SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

Anyone else really hate the name “freedom day”?

It’s got a weird twisted privilege attached to it.
We live in the age of the marketing slogan (Make America Great Again, Brexit means Brexit etc.) It's all pandering media bollocks that actually works well sadly.
 
How will it go if people have to spend another Christmas in lockdown?

I think people might tolerate a late October lockdown in order to have a normal Christmas, the weather will be shit by that time so people don't go out that much anyway.
 
How will it go if people have to spend another Christmas in lockdown?

I think people might tolerate a late October lockdown in order to have a normal Christmas, the weather will be shit by that time so people don't go out that much anyway.

Sounds like you want a lock down
 
How will it go if people have to spend another Christmas in lockdown?

I think people might tolerate a late October lockdown in order to have a normal Christmas, the weather will be shit by that time so people don't go out that much anyway.
Well I’ve just been told in no that it’s irreversible so presuming there won’t be another lockdown. Unless it’s just bollox to make people have a nice summer without worrying so much
 
Well I’ve just been told in no that it’s irreversible so presuming there won’t be another lockdown. Unless it’s just bollox to make people have a nice summer without worrying so much
We were told Dortmund wouldn't negotiate too :wenger:

Sounds like you want a lock down
If it means having a normal Christmas it might be best. Covid hasn't been solved.
 
Haha, that’s one way. I mean more like trying to nudge people into making not wearing a mask in indoor public places somehow socially unacceptable. Freedom indeed.

That’s a normal part of a functioning society. Discouraging people from doing things that are dangerous to society in exchange for obviously tolerable inconveniences for the individual, without having to resort to law enforcement. What kind of society would we live in if that kind of social influence wasn’t imposed? That idea of “freedom” falls apart if you just pull one of the thousands of loose ends.
 
If a family member asks you look after their kid for a couple of hours, and then briefly mentions the kid has a bad cold...should you ask the question "are you sure it's not covid"? On the one hand, you would assume the parent has already went through their own mental checks, and you don't want to unduly freak them out, but on the other hand...it's covid. Thoughts?

What I would say is "No, I can't help you because the kid is sick and I am not in a position to take any risk"

Worst-case scenario would be to have everyone wearing a mask, ideally outside...
 
_119347506_microsoftteams-image2.png


_119347291_optimised-uk_daily_deaths_with_ra_11jul-nc.png
 
Sigh ... this is why we can't have nice things.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...-for-violating-covid-19-restrictions-15205416

A Russian who tested positive for the coronavirus upon her arrival in Bali last Thursday was recaptured that night after she escaped mandatory isolation at an appointed hotel, said Jamaruli Manihuruk, who heads the Bali regional office for the Law and Human Rights Ministry.

She has been placed in an isolation facility in Bali’s capital, Denpasar, and will be deported as soon as she has recovered from the virus, Manihuruk said.

Three others were accused of defying mask mandates in public after being found unmasked in a raid last Thursday in the Kuta tourist area to enforce health protocols and prevent more infections, he said.

The travellers from the United States, Ireland and Russia were placed in a detention room at the immigration office while waiting for their flights to their countries later on Monday.
 
Note the obvious similarity between October 1st and July 1st.
Wow ... he's comparing autumn with summer, without realising the end part of the graph approaching autumn looks eerily similar to the previous autumn .... haha

As long as full vaccination rates are still low, the risk remains.

He probably thinks it’s like flammable and inflammable.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Last edited:
I was definitely in favour of removing all the restrictions only a few weeks ago. However looking at that graph for hospitalizations, I have to say I am becoming increasingly concerned again. The number of hospitalizations is clearly rising and we are about to open up completely. That does not strike me as sensible. Having said that, perhaps the rise is also due to the fact that a lot of people are doing whatever they want now and a rise was always expected after easing (or ignoring) of restrictions.
 
I was definitely in favour of removing all the restrictions only a few weeks ago. However looking at that graph for hospitalizations, I have to say I am becoming increasingly concerned again. The number of hospitalizations is clearly rising and we are about to open up completely. That does not strike me as sensible. Having said that, perhaps the rise is also due to the fact that a lot of people are doing whatever they want now and a rise was always expected after easing (or ignoring) of restrictions.

This is something I've felt for a while. People talk about this "freedom day" nonsense... what exactly are we unable to do right now? We've had mass events, all pubs, bars and restaurants are running as normal, and we're able to stay over at various households. It's hardly the black-and-white worlds many are painting.
 


Declaring “Freedom Day” in this context seems like wilful madness.

It is a disgrace, not least the fact that a partially vaccinated population is like a petri dish or dare to evolution to create new vaccine resistant variants.

But, feck it. Freedom day. The Euros. Whooo!
 
I was definitely in favour of removing all the restrictions only a few weeks ago. However looking at that graph for hospitalizations, I have to say I am becoming increasingly concerned again. The number of hospitalizations is clearly rising and we are about to open up completely. That does not strike me as sensible. Having said that, perhaps the rise is also due to the fact that a lot of people are doing whatever they want now and a rise was always expected after easing (or ignoring) of restrictions.

“Anticipatory behaviour”. When people know an easing in restrictions is coming they’re likely to adjust their behaviour in advance. If you’re going to be allowed to throw house parties from next weekend, sure what’s the harm in throwing one today?
 
“Anticipatory behaviour”. When people know an easing in restrictions is coming they’re likely to adjust their behaviour in advance. If you’re going to be allowed to throw house parties from next weekend, sure what’s the harm in throwing one today?
To expand on that: set a fixed date in the future when everything we go back to normal and then realise you're utterly unable to backtrack because people have already changed their behaviours or are dead set on doing so.
 
In honesty I don't think there is much hope of stopping this wave in the UK (or in several other countries) - it's happening and a lot of the case growth is already locked in. We'd be talking about a big reimposition of restrictions to get the R rate below 1 at this stage. Which Boris won't do and would probably be ignored if attempted.

I'd like to see some of the mitigations remain - like masks on public transport and in supermarkets and other similar essential indoor settings. Continue WFH for those who can would be no bad thing.

I'd also like to see an open admission that a lot of people will be hospitalised and die in this wave and that if you're in a risk group, you are definitely not included in the opening plans and that whatever new activities you've enjoyed since May (gyms, restaurants, family meetups etc) - you need to stop (at minimum stick to the outdoors). Plus, of course we need to keep encouraging people to get vaccinated and make sure the vaccine centres are where the people are.

It's not too late for some other countries though. Ventilation matters - and places that can't open enough doors and windows (relative to people numbers and activities inside) need either very high quality aircon or continued restrictions - compulsory CO2 monitoring in businesses can give a ballpark indicator there. Anything to buy time so that all who want to be vaxxed can be (and those who can't take the vaccine have help to protect themselves), and everyone else understands the risks and how to avoid them.
 
The UK is fecked. Soon we’ll be hitting 100k cases a day and at that point, we’ll still have a large amount of hospitalisations purely due to scale, even though the vaccines will reduce what it otherwise would have been. Will 1000 hospitalisations a day be enough for the government to back track and reintroduce measures? I just don’t see how we can continue on this road.
 
In honesty I don't think there is much hope of stopping this wave in the UK (or in several other countries) - it's happening and a lot of the case growth is already locked in. We'd be talking about a big reimposition of restrictions to get the R rate below 1 at this stage. Which Boris won't do and would probably be ignored if attempted.

I'd like to see some of the mitigations remain - like masks on public transport and in supermarkets and other similar essential indoor settings. Continue WFH for those who can would be no bad thing.

I'd also like to see an open admission that a lot of people will be hospitalised and die in this wave and that if you're in a risk group, you are definitely not included in the opening plans and that whatever new activities you've enjoyed since May (gyms, restaurants, family meetups etc) - you need to stop (at minimum stick to the outdoors). Plus, of course we need to keep encouraging people to get vaccinated and make sure the vaccine centres are where the people are.

It's not too late for some other countries though. Ventilation matters - and places that can't open enough doors and windows (relative to people numbers and activities inside) need either very high quality aircon or continued restrictions - compulsory CO2 monitoring in businesses can give a ballpark indicator there. Anything to buy time so that all who want to be vaxxed can be (and those who can't take the vaccine have help to protect themselves), and everyone else understands the risks and how to avoid them.

The next wave is fully anticipated and expected in the UK. They wouldn't be opening up everything if that weren't the case.

My concern with a half vaccinated population going freely about their business is that the UK doesn't create or spread yet another variant around. Every variant in Europe has made it's way here though the UK.
 
The UK is fecked. Soon we’ll be hitting 100k cases a day and at that point, we’ll still have a large amount of hospitalisations purely due to scale, even though the vaccines will reduce what it otherwise would have been. Will 1000 hospitalisations a day be enough for the government to back track and reintroduce measures? I just don’t see how we can continue on this road.
What would reintroducing restrictions do though? They were brought in to buy us time to develop and then distribute the vaccine. That has been done. Life has to go on. If people require hospitalisation and haven't had the vaccine then that's on them. If you've had 2 jabs and still require hospitalisation then that's tough luck but what is the alternative?
 
The UK is fecked. Soon we’ll be hitting 100k cases a day and at that point, we’ll still have a large amount of hospitalisations purely due to scale, even though the vaccines will reduce what it otherwise would have been. Will 1000 hospitalisations a day be enough for the government to back track and reintroduce measures? I just don’t see how we can continue on this road.
They'll be delighted if it only goes to 1000/day. It looks like they're ready for it to go 2000/day (maybe 10 -15,000 hospitalised). They're highly dependant on the hospitalisation remaining at the optimistic level of 2% of cases and mostly short stays (assumes that the cases are mostly in the under 30s) - if it breaks into the unvaxxed over 40s in particular, and into the 70+ groups (vaxxed or not - even a breakthrough rate of 5-10% for the vaxxed developing covid is a big deal in these age groups) then hospitalisations could rise fast. There's a lot of concern over ICU care in particular. Some regions are likely to be particularly hard hit. Some of the models are already suggesting that the hospitalisation rate is over 4% not the 2% seen early in the wave.

Will they track back? I'm not seeing it. I think we'll hear a lot of talk about shielding, personal responsibility, local measures and businesses having the right to decide how to operate (table service, masks etc). Basically they'll push it out of their responsibility and try and blame kids, Andy Burnham, and reckless foreign travel.
 
The next wave is fully anticipated and expected in the UK. They wouldn't be opening up everything if that weren't the case.

My concern with a half vaccinated population going freely about their business is that the UK doesn't create or spread yet another variant around. Every variant in Europe has made it's way here though the UK.
You have the biggest airport hub in Europe. Perhaps they need to think about that
 
This is something I've felt for a while. People talk about this "freedom day" nonsense... what exactly are we unable to do right now? We've had mass events, all pubs, bars and restaurants are running as normal, and we're able to stay over at various households. It's hardly the black-and-white worlds many are painting.

Politely disagree. All the stuff you talk about is good for existing groups/support bubbles but the restrictions are still quite limiting for individuals. I'm pretty biased though as I'm a single person who lives alone and lots of things I liked to do before the pandemic still haven't come back properly.

Edit - To clarify, this isn't me saying we should scrap restrictions or anything. We should keep them but they should be better judged. It still boggles my mind how we ended up in a situation where government prioritised reopening of bars and shopping venues over less densely packed activities.
 
Last edited:
how do people think the knock on effect from the euros will play out? People were fairly packed into the squares and places I saw last night
 
I would be so mad if this happened. I'll save my ire for when it does.
I think the government will be very resistant to lockdown so it would only happen if the numbers are out of control. It should be used as a preventative measure rather than a reactive one but the Government will do the latter.
 
As a pub owner I'm dreading tonight's announcement, although I've already told my customers that we will not be changing much.

We will have to scrap the sign in, and we unfortunately cannot enforce masks, although it kind of makes little sense once you have been inside a pub for a few hours anyway. However my staff and I will still be wearing them.

We are keeping table service and I won't be allowing standing in the pub, or anyone sitting or ordering at the bar. Thankfully 99% of our customers think we are being sensible, especially as we are in one of the highest spreading areas at the moment and where 12 neighbouring bars and clubs have had to shut over the last week or two.

I've also had to piss off all the musicians and bands we booked as I won't be having music back until we think it feels safe to do so. Ours is (was) the number one music pub in the town with live music 4 nights a week, but I just don't feel comfortable having it back and encouraging everyone to be crammed in tight and with 7 deep at the bar. I think lots of our older customers won't like that either so we will essentially just be full of the Anti-vaxers and the kids who think they are invincible.

Btw, I'm writing all this from a bed in hospital where I was admitted this morning because I literally cannot breath and feel like my throat and chest are on fire. I've had a severe cold for a week, but this morning I couldn't move when I woke and the Dr called an ambulance for me. Although they think it's possibly pneumonia rather than Covid, but still. Not nice and I'm waiting for my results. And yes, I have had both my jabs. (AZ)

I'm 100% sure the stress of working since we reopened and all the worry about restrictions etc, the 110 hour weeks, and all the issues with staff and lack of, all due to Covid, has put me here. The effects of Covid reach far deeper than most people think. It enrages me when I see all these people who just want everything to go back to normal. Don't we all? But I think it's been proved it's not that simple and it can't happen on a specific date just because someone wants it to, or they have backed themselves in to a corner by saying it will and they don't have the balls to go back on it.
 
All restrictions to end as planned on 19th.

I was hoping they’d see sense with masks & continue the legal requirement for them, but nope. Also the “If not now, then when?” sound bite is as shite as the “freedom day” declaration.
 
As a pub owner I'm dreading tonight's announcement, although I've already told my customers that we will not be changing much.

We will have to scrap the sign in, and we unfortunately cannot enforce masks, although it kind of makes little sense once you have been inside a pub for a few hours anyway. However my staff and I will still be wearing them.

We are keeping table service and I won't be allowing standing in the pub, or anyone sitting or ordering at the bar. Thankfully 99% of our customers think we are being sensible, especially as we are in one of the highest spreading areas at the moment and where 12 neighbouring bars and clubs have had to shut over the last week or two.

I've also had to piss off all the musicians and bands we booked as I won't be having music back until we think it feels safe to do so. Ours is (was) the number one music pub in the town with live music 4 nights a week, but I just don't feel comfortable having it back and encouraging everyone to be crammed in tight and with 7 deep at the bar. I think lots of our older customers won't like that either so we will essentially just be full of the Anti-vaxers and the kids who think they are invincible.

Btw, I'm writing all this from a bed in hospital where I was admitted this morning because I literally cannot breath and feel like my throat and chest are on fire. I've had a severe cold for a week, but this morning I couldn't move when I woke and the Dr called an ambulance for me. Although they think it's possibly pneumonia rather than Covid, but still. Not nice and I'm waiting for my results. And yes, I have had both my jabs. (AZ)

I'm 100% sure the stress of working since we reopened and all the worry about restrictions etc, the 110 hour weeks, and all the issues with staff and lack of, all due to Covid, has put me here. The effects of Covid reach far deeper than most people think. It enrages me when I see all these people who just want everything to go back to normal. Don't we all? But I think it's been proved it's not that simple and it can't happen on a specific date just because someone wants it to, or they have backed themselves in to a corner by saying it will and they don't have the balls to go back on it.

Crap news. Get well soon.
 
As a pub owner I'm dreading tonight's announcement, although I've already told my customers that we will not be changing much.

We will have to scrap the sign in, and we unfortunately cannot enforce masks, although it kind of makes little sense once you have been inside a pub for a few hours anyway. However my staff and I will still be wearing them.

We are keeping table service and I won't be allowing standing in the pub, or anyone sitting or ordering at the bar. Thankfully 99% of our customers think we are being sensible, especially as we are in one of the highest spreading areas at the moment and where 12 neighbouring bars and clubs have had to shut over the last week or two.

I've also had to piss off all the musicians and bands we booked as I won't be having music back until we think it feels safe to do so. Ours is (was) the number one music pub in the town with live music 4 nights a week, but I just don't feel comfortable having it back and encouraging everyone to be crammed in tight and with 7 deep at the bar. I think lots of our older customers won't like that either so we will essentially just be full of the Anti-vaxers and the kids who think they are invincible.

Btw, I'm writing all this from a bed in hospital where I was admitted this morning because I literally cannot breath and feel like my throat and chest are on fire. I've had a severe cold for a week, but this morning I couldn't move when I woke and the Dr called an ambulance for me. Although they think it's possibly pneumonia rather than Covid, but still. Not nice and I'm waiting for my results. And yes, I have had both my jabs. (AZ)

I'm 100% sure the stress of working since we reopened and all the worry about restrictions etc, the 110 hour weeks, and all the issues with staff and lack of, all due to Covid, has put me here. The effects of Covid reach far deeper than most people think. It enrages me when I see all these people who just want everything to go back to normal. Don't we all? But I think it's been proved it's not that simple and it can't happen on a specific date just because someone wants it to, or they have backed themselves in to a corner by saying it will and they don't have the balls to go back on it.
You are absolutely right and I think you’re taking sensible precautions at your bar. If only everyone had common sense.
Sorry to hear you’re down with something, hope you get better soon
 
What would reintroducing restrictions do though? They were brought in to buy us time to develop and then distribute the vaccine. That has been done. Life has to go on. If people require hospitalisation and haven't had the vaccine then that's on them. If you've had 2 jabs and still require hospitalisation then that's tough luck but what is the alternative?

The alternative is just to wait until everyone has been given the chance to have two vaccines. That’s an achievable target within a relatively short time frame, so it’s a legitimate alternative. It’s not like people are saying they should lockdown indefinitely, they’re just saying hold onto some pretty limited restrictions until that key health target is met.