I'm not enthusiastic about these latest changes, particularly because they were rushed out to distract from the government being caught lying and taking the piss yet again. I think there is a valid argument that since we've been working all along to the belief that vaccination is the way out, and it has worked as such for several months, it's frustrating that now we're talking about covid measures again. That said, the measures are very minimal. Hardly an attack anyone's civil liberties. We put up with worse as football fans all the time, and in terms of society, the police and crime bill going through at the moment which effectively outlaws protest is a far bigger attack on people's liberties. I really wish there was as much mainstream outrage around those kind of issues as is there is with covid. That article that SW3 copied was interesting. It explains quite clearly why there's a belief that measures may be needed to deal with the latest variant even though it is probably milder than the previous ones, although again, I really don't like that it brought forward a week to provide a handy distraction from the government's other antics. I think there are valid frustrations but as ever there's some real nonsense being thrown around as well. Again, if people had as much energy to scrutinise other issues as they do covid we'd be in a much better place politically. I still don't believe there'll be another lockdown.
The crime bill and covid regulations are two cheeks of the same ****ty arse. Is there actually any evidence that rapid spread of the Omicron variant will lead to mass hospitalisations which will burden the NHS? Is anyone currently being treated in hospital for it? Has anyone died from it?
It's mitigation. It might not prevent infection but it flipping well reduces the risk enough to sensible levels. I'd rather have passports than the only other practical option, which is to stop services/events from being attendable.
Somebody in 1900 once claimed that everything that was going to be invented had been invented and the world would just stay as it was. And yet, look what came along in the 20th century. Things change, we have to allow for that. What was applicable six months ago might not apply now.
Out of interest do you believe we should have covid passports forever? Or if not, until what point do we feel it's ok to get rid of them? Because the virus is never going away.
Big, big difference between someone in the 1900s being wrong about the future of innovation and ‘we should be wrapped in cotton wool indefinitely to prevent 80-year-olds from croaking’.
The usual. Stadiums shut, limited numbers in pubs can only meet six people from two households etc etc. Knew there would be someone going on about the new measures being nowhere near enough this morning
If the number quoted of 1million cases per day are accurate I think the restrictions will be much stricter than the measures you mention
Well I be booked hotel for the 18th for proper night out in town , and another new year with friends - so they’d better be effin open still, no masks no spacing !!!
Although the headline mentioned 1 million per day I think that was a mistake. The actual quote seemed to be saying 1 million total infections.
It's not accurate, he actually said... “The UK health security agency (HSA) estimates that the number of infections are approximately 20 times higher than the number of confirmed cases, and so the current number of infections is probably closer to 10,000. “UKHSA also estimate that at the current observed doubling rate of between two and a half and three days, by the end of this month, infections could exceed one million.”
