Not really. South Africa has a fairly younger population than most of Europe (~5% of pop is 65+ in SA compared to ~20% in Europe). It's also summer in South Africa, as opposed to Winter in Europe.

I'm not sure how accurate that is now. Our last census was done 10 years ago.

Speech from our FEDHASA chairperson today

After a week of speculation and clear indications from health experts and epidemiologists that the travel bans are not effective, we now have the building blocks to try to rebuild international inbound tourism to Southern Africa, says Rosemary Anderson FEDHASA National Chair.

 

“This second red listing in less than a year, and one that was unfairly imposed against Southern Africa, has done immense damage to the region’s international brand and created unnecessary insecurity and lack of confidence in inbound travel to the destination.

 

The R1bn lost in the first 48 hours of the red listing at the end of November is a drop in the ocean compared to what has been lost over the past three weeks. “We are still counting the short-, medium- and long-term collateral damage that the second red listing caused to many companies that depend heavily on inbound international tourism.

 

What governments around the world don’t realise or perhaps don’t value is the mental, emotional, financial, and social toll their actions cause. History will not look kindly at the actions that our global governments have taken over the past two years in the ‘spirit’ of stemming the spread of COVID. It will take many years to heal,” Anderson concludes.

 

Couldn't agree with this more :clap:

I'm not sure how accurate that is now. Our last census was done 10 years ago.

 

It is accurate but he popukation over there also has a greater proportion of people who suffer from HIV etc which effects things too!

I am expecting a lockdown now but have everything crossed they don't do one.

 

Health service seems to be redirecting everything to Omicron but it also feels precautionary. Speaking as somewhat an inside view.

 

I feel for nurses. I was in hospital yesterday and I think some are really taking their lives in their hands to keep working while clearly in at-risk groups. If it was me I'd take a year out.

I am expecting a lockdown now but have everything crossed they don't do one.

 

Health service seems to be redirecting everything to Omicron but it also feels precautionary. Speaking as somewhat an inside view.

 

I feel for nurses. I was in hospital yesterday and I think some are really taking their lives in their hands to keep working while clearly in at-risk groups. If it was me I'd take a year out.

 

Not sure there will be a lockdown. For one, I don't think it would get through Parliament. I can certainly see there being further restrictions though, really wouldn't surprise me if they closed hospitality indoors for 4 weeks in January. The messaging this time from leaders is different. Think the bigger problem with Omicron is predominately it is spreading within the 20-24 group and inevitably it's going to quickly find it's way to the older population.

If they close hospitality indoors that pretty much is a lockdown in my book given were not allowed into offices for work atm either!

Restrictions = a lockdown, no?

 

We called it lockdown tier 1, tier 2 etc. Has lockdown been reframed to mean just what lockdown 1 in March 2020 was?

To be honest, introducing a ban on multi household socialising will be greatly ignored by many now and unenforcable, the closest they can do to a lockdown is closing hospitality or mandating working from home - although many companies will find loopholes.

Restrictions = a lockdown, no?

 

We called it lockdown tier 1, tier 2 etc. Has lockdown been reframed to mean just what lockdown 1 in March 2020 was?

 

Well, a lockdown in my books is where you don't leave your house except for necessities. The Tiers were just restrictions based on geography, but they didn't take in to account the fact that people could easily travel. I don't think it will be that bad, as I would still expect retail and gyms to be open.

It would jot happen as the booster campain would be finished by then

I don’t think restrictions equal a lockdown.

 

I’d say a lockdown is like Roo says you’re basically forced to stay home except for essential reasons. I don’t think we’re at the point where that’s a politically viable strategy anymore. A lockdown for the unvaccinated is fractionally more likely but I’d still put that chance at less than 1% in the uk.

The difference between the local lockdowns and tier restrictions were pretty miniscule, as someone who lived through both.

 

Neither can realistically brought back in anyway as they're so unpopular - and so easily circumvented. It's going to be a national level of restrictions or nothing.

I agree. Tiers are just a rebranding of lockdown so they can see we aren't in 'lockdown' any more, we're just in this thing with a different name that's functionally identical.

 

Like saying you're not sick any more, now you're just ill.

Restrictions =/= the shit tier model tho. Most other places in Europe have restrictions and for the majority you wouldn’t class it as a lockdown. Or even “lockdown light” as Merkel once tried to pull off.

Sorry, I don't understand how having legal restrictions to our normal lives is not seen as an unusual state of affairs? Just because it isn't strictly called a lockdown, it is still locking away things that used to be either legal or expected as normal.

Sorry, I don't understand how having legal restrictions to our normal lives is not seen as an unusual state of affairs? Just because it isn't strictly called a lockdown, it is still locking away things that used to be either legal or expected as normal.

 

It's definitely not normal — at all. I just don't really view restrictions in the same way as a complete lockdown — there were at least some options with what I could do outside of the house, rather than only being allowed out for limited amounts of time for essential reasons.

 

Doesn't make it easier though, and I don't think any restrictions should happen without appropriate support — furlough, sick pay, etc.

Edited December 15, 20213 yr by blacksquare

Wearing a mask is a restriction but it doesn’t really have a negative impact on our lives or mean we can’t do something.

 

Im for any reasonable restriction that keeps us safe for as long as they are required in order to do so. When they’re no longer effective then either they should be strengthened or removed.

Yet another press conference by the Tosser in charge at 5pm. What's coming up now?

78k cases today. I feel a lot of the damage was probably done last week/weekend with Christmas Parties etc. but does feel pretty inevitable at this stage we're all going to get it.

78k cases today. I feel a lot of the damage was probably done last week/weekend with Christmas Parties etc. but does feel pretty inevitable at this stage we're all going to get it.

 

Just for a bit of contest 78k is 0.11% of the UK population. Practically nobody.