Strange

[Mice!]

Certainly some strange things getting posted in my area, definitely looks like restrictions will lift on the 19th, with the exception of masks I'm seeing very little distancing, but my area is still being hit massively by kids getting sent home to isolate. 

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/chorley-school-closes-26-teaching-20941598

This is a high school in Chorley which is having to close because of the numbers of pupils and staff that are off.

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/confidence-lancashire-county-heads-towards-20946194

While this article despite saying Lancashire is still in special measures because of the number of cases, says cases are dropping in Chorley?? And looks on course for restrictions to lift on the 19th, but Lancs are still reporting an average of a 1000 cases a day.

Primary schools are still sending kids home because of test results,  will this stop if restrictions are lifted??

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/30/younger-male-euro-2020-fans-driving-covid-rise-in-scotland

I heard this on the radio and was told first hand just how busy one Glasgow to London train was, so crammed on the train, drinking in the pubs and 1300 test positive, this shows that mixing indoors and socialising normally is still going to spread covid.

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Scotland were allocated 2,600 tickets for Wembley because of Covid restrictions, but thousands more travelled to London despite warnings from the Scottish government and the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, not to do so unless they had a safe place to watch the match. There were strict entry requirements for Wembley matches, including having a negative Covid-19 test or proof of full vaccination.

The report states: “PHS is working with Test and Protect and NHS boards to ensure that all public health actions are taken in the close contacts of these Euro 2020 cases as part of the 32,539 cases that were reported to the Test and Protect case management system during this period.”

Nearly three-quarters of these cases were people between 20 and 39 years of age and nine out of every 10 cases were male. Attendance at hospitality venues was the most frequently reported tag, representing 34% of all tags. A relatively small number of cases reported attending the Fan Zone in Glasgow, or Scotland’s two home matches at Hampden.

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But I have heard very little said about covid in Scotland until this, but then I haven't looked for it.

I'm just hoping that when things lift it's not a couple of months before they back track,  let's hope people are sensible but that might be too much to ask.

[Scully]

We just need to get on with the lifting of restrictions now.  The vaccines aren’t designed to stop us getting the virus, just to stop cases overwhelming the NHS. 
That’s all it can do. We just have to learn to live with it now, just like any other virus. 
I don’t know what else people expect. 🤷‍♂️

[Mice!]

9 minutes ago, Scully said:

We just need to get on with the lifting of restrictions now.  The vaccines aren’t designed to stop us getting the virus, just to stop cases overwhelming the NHS. 
That’s all it can do. We just have to learn to live with it now, just like any other virus. 
I don’t know what else people expect. 🤷‍♂️

In some ways yes, but what's the plan when people test positive? Or get told they have been in close contact??

We can't keep sending kids home and closing school years, and meaning parents need to stay home.

My work is pretty much unaffected,  masks away from your work area and weekly tests, but there are loads of office staff still working from home, that's the same across many areas.

Its going to be chaos if they just say that from the 19th there are no further restrictions,  because it hasn't stopped,  I'm still seeing people wearing masks on their own in cars or walk around which I've never understood. 

 

[Jim Neal]

Let's put these two graphs next to each other:

 

What sort of evidence is this to justify delayed easing of restrictions?   Vaccination is working.

Is the NHS still "overwhelmed?"

How many of the Scottish supporters are going to die?  If you look at it from a different angle, they are doing their bit by speeding up herd immunity.

[Scully]

9 hours ago, Mice! said:

In some ways yes, but what's the plan when people test positive? Or get told they have been in close contact??

We can't keep sending kids home and closing school years, and meaning parents need to stay home.

My work is pretty much unaffected,  masks away from your work area and weekly tests, but there are loads of office staff still working from home, that's the same across many areas.

Its going to be chaos if they just say that from the 19th there are no further restrictions,  because it hasn't stopped,  I'm still seeing people wearing masks on their own in cars or walk around which I've never understood. 

 

The answer is to stop testing. What’s the point in testing anymore? We can continue to test indefinitely, but what’s the point? People will still get the virus, but if we’re at the point where it isn’t killing anyone then what is the point? Flu can kill the old and vulnerable but we don’t test for that. Do kids pass on the flu virus but stay unaffected? 
With the help of the vaccine arent we now where we should be treating this just as we do flu? 
If we base our responses on how many people test positive we’re never going to move forward, and if they’re looking for new variants, well then we’re never going to stop testing. There will always be positive tests. 
The reason so my people have deleted the app is so they can’t be ‘pinged’ and then have to take time off work to isolate. The economy won’t get back to normal if schools and businesses have to keep closing down Time to stop testing. 

[Deker]

Scully & Jim have nailed it, as Chris Whitty said the virus isn't going away (we've only ever eradicated one virus), the whole point of the restrictions was to slow down hospitalisations and the death rate while a vaccine could be created, now that the vaccine is here and the majority of vulnerable people have had it the effects of covid are no longer a risk (or at least no worse risk than the usual flu), so now it's time to get back to normal, yes there'll be testing for a while as trends will need to be found and also the life of the vaccine isn't known so the infection\death rate will need to be followed for a while yet but in the main the threat is over

[Mice!]

1 hour ago, Scully said:

There will always be positive tests. 
The reason so my people have deleted the app is so they can’t be ‘pinged’ and then have to take time off work to isolate. The economy won’t get back to normal if schools and businesses have to keep closing down Time to stop testing

Has it been said that they will stop testing though?

I've never had the App, because I have to be tested in work weekly I never saw the point.

I'm going to have to start watching the news again to find out what the plans are?

58 minutes ago, Deker said:

Scully & Jim have nailed it, as Chris Whitty said the virus isn't going away (we've only ever eradicated one virus), the whole point of the restrictions was to slow down hospitalisations and the death rate while a vaccine could be created, now that the vaccine is here and the majority of vulnerable people have had it the effects of covid are no longer a risk (or at least no worse risk than the usual flu), so now it's time to get back to normal, yes there'll be testing for a while as trends will need to be found and also the life of the vaccine isn't known so the infection\death rate will need to be followed for a while yet but in the main the threat is over

The problem is people are still being hospitalised because of covid, but thankfully far less are dying,  you would think everyone would want the vaccine but that's not yet the case.

[Walker570]

Have you noticed how the left wing press always give the doom and gloom reports, never anything positive.  The school situation is just totally over the hill with teachers having to isolate AND anyone who has been in their same environment even outdoors staff.  It ain't a rehearsal, get on and enjoy your lives.

[Scully]

1 hour ago, Mice! said:

Has it been said that they will stop testing though?

I've never had the App, because I have to be tested in work weekly I never saw the point.

 

 

I have no idea. In theory I suppose they could go on testing til the end of time, but if it’s used to dictate policy regarding lockdowns, then we’re heading for a world of hurt and I would hope, mass noncompliance. We simply can’t carry on with lockdowns or even self isolating. Think about it. 
Ive never had the app either, and ‘signing in’ depends totally on an individuals honesty. I really don’t see the point.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a large party cancelled a booking at OH’s place of work simply because the manager insisted they would have to scan on entering. She was too shortsighted to see that if one of the staff ‘pings’ the restaurant will also close. It’s unsustainable. 
I had a phone call from my dentist earlier, asking if I’d had any Covid symptoms in the last few days ( appointment is on Monday ) or contact with anyone who has. I said no, but I have no idea if that’s true. 🤷‍♂️

I never thought to ask if anyone in the practise has any symptoms, but I’m assuming we’ve all been double jabbed, so there’s no problem as far as I can see. 

[JohnfromUK]

3 hours ago, Scully said:

What’s the point in testing anymore? We can continue to test indefinitely, but what’s the point?

I think there are some reasons to test ........ but probably only for 'data gathering' reasons.  For example, I believe a proportion of all PCR tests are further tested for variants - which would give the earliest indications of what new variants are coming along/taking the lead - which may be used to inform future vaccine development.

Depending on who you listen to (and I don't know where the truth lies) the 'lateral flow' type of test has a lot of false positives (and some false negatives) which makes it unreliable - and so of questionable use other than as a screen for PCR tests.  I have even read that it can be made to show a positive by using fruit juice?

[Smokersmith]

I thinks it'll take a lot of people a lot of time to get used to suddenly being 'exposed'!!

There'll also be others who will continue to crack on as they have been, and enjoy the new opportunities opening up brings.

no doubt they'll start to leak what it could look like ahead of the date.

[Mice!]

3 minutes ago, Scully said:

never thought to ask if anyone in the practise has any symptoms, but I’m assuming we’ve all been double jabbed, so there’s no problem as far as I can see. 

You would hope they are jabbed or testing regularly as they said earlier that dentistry was one of the most dangerous occupations. 

5 minutes ago, Scully said:

have no idea. In theory I suppose they could go on testing til the end of time, but if it’s used to dictate policy regarding lockdowns, then we’re heading for a world of hurt and I would hope, mass noncompliance. We simply can’t carry on with lockdowns or even self isolating. Think about it. 
Ive never had the app either, and ‘signing in’ depends totally on an individuals honesty. I really don’t see the point.

This is where something needs to change, I agree that covid should now be getting treated like flu, but you don't send a full year home from school because one kid has flu symptoms,  my wife and kids have had at least 4 occasions now where they've been sent home, between 10-14 days a time.

My wife home tests twice a week so despite being in a class room full of kids would still be able to work until testing positive surely??

My kids despite being in a classroom with other kids who have tested positive on several occasions haven't yet had symptoms or tested positive using home tests.

Lots of things still need addressing.

[Scully]

3 hours ago, JohnfromUK said:

I think there are some reasons to test ........ but probably only for 'data gathering' reasons.  For example, I believe a proportion of all PCR tests are further tested for variants - which would give the earliest indications of what new variants are coming along/taking the lead - which may be used to inform future vaccine development.

Depending on who you listen to (and I don't know where the truth lies) the 'lateral flow' type of test has a lot of false positives (and some false negatives) which makes it unreliable - and so of questionable use other than as a screen for PCR tests.  I have even read that it can be made to show a positive by using fruit juice?

Like I said, testing is fine as long as it isn’t used to influence lockdown decisions; we just can’t afford to go there again. 
Im working at a vets at the moment, who employ 9 staff; his wife has told me they stopped using the lateral flow tests for the very reasons you’ve outlined above. No one wears a mask and there is no sanitising going on,  but it’s not the type of practise which deals with the public anyhow. 

3 hours ago, Mice! said:

You would hope they are jabbed or testing regularly as they said earlier that dentistry was one of the most dangerous occupations. 

This is where something needs to change, I agree that covid should now be getting treated like flu, but you don't send a full year home from school because one kid has flu symptoms,  my wife and kids have had at least 4 occasions now where they've been sent home, between 10-14 days a time.

My wife home tests twice a week so despite being in a class room full of kids would still be able to work until testing positive surely??

My kids despite being in a classroom with other kids who have tested positive on several occasions haven't yet had symptoms or tested positive using home tests.

Lots of things still need addressing.

Your second paragraph is a prime example of why we need to stop testing, it isn’t achieving anything other than disrupting the academic year. 

Edited July 2, 2021 by Scully

[team tractor]

I haven’t seen my boy again for a week after the school is isolating in his sisters year . Yes I can see him legally but I said I’ll give him a week . 
I can’t afford to shut for a week , no way . We are testing at work as lots on our yard have it now . Also as my girlfriend is a support worker and I’m trying to keep her job going too. 
Tbh I’m scared of having to isolate as I live on my own . I’m already struggling even after 18 months . I can see why people do silly things to themselves. I’m strong in my head luckily 

a friend of mine tried to take her life because of isolation. 

[Mice!]

2 hours ago, team tractor said:

I haven’t seen my boy again for a week after the school is isolating in his sisters year . Yes I can see him legally but I said I’ll give him a week . 
I can’t afford to shut for a week , no way . We are testing at work as lots on our yard have it now . Also as my girlfriend is a support worker and I’m trying to keep her job going too. 
Tbh I’m scared of having to isolate as I live on my own . I’m already struggling even after 18 months . I can see why people do silly things to themselves. I’m strong in my head luckily 

a friend of mine tried to take her life because of isolation. 

Hopefully you all manage to avoid it at your place, on the bright side schools shut in a couple of weeks so I doubt there will be many kids getting tested then.

I do think the spread is because people are out in the pubs again,  folk keep saying but people aren't dying but its obviously still affecting small businesses like yours.

Is there anyway you can split your work force, have lads working early and afternoon shifts? Hopefully then if someone texts positive it doesn't affect everyone and keeps you working?

[team tractor]

20 hours ago, Mice! said:

Hopefully you all manage to avoid it at your place, on the bright side schools shut in a couple of weeks so I doubt there will be many kids getting tested then.

I do think the spread is because people are out in the pubs again,  folk keep saying but people aren't dying but its obviously still affecting small businesses like yours.

Is there anyway you can split your work force, have lads working early and afternoon shifts? Hopefully then if someone texts positive it doesn't affect everyone and keeps you working?

It’s only 5 of us . We split in the day but we still meet up in the mornings