imanautie
TS Member
yep, face masks were only mandatory for those who are honest.
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Coronavirus
- Thread starter Jb85
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Matt.GC
TS Member
Pretty much everything since lockdown ended has only been mandatory for those that are honest. That's why it's so rediculous we had this silly "extension".
You’ve got to give it to Boris looks like he’s going for it and why not? The data shows it’s perfectly safe to abolish all of the rules now.
Forget case numbers, it’s irrelevant, the sooner we all get this a few times (and that’s now as safe as it can be with the vaccines) the sooner this thing will be another version of the common cold, THE only way out permanently is for us to all catch it several times like every other coronavirus strain.
I just hope Dr Doom and Prof. Gloom don’t talk him out of it.
Forget case numbers, it’s irrelevant, the sooner we all get this a few times (and that’s now as safe as it can be with the vaccines) the sooner this thing will be another version of the common cold, THE only way out permanently is for us to all catch it several times like every other coronavirus strain.
I just hope Dr Doom and Prof. Gloom don’t talk him out of it.
Dave
TS Founding Member
The data doesn’t show its perfectly safe, I personally think masks should have stayed in shops and public transport.
As mentioned before we need to make an assessment of risk and I’m comfortable it’s time all other restrictions are relaxed but to say this is perfectly safe is disingenuous.
I’m not picking a fight here but what data doesn’t show it’s safe? The vast majority of hospitalisations are non-vaccers and as for deaths I’ve more chance of dying falling down the stairs thanks to vaccines.
Take face masks, everyone saying it’s great not catching cold and flu but the truth is we NEED to catch them to become more immune to them, otherwise they will all be as deadly as COVID.
Matt.GC
TS Member
Amen to that. Unless you're in bad health, a good cold now and then and just getting on with it is good for your immune system. I teach my kids that. Got the sniffles son? Here's some Calpol and off to school, early night tonight. My kids have some of the best attendence in the school and I feel I've instilled a good work ethic in them for the future.
Whitty himself did today say that Covid being widespread again is inevitable so it's better to get it out there know when health services can handle it than in the winter months when all the other yearly viruses are doing their rounds.
The almost funny thing is now because of vaccines, 99% of people who catch covid without a test telling them they had it would just think they had a cold.
Danza91
TS Member
Having just come back from a stag do and day at Wimbledon it is, to me, clearer than ever that the majority of people are back to normal, or pretty much are.
Out in the evenings in bars in Leeds, scanning QR codes only some places asked, moving around staff didn't care, masks became pretty much non existent.
In Wimbledon, it's a pilot event so everyone had to prove double vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours. No social distancing necessary and masks were to be worn when 'on the move'. I'd say 90% of people were maskless throughout the day.
I saw someone on Twitter say they think the majority of people will still wear masks after the 19th, I think quite the opposite will happen.
The last few days have felt basically normal to me, and it's been fantastic.
Out in the evenings in bars in Leeds, scanning QR codes only some places asked, moving around staff didn't care, masks became pretty much non existent.
In Wimbledon, it's a pilot event so everyone had to prove double vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours. No social distancing necessary and masks were to be worn when 'on the move'. I'd say 90% of people were maskless throughout the day.
I saw someone on Twitter say they think the majority of people will still wear masks after the 19th, I think quite the opposite will happen.
The last few days have felt basically normal to me, and it's been fantastic.
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imanautie
TS Member
Safe is relative, it's never going to be 100% safe, but the way they are so heavily pushing scrapping restrictions doesn't feel right
I've been saying on here for a good few weeks that most of the social distancing and proper mask wearing were non existence. I think Hancock playing tennis tonsils has escalated people saying sod it to the rules
A TV poll on GMB showed that around 51.5% would still wear a mask while the rest won't. Wearing a mask mainly protects others and not the wearer. So the 51.5% of people that will wear one, will do so with the false sense of security.
https://twitter.com/gmb?lang=en
Jess and I are double vaccinated, we both feel safer than if we wasn't, but we still need to be careful, but I would like to say goodbye to the mask wearing, especially on hot days. I'm just a little concern with the rising figures, but as long as the hospital and death rates remain low, then I hope that we can return to a life that represents something similar what we had before the pandemic hit.
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Danza91
TS Member
I must say, I did find the mask wearing on the tube particularly uncomfortable today. It may have only been for 20 minutes or so, but anyone who's been to London in the summer knows the air on the tube is especially grim once temperatures reach the upper teens and above.
I am surprised the mandate is being lifted on public transport, I expected it to be lifted everywhere but.
EDIT:
Some good news for those hoping to get to Germany this summer and beyond. If you're double-vaccinated you no longer have to quarantine.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19...s-eased-after-merkel-johnson-meeting-12349577
I am surprised the mandate is being lifted on public transport, I expected it to be lifted everywhere but.
EDIT:
Some good news for those hoping to get to Germany this summer and beyond. If you're double-vaccinated you no longer have to quarantine.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19...s-eased-after-merkel-johnson-meeting-12349577
I would disagree if the person is wearing the right mask and correctly. Wearing a decent N95 mask will definitely protect not just others but the wearer. Problem is the public have been wearing these thin cotton ones which do nothing. Surgical masks aren’t that much better either.
According to news coming out of Israel the Pfizer jab is only around 64% effective at preventing infection with the new Delta variant
https://www.timesofisrael.com/minis...-shot-blocks-majority-of-serious-delta-cases/
It does prevent severe disease and hospitalisation. However when only around half the population are currently fully vaccinated and it’s believed the AZ vaccine is even less effective against this variant, I can’t help but feel we are opening a Pandora’s box here and this winter will definitely be interesting.
I’m glad we are opening up more, but for the time being I’ll continue to wear my N95 mask when indoors or busy public places.
Dave
TS Founding Member
Hospital admissions data shows that vaccinated people are being admitted. And a small proportion are dying. It’s fair to say the risks are reduced, pre-vaccination the admission rate for Covid was 1-in-10 now it’s closer to 1-in-45. Obviously this extrapolates down into deaths quite dramatically.
That is why I support the decision to relax the restrictions. The reason I think masks should still be worn on public transport and in shops are:
1) For many these are essential activities and not everyone can be vaccinated, we are effectively saying those who can’t be vaccinated or the vaccine hasn’t taken hold (I’m not talking about anti-vaxxers) can not use public transport or shops safely.
2) Part of the reason masks work well isn’t always infection avoidance but reduction of viral load. The course of an infection is different if you where infected with an initial dose of 4 million viral particles than if you get a few thousand (your body has longer to mount a response before the virus gets a good grip the lower the viral load you receive).
I have worn surgical masks all my working life, people over exaggerate the impact they are having on their lives (I have no sympathy for those crying foul on masks but happy to smoke). If you do not have severe COPD or autism/ learning difficulties it is no big deal and just helps further minimise the risks particularly as infection rates are still high.
As I say I’m glad social distancing is being relaxed and I’m glad all business can open and although I’m too old for night clubs and have enjoyed having my booze brought to me whilst I keep my fat arse on a seat I’m glad the option to walk up to a bar is returning. I do think masks in certain scenarios would have been sensible.
Also stop referring to scientists as doom and gloom merchants, their job is to describe the risks. It’s the government that have to use that information to make decisions. Blaming scientists for their advice is like blaming the weatherman you went out in the rain, they advise they don’t decide.
John
TS Member
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I'm with Dave, if there are small steps that can be taken to protect those who are still vulnerable then it's reasonable to do so, rather than basically force them to shield indefinitely.
Why do I get the feeling that "learn to live with the virus" is actually code for "pretend it never existed"..?
Why do I get the feeling that "learn to live with the virus" is actually code for "pretend it never existed"..?
Craig
TS Administrator
Thinking about this again last night. Don't get me started on the planned changes to the double vaccinated not having to self isolate and being able to go on holiday, whilst the young (you know the ones who were told they have to sacrifice their freedoms for a little longer) are still going to be forced to self isolate as their second jab isn't due yet.
Thinking practically, the young are also the ones who are predominantly staffing those places which are going to see benefits from 19th July such as pubs, leisure attractions, theatres and restaurants. I have a feeling removing masks en masse isn't going to help those businesses in the short term, as an already struggling workforce is going to have to increasingly self isolate.
Doesn't bode well for anyone taking a blind bit of notice of the government in future if certain things need to be reimplemented either.
Thinking practically, the young are also the ones who are predominantly staffing those places which are going to see benefits from 19th July such as pubs, leisure attractions, theatres and restaurants. I have a feeling removing masks en masse isn't going to help those businesses in the short term, as an already struggling workforce is going to have to increasingly self isolate.
Doesn't bode well for anyone taking a blind bit of notice of the government in future if certain things need to be reimplemented either.
jon81uk
TS Member
I agree with this and what @Dave has written about masks on public transport. They are not a huge inconvenience and reduce the viral load from someone who is carrying the virus without symptons.
Ventilation and masks are the best prevention about spread, yet most people are fixated on alcohol gel and cleaning.
imanautie
TS Member
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...new-cases-100000-per-day-summer-boris-johnson
No more double jab isolation for contacts...
No more double jab isolation for contacts...
Craig
TS Administrator
From 16th August though. That's a 4 week gap where there's a very real possibility of an absurdly high number of people who will be asked to self isolate after restrictions are lifted. I really want to be wrong, but going by seeing how bad things have got up here in the north east with self isolations recently, the last fortnight or so of that is going to be very, very messy with businesses being heavily affected by a huge chunk of staff being forced into isolation.