Covid restrictions to end on 19th July

[Nicholas Lewis]

From my observations there are plenty of bus drivers and supermarket staff not wearing masks now; definitely more than a few months ago. Plenty more have them not covering their nose. Who can blame them? I wouldn't want to wear one for 8-12 hours every day.

Indeed but nothing wrong for businesses and transport operators keeping those additional screens in place for the short term.

Also each business will have to decide how it wants to operate office occupation.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Looks overall positive news so far.

 

[westv]

Is this the end of all those one way systems?

 

[NorthOxonian]

Funny how despite this press conference being about ending all legal restrictions, Boris started off by telling everyone there would be 60k cases a day by the 19th, more people in the NHS and more people dying. Even now they can't resist trying to scare people

I think the real reason he said that was so that we knew he was factoring it into his decisions.

Had he not said that, you can bet independent SAGE would be telling him that cases and hospitalisations were due to rise.

 

[yorksrob]

Johnson has made a very good point at his press conference:

"If we can't open up now in summer when the weather is good, when can we return to normal".

Quite.

 

[greyman42]

Table service in pubs is no longer a requirement.

 

[Ediswan]

Is this the end of all those one way systems?

The justification for one way systems was to facilitate 1m+/2m distancing. On that basis, once distancing is gone, the one way systems introduced as a result should no longer be needed. Whether that will actualy happen is a whole different question.

 

[J-2739]

Is this the end of all those one way systems?

They've almost completely gone in my quarters.

Johnson has made a very good point at his press conference:

"If we can't open up now in summer when the weather is good, when can we return to normal".

Quite.

I was also pleased to hear that.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Is this the end of all those one way systems?

better be but you can see operators keeping them in the name of doing there bit to maintain separation and then stuffing their trains full of people.

 

[Ianno87]

The justification for one way systems was to facilitate 1m+/2m distancing. On that basis, once distancing is gone, the one way systems introduced as a result should no longer be needed. Whether that will actualy happen is a whole different question.

There could be some one way systems that actually make the station work better and are kept.

 

[Jamesrob637]

There could be some one way systems that actually make the station work better and are kept.

A few stations had them even pre-COVID.

 

[LAX54]

Is this the end of all those one way systems?

and the....only 3, 6 8 or whatever in a shop at once

 

[greyman42]

Will still have test & trace so you may still have to self isolate but changes to come for double dosed

Where are we going to have test and trace?

 

[Jamesrob637]

and the....only 3, 6 8 or whatever in a shop at once

Some small independent shops may choose to limit the number of patrons especially at busy times.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

I would be a lot more comfortable with today’s announcement if they’d actually waited until most adults have had their second vaccination. I’m mid way between having my first and getting my second in mid-August, by which point we’ll have been ‘free’ for nearly a month and there will be plenty of Covid circulating - fine for the older groups who are long vaccinated - not so fine for my age group.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Where are we going to have test and trace?

Its being retained to manage the spread of the virus as per today but may have some changes over whether you need to self isolate or not if you've been double dosed.

As to whether it will be of any benefit with all restrictions removed are debatable without an improvement on its current (in)effectiveness.

 

[Failed Unit]

Maybe one for a different thread. But I wonder how LNER will handle this. Now a family of 4 is split over 2 tables. Now they can sell all the seats will they move said family onto the same table. Or have 2x total strangers share the table and hope they sort it out on the train.

I really hope mask wearing on public transport ends. Or maybe give the choice when booking. Coach A for booking if you want to wear a mask. Other coaches for people who want to have a relaxing journey.

 

[bengley]

I would be a lot more comfortable with today’s announcement if they’d actually waited until most adults have had their second vaccination. I’m mid way between having my first and getting my second in mid-August, by which point we’ll have been ‘free’ for nearly a month and there will be plenty of Covid circulating - fine for the older groups who are long vaccinated - not so fine for my age group.

Are you at serious risk of severe illness?

 

[greyman42]

I would be a lot more comfortable with today’s announcement if they’d actually waited until most adults have had their second vaccination. I’m mid way between having my first and getting my second in mid-August, by which point we’ll have been ‘free’ for nearly a month and there will be plenty of Covid circulating - fine for the older groups who are long vaccinated - not so fine for my age group.

If you are that worried you can always stay locked up indoors while the rest of us get on with our lives.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jul 2021 ==

Its being retained to manage the spread of the virus as per today but may have some changes over whether you need to self isolate or not if you've been double dosed.

As to whether it will be of any benefit with all restrictions removed are debatable without an improvement on its current (in)effectiveness.

Retained where?

 

[Ianno87]

and the....only 3, 6 8 or whatever in a shop at once

Controversial opinion: I actually like queueing outside shops as is much quieter when you actually get in!

 

[Furryanimal]

Good news for England.
Here in Wales our health minister has,today,threatened more lockdowns and intimated they could be used for flu!
I expect mass non-compliance on this side of the border after July 19th.
Remember your mask though.You’ll need it for when the train crosses into Wales!

 

[Domh245]

I would be a lot more comfortable with today’s announcement if they’d actually waited until most adults have had their second vaccination. I’m mid way between having my first and getting my second in mid-August, by which point we’ll have been ‘free’ for nearly a month and there will be plenty of Covid circulating - fine for the older groups who are long vaccinated - not so fine for my age group.

Why though? Given that those who are still getting second doses are at minimal risk to begin with (and, having received one dose of vaccine are already at lower risk than they would have been..)

The other rather important point is that by releasing sooner, the sooner we get the inevitable exit-wave over and done with. Delay the removal of restrictions past September, you're putting the peak of the exit wave right on the start of flu season, and that's not a great move.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Retained where?

Across England its upto other nations what they do.

Remember Directors of Public Health already have to manage on a daily basis for all sorts of virus outbreaks. The expensive test, track & trace contracts were bought in because of the scale of the outbreak would overwhelm local council resources.

 

[kristiang85]

Controversial opinion: I actually like queueing outside shops as is much quieter when you actually get in!

Controversial indeed. I despise everything about shopping, so anything that prolongs me being there (e.g. a queue) means I go somewhere else.

 

[johncrossley]

My girlfriend's sister works in intensive care in Scottish hospital in an area with a lot of cases, and she's seen a lot of younger people in there recently. However, a lot of them were younger people with illnesses and should really have got the vaccine when it was first offered.

 

[Ianno87]

Controversial indeed. I despise everything about shopping, so anything that prolongs me being there (e.g. a queue) means I go somewhere else.

Even when the queue outside means the queue inside is shorter, and you can move around the aisles much quicker?

 

[Jamesrob637]

I would be a lot more comfortable with today’s announcement if they’d actually waited until most adults have had their second vaccination. I’m mid way between having my first and getting my second in mid-August, by which point we’ll have been ‘free’ for nearly a month and there will be plenty of Covid circulating - fine for the older groups who are long vaccinated - not so fine for my age group.

I've got my second in August but I can't wait for 99% normality again ASAP.

But maybe people can WFH a bit more than pre-pandemic otherwise we'll have the same old story with public transport being overcrowded weekday mornings and evenings as in 2019/very early 2020.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The other rather important point is that by releasing sooner, the sooner we get the inevitable exit-wave over and done with. Delay the removal of restrictions past September, you're putting the peak of the exit wave right on the start of flu season, and that's not a great move.

Boris, Gloom and Doom effectively made that point at the briefing.

 

[greyman42]

Across England its upto other nations what they do.

Remember Directors of Public Health already have to manage on a daily basis for all sorts of virus outbreaks. The expensive test, track & trace contracts were bought in because of the scale of the outbreak would overwhelm local council resources.

OK. I got the impression that it was no longer required when going into a pub?

 

[bramling]

Controversial opinion: I actually like queueing outside shops as is much quieter when you actually get in!

Why not just choose to go shopping at less busy times? No queue, *and* quieter inside.

Like with compulsory reservations, much as I like quiet shops, I don’t want to have to faff around queuing if circumstances dictate I need to visit at a busier time. I’m sure same applies to most people.