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Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

Ditching of face masks from 2 weeks today. I don't get it. It costs the country nothing, harms nobody and reduces the volume of infectious airborne particles.
I'm happy for other folks that hospitality venues and all other business will be fully reopening, but why ditch the masks.
As a daily user of busy public transport, I'd be interested to know if it's just me that has concerns.
 
Seems as though it's now financial reasons rather than health reasons making the decision on reopening everything. Two weeks ago we were told that step 4 would be pushed back. Infections are now far higher than they were but we're getting rid of all restrictions. Surely as a minimum face masks on public transport and enclosed spaces should have been kept. Is this a government buck passing exercise where the public will be blamed for further rises because they didn't follow "guidance" on masks now it's no longer the law?
 
RichA said:
Ditching of face masks from 2 weeks today. I don't get it. It costs the country nothing, harms nobody and reduces the volume of infectious airborne particles.
I'm happy for other folks that hospitality venues and all other business will be fully reopening, but why ditch the masks.
As a daily user of busy public transport, I'd be interested to know if it's just me that has concerns.
Click to expand...

The reasoning on masks is utterly contradictory. On the one hand, it is to give people "personal freedom", but Whitty and Vallance just confirmed that the main purpose is to protect others. Therefore, Johnson is saying that people should have the personal freedom to choose whether to protect others or not? That is insane, and there is ample evidence that many people don't give a toss about anybody else. Precisely the same logic could extend to drink-driving and speed limits. Put up "advisory" signs and let the good sense of others determine how much they drink before driving home, and at what speed.

There is no reason that indoor venues couldn't maintain mask use whilst allowing closer to capacity crowds. Outside, not such an issue.

It seems fairly clear that masks are a culture war issue. I expect examples of people wearing masks in public being abused by knuckle-dragging "freedom-loving patriots".
 
RichA said:
Ditching of face masks from 2 weeks today. I don't get it. It costs the country nothing, harms nobody and reduces the volume of infectious airborne particles.
I'm happy for other folks that hospitality venues and all other business will be fully reopening, but why ditch the masks.
As a daily user of busy public transport, I'd be interested to know if it's just me that has concerns.
Click to expand...
Not just you, if I was on public transport I would probably still wear a mask and may well do in supermarkets. The issue is, how can you open certain indoor sectors that are not compatible with mask wearing (clubs etc) but enforce mask wearing in others.
 
ColchesterFC said:
Seems as though it's now financial reasons rather than health reasons making the decision on reopening everything. Two weeks ago we were told that step 4 would be pushed back. Infections are now far higher than they were but we're getting rid of all restrictions. Surely as a minimum face masks on public transport and enclosed spaces should have been kept. Is this a government buck passing exercise where the public will be blamed for further rises because they didn't follow "guidance" on masks now it's no longer the law?
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Not sure how you can make that claim when you look at the latest figures…..

1625506025733.jpeg


Deaths extremely low

1625505466389.jpeg

Hospitalisation extremely low

We need to start getting over it, it’s been bad but all the evidence suggests that the worst is behind us and it’s time to start getting back to normal. Seems that a lot of people are reluctant to let it go but it’s time to get back to work.
 
Fade and Die said:
Not sure how you can make that claim when you look at the latest figures…..

View attachment 37392


Deaths extremely low

View attachment 37390

Hospitalisation extremely low

We need to start getting over it, it’s been bad but all the evidence suggests that the worst is behind us and it’s time to start getting back to normal. Seems that a lot of people are reluctant to let it go but it’s time to get back to work.
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Are face masks on public transport or shops stopping people getting back to work? How so?

Clearly a relaxation of restrictions needs to happen, but these announcements are serving several other agendas too.
 
Ethan said:
It does to a certain extent, but the greater effect is to protect others.
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Is there any actual evidence to suggest face coverings (I'll refrain from using the term face mask) provide any meaningful protection at all?

The amount of waste they are producing is obscene.
 
GB72 said:
To be fair, his son is the bigger picture now. There are a few industries that have been massively hit throughout this and continue to be hit. Semi relaxation of rules etc is not going to help them. So what do we do now. 64% of the sdult population have had 2 jabs, over 80% had had one jab. That is pretty much as protected as we can be. A time has to come when we have to try and return to some form of normality. and better now in the summer than in the harder conditions of the winter months.

It would be easy for me to profess the benefits of keeping restrictions. I have not lost anything during lockdown, I have worked every day and had a garden to sit in when stuck at home and, to be honest, the thought of normality makes me nervous as hell but I am in a very privileged position and so I have to look at it from the other side. If I had lost everything during lockdown and been struck at home with no money and not a days work in 18 months then suspect my outlook would be very different.

Maybe this is the time to come back out of our shells.
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Absolutely got it spot on.?
 
Ethan said:
Are face masks on public transport or shops stopping people getting back to work? How so?

Clearly a relaxation of restrictions needs to happen, but these announcements are serving several other agendas too.
Click to expand...

I never said anything about masks, and tbh I think if I had to use public transport I would put one on. My point was that the evidence is there that the time is right to start relaxing restrictions for health reasons rather than financial pressures.
 
theoneandonly said:
Doesn't the vax drastically reduce the risk of transmission? Why would I then wear a mask to protect others if my immunity already does.
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Because your immunity only probably does. And unless people wear badges marking their vaccination status, it becomes impossible to maintain a system where some people wear, others don't. There are already too many people with bogus exemptions too.
 
Fade and Die said:
I never said anything about masks, and tbh I think if I had to use public transport I would put one on. My point was that the evidence is there that the time is right to start relaxing restrictions for health reasons rather than financial pressures.
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OK, fair enough. I agree, as I said, that relaxing restrictions carefully is fine. None of us are enjoying the restrictions, but masks ring bells on one side of the culture war, and should not be stopped like they are being stopped.
 
Ethan said:
The reasoning on masks is utterly contradictory. On the one hand, it is to give people "personal freedom", but Whitty and Vallance just confirmed that the main purpose is to protect others. Therefore, Johnson is saying that people should have the personal freedom to choose whether to protect others or not? That is insane, and there is ample evidence that many people don't give a toss about anybody else. Precisely the same logic could extend to drink-driving and speed limits. Put up "advisory" signs and let the good sense of others determine how much they drink before driving home, and at what speed.

There is no reason that indoor venues couldn't maintain mask use whilst allowing closer to capacity crowds. Outside, not such an issue.

It seems fairly clear that masks are a culture war issue. I expect examples of people wearing masks in public being abused by knuckle-dragging "freedom-loving patriots".
Click to expand...
What I was asking for was to allow venues to open but either rules require masks to be worn or give venues the right to require masks to be worn. Not sure no masks is that great an idea...Whitty and @Ethan sets out why.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
His is part of those who have been trampled upon and ignored and who deserve consideration - and I mention his sector as it is how I am most significantly affected by the pandemic - which is what thread is all about.
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The thread is all about how YOU are affected by the pandemic - is it just me me me ?
 
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