Media Coverage of COVID -19

[Cowley]

Edit: or perhaps newspaper editors realise that they, their journalists and some of their readers might prefer a fortnight in Spain rather than a boggy campsite in Cornwall.

Hey! I’ll have you know that Cornish campsites have much better drainage these days…

 

[Bantamzen]

Hey! I’ll have you know that Cornish campsites have much better drainage these days…

The only way you'd get me to a campsite would be if it had a bar, restaurant & hotel attached to it....

 

[Silver Cobra]

Despite relatively high Covid infection numbers compared with a few weeks ago, nobody in the media is going berserk about it. The cynic in me says that the government influencers have said ‘tone it down, chaps, we’ve decided we want to get back to normal now’.

Or is it that football’s coming home?

Edit: or perhaps newspaper editors realise that they, their journalists and some of their readers might prefer a fortnight in Spain rather than a boggy campsite in Cornwall.

Well, it’s now beginning. The BMA is ‘urging’ the government to retain some restrictions from 19th July, primarily involving face coverings.

Covid: Doctors want to keep some measures after 19 July

Ministers are considering allowing fully vaccinated people to avoid isolation if exposed to Covid.

www.bbc.co.uk

Some Covid measures should be kept in place in England beyond 19 July - when all legal restrictions are due to be lifted, a doctors' union says.

The British Medical Association is calling for the continued use of face masks and new ventilation standards.

It says it is crucial to protect the NHS, health and education amid what it says is an alarming rise in cases.

It comes as ministers consider allowing fully jabbed people to avoid isolation and testing if exposed to Covid.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that he hoped England would be able to return to as close to the pre-pandemic status quo as possible on 19 July - the fourth and final stage of lockdown lifting in England.

But he hinted that some "extra precautions" may still be needed.

How long before this changes to either cancelling 19th July or even bringing back additional restrictions?

 

[NSEFAN]

Some measures such as improved ventilation and good hygiene are probably good things to keep around, and will help to reduce other diseases in the winter. Allowing people who can do so to keep working from home also has health and environmental benefits. These kinds of measures seem to me quite sensible to keep after 19th July.

But preventing people from being able to live their lives normally is not what we should aim for. What's the point of the vaccine, otherwise? If deaths were rising with cases then of course further locking down might be on the cards, but we still haven't seen a surge in this despite the sheer number and rising rate of cases.

 

[Class 33]

Well, it’s now beginning. The BMA is ‘urging’ the government to retain some restrictions from 19th July, primarily involving face coverings.

Covid: Doctors want to keep some measures after 19 July

Ministers are considering allowing fully vaccinated people to avoid isolation if exposed to Covid.

www.bbc.co.uk

How long before this changes to either cancelling 19th July or even bringing back additional restrictions?

Yes I read that this just now. And what a darn annoying start to my day. NO NO NO!!! We can't carry on like this for much longer. We've put up with these darn face masks for a year now. Enough is enough! Come 19th July, both mandatory face mask wearing and social distancing restrictions both need to be consigned to the history books. If you've watched a number of railway videos/DVD's you'll be familiar with the term "consigned to the history books". This is what needs to happen to face masks and social distancing.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2021 ==

And I've just heard that as the top story on the news on the radio too. Bloody BMA! Just when it looked like we could finally be getting rid of this nonsense, the BMA sticks their oar in and demands we keep face mask in shops and public transport! This could mess things up for us. Hope Johnson tells them where to stick that nonsense. We don't need this nonsense anymore.

 

[DustyBin]

Yes I read that this just now. And what a darn annoying start to my day. NO NO NO!!! We can't carry on like this for much longer. We've put up with these darn face masks for a year now. Enough is enough! Come 19th July, both mandatory face mask wearing and social distancing restrictions both need to be consigned to the history books. If you've watched a number of railway videos/DVD's you'll be familiar with the term "consigned to the history books". This is what needs to happen to face masks and social distancing.

I’m absolutely sick of “experts” saying that we’re repeating the mistakes of last Summer. They seem to completely disregard the huge number of vaccines administered, as well as the obvious fact that the link between infections and hospitalisations and deaths has been broken. What is wrong with these people? And why do the news channels give them a free pass? They should be challenged and made to explain WHY we’re in no better position than we were 12 months ago.

There was one on Sky News yesterday claiming that although we’ve vaccinated 40 odd million people, the rest of the population is “completely unprotected”. So apparently there’s no such thing as natural immunity, and the fact that most of the unvaccinated are in the younger age groups doesn’t matter. I wish these idiots would stop embarrassing themselves!

 

[yorksrob]

The worry for me is that if the BMA and their ilk get away with watering down the lifting of restrictions now, what will they be trying to impose September/October time.

 

[Class 33]

I’m absolutely sick of “experts” saying that we’re repeating the mistakes of last Summer. They seem to completely disregard the huge number of vaccines administered, as well as the obvious fact that the link between infections and hospitalisations and deaths has been broken. What is wrong with these people? And why do the news channels give them a free pass? They should be challenged and made to explain WHY we’re in no better position than we were 12 months ago.

There was one on Sky News yesterday claiming that although we’ve vaccinated 40 odd million people, the rest of the population is “completely unprotected”. So apparently there’s no such thing as natural immunity, and the fact that most of the unvaccinated are in the younger age groups doesn’t matter. I wish these idiots would stop embarrassing themselves!

Yes absolutely, they're a bloody nuisance. They're saying that face mask wearing must remain due to "an alarming rise in Coronavirus cases". And they seem to have forgotten or just completely disregard the fact that despite a surge in cases, this is not leading to a huge surge in hospitalisations and deaths. Of those who are getting infected, it is mainly the young. And those who go into hospital, the vast majority of them now are discharged within just a few days. And they say that a lot of people are "completely unprotected", but about a few million a week are being vaccinated, so the number of being "completely unprotected" is decreasing by the week!

And as you say, when these "experts" come up with things like this, the news channels and online media give them a free pass and unchallenged. It's a disgrace.

If mandatory face mask wearing does continue beyond 19th July, then I really hope people rise up against this and STOP wearing them, so that the government will be able to see that we've all had enough of this, and it's absolutely pointless continuing to wear these darn things. I did hope this would happen from 21st June, as I read a number of messages on here and elsewhere that a lot of people are going to stop wearing them from that date. Sadly though from my observations here in Bristol, there seems to be hardly any difference. The vast majority of people are still complying with this nonsense.

 

[kez19]

The worry for me is that if the BMA and their ilk get away with watering down the lifting of restrictions now, what will they be trying to impose September/October time.

Yet it’s just seems we are in a never ending cycle

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2021 ==

I’m absolutely sick of “experts” saying that we’re repeating the mistakes of last Summer. They seem to completely disregard the huge number of vaccines administered, as well as the obvious fact that the link between infections and hospitalisations and deaths has been broken. What is wrong with these people? And why do the news channels give them a free pass? They should be challenged and made to explain WHY we’re in no better position than we were 12 months ago.

There was one on Sky News yesterday claiming that although we’ve vaccinated 40 odd million people, the rest of the population is “completely unprotected”. So apparently there’s no such thing as natural immunity, and the fact that most of the unvaccinated are in the younger age groups doesn’t matter. I wish these idiots would stop embarrassing themselves!

At a guess the media live in doom and gloom, not just that I be surprised if there would be a hidden link with this sort of claptrap going to keep us in a negative mood, why is the media not looking positive in anything these days is this what they crave? If so they must live sad lives bringing misery but then again it’s either for clicks or ratings

 

[102 fan]

As I've said before, either it's a vaccine that works, or it isn't.

If it works, we shouldn't be hearing about continuing restrictions.

 

[87electric]

Murmurings of vaccines losing their efficacy after 6 months, 3rd jabs, boosters... it certainly is a never ending cycle. But they are the way out we are told. Indeed they are, out of the old normal into their new one which obviously isn't quite ready at the moment.

 

[LAX54]

As I've said before, either it's a vaccine that works, or it isn't.

If it works, we shouldn't be hearing about continuing restrictions.

Talking of it works or it doesn't.... there was a Scientist/Professor/Expert, not sure which as I missed the start, he was on about the the disposable masks, (and some of the fabric ones) saying that in reality they are only about 50% effective, if that, as there is a gap each side, which allows anything to get in / out of the mask, he said add that to the many that don't use them properly (1 use, max 3 hours) then he could not really see why we still persist with them, he did not mention the plastic visors, that I think are a complete waste of time long term

 

[Darandio]

Talking of it works or it doesn't.... there was a Scientist/Professor/Expert, not sure which as I missed the start, he was on about the the disposable masks, (and some of the fabric ones) saying that in reality they are only about 50% effective, if that, as there is a gap each side, which allows anything to get in / out of the mask, he said add that to the many that don't use them properly (1 use, max 3 hours) then he could not really see why we still persist with them, he did not mention the plastic visors, that I think are a complete waste of time long term

Walking past any salon in the past year has really made me chuckle with those visors. As the hairdresser stands over and above the customer the visor directs any exhalation straight down to them. Why bother?

 

[LAX54]

Walking past any salon in the past year has really made me chuckle with those visors. As the hairdresser stands over and above the customer the visor directs any exhalation straight down to them. Why bother?

same here, had a haircut shortly after they reopened, (Lockdown 1) they had visors, and I could feel their breath on my neck, I have noticed on the last vistit they don't use them anymore

 

[kez19]

As I've said before, either it's a vaccine that works, or it isn't.

If it works, we shouldn't be hearing about continuing restrictions.

It’s ok though we should have all those in the science community do a Battle Royale over this, feels more like it’s hearsay than actually giving pros and cons over it but still media give them a free pass pending on the side to bat on.

 

[30907]

Talking of it works or it doesn't.... there was a Scientist/Professor/Expert, not sure which as I missed the start, he was on about the the disposable masks, (and some of the fabric ones) saying that in reality they are only about 50% effective, if that, as there is a gap each side, which allows anything to get in / out of the mask, he said add that to the many that don't use them properly (1 use, max 3 hours) then he could not really see why we still persist with them,

Without knowing the context 50% is still 50% - yes, FFP2 are better (and mandatory in some countries (and trains - DB for starters) - and reducing transmission is a good thing.
There is a startling graph going the rounds correlating the increase in cases of school age and the abolition of masking in schools mid-May. I know correlation is not causation....

he did not mention the plastic visors, that I think are a complete waste of time long term

(Except as eye protection). And they haven't been acceptable as a sole face covering in barbers/hairdressers since about last August, but that's never been enforced.

PS and no, I don't like wearing a mask either.

 

[greyman42]

Some measures such as improved ventilation and good hygiene are probably good things to keep around, and will help to reduce other diseases in the winter.

It depends on what you mean by improved ventilation. If it means standing in a pub in the middle of winter with all the doors and windows open, freezing to death then no thanks,

 

[Mintona]

As if you’ll be allowed in a pub in the middle of winter

 

[NSEFAN]

It depends on what you mean by improved ventilation. If it means standing in a pub in the middle of winter with all the doors and windows open, freezing to death then no thanks,

All the more reason to warm up with another drink, then!

 

[brad465]

Many of tomorrows paper are, after the England result, reporting on masks being dropped after the 19th July. The Mail on Sunday in particular has a rather striking headline about something Javid has said:

 

[43066]

Many of tomorrows paper are, after the England result, reporting on masks being dropped after the 19th July. The Mail on Sunday in particular has a rather striking headline about something Javid has said:

View attachment 99206

Overall I think this is a positive change in the “mood music”,
and clearly the government is preparing the population for the fact we will see continuing rises in cases as we open up, but open up we must!

I can’t help but think Javid has come along at just the right time. Hancock was frankly spineless and too in thrall to the “health hawks” of sage.

 

[NorthKent1989]

I do hope we do go back to normal fully from July 19th, any further restrictions would be a complete and utter farce, I hope Javid follows through and lockdowns become consigned to the history books.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2021 ==

Many of tomorrows paper are, after the England result, reporting on masks being dropped after the 19th July. The Mail on Sunday in particular has a rather striking headline about something Javid has said:

View attachment 99206

This does sound optimistic but a part of me thinks the doom mongers from SAGE and the locktavists on mumsnet and facebook will somehow get their own way and Javid gives into them and before you know it we have an Autumn lockdown.

The fact of the matter is that people die everyday, this fear of death is getting beyond out of control, there’s plenty of ways to die aside from Covid.

 

[102 fan]

I do hope we do go back to normal fully from July 19th, any further restrictions would be a complete and utter farce, I hope Javid follows through and lockdowns become consigned to the history books.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2021 ==



This does sound optimistic but a part of me thinks the doom mongers from SAGE and the locktavists on mumsnet and facebook will somehow get their own way and Javid gives into them and before you know it we have an Autumn lockdown.

The fact of the matter is that people die everyday, this fear of death is getting beyond out of control, there’s plenty of ways to die aside from Covid.

An Autumn lockdown would only cause a complete lack of faith in the vaccine. What would be the point of taking it or boosters if nothing has changed?

 

[big_rig]

An Autumn lockdown would only cause a complete lack of faith in the vaccine. What would be the point of taking it or boosters if nothing has changed?

Pretend SAGE are anti-vaxxers by a different name, they are just too afraid to say it out loud. As July 19th comes closer however they will slip up and say the quiet bit out loud - they don’t trust vaccines and want their safety blankets to continue. They are going to kick up an alrighty stink though as I think deep down they know once ‘freedom day’ comes the cat will be out of the hay and nobody will care for lockdowns in future - this is hopefully going to be a soon forgotten blip in history. I am confident of it with Javid in charge!’

 

[NorthKent1989]

An Autumn lockdown would only cause a complete lack of faith in the vaccine. What would be the point of taking it or boosters if nothing has changed?

Indeed.

But sadly there’s an element in society now that wants lockdown and restrictions to carry on, at least seasonally, and fail to understand that lockdowns don’t protect the NHS, and that lockdowns cost billions, billions needed for other sectors in society and not for a virus with a 99.7% survival rate

 

[greyman42]

I do hope we do go back to normal fully from July 19th, any further restrictions would be a complete and utter farce, I hope Javid follows through and lockdowns become consigned to the history books.

I think that trying to bring back pointless restrictions in the future will be met with mass non-compliance.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2021 ==

This does sound optimistic but a part of me thinks the doom mongers from SAGE and the locktavists on mumsnet and facebook will somehow get their own way and Javid gives into them and before you know it we have an Autumn lockdown.

They will be desperate now and will throw everything they have at it, backed up by the BBC, for the next two weeks.

 

[NorthKent1989]

I think that trying to bring back pointless restrictions in the future will be met with mass non-compliance.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2021 ==


They will be desperate now and will throw everything they have at it, backed up by the BBC, for the next two weeks.

You’re first point I will say that I agree that mass non compliance will become widespread, it’s happening already, I’m on the train sometimes and the amount of people wearing masks and not wearing masks is roughly 50/50 or 60/40 now, I’m certainly seeing more chin maskers than before June, Javid has said he wants masks to be voluntary rather than mandatory.

You’re second point, again I agree with you also, the media which has been overwhelmingly pro restrictions even with the vaccines will ramp up the fear of Covid and “opening up too early”

Pretend SAGE are anti-vaxxers by a different name, they are just too afraid to say it out loud. As July 19th comes closer however they will slip up and say the quiet bit out loud - they don’t trust vaccines and want their safety blankets to continue. They are going to kick up an alrighty stink though as I think deep down they know once ‘freedom day’ comes the cat will be out of the hay and nobody will care for lockdowns in future - this is hopefully going to be a soon forgotten blip in history. I am confident of it with Javid in charge!’

You would think that SAGE are anti vaxxers by how they have been coming up with ways to extend restrictions and delay our freedoms

 

[LOL The Irony]

An Autumn lockdown would only cause a complete lack of faith in the vaccine. What would be the point of taking it or boosters if nothing has changed?

Pretend SAGE are anti-vaxxers by a different name, they are just too afraid to say it out loud. As July 19th comes closer however they will slip up and say the quiet bit out loud - they don’t trust vaccines and want their safety blankets to continue. They are going to kick up an alrighty stink though as I think deep down they know once ‘freedom day’ comes the cat will be out of the hay and nobody will care for lockdowns in future - this is hopefully going to be a soon forgotten blip in history. I am confident of it with Javid in charge!’

I'm torn here. I don't want an Autumn lockdown but I also want sage to be buried alive in the hole they have dug themselves for their sweet, sweet attempts at damage control that'll inevitably happen.

 

[35B]

Pretend SAGE are anti-vaxxers by a different name, they are just too afraid to say it out loud. As July 19th comes closer however they will slip up and say the quiet bit out loud - they don’t trust vaccines and want their safety blankets to continue. They are going to kick up an alrighty stink though as I think deep down they know once ‘freedom day’ comes the cat will be out of the hay and nobody will care for lockdowns in future - this is hopefully going to be a soon forgotten blip in history. I am confident of it with Javid in charge!’

I'm seeing serious scientists calling out Independent Sage and their bedfellows for being anti-vaxxers in their denial of the value of vaccination. Personally, I think that's harsh - they just haven't adjusted to the impact that vaccinations are having on the seriousness of Covid cases, and are sticking (like many on the opposite side of the debate) to a combination of tunnel vision and hand waving about particualr consequences that concern them, but failing to apply any sense of proportion in the process.

 

[big_rig]

I'm seeing serious scientists calling out Independent Sage and their bedfellows for being anti-vaxxers in their denial of the value of vaccination. Personally, I think that's harsh - they just haven't adjusted to the impact that vaccinations are having on the seriousness of Covid cases, and are sticking (like many on the opposite side of the debate) to a combination of tunnel vision and hand waving about particualr consequences that concern them, but failing to apply any sense of proportion in the process.

So the most positive spin that can be put on Independent SAGE is that they are too stupid/wilfully ignorant to have read in the news that the ratio of cases:deaths has gone down the drain since vaccines have been given to people? They must be the only people on the planet beyond tribes in Brazil which have no human contact to not be aware of this. I certainly wouldn’t be listening to anything that bunch of psychologists have to say on anything else if they’re so hopelessly uninformed!

Or, back in the real world, they are anti-vaxxers who want their safety blankets (and media appearances) to continue forever, because they are irrationally terrified of the virus and upset about going back to being ignored in University basements.