I have just about had enough of these contradictory covid19 regulations.

So……why is it that Europeans who have been fully vaccinated are able to travel freely between any EU countries? They don’t have to take tests or quarantine on return to their own country. Is there something about their vaccinations that makes them superior to ours.
For example if I was German I would be able to freely fly between my home in Germany and our place in the Canary Islands. I would only need to show proof of vaccinations.
What is happening here in the UK is political and not reasonable. It is about profit for the testing companies and this government wanting us all to stay on this miserable island and spend our money here to boost the economy.

Have you looked at infection rates in some other countries? Maybe the graph will answer your question. I communicate regularly with friends in Germany. The infection rates are a fraction of those in the UK. Most people have been prepared to follow the guidelines.

What is happening in the UK is a government which has lost trust and too many people who think they can do what they want regardless.

I believe that we do more testing than many other countries so our rates will look higher. Though I’m not convinced that the infection rates are particularly important. It is the hospitalisation and mortality numbers which we should compare. These are remaining relatively low.
I also find it interesting that 600 million LFTests have gone missing. And totally aside that 2 million people worldwide die each year as a direct result of poor air quality. Do we shut down the world’s economy? No we don’t…….but this may be a bit of a red herring…..
Anyway the Handmaids tale is starting……that’s me out for the duration.

this miserable island
Whoa, just because we've all lost trust in the government, just because promises have been broken and we're all frustrated, this is still a beautiful, uplifting island.
Glass maybe quarter full and all the rest of it, but we have to continue to be careful.

The idea that the government is enjoying the control measures is just plain crazy - it is hardly a vote-winner! Vote for us and we will stop you going out and seeing your friends! Roll up, roll up, vote for us and you will have the chance to wear a mask!!

Ellianne - I certainly agree with that!

MissChateline

I believe that we do more testing than many other countries so our rates will look higher. Though I’m not convinced that the infection rates are particularly important. It is the hospitalisation and mortality numbers which we should compare. These are remaining relatively low.
I also find it interesting that 600 million LFTests have gone missing. And totally aside that 2 million people worldwide die each year as a direct result of poor air quality. Do we shut down the world’s economy? No we don’t…….but this may be a bit of a red herring…..
Anyway the Handmaids tale is starting……that’s me out for the duration.

Sorry MissChateline but my daughter's partner is on the frontline of analysing test results and what they actually mean for incidence rates. Your argument doesn't hold up. There is absolutely no doubt that incidence rates in the UK are higher than many other first world countries and it's nothing to do with government plots, manipulation of results, more comprehensive testing or anything else. If you believe that, you're in denial.

I'm not denying incidence rates are higher. But with more people vaccinated than anywhere in Europe the hospitalisation and mortality rates are low. We have to move on.

And I for one will not acquire the unreliable lateral flow tests and report the result. I have no intention to acquire any of these tests, let alone report to anyone the result of said test. I’m wondering now if I should delete my Track and Trace App.

Maddyone. Yes, delete.

growstuff is your daughter's partner very high up in the analysing of test samples? As I understand it "up to 60% of positive LFTs from schoolchildren prove to be wrong" ....from the Telegraph.

MissChateline

I'm not denying incidence rates are higher. But with more people vaccinated than anywhere in Europe the hospitalisation and mortality rates are low. We have to move on.

Have you heard of Long Covid (1,000,000 known cases in UK so far), or do you only count death as being a significant criteria?
What do we do if 'let it rip' results in a vaccine resistant mutation?

What do we do if it's found that covid causes long term neurological damage which may only manifest itself several years after infection? (Or is it OK to let our children and grandchildren bear that risk because we older folk might be dead by then?)

Why are people even contemplating removing all restrictions when new cases are rising rapidly and there are known and unknown adverse results from infection?

I certainly don’t think we should let it rip but I wonder at what point do we get back to something approaching normal life for everyone. How many restrictions need to be in place to control the virus, if any? What does let it rip really mean in the context of a largely fully vaccinated population. Eventually I guess children will be vaccinated, but as the vaccine is not yet licensed for children, I assume it won’t be soon. America is already vaccinating twelve year olds and above, but we’re not yet. Children respond differently to medicines/treatments and the effect of vaccination on young children is totally unknown. Extreme caution is required with regard to children.

MissChateline Merkel and Macron are proposing that the EU make the UK a ‘variant/country of concern’ with associated quarantines or a total ban on travellers from the UK. Do you think that’s political?

Jaxjacky

MissChateline Merkel and Macron are proposing that the EU make the UK a ‘variant/country of concern’ with associated quarantines or a total ban on travellers from the UK. Do you think that’s political?

Given that the more transmissible Kent variant spread around Europe and that this government has allowed the Delta variant to run amock here by itself sheer incompetence no, it isn’t political. It’s countries taking care of their own. We are the virus spreaders of Europe these days.

They're right to do so for the welfare of their countries. Not political at all.

Especially Ellianne, because their populations have not been vaccinated as quickly as ours. I think Germany and France are catching up, but they have still vaccinated fewer than Britain, and some of the other countries are a long way behind.

I was looking at vaccination rates for France and Germany they are still running quite a bit behind the Uk
Interesting the amount of Covid testing as well we do far more tests than France or Germany probably around 5 times as much

Of course it isn't political at all. Just pure scientific common sense- shame it is all a bit too late! As said, most people from Europe have to have PCR test before entering the UK, then isolate for 10 days, and have PCR tests on day 2 and 8, at huge expense. They can also opt for day 5 early release test on top (still have to do day 8) - if they want to be released early on day 5 or 6.

So this should happen both ways- not just for Europeans coming into UK, but Brits going to Europe. Fair, much safer for all.

No posts for the last couple of days here.

I wonder if some who said we should just forget about all precautions and care- and gave approval for the 10s of 1000s of football fans going crazy in the streets, etc - now see it is madness as so many returned with Covid and have been spreading it- with a huge spike in cases, mainly Delta variant.

Very mixed messages from Johnson. Doesn’t seem to want to back down from opening up but advising caution. Suppose he wants people to blame themselves if they catch it.

Things are looking up ?
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/germany-travel-rules-uk-merkel-vaccine-b1877089.html

BMA are alarmed at the current growing in covid and Johnson’s plan to completely open up.

I also agree with this paediatrician, I have felt uncomfortable about this policy since it was mooted.

Dr Greg Kelly
@drgregkelly
·
7h
As a pediatrician I'm going on record saying that allowing kids to be freely infected with a novel disease that has unknown long term consequences is the worst idea of 2021 despite being a pretty crowded field so far