Lifting all Covid resrictions- how do you feel about it?

I find the idea of a 'new normal' being to cover faces for every sniffle is terrifying. It's probably also bad for building up good immune systems.

I have been able to take my two lockdown GC (2 yr olds) to play centres the last couple of weeks.

They could see peoples faces, see their expressions, their smiles without all grownups being masked. They have had minimal social interaction since birth, and it has hindered their social skills development.

All our young folks have paid a heavy price over the last two years to protect their elders, it’s their time to spread their wings.

I am CV, it is nobody’s responsibility to protect me, it’s my responsibility to protect myself I will continue to make my own risk assessments and somehow persuade the AC and GC that this Granny wants to spread her wings also.

Baggs

I find the idea of a 'new normal' being to cover faces for every sniffle is terrifying. It's probably also bad for building up good immune systems.

They’ve been wearing masks with colds for years in Japan. Check out their covid stats incidentally.

Fantastic posts Baggs ???

If it was a relative in hospital, who had some sort of treatment which made them temporarily at risk of succumbing to infection, I assume people would wear a mask until such time as their immune system was back on form.

It's the same principle, albeit for strangers.

A temporary, measured, and only when necessary measure.

Dickens

I don't quite know how to phrase or explain this but I'll try.

After any major national or international event - war, famine, earthquake, flooding, etc - we try to rebuild as quickly as possible to get back to normal. But it's never quite the same 'normal' because these events often reveal things... weaknesses in the way society is structured both physically and politically. For example, after the second world war, we started to build a better world for the impoverished - housing, welfare and, of course, the creation of the NHS. Major flooding often reveals the weaknesses in our flood defence infrastructure... we built the Thames Barrier to prevent a repeat of the 1953 devastation. Earthquakes reveal the flaws in building construction which change the way engineers design such buildings.

The pandemic has shown us that some people can effectively work from home - saving both time and energy spent on gridlocked motorways or in overcrowded trains... easing the notorious "rush hour" misery (not to mention the pollution). The wearing of masks (the correct masks and the correct way of wearing them) has indicated that in CERTAIN environments they help to stop the spread of highly infectious viruses / bacteria. How many working days, pre-pandemic were lost to people being off sick with colds and Flu? There was a time when the great British stiff upper lip demanded that we just 'carry on' and that's what we did, until people got pissed off with constantly being bombarded with colds, chest infections, etc, etc, and the culture changed, and people demanded that you stay home for a day or two when in the 'incubation' period of your infection.

We do have to get back to leading a normal life again - as a CEV individual I've been attempting to do just that, right from the beginning. Taking advantage of 'quiet' periods in supermarkets was something I did early in the isolation period. Had people coming into my home to conduct business meetings - masked and distanced - but still working (and paying tax).

What I'm inarticulately trying to say is that we all want to get back to normality again - but why does it have to be the 'old' normal? We evolve and change all the time, hopefully creating a better society (ha!), maybe doing things differently because we've learned something about ourselves individually and collectively.

Why can't we have a measured, thoughtful and inclusive re-appraisal of the way we live - and will have to live with the virus? If wearing masks in crowded places in which others have no choice but to occupy helps prevent the spread of the virus - also colds and Flu and possibly other infections, why is it not possible to embrace this as part of the new normal? Even the vulnerable want a return to normal life - they are part of society, they also work, shop, spend their money and help to keep the economy alive.

I appreciate others will completely disagree with me - but please don't tell me "wear a mask if you're scared" because I'm not, and because it doesn't work like that.

You actually phrased it very well, Dickens! Thank you.

I believe Boots is going to sell single tests for £5:99 or pack of 4 £17, prior to the 1st April.
I believe there is a price cap in Spain and in France .!

I also worry about the effect on little children of not being able to see people's faces when in public spaces.
I so agree with you Baggs and GrannyGravy about the heavy price children, especially young ones, have paid over the last 2 years of their little lives.

Baggs - as part of freedom for my son and given your complete anti mask stance. I would like you to stay away from him. Not sure how we would manage that, but the masks are oppression narrative does put him at risk.

I’m quite happy to take my mask off in well ventilated areas if people need to see my mouth for lip reading. I also have a clear mask that can be worn if seeing lips is essential. I also know some sign.

It would be a good time to bring in makaton for all children.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202202/medium-278212-japan-deaths.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202202/medium-441534-japan.jpg

Nezumi65

Baggs

I find the idea of a 'new normal' being to cover faces for every sniffle is terrifying. It's probably also bad for building up good immune systems.

They’ve been wearing masks with colds for years in Japan. Check out their covid stats incidentally.

What, this Japan?

Baggs

I find the idea of a 'new normal' being to cover faces for every sniffle is terrifying. It's probably also bad for building up good immune systems.

How do you work that one out? Do you know how the immune system works?

And agree Dickens. Unfortunately we have to be (in our PMs words) ‘confident’ and ‘get back to work’ - as if people aren’t already well and truly back to work (I never stopped). I assume a lot of this is to benefit commercial landlords - who donate to the Tory Party.

For one short moment I thought the pandemic would show people that there is a more inclusive way to run the world, where disabled people can more easily access work and we can be kinder to the environment. It appears not. It’s just business as usual so we’ll ignore the impact it has on those who are poorer or at risk, ignore science and create culture wars.

Nezumi65

Baggs

I find the idea of a 'new normal' being to cover faces for every sniffle is terrifying. It's probably also bad for building up good immune systems.

They’ve been wearing masks with colds for years in Japan. Check out their covid stats incidentally.

But the crude death rate in Japan is going *up*. In UK it's going down

I wonder what that's all about? Could it have something to do with being over-protective with regard to respiratory diseases? That's a genuine question. I reall don't know, but crude death rates are used widely for assessing a country's overall health.

Another link shows in the screenshot I took of another page. See below.

MissAdventure

It would be a good time to bring in makaton for all children.

But that is usually for people with disabilities. Our children were not disabled per se by the virus, just inconvenienced and coped remarkably well. But now it is their turn to flourish under more normal circumstances.

Baggs

I find the idea of a 'new normal' being to cover faces for every sniffle is terrifying. It's probably also bad for building up good immune systems.

... who is suggesting that you cover your face for every sniffle? I'm not.

What I'm actually suggesting is that if you're on a packed tube train breathing down my neck in standing-room-only, that you wear a flippin' mask... you can take it off immediately you're out of the carriage...

Actually, on my page it's see above!

I'm going to London at the weekend. I will wear my mask on the tube.

MissAdventure

It would be a good time to bring in makaton for all children.

Our youngest (just turned two) has picked up and understands a lot of the makaton signs from Mr,Tumble and uses them.

Unfortunately this does not compensate for the lack of interaction over the last two years, they haven’t seen any physical entire faces other than immediate family. (TV, film and cartoons excepted, which are not the same)

What I'm actually suggesting is that if you're on a packed tube train breathing down my neck in standing-room-only, that you wear a flippin' mask... you can take it off immediately you're out of the carriage...

That's what I thought you meant, Dickens. Sorry if that was not clear.

I think there were lots of things about the old 'normal' that weren't that great, I see no problem in trying to change those things. I havent returned to some of the things I did pre covid as life is better without them.

I’m not sure what you are trying to show looking at only 2022 Volver

Japan has had a total of 22k covid deaths since the pandemic has started.

There is no reason why non disabled people shouldn't learn makaton alongside speaking.
People with learning disabilities do it all the time.
I asked my friend with down syndrome why he was taught it, as he can speak clearly.
"Yes, but some of my friends can't" he said.

Japan’s death rate will have increased over the last decade or so because they have a
Low birth rate and the oldest population in the world.

Even more remarkable that they have so few covid deaths. Especially given that crowded multigenerational living is the norm in Japan.

There is no reason why non disabled people shouldn't learn makaton alongside speaking.
Not at all under normal circumstances MIssAdventure I agree. What I meant was that children probably had enough on their plates coping with strange things during the pandemic without it being "a good time" to learn something additional.