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

Nezumi65

So some people will get to choose between eating, heating or infecting others. I think most in that situation would choose to infect others (I would).

I'm not sure it's been confirmed has it about health and social care workers? I have been trying to get clarification for my son's team as that's the main defence in keeping him free of infection. The last I heard no-one knew.

ours have said they are continuing to wear masks but i think it will come down to the care providers

Mamardoit

LFT are going to be available to buy, and free to NHS and others. The labs will carry on.

Ah! That's true. However, there will undoubtedly be fewer of them and it could be that they only process the tests their company has sold.

Nezumi65

katy1950

Hooray free at last it's up to the individual to look after themselves let's start to live again before Putin drops a bomb on are heads

How can people look after themselves? They rely on others not to spread it to them?

How does wearing a mask, taking lateral flow tests and isolating when infectious stop you ‘living’

How can people look after themselves? They rely on others not to spread it to them?

TBH, I think you are wasting your time. A public health issue has become one of an assault on personal freedom.

Encouraged by the libertarian-in-chief. Thursday is now 'Freedom Day'... what could be clearer!

So some people will get to choose between eating, heating or infecting others. I think most in that situation would choose to infect others (I would).

I'm not sure it's been confirmed has it about health and social care workers? I have been trying to get clarification for my son's team as that's the main defence in keeping him free of infection. The last I heard no-one knew.

GrammyGrammy

Masks are ineffective and bad for your lungs. Horrible torturous things. They disappear each others faces. Poor children who think humans only have half a face. Poor deaf people who have lived in visual silence for two years.

Where's your evidence for that? Masks are not ineffective and there's no evidence they're bad for your lungs. Children have more sense than you give them credit for (maybe more than some adults ).

LFT are going to be available to buy, and free to NHS and others. The labs will carry on.

Dee1012

I think the situation regarding clinically vulnerable and immunocompromised people is an absolute disgrace!

I'm disgusted in a government that is doing it and a disgrace that people seem to be just going along with it.

I find it stunning that so many went on about vaccine passports and a two tier society but this....this is ok?
Fellow human beings are being marginalised and that's more 'worthy' in terms of freedoms?

I've been wondering ... if freedom is so important as a concept, would people be happy to give psychopaths or paedophiles freedom to make their own decisions?

These decisions by Boris are not based on the science but simply an attempt to regain some popularity.
I hope our Scottish first minister this afternoon manages to find a middle of the road option to protect the vulnerable while gradually easing the way towards normality.

All children do not have mild illness. A friend's daughters classmate died from it (no pre-existing conditions). Yes very rare, but very real. A lot of children are getting repeated covid infections - there's an interesting thread on twitter this morning about that - and the impact of that is entirely unknown.

Covid leads to blood clots - have a look at the figures for increase in strokes and heart attacks following covid infections. And the impact of micro clots. All this is currently poorly understood.

I'm not suggesting everyone should stay in. I am saying I think the freedom to merrily infect others is no freedom. Particularly when the tools to reduce that risk are readily available and barely impact on the majority. And those who can't partake in masks and LFTs (such as my eldest son, although we are working on LFTs - can get as far as his cheek now) have never had to wear them.

Nezumi65

Of course stockpiling will be a thing. Some people don’t want to spread covid.

I wonder if the testing labs will continue to process the tests after 1 April. If they don't, there's no point in stockpiling.

Nezumi65

katy1950

Hooray free at last it's up to the individual to look after themselves let's start to live again before Putin drops a bomb on are heads

How can people look after themselves? They rely on others not to spread it to them?

How does wearing a mask, taking lateral flow tests and isolating when infectious stop you ‘living’

It doesn't stop them living, but it could enable some others to carry on living. It seems some people are more interested in slogans that thinking about anybody other than themselves.

Nezumi65

Marmadoit - it is not illness that restricts the freedom of others when there is covid circulating at high numbers. A risk that could be mitigated by masks and lateral flows.

As I said earlier my son in his twenties who is extremely fit has been ill repeatedly since catching covid in June and ended up in hospital in the autumn. He has had to cut back on working hours. All after a mild dose of covid. I saw similar amongst some university students when working in a clinic over the autumn.

Covid is not necessarily great for the young either.

It's certainly a very nasty virus, but now with the vaccine and a less dangerous variant we do need to move on.

My DNiece is a nurse who went down with covid early April 2020. She suffered with long covid but thankfully is much better now. DD had similar problems following glandular fever. Post virus illness is a fact.

Most young people and all children have mild illness fortunately.

Like I said upthread I wish free LFT were continuing until the summer. I will continue wearing masks when I think it necessary. I will certainly wear them in healthcare setting. I'm sure the OP is wrong when she states that is no longer the case.

Hope your son gets back to full fitness soon.

The statistics rarely include long covid. There are a concerning number with ongoing effects. I think my son has a version of long covid although he refuses to accept that (despite having been hospitalised in the autumn, and having to reduce hours at work).

Anyway my point really is just that the 'it's only a cold' brigade have not understood the risks of covid to all age groups. I saw enough in the clinic I worked in to know I don't particularly want to get it (and I am not someone I would class as at risk). I certainly don't want my unvaccinated severely disabled eldest son to get it because ongoing illness of the sort his brother has experienced would probably risk his placement.

And I still am bemused by which 'freedoms' we not get back. As far I can tell the only additional freedom I have now has to merrily infect others. Yay.

If only throughout the pandemic the government had emphasised “protections” rather than “restrictions” the the public attitude may have been different.
True freedom is only attained when everyone is free, which sadly is not the case and as usual the sickest and most deprived in society come off the worst. For example, to buy food or buy tests to keep vulnerable family members safe. To go to work when positive or stay home without pay?

Covid is not necessarily great for the young either.

Statistically it is not a big deal for young people. Which is not saying that it hasn't affected some young people very badly, or even killed them. Statistically speaking the risk to young people is far less than for old people, unlike the Spanish Flu that killed people in their prime after WW1.

I think society has become hyper-anxious about risks to health, and not just because of covid.

Boris tells us to exercise our own responsibility but how can we? I’d still isolate if I had Covid but how would I know if I can’t test ? I’ve had cold like symptoms for over a week but am testing negative every day so am going out but what would I do without? I’ll still wear a mask and keep my distance but for many it’s going to be a free for all

I'm not patronising you by feeling sorry for you, montymops.
It's me I'm worried about.

There's a petition to sign if you're interested.

www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-don-t-scrap-free-covid-testing-and-isolation/psf/share?share=1&source_location=combo_psf

People can't all protect themselves by staying home, not engaging, not working.

Well said Katy1950 ? Please will all those who are feeling so sorry for me and my husband - both classified as CEV- both having had Covid - both triple vaccinated - stop patronising us. We are not fearful- we want to get on with what is left of our lives and enjoy it. We are so glad that restrictions are being lifted. As for so called free tests - they are not free - they are paid for by the taxpayer.

Marmadoit - it is not illness that restricts the freedom of others when there is covid circulating at high numbers. A risk that could be mitigated by masks and lateral flows.

As I said earlier my son in his twenties who is extremely fit has been ill repeatedly since catching covid in June and ended up in hospital in the autumn. He has had to cut back on working hours. All after a mild dose of covid. I saw similar amongst some university students when working in a clinic over the autumn.

Covid is not necessarily great for the young either.

JaneJudge

Iam64

Marydoll

I am quite dismayed by the insensitive attitudes of the posters who either haven't read the whole thread or are of an I'm all right Jack mindset.
The lack of empathy and compassion is quite an eye opener.

No-one is being asked to change their lifestyle for those of us, who are at the highest risk of death from Covid, but a little understanding wouldnt go amiss. You have absolutely no conception of what it is like for us.

Thanks Marydoll. Sad but this needs repeating.

I think it's because it is in the daily email GNHQ send out tbh Mary, so people just follow the link, don't read the thread and then just post in answer to the original post what they want heard!

Thanks Jane. Perhaps it explains some of the posts, but sadly I'm sure there are others, just like in real life, who only care about themselves. ?

However, I have to say that there are also many kind and supportive people on GN and in my social circle, who have gladdened my heart with their kindness.

Marydoll

I am quite dismayed by the insensitive attitudes of the posters who either haven't read the whole thread or are of an I'm all right Jack mindset.
The lack of empathy and compassion is quite an eye opener.

No-one is being asked to change their lifestyle for those of us, who are at the highest risk of death from Covid, but a little understanding wouldnt go amiss. You have absolutely no conception of what it is like for us.

Absolutely
My DH is CEV and I am so sad to read such insensitive posts

Yep mazieD it’s just culture war nonsense stoked up by the right. It should never have been about personal freedom - mitigations have always been about protecting others

‘I’m a selfish bastard and don’t mind infecting others’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. But is far closer to the truth than masks or tests impinging on any civil liberty.

sorry for misspelling