I think the only way we go back into lockdowns again is if a new mutation is immune to the current vaccines and numbers of cases, hospitalisations and deaths rise rapidly again. Thanks to the vaccine and it’s rollout so many of the age groups that made up such a massive part of mortality figures and hospitalisations have high immunity now, so even if cases of the Indian variant really start to rise, in theory it shouldn’t have the same impact as before.
The travel restrictions will have to stay in place whilst favoured destinations have high infection rates and low vaccination levels.
You know you responded with faux outrage, ignoring most of what I said, then with a few letters of nonsense, then with an insult about things going over my head. I think you are mistaking arguing with me with being plain rude. I don't want to drop to that level. Thank you.
I take manners seriously. The words of Margaret Atwood are important to me. I probably should have named the quote but I was walking home as I posted it. You have several times made grand sweeping statements, like I want to see bodies piled in the streets, but then failed to engage with me afterwards. We all do it, perhaps. But don't pretend afterwards that the fault is in me. That is a little beneath both of us.
This is a question, not a statement "So is seeing bodies piled high rather than another lockdown in place your mantra?' I'm well aware of Margret Attwood no need to attribute the quotation. Several times with the grand sweeping statements? Apologies if I've offended not intended, the original bodies question was a tongue in cheek reference to Johnson's alleged words I probably should have posted in blue.
I really dislike all this talk about the 'next lockdown' if I'm honest. It's time people embraced the fact that the pandemic is effectively over in this country and that life is returning to normal.
Agree 100%. There's absolutely no evidence to suggest we we will need to go back in lockdown. the vaccines have been an enormous success.
There is a level of fear in this country which the media is still feeding off. I am a bit obsessed with representation in the media and some of the stuff I have seen lately beggars belief. An example. Yesterday a whole article on the BBC was dedicated to ONE scientist who said we are in for another lockdown. Today an article on the BBC asked why covid is spiking in the most vaccinated country (that was the headline) but if you read the article nobody was really all that sick and the population was very small anyway. I know that if you say this you look like a kook, but fear sells so much better than balanced and thoughtful articles.
I agree. I was one of the biggest cheerleaders for all the lockdowns, but I truly believe the worst is over and we have to learn to live with it. The main goals of the vaccine was to minimise hospitalisations and minimise those who are likely to be really ill, getting ill. We have done that. Now we need to get on with it. I am not talking about 'piles of bodies', but unfortunately a fact of life is that the state has done its bit to protect us (a Tory or Labour government wouldn't have done much different I believe in the eventual outcome - though the path to it may have been different) and now we have to get on with our lives. Some will die from it, but many 1000s won't now thanks to the vaccinations.
But people being OK, as a result of having the vaccine themselves, or being around other people who have been vaccinated, isn't newsworthy. People dying, or falling seriously ill, is newsworthy, and sells papers. Newspapers need shock stories, so they will press for further lockdowns, just to show that things are not normal.
The problem is that governments are held accountable in the media more than they ever were before....and this government has been burnt by their earlier decisions. And only the stupid would think they don't care.....a lot of people died and no one wants that on their conscience. I agree that we are at the point of biting the bullet...keeping the country open and accepting the risk....but then we won't be held personally responsible for someone's Aunt Ida or little Tommy. Governments have to make the tough decisions and we have to be grown up enough to accept that not everything works out.
Just had the most exciting Saturday night that I've had in well over a year! My local surgery had some pfizer vaccines spare and obviously don't want them going to waste, so advertised it. My sister saw it somewhere on facebook, told me and I drove down on the off chance... Thank you to the volunteers and NHS workers for doing such an amazing job, and despite working what was a 15 hour day the nurse was still desperately trying to find one last person so that not a single vaccine went to waste. Dedication! And I'm pleased to say they found someone and all of them got used! I'm faaaar too young to be eligible for my vaccine via traditional methods yet , so jumped at this opportunity
That’s brilliant, so pleased for you. Same thing happened to my son-in-law in South Gloucestershire a while back, who’s only 35. He’s just had his second jab!
Excellent news! Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant - study - BBC News
I suspected this would be the case but it’s a huge relief that it’s been confirmed. What this means, then, is that SARS-Cov-2 is NOT “the new flu”. It means that this terrible virus can be defeated by a worldwide vaccination campaign, because the virus can only mutate if it spreads, and it can only spread if enough people aren’t rendered immune to it. It’s a huge challenge and one which will need the cooperation of every country in the world, but at least we know that it is possible.
