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

Can I just make it clear that I am in favour of 'getting back to normal' along with all those healthy, strong and well individuals who are fed-up with the restrictions and the impact it has on their lives.

I am CEV, 80 years old, partially disabled - my partner more so (I am his carer), we both still work in our own business (oil & gas technical consultancy), enjoy going out, and attempt to live life to the fullest. And I would love to be able to socialise even more than I do at present.

I just would've liked a more objective and cautious approach to the ending of restrictions, and don't believe that the PM - although I'm sure he's listened to his advisors, has taken that approach.

That's it - I'm off out now to 'get on with life'... me and my mask!

Dickens and JaneJudge I do understand what you are saying, and such attitudes are uncalled for. It's just that some people are too dispassionate or preoccupied to stop to think, and innocently might come out with the wrong words or actions.

Talking of theatres, maddyone my DgodD is in Saturday Night Fever at the Peacock and the show has had to be cancelled for several nights now due to members of the cast getting covid! I do feel sorry for those working in the theatre, it is their lives and they want the show to go on.

Urmstongran

And yet - even with more restrictions in Wales & Scotland, compared with England, cases rose.

Covid doesn't realise there's a border!

Pupils cross the border for school, patients cross the border to see their GP, people cross the border to work and shop. And socialise.

Masks, testing and being off work if positive will still apply in medical settings.
Ending of free testing does not come in until 1st April and if deaths and hospitalisations continue on the downward trend, which with better weather likely is to be expected, then it would seem like a good time to do this. Plenty of time to get in a supply if you feel the need.

I think you will find that the people who are already happy to isolate will continue to do so. After all there is no checking up on people who test positive on an LFT at the moment and don't have a PCR test. The vast majority of people are not testing if they feel well unless their employment demands it or they have relatives who would prefer they did. That can still continue, other countries have never had free testing so I'm sure we will cope.

There are some scientists who are saying that the surgical masks are less effective against omnicrom and cloth masks are next to useless as we have known for a long time. I would suggest that vulnerable people change to the FFP3 masks which are more effective and can be worn for an hour and are effective for longer unless they get damp. They are the ones we wear for any aerosol generating procedures.

And yet - even with more restrictions in Wales & Scotland, compared with England, cases rose.

The Welsh Government's health minister Eluned Morgan has said that there was "very heated" meeting between UK Government, where the cabinet was represented by Michael Gove, and devolved nations. She said the UK Government had not "bottomed out the detail of what they're announcing" and has not thought about how people on low incomes will afford lateral flow tests when their free provision is ended. One estimate was that a box of six would cost around £20

I think it's premature and I think it's reckless and is a situation which is not, I think, backed by evidence. It's clear that the system up until now has meant that we have been able to break the trends and change the transmission but we're still at a position where we have pretty high rates within our communities, Clearly at some point we need to ramp down but we should do that at a time when the transmissions are not so high and when was absolutely clear what we're going to put in its place

Eluned Morgan
Health Minister, Welsh Government

I believe we live in a very individualistic society and have done for some time - long before the pandemic. The 'community' spirit exists for some, but for many others not so much. I'm not complaining, it is what it is - I'm just being realistic. My rose-tinted specs faded long ago

IKR - completely agree

My adult daughter has a severe disability and I have seen how attitudes and language has changed over the last 10 years (even from professionals involved with her care) and it hasn't been for the better. We are going backwards.

I think people have been ignoring the isolation guidelines anyway maddyone. I know of people who have used other people's covid passes and I know of people that have gone into work whilst positive too. Trusting people will do the right thing is a risky business. (I personally am doing the right thing but I haven't found it difficult or a chore)

Josieann

I don't think calling people "frightened" necessarily shows contempt for them. A lot of people who don't have experience of CEV might just be detached or uninvolved in what it means for others who are.

... I'd like to agree with you. However, there are so many references by some individuals to those "living in fear", "sheeple" (a reference to anyone following previous government diktats on prevention), calls to "get over it", "get on with it" and one on here recently suggesting that we "stop whining" - that it's obvious we (CEV and others) are often held in contempt.

I've had eyes-raised-heavenwards because I've continued to wear a mask (whilst 'getting on with it' and continuing to live life).

I believe we live in a very individualistic society and have done for some time - long before the pandemic. The 'community' spirit exists for some, but for many others not so much. I'm not complaining, it is what it is - I'm just being realistic. My rose-tinted specs faded long ago.

Dickens very good post at 8.57.

Well here in France we still have masks in place and even if we didn't I would still wear one, infact I would be quite happy to wear one every winter now if it meant protection from the annual winter bugs, even catching a normal cold nevermind a normal flu is time-consuming and depressing.

I’m not happy about it. I think the abolition of free testing is a mistake, as is the requirement to self isolate if you have Covid. How can I get back my life if I can’t go to the theatre without knowing I’m not sitting next to someone who has Covid? Or go to a restaurant not knowing if a person suffering on the next table, or my waitress has Covid? I think the abolition of self isolation if you have Covid is utterly wrong. Just wrong, wrong, wrong!
Nobody asked me, or anyone else, if this is what I/we want.

Iam64

OldWoman - of course the shortage is all downy selfish labour politicians ?

I was quoting the boast of a local Labour politician - I didn't say it was down to ALL Labour politicians!

LilacChaser

love0c

How do I feel? Very glad!

Same here!

How will it affect you?

love0c

How do I feel? Very glad!

Same here!

OldWoman - of course the shortage is all downy selfish labour politicians ?

I don't think calling people "frightened" necessarily shows contempt for them. A lot of people who don't have experience of CEV might just be detached or uninvolved in what it means for others who are.

snowberryZ

They've already put a block on people ordering lateral flows!
I tried to order one out of interest and got so far and it said Unavailable.
What a surprise.
I have one box left. Maybe I should keep it. In years to come they will be relics, looked upon like upon the same as gas masks.

The problem is people are stockpiling - a local Labour councillor has boasted online that he has stockpiled - typical of the I'm alright Jack attitude of some local Labour politicians.

Rosiehaha

If it is a political move surely not lifting restrictions would have been more appeasing to the ‘frightened’. Secondly all I have heard is listen to the scientists and they are saying this is the right move. They will be watching the variants and hopefully will act accordingly. This virus is never going away and we can’t keep living in this way. All we can do is take responsibility for our own actions and those who don’t never have.

Why would Johnson want to appease the frightened? The clinically vulnerable - who may or may not be frightened are largely composed of the elderly and those with underlying health problems. They are a minority - Johnson is not interested in appeasing them.

This is a political move to appease his backbenchers, the libertarians - many of whom would, given the choice, never have instituted lockdown in the first instance. And the general public who have construed this public health issue as an attack on their personal 'freedum'.

Learning to 'live with the virus' is Boris Johnson's way of regaining his popularity. And if the infection rates rise, it's our own fault because he's given us 'personal responsibility' which we've obviously abused. Easy peasy - he 'got Covid done'.

We could have started a more cautious, measured and inclusive approach back to normality, with a gradual easing of restrictions. Just because Johnson says it's over, doesn't mean it is.

As the writer Tom Peck says, "no one knows if it's OK to end Covid isolation - least of all the PM."

... and your obvious contempt for the frightened is the reason why I, and many like me, will continue to take sensible precautions, regardless of Johnson's announcement - not because we are living in fear but because we don't want to become one of the inconvenient 'numbers' on a list of those who've succumbed to the virus. That's if we ever even know those statistics.

Done for political reasons not scientific ones. Nobody wants more restrictions than necessary but a few simple things such as masks and testing would help.

I am CEV and having to decide what to do for the best. I run my own business which brings me into contact with a lot of people. I may decide to retire six or seven years earlier than planned. I love my work but do not want to risk my life.

Very happy that for many people the pandemic appears to be "over" though.

Rosie1959, yes there have always been selfish folk but Johnson’s approach gives them the nod to ignore any social responsibility.

If I was CEV I would definitely be changing my mask to a FFP2 mask as Iam64/says surgical masks offer limited protection.
Although we had rules regarding isolation they did not control those who had no intention of isolating. It is suspected that 50% of people who had been infected with Omicron did not isolate either because they did not care or were asymptotic and did even realise they had it.

Well said, Iam64. A common cold for others, usually results in a severe chest infection and weeks of antibiotics and steroids for me.

Dare I put this out there?
Let those who are CEV catch Covid and die, that will remove a huge burden from the NHS! ? I for one, am costing the NHS a fortune for medication alone, let alone the umpteen consultations and scans.
The more I hear and read, I am becoming convinced that this Johnston and his cronies' plan. ?

The idea that those of us in the CEV group should simply return to living as we did before Covid is as offensive as it’s wrong. Before Covid, I tried to avoid close proximity to grandchildren or friends who had heavy colds. If I get a cold, it isn’t unusual for a chest infection, or worse to follow.
Now I can be standing next to an unmasked Covid infected person, my own mask may offer limited protection.
I can’t return to the life I had before Covid. We didn’t have a potentially life threatening disease around us did we.

growstuff

Elizabeth27

Now is as good a time as any, it has to happen or go on forever. There are many viruses of the same severity that we have lived with for many years.

Nobody wore a mask before covid, there have always been vulnerable people and always been viruses that could affect them.

Which viruses of the same severity have we lived with for many years in the UK? I don't know of any. If you're going to make claims like that, you need to back them up.

I wondered about that too, Growstuff.

Rosiehaha, as for appeasing the frightened, you obviously have no idea of the implications of catching Covid, for those who are immunocompromised.
Quite an insensitive remark.
I'm not frightened, I just want to live a bit longer, not expecting others to put their lives on hold for the likes of me, but hoping for some support and compassion.

Masks on public transport, should be compulsory. That's common sense and not a big ask.