Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

Javid (Banker)
"We need to be clear that cases are going to rise significantly. I know many people will be cautious about the easing of restrictions – that’s completely understandable. But no date we choose will ever come without risk, so we have to take a broad and balanced view. We are going to have to learn to accept the existence of Covid and find ways to cope with it – just as we already do with flu.”

Scientific Advice

Prof Stephen Reicher: “It is frightening to have a ‘health’ secretary who still thinks Covid is flu. Who is unconcerned at levels of infection. Who doesn’t realise that those who do best for health, also do best for the economy. Who wants to ditch all protections while only half of us are vaccinated. Above all, it is frightening to have a ‘health’ secretary who wants to make all protections a matter of personal choice when the key message of the pandemic is “this isn’t an ‘I’ thing, it’s a ‘we’ thing.”

Prof Susan Michie: “Allowing community transmission to surge is like building new ‘variant factories’ at a very fast rate.”

Prof Ann Phoenix: “If people are to act responsibly they need their government to fulfil its own responsibilities to make safe behaviour possible. The fear is that when government talks about a “freedom day” when all restrictions are lifted, it doesn’t mean that the virus has gone away, and it doesn’t mean that measures are not needed to prevent a resurgence. What it does mean is that the government is planning to withdraw all forms of support and abandon us to deal with the pandemic on our own.”

Prof Paul Hunter: “Double-vaccinated people are less likely to get an infection and even if infected are less likely to infect others.”

Prof Allyson Pollock: “Population immunity is rapidly being achieved due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity through infection and vaccination. Unknowns are duration of immunity, impact of variants and who is at individual risk of reinfection or transmission. Good infection and outbreak control measures are still important at local level. However, mass testing and daily testing should be stopped, as testing of asymptomatic people is causing unnecessary harms with no evidence that it contributes to reducing transmission."

[david63]

Basically Ken what you are saying is that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

[anniec]

Wearing a mask has always been primarily to protect the people around us. I'll be continuing to wear my mask, as I have done for the last year, particularly when the rate of infection is so high - it's a courtesy to those around me. I hope people continue to extend the courtesy to me.

Exactly. There's a sizeable minority of people for whom the vaccine doesn't work, eg the immuno-suppressed, those having cancer treatment, transplant patients, and it's the job of society to protect them.

[anniec]

Basically Ken what you are saying is that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

Well, it certainly appears that science isn't quite as precise as we all thought.

[david63]

t's a courtesy to those around me. I hope people continue to extend the courtesy to me.

Sorry to burst your bubble Gill but I will only wear a mask where I am mandated to do otherwise I will not. If that appears to you to be discourteous then I am sorry, but I suspect that there will be more like me around. Yes I will wear one where it is necessary, or I feel that I should but I certainly will not be wearing one in Tesco if I don't need to.

[Kendhni]

Basically Ken what you are saying is that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

To a certain degree. There is obviously no conclusive answer, but if the government get it wrong (like they did leading up to the first lockdown) then it could send us back to square one. My personal preference is to err on the side of caution and not do, as this government is prone to do, run blindly into the unknown.

[Gill W]

I said that I HOPED people would be courteous.

But I didn’t really expect it.

[Quizzical Bob]

Basically Ken what you are saying is that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

To a certain degree. There is obviously no conclusive answer, but if the government get it wrong (like they did leading up to the first lockdown) then it could send us back to square one. My personal preference is to err on the side of caution and not do, as this government is prone to do, run blindly into the unknown.

There’s no chance of it going back to square one. Why should it?

I can only assume that your livelihood is secure during these stressful times? Let me ask you this. How would you feel about lockdown if you had to go without being paid for a month? Then multiply that by ten. Then add on another 50%. It’s not a case of running blindly into the unknown. Locking down the economy for an extensive period is another big unknown.

[Gill W]

There’s no chance of it going back to square one. Why should it?

If viruses spread without control, they have more chance to mutate.

If a variant develops that is more contagious/ more deadly / vaccine resistant, we would be in a very bad place.

I live in Kent, so I saw first hand how the Alpha variant spread. Now the Delta variant has taken over the world in 10 weeks,

It would be naive to think it can’t happen again

[Kendhni]

Basically Ken what you are saying is that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

To a certain degree. There is obviously no conclusive answer, but if the government get it wrong (like they did leading up to the first lockdown) then it could send us back to square one. My personal preference is to err on the side of caution and not do, as this government is prone to do, run blindly into the unknown.

There’s no chance of it going back to square one. Why should it?

I can only assume that your livelihood is secure during these stressful times? Let me ask you this. How would you feel about lockdown if you had to go without being paid for a month? Then multiply that by ten. Then add on another 50%. It’s not a case of running blindly into the unknown. Locking down the economy for an extensive period is another big unknown.

We don't know what is going to happen and if it is handled badly and/or there is a mutation that is immune to our vaccines then we are back to square one (or, as per our governments original strategy, 'let the old people die'). I agree with you about jobs - in fact I argued that those that could not work from home should have been top of the list for vaccines so that the economy could be opened up earlier. Most employees have been covered through the furlough scheme (which is unsustainable and heavily abused).

We have to look at ways whereby people can return to work safely ... all companies have now had 1 month X 10 + 50% to review this ... some have determined the means others have done nothing. Some companies have introduced 100% vaccinated requirement** before going back to office; others have extended the working week in a way that reduces occupancy, others have moved to a remote working strategy etc. etc.

We need to collectively follow the scientific advice we are provided with - it may not be right, it may evolve but it is the best advice we have. It is also about condemning the bottom feeders who think they are above the law or believe that guidelines are only for others (or better still let lab rats do what they want AFTER they sign a waiver that removes their right to use the services of the NHS - the lab rats will provide analysis of how safe it is).

That is why I want to see the economy being opened up but we must err on the side of caution, follow the guidelines and be willing/capable of quickly adapting to an evolving situation. We need to work out how to convert a lose/lose situation into a win/win situation.



** Interestingly there are 2 cases in America ongoing. The first is taken by someone who thinks it is all a hoax, refuses to be vaccinated and considers it discriminatory that he is not being allowed to return to work. The second has been taken by someone who is being forced back into work with no guarantee that all those around her will have been vaccinated.

[Manoverboard]

t's a courtesy to those around me. I hope people continue to extend the courtesy to me.

... I will only wear a mask where I am mandated to ... but I certainly will not be wearing one in Tesco if I don't need to.

My natural instincts are to wear a mask if it helps to protect me, the unfortunate group of people who are most vulnerable should not be taking any risks at all. Apart from social distancing there is nothing I can do to help them because I have no idea who they are.

Tesco, for example, will be full of snotty nosed kids so we will stick with the online option.

[david63]

I cannot really disagree with any of that Ken but

We don't know what is going to happen and if it is handled badly and/or there is a mutation that is immune to our vaccines then we are back to square one

that situation will apply whenever restrictions are lifted, be it in two weeks time, two months time or two years time.

Just because "legal" restrictions are lifted it does not mean that venues cannot impose their own restrictions and I suspect that some will maintain the restrictions with a gradual easing as when they feel that it is appropriate. How difficult it would be for specific venues to impose restrictions without some legal backing I am not sure.

I would not be surprised if some restrictions were re-introduced at some point in the future but I hope that we will have seen the end of lockdowns.

[Onelife]

I just wish this government would find the balls to tell the country what their real intentions are … which is I believe to allow this virus to run its course unhindered until such time that the virus hits a herd immunity wall. This is why the Government is sending out mixed messages about the wearing of face masks.

This virus is going to rip through the whole of the country like a knife through butter and it won’t just be the immune suppressed who will suffer, it will be those doubly vaccinated as well.

I think it is everyone’s responsibility to take whatever precaution’s we can to protect those in these groups and if it means wearing face masks then so be it.

[david63]

My natural instincts are to wear a mask if it helps to protect me

Only if you use a FFP3 type of mask

[Manoverboard]

My natural instincts are to wear a mask if it helps to protect me

Only if you use a FFP3 type of mask

I think that a regular mask offers ' some ' protection.

[david63]

I think that a regular mask offers ' some ' protection.

Apparently a "regular" mask only offers minimal protection to the wearer and is intended to protect others.

[Manoverboard]

I think that a regular mask offers ' some ' protection.

Apparently a "regular" mask only offers minimal protection to the wearer and is intended to protect others.

I obviously agree with that on the basis that it's better than nought

[Kendhni]

According to our CMO this morning we are at the start of the 4th wave which is expected to peak towards the end of August (or possibly later, depending on how the push to get people vaccinated goes). Seems a strange time to be pushing for the end of restrictions???

[Stephen]

At the end of the day when the rules are relaxed it’s down to each individual weather they wear a mask or not. Basically, just look after yourself.

[david63]

I see that Joe Biden is saying that the US is closer than ever to declaring independence from Covid - not sure that I would agree with that

[Ray B]

David, did he announce that on July 4th.

[david63]

David, did he announce that on July 4th.

Of course

[Quizzical Bob]

According to our CMO this morning we are at the start of the 4th wave which is expected to peak towards the end of August (or possibly later, depending on how the push to get people vaccinated goes). Seems a strange time to be pushing for the end of restrictions???

In response primarily to your earlier reply, for all those whose livelihood depends on mass gatherings the past year has been a financial disaster. Theatres, cinemas, weddings, sports events, live music of all sorts. These employments are impossible to be handled in a working from home situation yet mass events are the essence of a social civilisation.

Working from home can only be an option where that work already exists. It will not create new work and jobs and it is not very effective for collaborative efforts. It will not find you any new customers.

Are we going to hide behind our curtains forever? If these severe restrictions are not going to end now then when? Parts of the rest of the world are opening up without any problems.

[Mervyn and Trish]

At the end of the day when the rules are relaxed it’s down to each individual weather they wear a mask or not. Basically, just look after yourself.

As the mask protects others more than oneself I think we can guess how that will work out!

[Kendhni]

In response primarily to your earlier reply, for all those whose livelihood depends on mass gatherings the past year has been a financial disaster. Theatres, cinemas, weddings, sports events, live music of all sorts. These employments are impossible to be handled in a working from home situation yet mass events are the essence of a social civilisation.

Working from home can only be an option where that work already exists. It will not create new work and jobs and it is not very effective for collaborative efforts. It will not find you any new customers.

Are we going to hide behind our curtains forever? If these severe restrictions are not going to end now then when? Parts of the rest of the world are opening up without any problems.

Don't get me wrong, I am in favour of opening up, just as long as it is in a controlled justifiable and manageable manner.

While agreeing with you about the specific set of jobs you list, I would disagree with your analysis on the wider jobs market though. Many companies are recruiting at the minute, with many jobs being based on a work-from-home strategy. Some companies will switch to an online only business and benefit from many new customers outside of their normal catchment area, others will look to re-establish their existing business model.

There is no one size fits all but at the minute I think we have an opportunity to reassess how we do business in the 21st century leading to improvements in family friendly working practices, congestion, environmental issues etc. and. most importantly, choice.