Lockdown in England from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December

[Darandio]

In Asia they ware masks! Hence why the virus is under control. In the UK we are so fussy about all the basic guidelines hence the mess we are in!!

Most of Asia is still effectively closed. India has the second largest number of cases in the world. Nepal is on the rise.

Plenty of other countries are wearing masks, us included. Tell me how well that's going?

 

[Dan15812]

Can you please actually address the points I’ve raised above? Do you lock yourself up at home ever winter to avoid flu? Do you never travel by car because of the risk of car crash?

If the answer to the above is “no” then your approach to Covid is inconsistent and you’re being irrational. But if you want to keep slavishly believing everything Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings tell you, that’s your choice. Others will take a different approach.

You cannot make assumptions of how I go about dealing with Covid.
I have no concerns about going out and about. What I have said and will say it again. Is is about what you feel is classd as ok. Or is it about folowing the basic guidelines and keeping others around you safe?

 

[Richard Scott]

You cannot make assumptions of how I go about dealing with Covid.
I have no concerns about going out and about. What I have said and will say it again. Is is about what you feel is classd as ok. Or is it about folowing the basic guidelines and keeping others around you safe?

But the basic guidelines are not really scientific, they're mostly made up by politicians (whilst we agree distancing helps reduce spread individual countries have differing ideas on distance) and hence why many are sceptical and reluctant to follow them. If there were a few sensible guidelines backed up by science (like the handwashing one) then you're more likely to get compliance. If you expect people to blindly follow guidelines made up by a few ministers picking numbers out if thin air then afraid it's not going to be very successful.

 

[Dan15812]

But the basic guidelines are not really scientific, they're mostly made up by politicians (whilst we agree distancing helps reduce spread individual countries have differing ideas on distance) and hence why many are sceptical and reluctant to follow them. If there were a few sensible guidelines backed up by science (like the handwashing one) then you're more likely to get compliance. If you expect people to blindly follow guidelines made up by a few ministers picking numbers out if thin air then afraid it's not going to be very successful.

I agree with you there.

 

[35B]

The idea that we can defeat this thing through government-mandated personal sacrifice is delusional. Over the last few months we've sacrificed everything that makes life worth living, with many supporting forcing massive changes to the lives of others for a long time yet; and I do not think that what we're getting in return is worth that cost.

We have not sacrificed everything that makes life worth living, and the suggestion that we have is ridiculous.
You’re entitled to your view of government policy, but do your argument no favours whatsoever with that absurd hyperbole.

 

[43066]

I have no concerns about going out and about.

No? So why did you say:

It makes me scared to leave the house to visit the village is the students just don't seem to get it.

So which is it?! And I see you’ve ducked my questions again!

Or is it about folowing the basic guidelines and keeping others around you safe?

Following arbitrary guidelines which are set out by politicians doesn’t keep anyone safe. If you wish to keep slavishly following whatever contradictory nonsense this government puts out, fill your boots. Many of us have stopped listening.

I get the sense discussing this with you is a futile exercise, so I’ll leave it there!

 

[brad465]

Covid ZOE thinks infections are (albeit slowly), are now falling, having peaked at 607,447 on the 4th, the latest reading being 605,324:

Latest Daily UK COVID-19 Data: Vaccines, Cases, Trends | ZOE

COVID infection & vaccination rates in the UK today, based on public data and reports from millions of users of the ZOE Health Study app

covid.joinzoe.com

The daily new cases estimate is down from a peak of 42,326 around a week ago, so it looks like something was definitely going on before this lockdown to make a difference.

 

[Darandio]

The daily new cases estimate is down from a peak of 42,326 around a week ago, so it looks like something was definitely going on before this lockdown to make a difference.

The tier system I would imagine?

Many said that the tier system needed more time so we could see where we were at before going full lockdown. They weren't interested of course, they just presented us with some phoney projections instead and locked down on that basis.

 

[Dan15812]

No? So why did you say:



So which is it?! And I see you’ve ducked my questions again!



Following arbitrary guidelines which are set out by politicians doesn’t keep anyone safe. If you wish to keep slavishly following whatever contradictory nonsense this government puts out, fill your boots. Many of us have stopped listening.

I get the sense discussing this with you is a futile exercise, so I’ll leave it there!

I'm pretty fed up with these morons who just what to find fault with everything and everyone.
You can criticise all you like and it won't solve anything.
Do what to bring people together? Or create a barrier between each outher?
I will say no more

 

[Yew]

We have not sacrificed everything that makes life worth living, and the suggestion that we have is ridiculous.
You’re entitled to your view of government policy, but do your argument no favours whatsoever with that absurd hyperbole.

It is illegal for me to spend time with humans.
It is illegal for me to engage in numerous activities that I enjoy, as the venues have been closed down, despite several of them being outdoor activities
It is illegal for me to go on a holiday, and any attempt is met with significant uncertaintly and arbritrary restrictions imposed at short notice.
It is illegal for me to protest against the things that have been made illegal on scant evidence.
It is illegal or impossible for me to form a relationship, however, those who formed a relationship before March are allowed to enjoy theirs.

It is only legal for me to work, and consume.

 

[SJN]

Britons could be told to 'self-quarantine' for two weeks in January

The advice to 'self-quarantine' could be issued if festive gatherings of the wider family are allowed, a paper from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) warns.

www.dailymail.co.uk

That’ll go down well. Isolate after Christmas!!

 

[yorksrob]

We have not sacrificed everything that makes life worth living, and the suggestion that we have is ridiculous.
You’re entitled to your view of government policy, but do your argument no favours whatsoever with that absurd hyperbole.

Actually, socialising and enjoying ones leasure time are what makes life worth living, otherwise we are little more than robots.

 

[VauxhallandI]

It is illegal for me to spend time with humans.
It is illegal for me to engage in numerous activities that I enjoy, as the venues have been closed down, despite several of them being outdoor activities
It is illegal for me to go on a holiday, and any attempt is met with significant uncertaintly and arbritrary restrictions imposed at short notice.
It is illegal for me to protest against the things that have been made illegal on scant evidence.
It is illegal or impossible for me to form a relationship, however, those who formed a relationship before March are allowed to enjoy theirs.

It is only legal for me to work, and consume.

Seconded. Everything I exist to do is banned.

 

[43066]

It is illegal for me to spend time with humans.
It is illegal for me to engage in numerous activities that I enjoy, as the venues have been closed down, despite several of them being outdoor activities
It is illegal for me to go on a holiday, and any attempt is met with significant uncertaintly and arbritrary restrictions imposed at short notice.
It is illegal for me to protest against the things that have been made illegal on scant evidence.
It is illegal or impossible for me to form a relationship, however, those who formed a relationship before March are allowed to enjoy theirs.

It is only legal for me to work, and consume.

Seconded. Everything I exist to do is banned.

And thirded!

The only saving grace is that this lockdown is less stringent than the last - and it is being “reasonably observed” rather than followed to the letter by many.

 

[RPI]

I'm pretty fed up with these morons who just what to find fault with everything and everyone.
You can criticise all you like and it won't solve anything.
Do what to bring people together? Or create a barrier between each outher?
There's a reason why I'm from the South-West who haven't had it that badly!

I will say no more

Having read your posts you contradict yourself, firstly saying you're scared to leave the house then you're not bothered, you ducked very reasonable questions from another poster.... more than once, I also live in the southwest, my partner works in care homes and she worked through the first lockdowns in care homes with covid, she's seen what it can do to people who are vulnerable, me and her both fall certainly into more vulnerable than most, she having asthma and both of us carrying a bit more weight than we'd like, but as others have said, you make your own risk assessment and act on that and we're at the point where the "cure" is much worse than the risk, only today i read that a new strain has been discovered that may be resistant to any vaccine, so what do we do? Hide away forever until the magic bullet appears? I could get killed crossing the road so I mitigate by looking both ways, not by never crossing a road. I could have a car crash, so I mitigate by driving sensibly, wearing a seat belt and driving a car that is relatively crash worthy, I dont mitigate by never getting in a car! Its proved by many sources that basic hygiene is the simple most effective way to not catch this virus so clean your hands!

 

[Yew]

And thirded!

The only saving grace is that this lockdown is less stringent than the last - and it is being “reasonably observed” rather than followed to the letter by many.

But it's winter, and winter is always worse.


This corresponding with the clock change has not helped.

 

[Dan15812]

Having read your posts you contradict yourself, firstly saying you're scared to leave the house then you're not bothered, you ducked very reasonable questions from another poster.... more than once, I also live in the southwest, my partner works in care homes and she worked through the first lockdowns in care homes with covid, she's seen what it can do to people who are vulnerable, me and her both fall certainly into more vulnerable than most, she having asthma and both of us carrying a bit more weight than we'd like, but as others have said, you make your own risk assessment and act on that and we're at the point where the "cure" is much worse than the risk, only today i read that a new strain has been discovered that may be resistant to any vaccine, so what do we do? Hide away forever until the magic bullet appears? I could get killed crossing the road so I mitigate by looking both ways, not by never crossing a road. I could have a car crash, so I mitigate by driving sensibly, wearing a seat belt and driving a car that is relatively crash worthy, I dont mitigate by never getting in a car! Its proved by many sources that basic hygiene is the simple most effective way to not catch this virus so clean your hands!

You cannot make false accusations!
I was saying that when the collage students are in the village, aren't following the guidelines. This means I try to avoid those peak times when the shops get rather busy.
That dosn't mean I'm afraid to go and about especially on a country walk!

Please reconsider before making up judgements!

 

[Darandio]

I'm pretty fed up with these morons who just what to find fault with everything and everyone.
You can criticise all you like and it won't solve anything.
Do what to bring people together? Or create a barrier between each outher?
There's a reason why I'm from the South-West who haven't had it that badly!

I will say no more

You are taking a very simplistic view and are happy to follow whatever the government tells you, I know you are taking the view because I was doing the exact same several months ago.

But then I realised just how incompetent and wrong they are, how happy they are to feed you lies in order to impress their order on you. Ten days ago they were telling you that hospitals were in crisis and that there were nearly full to overflowing and on a par with the first lockdown, a simple check of the data dismissed that. Last week they told you we were going into lockdown based on some worst case projections, turns out even these projections were phoney. The response of one of our leading scientists to taking decisions on false data and jeopardising jobs and businesses was basically "Whoops".

You might be happy to take in everything they say take it as gospel, people who don't aren't morons.

 

[Dan15812]

You are taking a very simplistic view and are happy to follow whatever the government tells you, I know you are taking the view because I was doing the exact same several months ago.

But then I realised just how incompetent and wrong they are, how happy they are to feed you lies in order to impress their order on you. Ten days ago they were telling you that hospitals were in crisis and that there were nearly full to overflowing and on a par with the first lockdown, a simple check of the data dismissed that. Last week they told you we were going into lockdown based on some worst case projections, turns out even these projections were phoney. The response of one of our leading scientists to taking decisions on false data and jeopardising jobs and businesses was basically "Whoops".

You might be happy to take in everything they say take it as gospel, people who don't aren't morons.

Yes, that's right. I don't get spoon-fed everything I hear from the government.

 

[35B]

It is illegal for me to spend time with humans.
It is illegal for me to engage in numerous activities that I enjoy, as the venues have been closed down, despite several of them being outdoor activities
It is illegal for me to go on a holiday, and any attempt is met with significant uncertaintly and arbritrary restrictions imposed at short notice.
It is illegal for me to protest against the things that have been made illegal on scant evidence.
It is illegal or impossible for me to form a relationship, however, those who formed a relationship before March are allowed to enjoy theirs.

It is only legal for me to work, and consume.

Indeed, those things are illegal at present. But I would be surprised if they were collectively the only things that made life worthwhile; they certainly are not for me.

None of which is to suggest that I like the current restrictions, or that I would not welcome their end.

 

[Sprinter153]

sometimes there comes a point where you need to stop thinking about yourself, stop thinking about types of trains you want to go on and start thinking about other people around you with weaken immune systems!
I dosn't take much to keep yourself safe and follow the guidance!

I’m immunocompromised and I’ll be buggered if I’m going to keep myself locked up like Mr Rochester’s mad wife, treating everyone and everything like radioactive sludge just in case I pick up a virus that statistically is less likely to make me seriously ill than the risk of developing lymphoma from my cocktail of immunosuppressant drugs.

 

[DB]

Indeed, those things are illegal at present. But I would be surprised if they were collectively the only things that made life worthwhile; they certainly are not for me.

None of which is to suggest that I like the current restrictions, or that I would not welcome their end.

I would guess that you do not live alone in a flat with no garden?

Those with partners and families are inevitably going to find this much less isolating.

 

[35B]

I would guess that you do not live alone in a flat with no garden?

Those with partners and families are inevitably going to find this much less isolating.

I agree, they will and those with limited space will find this much harder. I stand by my comment though - the comment I objected to was excessive hyperbole, and does no justice to those who lack the freedom to find interest and entertainment online, however limiting that is.

 

[43066]

Indeed, those things are illegal at present. But I would be surprised if they were collectively the only things that made life worthwhile; they certainly are not for me.

You honestly don’t miss socialising, spending time with your family and friends, playing sports, and pursuing hobbies that enrich your life?

Each to their own of course, but that is not a description of the type of life many of us would choose. Those aspects are very, very important to everyone I socialise with.

 

[DB]

I agree, they will and those with limited space will find this much harder. I stand by my comment though - the comment I objected to was excessive hyperbole, and does no justice to those who lack the freedom to find interest and entertainment online, however limiting that is.

I am sure I am not the only one who is sick of this pretence that 'online socialising', 'online events' etc are any substitute for real life.

 

[35B]

You honestly don’t miss socialising, spending time with your family and friends, playing sports, and pursuing hobbies that enrich your life?

Each to their own of course, but that is not a description of the type of life many of us would choose. Those aspects are very, very important to everyone I socialise with.

I didn’t say I don’t miss those activities, or that they are unimportant, but that they don’t alone form all that makes life worthwhile.

To take the language of the post I challenged at face value, you would think the poster was in a particularly strict prison regime, with no influence whatsoever over his life or what he does. That was the cant and hyperbole I called out.

 

[philosopher]

I am sure I am not the only one who is sick of this pretence that 'online socialising', 'online events' etc are any substitute for real life.

If online socialising was so great, then people would have been doing zoom quizzes and virtual house parties in 2019, after all it involves considerably less effort and cost than real life socialising. But in general they were not, which to me suggests most people do not consider it an adequate substitute.

 

[Richard Scott]

I am sure I am not the only one who is sick of this pretence that 'online socialising', 'online events' etc are any substitute for real life.

No you aren't, definitely with you on that one.

 

[RPI]

You cannot make false accusations!
I was saying that when the collage students are in the village, aren't following the guidelines. This means I try to avoid those peak times when the shops get rather busy.
That dosn't mean I'm afraid to go and about, especially on a country walk or bike ride!

Please reconsider before making up judgements!

Whether thats what you meant or not, what you said was that you were basically scared to leave the house

 

[VauxhallandI]

I agree, they will and those with limited space will find this much harder. I stand by my comment though - the comment I objected to was excessive hyperbole, and does no justice to those who lack the freedom to find interest and entertainment online, however limiting that is.

I’ve found entertainment on line but I’m bored of it now; it was a novelty and now it’s done it’s course.

For me life is about experiences and at the moment I’m not having any. I’m now out of tether sitting here.

When I think about it my head begins to go and I’m in a good position in comparison to a great percentage of the population.

Maybe this forum has a higher percentage of people who like their own company