Well several European countries were going to lockdown before this new variant was discovered, and many predicting the U.K. post Christmas in any case. Things weren’t great anyhow.

So glad masks are becoming mandatory again - shame not in more settings. Went on a train yesterday for the first time in a couple of years and was really disappointed that in a full carriage, from what I could see, there was only myself and about 3 other people wearing one.

What a mess. It feels like March 2020 again here with the amount of travellers stranded, panic and chaos thanks to travel bans. Our president addressing the nation tonight, but the damage has already been done.

Oh ffs…

Still feel it is way too soon to properly panic. It does seem likely that the new variant didn't originate in South Africa, but like I said, it's clear that it was already spread around the world. Think what we will find is booster jabs get offered to everyone over 18. I can't really see a way any form of long term social restrictions come in to play and are properly enforced. Still feel for now there is just way too much unknown for people to panic and say we're going to be in a lockdown.

We can only hope that the threat of a full-blown lockdown will persuade people to accept the minor inconvenience of wearing a mask.

We can only hope that the threat of a full-blown lockdown will persuade people to accept the minor inconvenience of wearing a mask.

 

Yeah right. Most people aren't going to view today as any different to yesterday.

 

We're headed for another full lockdown. A

There will be some increase in mask wearing but can’t see it being enforced in shops. Feel for shop workers who have to put up with abuse from the significant twattish element of the population if they try to. Our joke of a PM not wearing a mask in a hospital certainly didn’t help…

Boris did seem to imply at the confrence today that the low vaccination rates in South Africa and some surrounring countries were not due to supply but due to take-up. Is there a lot of vaccine scepticism there and if so I wonder is it similar to Eastern Europe where it is believed to be due to government distrust.

Edited November 27, 20213 yr by 30 Spells Snakey

Actually furious the PCR for inbound travellers is back. Especially coz you’ve to quarantine until the results are back. When I come home at Xmas I’ll be triple vaccinated (Stiko in Germany already recommending to everyone 18+ from 5 months after dose 2. Everyone I know has booked a booster appt) which is more than most of the UK Gen pop can say and they get to swan about without a mask spreading covid. I really wanna see the peer reviewed receipts now that gives a scientific basis for this overly expensive policy. Because the UK policy is disproportionate and extraordinarily expensive.

 

Boris did seem to imply at the confrence today that the low vaccination rates in South Africa and some surrounring countries were not due to supply but due to take-up. Is there a lot of vaccine scepticism there and if so I wonder is it similar to Eastern Europe where it is believed to be due to government distrust.

It’s Boris. He’s talking out his arsehole as per. The majority of central and southern African countries have poor vax rates because Boris (and other western nations) aggressively put clauses in the contract to ensure they and only they got doses first and foremost (especially true for the UK and the AZ one)

Glad mask mandate is back. I don't see why it was ever gone (well for England anyway).

 

I don't think the new variant is going to pose too big a risk to the UK. In part due to high vaccination rates/booster rates plus high natural immunity due to consistently high case rates for many months.

 

There's too little data about it as well to make any conclusions. I can understand the government being cautious given their complete mishandling of Covid previously with the Alpha variant and then the Delta variant.

 

I'm not sure if a lockdown will happen. I guess it'll depend on the NHS - which is currently under more pressure currently than it was last year - in part due to non-covid respiratory illnesses coming back with a vengence.

 

Make sure to get your flu jab already if you haven't! Worst part of winter is usually January/February and we're still a month or so from then. Might see a lockdown in January.

Good to hear masks will be compulsory again but question is will people comply? I can see it being a big issue for some people. I think it’s a good thing. They never should have ditched them!

Good to hear masks will be compulsory again but question is will people comply? I can see it being a big issue for some people. I think it’s a good thing. They never should have ditched them!

 

Outside of public transport I've not seen a noteable increase in mask wearing today.

Outside of public transport I've not seen a noteable increase in mask wearing today.

 

Isn't it from Tuesday that it becomes mandatory in shops etc

Isn't it from Tuesday that it becomes mandatory in shops etc

Yeah it is

Our tougher rules kicked in yesterday that makes everything 2G except public transport (3G) and essential services which are free for all (eg supermarket)

 

Actually pretty painless getting into the shops yesterday. Everyone prepared with the covid app and finally everyone is actually now scanning it too! I really don’t mind a vax passport system that’s well enforced. If it will stave off a lockdown then I’m all good with that

I think wealthier/posher areas would have more mask wearing in shops etc and it depends upon the time of day, mornings would have more public transport mask wearing then in the evenings.

I’m quite glad I saw my parents yesterday before the mask news as it was a fairly pleasant visit. No doubt it went all tits up at theirs once I’d left but at least they won’t be looking down their noses at the Welsh government now as if ‘they’re just trying to be different’.

 

It’s exhausting seeing people flout mask wearing and I think it may be too late now for people to comply through good will. I live in North East Wales very close to the border and despite mask having remained mandatory here, mask wearing has been falling off a cliff in recent weeks due to England not mandating them. Even tonight I walked into my local shop greeted by a maskless woman who almost walked into me and shout ‘f*** sake!’ in my face. And I was one of about two people in the shop wearing a mask even though that rule has never been relaxed here. England should never have dropped them.

 

I also saw quite a few people being turned away from my local cinema earlier for not having a COVID pass. It seems people aren’t even clued up on the rules anymore.

Isn't it from Tuesday that it becomes mandatory in shops etc

 

It is but people often respond to this stuff before the law actually changes.

 

I got a bus on Tuesday and nobody was wearing a mask. I got one yesterday and about half and half were wearing masks. Only anecdotal but I think a lot of people are starting to get concerned out there.

Edited November 28, 20213 yr by chartfridays

I’m quite glad I saw my parents yesterday before the mask news as it was a fairly pleasant visit. No doubt it went all tits up at theirs once I’d left but at least they won’t be looking down their noses at the Welsh government now as if ‘they’re just trying to be different’.

 

It’s exhausting seeing people flout mask wearing and I think it may be too late now for people to comply through good will. I live in North East Wales very close to the border and despite mask having remained mandatory here, mask wearing has been falling off a cliff in recent weeks due to England not mandating them. Even tonight I walked into my local shop greeted by a maskless woman who almost walked into me and shout ‘f*** sake!’ in my face. And I was one of about two people in the shop wearing a mask even though that rule has never been relaxed here. England should never have dropped them.

 

I also saw quite a few people being turned away from my local cinema earlier for not having a COVID pass. It seems people aren’t even clued up on the rules anymore.

 

Why on Earth did she shout ‘f*** sake’? Because yous bumped into each other? People are nuts like. It’s the same in NI I mean 90% wear them but there’s always a few dicks who can’t make the effort, and not to sound stereotypical but it’s always the usual dicks in hard hats (the workmen) and white vans who dander know with their high vis jackets NEVER wearing a mask.

 

I tend to give them a glare and they usually tend to know what it’s for but I think it makes them happy it annoys others!