Current Affairs

[Gill W]

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???

That is the thing that is puzzling me the most. It seems a reckless time to remove restrictions when infections are already spiraling

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.

The trouble is, the government can open up everything and remove restrictions, but there's no guarantee that people are going to flock back to things like theatre and cinema, or even non socially distanced pubs and restaurants. Hospitality may do all right at the weekends with the younger crowd, but older people who keep things ticking over during the week are already saying that they'll be going out less when restrictions are removed.

[barney]

That’s your opinion.
We went for a walk along the beach earlier and both foodie pubs had queues outside, waiting for tables.

[Quizzical Bob]

The trouble is, the government can open up everything and remove restrictions, but there's no guarantee that people are going to flock back to things like theatre and cinema, or even non socially distanced pubs and restaurants. Hospitality may do all right at the weekends with the younger crowd, but older people who keep things ticking over during the week are already saying that they'll be going out less when restrictions are removed.

Conferences, trade fairs? Where are all the new customers going to come from?

I think you are concentrating on the number of infections which in themselves are not important.

[Quizzical Bob]

For comparison the United States are mostly completely opened up,

https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/g ... tions.html

[Gill W]

Conferences, trade fairs? Where are all the new customers going to come from?

I think you are concentrating on the number of infections which in themselves are not important.

Infections are important - I've explained why on this forum and I can't keep repeating it

Anyway, if we have the virus spreading uncontrollably, other counties won't let us in to visit trade fairs, and the governments of other countries will restrict their residents from traveling here.

Removing restrictions doesn't mean that normality is going to break out.

For comparison the United States are mostly completely opened up,

I don't think the delta variant has been allowed to take hold in the US, like it did here?

[david63]

Infections are important

If they are so important can you please tell us how many "infections" there are in England at the moment.

[Gill W]

You have access to the same information I have.

[david63]

You have access to the same information I have.

No I don't otherwise I would not be asking.

I know of no source of total "infections"

[oldbluefox]

Interesting graph on the BBC news last night showing the rise in infections. It also showed the rise in hospitalisations which was insignificant over the past couple of weeks. I also heard that of those who died many had underlying medical conditions.
Even with lockdown relaxed or removed I will continue with the same precautions I have been applying so far. As ever it's everybody's personal responsibility.

[Kendhni]

Interesting graph on the BBC news last night showing the rise in infections. It also showed the rise in hospitalisations which was insignificant over the past couple of weeks.

In a bigger picture across this entire pandemic that may be the case, but when you zoom in on June the number of daily admissions has jumped from a low of under 100 to almost 250 (deaths rose a similar amount) - the numbers are still low, but the downward trend has reversed. This is the same pattern as we saw last year, I am hoping that the vaccine program will smooth the hospitalisations off quickly. The next 6-8 weeks will be informative.

[Kendhni]

Something I haven't heard mentioned for a while (or only as an aside) ... when the vaccines were rolled out it was thought that they would only be effective for 6-9 months requiring boosters. While there is a booster programme in the pipeline, those who had the vaccine early (e.g. Dec, Jan) are now starting to hit the window whereby they may (or may not) become susceptible to the virus once again.

... and coincidentally this arrived in one my news feeds today
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/long-does-co ... 58264.html

Generally looks like quite good news.

[screwy]

Waiting for Boris to update us…

Then waiting for Incoming.

[Kendhni]

(deaths rose a similar amount)

For the pedants, that should have read 'deaths rose at a similar rate'.

[screwy]

Was waiting for Boris and Co, to tell Rigby that she was the last person to lecture anyone.!

[Gill W]

No I don't otherwise I would not be asking.

I know of no source of total "infections"

You are sealioning and I’m not falling for it

[Ray B]

Should we put Scotland on the red list considering the rise in covid numbers.

[screwy]

It’s always been on my red list,Covid or not.

[towny44]

Conferences, trade fairs? Where are all the new customers going to come from?

I think you are concentrating on the number of infections which in themselves are not important.

Infections are important - I've explained why on this forum and I can't keep repeating it

But it is only your interpretation, if it was a high agenda concern on SAGE, then the govt would be taking note of it.
Anyway, if we have the virus spreading uncontrollably, other counties won't let us in to visit trade fairs, and the governments of other countries will restrict their residents from traveling here.

Removing restrictions doesn't mean that normality is going to break out.

For comparison the United States are mostly completely opened up,

I don't think the delta variant has been allowed to take hold in the US, like it did here?

Removing restrictions will probably lead to.increased activity in a wide area of the hospitality sector, I think you over estimate the supposed reluctance of the general public. We have been out and about 3 or 4 times over the past few days, and we have both been surprised at the numbers of people doing the same.
You may have a point about other countries being concerned about UK visitors, but I expect that the govt is actively pursuing the possibility of relaxing restrictions if people can prove they have been double jabbed.

[towny44]

No I don't otherwise I would not be asking.

I know of no source of total "infections"

You are sealioning and I’m not falling for it

That's a bit of a harsh criticism to make of our illustrious benefactor.

[Gill W]

Removing restrictions will probably lead to.increased activity in a wide area of the hospitality sector, I think you over estimate the supposed reluctance of the general public. We have been out and about 3 or 4 times over the past few days, and we have both been surprised at the numbers of people doing the same.

The restrictions haven’t been removed yet.

A lot of people are saying that they’ll be less likely to go out for leisure activities after 19th July

[towny44]

Removing restrictions will probably lead to.increased activity in a wide area of the hospitality sector, I think you over estimate the supposed reluctance of the general public. We have been out and about 3 or 4 times over the past few days, and we have both been surprised at the numbers of people doing the same.

The restrictions haven’t been removed yet.

A lot of people are saying that they’ll be less likely to go out for leisure activities after 19th July

We will just have to wait and see which view prevails.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Should we put Scotland on the red list considering the rise in covid numbers.

Yes highest infection rate in Europe apparently. Well done Mrs Krankie. Another vote for independence then so she can excel at everything else too.

[Onelife]

Boris should have put more emphasis/empathy on what lifting restrictions means for thousands of immune suppressed individuals who will now have little choice but to self-isolate while infection rates soar.

[towny44]

Boris should have put more emphasis/empathy on what lifting restrictions means for thousands of immune suppressed individuals who will now have little choice but to self-isolate while infection rates soar.

How do the immune suppressed cope with winter flu, norovirus, the common cold and countless other infectious diseases, some likely to be far more dangerous than covid, I wonder.

[Onelife]

Boris should have put more emphasis/empathy on what lifting restrictions means for thousands of immune suppressed individuals who will now have little choice but to self-isolate while infection rates soar.

How do the immune suppressed cope with winter flu, norovirus, the common cold and countless other infectious diseases, some likely to be far more dangerous than covid, I wonder.

It’s not a question I have asked my sister or indeed any other person but like most of us I presume she takes the precautions she can in not catching what are essentially winter born illnesses. Covid doesn’t appear to have a season of infection which make it far more difficult to avoid.

I was talking to my wife this evening saying that I would speak to my sister who unfurtunatly has no option other than to be on immune suppressing drugs. Her handicapped daughter attends a facility where she comes into contact with others of similar conditions. Whilst this facility is beneficial to the daughter and gives my sister and husband some rest bite from what are very challenging circumstances.

I feel with the proposed relaxation of restrictions her daughter and as a consequence ‘she’ will have far more chance of coming into contact with this virus than would be the case had the Government not given carte blanche to everyone.

Do you think I should say something my sister or just put my faith in people being courteous and responsible?