsory does it?
So for those who want to - stick with masks, avoid crowded spaces, continue internet shopping instead of going to shops and enjoy the increased availability of online entertainment and services!

With so many of us opting to stay at home and not go out unless it's for essentials, how will theatres, cinemas, museums, art galleries, shopping centres and restaurants recover?

Under 18s make up about 33% of the current cases, not the biggest number.

The Pfizer vaccine in Israel is still measured to be between 92% and 93% effective at preventing serious illness or hospitalisation. If its 64% effective at reducing symptomatic Covid, that's only slightly less than the effectiveness of AZ.

There are always going to be people who cannot be vaccinated or for whom the vaccine won't work.

I googled Lambda and its like groundhog day..."may be more transmissible....may evade vaccines more than the other variants."

There will always be an excuse not to move on from where we are now.

My DiL, who lives in London is anxious that the easing of restrictions will give voice to the more aggressive anti maskers on public transport, the ones who call us mask wearers 'sheep'.

Just reading social media posts I’m glad I’m not in government.
There’s no large % agreement anywhere about masks/no masks, easing lockdown, ending WFH, children in school, bubbles isolating etc, etc, and each poster on SM thinks they know best.
I’ve continued to work all through the pandemic, observing social distancing, wearing a mask and sanitising but quite possibly I’ve avoided the virus by luck rather than any of those things.
Chewbacca 13.36, you’re right.
I’ve now resumed non-essential shopping, eating out and going on holiday to support the economy, but I’m still wearing a mask when shopping or in more crowded areas and I guess I will for a long time.

Personally, I hope that stores will still require masks, even if it’s not a government mandate. Similar to “no shirts, no shoes, no service”.

ETA: at least for another few months

Merylstreep why wear a mask for an injection if for nothing else? If the government removes legal need for mask wearing medical staff may also decide not to wear a mask.

ElderlyPerson

I have no intention of going out unless I have to go to the dentist or hospital.

There was a discussion on Sky News on Friday and it appears that the COVID-19 vaccines do not work properly on people who have blood cancer. People are campaigning for the government to send a letter about this to everybody registered as having blood cancer or being tested for blood cancer so that they don't get a false sense of security.

I am wondering if social distance delivery options will remain or whether some couriers will require a physical signature again or will the social distance options remain in place.

For example,

www.dpd.co.uk/content/how-can-we-help/parcel-delivery-during-covid-19.jsp

It all looks rather scary if one does not want to open the door while the driver is there, but if one clicks on the + signs there is a way round it, namely put a signed note on the front door authorising leaving it without the door being opened and the driver leaves the parcel and photographs both the note and the parcel.

I did the signed note option for a DPD delivery recently and it worked fine. I added a bit asking the driver to knock after delivering and he did that too. I also dated the note after the signature. I got the parcel in using gloves and I quarantined the parcel for a week, just in case, and indeed I wore gloves when I gently dropped my purchase out of its plastic packaging onto a cushion, and the handwashing too at each stage. I know, I know, possibly overdoing it but as I have been doing that sort of thing since March 2020 and have as far as I know not caught it thus far, nor indeed flu, how and when does one get off the precautions rollercoaster if one does not need to do so?

What you describe sounds like standard practice for couriers Elderly Person (leaving on the doorstep, photographing, card through the letterbox)
Especially if a parcel arrives before I am showered and dressed, I have often called out of the bedroom window and never have any problem with a delivery being left.

However If I left Rosie’s frozen fresh dog food (delivered every month by lovely Mr P Singh from DPD ) to “quarantine” for a week , a) it would have thawed and gone off and b) she’d be starving and would probably be starting on my second arm. ?

I have been told by my GP practice to wear my mask whenever I go out, I have quite severe respiratory problems. I will continue to do so although I have had the two jabs.
I would also appreciate distance from other people however, as I am not getting that now, I can't see that changing. A lot of people are oblivious to distancing themselves from others, and have been all through this pandemic.

Unfortunately there seem to be many who either do not understand that wearing a mask is to protect others or do not care.

varian

Unfortunately there seem to be many who either do not understand that wearing a mask is to protect others or do not care.

That’s been true all the way through the pandemic. Now they will be able to say they have been told they don’t have to wear one. Funny how being told one thing is unacceptable but the other isn’t.

The government is now encouraging "personal responsibilty"

Today I was in the queue outside my dentist's practice, waiting for my first checkup in two years. My dentist does not allow queuing inside the building.

I got there about five minutes before my appointment but there was a queue as they were running late.

Like all the others in the queue I was wearing a mask. A passerby, not wearing a mask, who obviously knew the person in front of me engaged her in conversation, standing less than 1m away. She said she was glad that we were not having to wear these masks any more as she didn't like them.

She seemed to have no idea that her choice not to wear a mask could ever affect anyone else, We need to get that message home to everyone.

Varian you are assuming that not wearing a mask will endanger others. It is because the possibility of that is so low that we are now being told that masks are not necessary.

It is the same reason as the reason the twice vaccinated will not need to self isolate any more.

I am getting irritated by the way those who have decided to continue to wear a mask all the time, seem to think they occupy some moral high ground. You do not. You have merely made your own personal choice, which is what this change is all about

I am among those who will not wear a mask, the damn thing drives me to drink and I have to choose between seeing where I am going or wearing a mask, but like others making the same choice I will wear one if requested and use my judgment to decide where else it would be necessary. Were I ever to get a bus I would wear one. Thankfully, because I get travel sick, I am unlikely to ever get a bus.

When I do my weekly supermarket shop in a huge almost empty cavernous supermarket I will not wear a mask. I am unlikely to ever get near enough to anyone else to be either a threat or a victim.

And this is the point. Some of us live lives where the chances of picking up the disease have always been lower than in other places. town versus small village, in contact with school children and not being in contact with children. family members working from home or not and so on. This is why the decisions on masks are being left to each individual to make the decision based on their own personal circumstances.

If you live in an area where the incidence of covid infection is low, and you have been double jabbed, then there is a low probability that you will have the infection and pass it on. Even so why not do everything you can to prevent that?

Prevent what? Should I also not step outside in case I have an accident, a fall, motor accident, byicycle accident, What about the risk of other diseases? flu, respiratory complaint (not COVID).

Where is the cut off point for risk? 1 in 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000. Life is full of risk and no doubt something I stand in risk of will one day kill me.

Most people in this country are overweight and this makes them especially prone to being severely ill with COVID. How many of those wearing masks can say they are within the approved BMI. take plenty of exercise, eat a mediterranean diet and do not drink heavily. How many are actively trying to meet those standards. Doing that will protect you from COVID far more effectively than whether you wear a mask or not.

You wear a seat belt to minimise the injury you might suffer in a car crash.

You watch your weight because that is good for your health.

You wear a mask in the supermarket or public transport to protect the health of others.

Why not?

M0nica

HurdyGurdy There is plenty of evidence to show that the probability of transfer by is so low it is as good as nil.

Tests where large quantities of virus were smeared on packets showed how the virus could survive, several days, on some surfaces, but laboratory smears contained far more virus than was ever likely to be transferred by a hand, plus you need the concentration of virus contained from inhaling droplets to be present and then inhaled and this is highly improbable to happen from any virus on a package.

You do not get COVID from one viral unit, nor, I suspect 10 or 100, but you need to inhale 1,000s of viral units for your immune system to be overwhelmed. Also viral particles age and die and the presence of particles does not mean that they are capable of giving you a disease, after a few hours senescence sets in and the viral particles effectively become the living dead, not the deadly living.

Like many things transfers are theoretically possible, but practically very unlikely.

Like you I never saw any need to do sto quarantine shopping or deliveries. I did during the early months of lockdown have a big box by the doors for deliveries. I was more concerned about delivery drivers, breathing the virus over me than getting it from the parcel they handed me.

> There is plenty of evidence to show that the probability of transfer by is so low it is as good as nil.

epsilon is not equal to zero

> You do not get COVID from one viral unit, nor, I suspect 10 or 100, but you need to inhale 1,000s of viral units for your immune system to be overwhelmed.

That is interesting. All through the pandemic I have wondered about whether it is just a tiny quantity like cyanide or the way even the smell of nuts can make some people ill.

Do you have a link to any information on this please?

> Also viral particles age and die and the presence of particles does not mean that they are capable of giving you a disease, after a few hours senescence sets in and the viral particles effectively become the living dead, not the deadly living.

I had not known of that before. The message seemed to be that if someone gets some in them then they can get the disease.

Do you have any links for that please?

I am getting irritated by the way those who have decided to continue to wear a mask all the time seem to think they occupy some moral high ground. You do not. You have merely made your own personal choice, which is what this change is all about.

This x 1000.

You wear a seat belt to minimise the injury you might suffer in a car crash.
You watch your weight because that is good for your health.
You wear a mask in the supermarket or public transport to protect the health of others.
Why not?

Because I don't want to but, I have no objections to you continuing to wear yours for evermore if you to. I won't judge you for it or think that your irresponsible or make snarky remarks about your choice, just as I'm sure you won't judge others for feeling differently. There! A compromise has been made.

has anyone had a pcr test done recently? my son has been waiting 3 days now for his result and we are self isolating. 119 have just said they are inundated so canot even access the system. It's pissing me off a bit tbh. If they are going to reopen shouldn't this all be working a bit faster (one off school, one off work fwiw)