Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

I cannot see there being further lockdowns, it just not possible on both a economic and social basis. The goal posts have already been moved in terms of reopening, the vulnerable (who account for the vast majority of hospitalisations and deaths) are now either protected or will be very shortly so how can there ever be further lockdowns? The vaccination seems to be effective against present variants so there should never been the need to lockdown against a Covid virus. Will further people die of it? Yes, that's going to be unavoidable however it is not going to disappear and people die each year from various ailments that we cannot be protected from. We are going to have to take our chances at some point and, for me, that point is rapidly arriving. I am not suggesting we open the floodgates right away however with the vaccination roll out almost complete amongst those most at risk then there should be no excuses to extend lockdowns/restrictions etc.
...but there might be very good reasons that require it - as much as that could have serious impacts on many and so we should do everything we can to come out the lockdown cautiously and robustly.
 
...but there might be very good reasons that require it.

The only good reason that I can think of would be a mutation of the virus that increases its mortality i.e. makes it deadly to all who have not been vaccinated. In that case yes, but a more transmissible variant etc should not be a reason given that those who needed the vaccine have almost all had it.
 
It is interesting how generic the term lockdown has become. Having read a few articles on the new 'lockdown' imposed in Germany, it is not even as strict as what we will be subject to after 29th May and much of what is still allowed will be prevented here until May or even June.
 
Hopefully, the easing of lockdown won't have too dramatic an effect.
I've been (un)lucky enough to have been working throughout the pandemic, commuting into London from Herts.
The trains and underground have been back up to what feels like 50% of normal for weeks now. People at my work sitting in cars and busy offices without masks, speaking of weekend visits to grandparents.
As much as I've been overly protective of my father for a year now, I know that he has been meeting up with friends occasionally, who have been meeting up with friends, who have been seeing their grandchildren, who share time with separated parents and are now back at school.
The relaxation of rules over christmas clearly caused a spike in deaths that many families will have to live with, which backs up the theory that transmission is far more likely in the home.
It's starting to feel like it will have been survival of the fittest and luckiest, rather than a strict communal effort to protect the weakest.
Fingers crossed that the country's improving luck continues with the vaccination effort and spreads abroad.
 
Yes that is so, however, there are some pluses this time , are there not?
This time the easement of restrictions is to be better managed ( if people behave and like you say control their fatigue and end of term feelings).
The vaccinations must be a large factor in our favour, not just as regards illness, but as regards transmissions as well. But, yes, your point re the ones who spread it most not being the ones vaccinated is the kicker.
Time for those who have been vaccinated not to start demanding too much "freedom" too soon, in light of this inconvenient truth.
So, HMG, on and on with the vaccinations please??

Yes, the vaccinations should blunt the magnitude of the next wave. As for demanding freedoms, these things reach a tipping point. The Govt knows well that their pronouncements on the major success (which it undoubtedly is) of vaccination also sound a lot like a countdown to going back to (near-)normal and at some time the people will decide they have waited long enough.
 
We're very much coming off a wave, way down than a few weeks back, but it's at a will it won't it go back up - we're seeing a small ripple.

EDIT: lowest number in the village(pop 3700) since the 3rd week of Jan. 32, down 7 since yesterday.
Blimey. That seems high to me?
Works out at 864 per 100k. Which is not far off what we (ie Lewisham) were when we were at our worst - about 1000 per 100k. Fingers crossed that you come down a lot further quickly.
 
You have a lot of nerve thinking you understand my qualifications or experience...
I am comfortable with my qualifications and relevant experience.

And you, sir, have a lot of nerve implying that my doctor doesn't know what he's doing.
I'll trust my doctor over someone posting on a golf forum about medicine.
 
snip
I'll trust my doctor over someone posting on a golf forum about medicine.

This I agree with completely, you should trust your doctor or the governments medical bodies/advice more than people on a golf forum. Yeah question your doctor etc, look on proper medical websites, proper medical twitter feeds, medical books if it takes your fancy or interest. I have learnt alot over the last year, its been great for me, a bit like going back to university/professional studying and learning.

People post under made up names, potentially with or without professional liability if providing advice/chat on forums. I post under not my name for example and sometimes post advice on my field but on any forum, I consider posts as talking to the man down the pub kind of talk EDIT with no disrespect to anyone meant.
 
And you, sir, have a lot of nerve implying that my doctor doesn't know what he's doing.
I'll trust my doctor over someone posting on a golf forum about medicine.

Cool.

By the way, I was not implying your doctor doesn't know what he is doing. I was implying that interpretation of clinical trial data is a special skill and if your GP can actually do it well, he is rather unusual amongst GPs.
 
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This I agree with completely, you should trust your doctor or the governments medical bodies/advice more than people on a golf forum. Yeah question your doctor etc, look on proper medical websites, proper medical twitter feeds, medical books if it takes your fancy or interest. I have learnt alot over the last year, its been great for me, a bit like going back to university/professional studying and learning.

People post under made up names, potentially with or without professional liability if providing advice/chat on forums. I post under not my name for example and sometimes post advice on my field but on any forum, I consider posts as talking to the man down the pub kind of talk EDIT with no disrespect to anyone meant.

Some disrespect unavoidable. At least you did not mean it.
 
In the interests of those offended or upset by the stuff I post, I will cease doing so. Happy to share my qualifications with anyone who wishes to see them.

Just to be clear, I don't post medical advice. I post medical information and my interpretation of material which is within my professional expertise. Although clearly not as well informed as Guy's GP.
 
In the interests of those offended or upset by the stuff I post, I will cease doing so. Happy to share my qualifications with anyone who wishes to see them.

The stuff you post is usually quite informative.

However IMO you can have a short fuse and come across as arrogant and aggressive when someone critises.
 
How quickly things change. A few days ago I was hacked off about the delays with the vaccinations (not blaming anyone just hacked off), 5 minutes ago I get an NHS text saying I will be invited shortly, 3 minutes ago I have a text from the doctors surgery asking me to book and now I am booked in to be jabbed on Thursday afternoon. No idea what caused the sudden change but looks like Grantham are vaccinating the 45-50 age group.
 
The stuff you post is usually quite informative.

However IMO you can have a short fuse and come across as arrogant and aggressive when someone critises.
I'll go with the view that is informed by expertise, analysis, data and information rather than that which is based upon feelings, assertion and what I want. One holds water - the other might also but usually only temporarily and in the manner of a colander.
 
In the interests of those offended or upset by the stuff I post, I will cease doing so. Happy to share my qualifications with anyone who wishes to see them.

Just to be clear, I don't post medical advice. I post medical information and my interpretation of material which is within my professional expertise. Although clearly not as well informed as Guy's GP.
just for the record I have been far more educated over this last year for your input in this flippin Covid than any Dr I know.
And for that I sincerely thank you. ?
 
In the interests of those offended or upset by the stuff I post, I will cease doing so. Happy to share my qualifications with anyone who wishes to see them.

Just to be clear, I don't post medical advice. I post medical information and my interpretation of material which is within my professional expertise. Although clearly not as well informed as Guy's GP.


You've gone off piste once or twice at me, but please don't stop posting!

Far more informative and insightful than most resources.
 
You've gone off piste once or twice at me, but please don't stop posting!
What he said. You certainly make things interesting. Without your posts I wouldn't have refreshed my knowledge of Empiricism v Rationalism and spent the last hour reading about John Locke, Voltaire and Bertrand Russell. I'll sleep well tonight and for that at least, I'm grateful.
 
How quickly things change. A few days ago I was hacked off about the delays with the vaccinations (not blaming anyone just hacked off), 5 minutes ago I get an NHS text saying I will be invited shortly, 3 minutes ago I have a text from the doctors surgery asking me to book and now I am booked in to be jabbed on Thursday afternoon. No idea what caused the sudden change but looks like Grantham are vaccinating the 45-50 age group.

It's so interesting considering they said no booking of 1st jabs for the under 50s for next 3 weeks or so
Sod it.. good luck!
 
How quickly things change. A few days ago I was hacked off about the delays with the vaccinations (not blaming anyone just hacked off), 5 minutes ago I get an NHS text saying I will be invited shortly, 3 minutes ago I have a text from the doctors surgery asking me to book and now I am booked in to be jabbed on Thursday afternoon. No idea what caused the sudden change but looks like Grantham are vaccinating the 45-50 age group.

There is a lot to be used up quickly - before the end of the week before some of the major sites are shutting down for a month, 1 due to slow down in supply & 2 GPS going back with staff to catch up,on day to day stuff.

Even some door to door vaccinating going on in the Midlands

Not going to need my flask of Bovril for a month.
 
There is a lot to be used up quickly - before the end of the week before some of the major sites are shutting down for a month, 1 due to slow down in supply & 2 GPS going back with staff to catch up,on day to day stuff.

Even some door to door vaccinating going on in the Midlands

Not going to need my flask of Bovril for a month.

Guessed that may be the case as I was offered Thursday, Thursday or Thursday as my choice for booking in. Guess there was some left so as I am in the first group for the under 50s I managed to slip in. As Ethan has said on here a few times, if you are offered a lifeboat you get in the first one available.
 
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