All signs are that Omicron is indeed close to being endemic, but it's also far less dangerous than previous variants. I'm no Johnson supporter but in this case (and probably for the first time since Feb 2020) I'm in agreement with the current English guidelines, whereas I think the Welsh & Scottish have over-reacted - possibly for political reasons (i.e. "we are more responsible than the Tories").
Say that to the people who can't access multi-times delayed medical treatment because 25000 Covid patients has delayed 6 million planned surgeries. Many of those people will have poorer outcomes or die because of the delays.
Say that to the people whose A&E is saying "only life or death care available" and GPs are overwhelmed or shut down cos so many staff have Covid as well as increased demand.
Say that to the people vulnerable to Covid who can't access PCR testing in time or the emergency treatment because the referral system has overloaded and sends them round and round NHS111 circles of hell.
We didn't need a hard lockdown, but we could have had more people working from home, avoided larger spreader events, supported people to stay home if infectious and slowed it down a lot. We didn't need to ditch mask wearing, or make it so "cool" to be anti-mask that most places where masks are mandatory WON'T enforce it because their staff get so much abuse. Thanks to that, I won't even trust the places I should be able to trust because PEOPLE ARE SELFISH CUNTS and I can't expect low paid retail/transport staff to get abuse for enforcement.
I honestly think this post is ignorant and selfish.
I'm largely in agreement with barakta but I can understand where you're coming from toontra.
It does look like that Boorish Johnson may have been bullied into something approaching a reasonable decision (that's how it will be enthusiastically spun by the right wing press) for the wrong reasons: basically, fingers crossed and hope it's not going to be too bad even though there isn't enough data to help decide either way. The Economy !!!!!!*
I can't begin to hope that he or, more pertinently, the CRG are wrong because that will mean lots of seriously ill/dead people.
Seeing the rate of increase in infections and, from what is also being reported, the increase in hospitalisations I do fear the worse.
I've just upgraded my mask wearing. I've always done it but I'm now going to wear FFP3 standard when I'm shopping/ordering a drink to take outside**. For customer visits (if they're still allowed January onwards) I'll turn up as I have done with a mask on and take it from there. Cheeringly, all my recent indoor meetings have been in large rooms, windows open sitting apart or I've been looking at production kit in
very draughty factories***. My company have given me carte blanche to refuse to go somewhere that I reckon isn't safe or to even stop travelling if I think that's best.
Ultimately I think we're all going to get this virus; let's just hope it's an understood/recognised variant and not a mutation that is as transmissible as Micron but has more serious consequences.
Let's also hope that Micron doesn't run rife in the vulnerable (as referenced by barakta) and the unvaccinated.
I've very little sympathy for the intentionally non-vaccinated but they are really going to clog up the NHS and stop "more deserving" cases getting treatment if/when they start getting ill.
*I still struggle to understand why the loons in the
Govt CRG don't realise that stopping spread as soon as possible (go early, go hard, go wider) means that the subsequent recovery will be quicker and less economically damaging.
**Still going to the pub (under constant review; beer in the park may make a comeback), no way I'll sit inside.
*** Not ideal for processing polyurethanes but I'll take it for now
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