The mask situation is really frustrating. I completely understand it's not a law or anything but I don't understand why people have ditched them so quickly? I went from Glasgow to Manchester at the weekend on the train and I swear I was one of the only people in my carriage with a mask. On the return journey a guy got on at Preston and sat next to me, realised I was wearing a mask and THEN pulled one out of his pocket and finally wore it.

 

At the hotel none of the staff were wearing them (I accidentally set off an alarm in my room and one of them had to come and turn it off and he didn't even have a mask on when he came into my room) and the streets were packed with people from Pride and again, no masks anywhere.

 

Like, I know they're uncomfortable and awkward and nobody LIKES wearing them but how are people able to shift into that mentality when there's hundreds of hospital admissions every day and rising?

The mask situation is really frustrating. I completely understand it's not a law or anything but I don't understand why people have ditched them so quickly? I went from Glasgow to Manchester at the weekend on the train and I swear I was one of the only people in my carriage with a mask. On the return journey a guy got on at Preston and sat next to me, realised I was wearing a mask and THEN pulled one out of his pocket and finally wore it.

 

At the hotel none of the staff were wearing them (I accidentally set off an alarm in my room and one of them had to come and turn it off and he didn't even have a mask on when he came into my room) and the streets were packed with people from Pride and again, no masks anywhere.

 

Like, I know they're uncomfortable and awkward and nobody LIKES wearing them but how are people able to shift into that mentality when there's hundreds of hospital admissions every day and rising?

 

Because it's not mandated- I have found myself wearing a mask less and less, even on trains. I do think shops and public transport have improved ventilation in my experience which certainly helps. But I don't see the current trend reversing back unless they are mandated again on certain places. We have a group think mentality too, so if I see the majority of people not wearing them I will also not wear one and vice-versa. I would suspect there are a lot of people like this too.

 

I think part of the problem is covid is "over" is mentality people have. But not only that, we have to find a way to live with the virus otherwise the current way of living ends up becoming normal. You could argue it would have been safer to remove mandates after the population has been double vaccinated for the majority, which I agree would have been the best way.

 

Very soon I would expect something to change, possibly in Scotland with the rising rates again - although maybe the evidence is they expect them to increase and them bottom out again as seems to happen. Who knows but we're coming in to a dangerous period, but if you vaccinate the majority of the population and then say we have restrictions it does become a bit dodgy..

I've moved to London recently and the take up in supermarkets etc during the day isn't too bad. It's supposed to be mandatory on public transport but I reckon it's about 50% - I think later in the evening these rules go out of the window.

 

I would say that the anti mask anti vaxx nutters make mask wearing less likely but in my case I'm more determined to wear it so not to be one of those!

My PCR came back negative today and I so relieved. I’ve resigned myself to the fact I will get Covid at some point but I really didn’t want to miss the start of the new school year.

I’ve booked a test for tomorrow morning. I have to put my mind at rest and be able to plan for whatever the outcome is and I’ll probably be asked to book one by test and trace tomorrow so I’ll just get it out the way.

 

And just to cheer me up, my parents have been awful about it. Even though I saw them yesterday, they don’t want to know about it and do not want me giving their details to test and trace. Only just this minute have they actually asked me how I am and that’s because I didn’t respond to their last message for over an hour.

 

 

To be honest T. Boy I'd leave them to it now and not even mention Covid or your tests or anything about it to them. You've tried and tried to get them to have it and they don't want to know. :( As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to the trough but you can't make it drink. :)

 

Nita's employer hasn't had it and is a micro-biologist. Now they're disagreeing whether the 16 year-old daughter should have it. Why not let her decide herself?

207 deaths today and hospital admissions are continuing to rise. As we head into autumn and schools return, I suspect these figures will continue to rise so at what point do we say something needs to be done!

Well what else can be done apart from lockdown 4.0?

Well what else can be done apart from lockdown 4.0?

 

They could impose some small restrictions - but 95% of the UK adult population have some level of antibodies which just shows how much of a bitch delta is. Got to remember the figures today will have a Bank Holiday lag too. I think at this point the majority of the hospitalisations are the unvaccinated or the more vulnerable. I suspect we ride this out, but could see vaccine passports rolled out very similar to how Scotland are using them..

They could impose some small restrictions - but 95% of the UK adult population have some level of antibodies which just shows how much of a bitch delta is. Got to remember the figures today will have a Bank Holiday lag too. I think at this point the majority of the hospitalisations are the unvaccinated or the more vulnerable. I suspect we ride this out, but could see vaccine passports rolled out very similar to how Scotland are using them..

 

I can definitely see the tier system returning this winter. Given the rising numbers of deaths at the moment, we have to assume the vaccine while being better than nothing, doesn't work particularly well for the elderly and most vulnerable, so a return to the guidance for shielding is needed I think. Masks and distancing should become compulsory again too I think on transport and in shops.

 

Also there should be a booster jab made based on the delta variant, I am surprised this has not been created yet.

Edited September 1, 20213 yr by sn👠ke

What's the difference between the PCR test and the lateral flow test anyway? They both seem when I look them up to involve a swab and dipping it in some kind of solution.

I can definitely see the tier system returning this winter. Given the rising numbers of deaths at the moment, we have to assume the vaccine while being better than nothing, doesn't work particularly well for the elderly and most vulnerable, so a return to the guidance for shielding is needed I think. Masks and distancing should become compulsory again too I think on transport and in shops.

 

Also there should be a booster jab made based on the delta variant, I am surprised this has not been created yet.

 

No I can't see them doing anything. The deaths are just something we are going to have to live with unfortunately, as time goes on and we get more and more exposed (providing we have had our vaccination) then our bodies should be well trained to fight the infections. There's a danger if we keep imposing restrictions that we never build any natural immunity and we get in to the same rinse and repeat sample. The tier system was awful, can't see it making it's way back. I think we will learn a lot from what is happening in Cornwall right now- seems they have help for 5 weeks in terms of vaccine/testing.

 

It's interesting what Scotland are doing for example, they were far more conservative with their actions and seemingly are riding the current wave of infections out.

Scotland, like England, has just given up. Nowhere in the UK got the unlocking strategy right. For months now there has been plenty of chances to learn from other nations and states and they don’t seem to have bothered.

 

 

Our Delta Wave is not as runaway as the UKs has been but it’s defo only going up. Not sure how bad it’ll get but it means vax passports are here while we ride it out. New rules federally give everywhere with a high incidence the so called 3G rule (Tested, Vaccinated or Recovered) on certain sectors of the economy. Hamburg last weekend gave places the option to drop a G (tested) and use a 2G model that allowed for a more English style reopening of that space. Berlin has decided to copy and has announced this week that from Friday, Clubs in Berlin can finally reopen their doors using a 2G model. You must be vaccinated or Recovered in order to go clubbing and I don’t think Theres ever been a better carrot to dangle in front of the Wahlberliners who’ve done nothing but bitch for the last 18 months about not being able to party

Some additional measures are likely to be needed as we head into autumn. Face masks, social distancing and PCR tests for big venues such as theatre, football events etc.

Well what else can be done apart from lockdown 4.0?

 

I don’t think we should go back to a full lockdown but it’s likely some additional measures will be required as we head into autumn. Face masks, social distancing and testing at large events would help!

Problem is the enforcement of these rules will be extremely difficult after the useless Government dropped them all on “Freedom Day”. They should NEVER had stopped mask wearing on public transport for example. Really difficult to re-enforce without staff getting abuse from utter w@nkers.

Problem is the enforcement of these rules will be extremely difficult after the useless Government dropped them all on “Freedom Day”. They should NEVER had stopped mask wearing on public transport for example. Really difficult to re-enforce without staff getting abuse from utter w@nkers.

 

Not sure - I think they can enforce them and most people will comply if it is to get us through the winter. There's always going to be an element of risk. but there's no way a lockdown 4.0 would be tolerated by the general public unless things got really, really bad. Which would be the end of this Government imo so I just cannot see it. Suspect over the winter it will just be "work from home where possible", masks on public transport and then vaccine passports for nightclubs (although not sure how this works RE bars that operate as dancefloors) and events over 500+ people or something.

Our Delta Wave is not as runaway as the UKs has been but it’s defo only going up. Not sure how bad it’ll get but it means vax passports are here while we ride it out. New rules federally give everywhere with a high incidence the so called 3G rule (Tested, Vaccinated or Recovered) on certain sectors of the economy. Hamburg last weekend gave places the option to drop a G (tested) and use a 2G model that allowed for a more English style reopening of that space. Berlin has decided to copy and has announced this week that from Friday, Clubs in Berlin can finally reopen their doors using a 2G model. You must be vaccinated or Recovered in order to go clubbing and I don’t think Theres ever been a better carrot to dangle in front of the Wahlberliners who’ve done nothing but bitch for the last 18 months about not being able to party

Interesting, how does someone show a business that they've recovered in order to gain entry?

Interesting, how does someone show a business that they've recovered in order to gain entry?

There’s a couple of ways. One is to show a PCR test result that is positive and is more than 2 weeks old but less than 6 months. Another is to get a certificate of recovery from your doctor that can be scanned and used in the German CovPass or Corona-Warn app (it will have a QR code) that is then valid across the whole of the EU. Finally, if they have one vaccine dose as well as having had corona they are considered fully protected and can get a recovered vaccination certificate from any pharmacy or a vaccination centre.

 

 

I have a vax certificate and it’s been pretty easy to just flash it on my way into the gym

I can definitely see the tier system returning this winter. Given the rising numbers of deaths at the moment, we have to assume the vaccine while being better than nothing, doesn't work particularly well for the elderly and most vulnerable, so a return to the guidance for shielding is needed I think. Masks and distancing should become compulsory again too I think on transport and in shops.

 

Also there should be a booster jab made based on the delta variant, I am surprised this has not been created yet.

 

I agree with everything you have said but I can’t see Johnson doing anything tbh unless things get really bad and deaths go up significantly more. U.K. currently has one of highest infection rates in Europe and that’s clearly an indication their current approach isn’t working. The vaccines while they offer some protection aren’t 100% effective and there is still a large group of mainly younger people who aren’t fully vaccinated. Booster jabs are definately needed to prevent immunity waning.

What's the difference between the PCR test and the lateral flow test anyway? They both seem when I look them up to involve a swab and dipping it in some kind of solution.

I've read a few sources say the LFT results are extremely accurate anyway so I've been taking one pretty much daily for weeks now. It might seem excessive but if you can get the results within minutes why bother ordering one online, waiting for it to arrive, dealing with that awkward packaging and then waiting another 2 days for a result?