Bullseye wrote:I can see the rationale Sal but I'd keep some of the mitigations such as mask wearing and social distancing in some settings.

A full removal of all restrictions seems a bit of a leap in the dark. Everyone around the world is looking at the UK to see what happens next.

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:What settings are you thinking - I can't think of many that would benefit both health and the economy - hospitality needs both removing as does sport - perhaps masks on public transport especially if everyone is returning to the office.

Bullseye wrote:Masks on public transport definitely.

Rather than go the whole hog in a couple of weeks I'd gradually increase the capacities allowed in sports grounds, clubs, shops etc and see how we're going. Not requiring check-in at venues seems to be an odd one too. It's going to mean me doing a lot more lateral flow testing before I visit vulnerable relatives, especially it we go to 100k new cases a day.

Having said all that I think a lot of people will continue to be cautious so there won't be a sudden return to how things were as if nothing happened.

Looking at today's graphs I can see a good chance of a return to restrictions before the year is out.

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:infections are irrelevant it is ICU numbers.

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:It would be very interesting to see the ages of these getting infected and their Covid jab status. How many are refusing the vaccine?

I agree regarding the return to normality it will be slow - RL can sell out 4k so that suggests people are nervous.

The government need to lay out the criteria that will lead to further restrictions - infections are irrelevant it is ICU numbers. I cannot see all the fuss and about masks tbh - there is zero interest in social distancing even Labour couldn't give a toss about it.

Bullseye wrote:2nd lockdown came in on 5th November with 2796 covid patients in a bed in Yorks and Humber peaking at 3841 on 26 January. We've got 376 today.

Like I said, I think we'll be bringing restrictions back at some point. I'd guess probably autumn/winter.

From what I've seen the majority of covid patients in hospital are the unvaccinated and those that have had only one vaccination. There is a smaller proportion that have had both but for who the vaccination hasn't been as effective for a variety of reasons.

To make a judgement based on numbers in "ICU" is a gross oversimplification and thankfully not how we make these decisions.

wrencat1873 wrote:The lack of interest in social distancing comes from the narrative set by the politicians and the media.

Zoo Zoo Boom wrote:So If had 100,000 infections everyday but <5,000 hospitalisations we would lockdown again - either this vaccination works or it doesn't?

The government need to give out figures that are more meaningful - yes there was c400 went into hospital but c200 came out - what is the average stay in hospital, what was the vaccine status, how many in ICU etc.

The whole point of lockdown was to protect the NHS - nothing else - surely it is the numbers in ICU that determine what the NHS can provide - it was the bottleneck last time and turned the NHS into the NCS. It had plenty of beds - let's face it the NHS wasn't treating hardly anyone else - it was the lack of ICU wards and trained nurses that was the real issue.

Thankfully those that have been double vaccinated and those <18 don't have to self isolate if pinged by the app - and it looks like we should be able to go abroad and not have to self isolate, no bubbles in schools - progress at least.