When will this shit end?

[Guest]

Early signs that a change is coming. 

[Fuzzy Afro]

Must admit that when we locked down in November I thought we’d end up getting it extended by two weeks to protect Christmas. Feels like they’re paying the price for relaxing it when they promised they would. 

[Fuzzy Afro]

[zahidf]

 

[Mellotr0n]

13 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Must admit that when we locked down in November I thought we’d end up getting it extended by two weeks to protect Christmas. Feels like they’re paying the price for relaxing it when they promised they would. 

Agreed. An extra 2 weeks to get it a fair bit lower would've made sense imo.

I wonder if there will now be a short (say 2-3 week) full lockdown in January, on the basis that it will absolutely be the last one.

[philipsteak]

17 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Must admit that when we locked down in November I thought we’d end up getting it extended by two weeks to protect Christmas. Feels like they’re paying the price for relaxing it when they promised they would. 

Absolutely thought the same. Was very surprised to be back in work when I was. Certain it was going to be extended

[zahidf]

All secondary schools in England to get rapid result tests from January to reduce need for self-isolation

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, has announced that every secondary school and college in England will be able to use later flow tests (the ones that deliver rapid results) from January to test pupils and staff. 

[mazola]

 

[DeanoL]

20 minutes ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Must admit that when we locked down in November I thought we’d end up getting it extended by two weeks to protect Christmas. Feels like they’re paying the price for relaxing it when they promised they would. 

They needed non-essential retail open in the run up to Christmas to try and give them something. I had expected they'd keep hospitality closed though (although in much of the country they have).

[mattiloy]

3 hours ago, WestCountryGirl said:

I'm sure this will label me an immature, selfish brat, but if the rules do change at this point, I'm going to be absolutely devastated. 

I haven't seen my parents since July. With the relaxation, my boyfriend and I have planned to go and spend Christmas with my parents. Two households. As we live in Liverpool, we're lucky enough to be able to get tested before we go (though I know that isn't perfect), just to give us some more peace of mind. 

Knowing that I would be seeing my parents soon is the only thing that has been getting me through. The only thing. Knowing that it is coming up has meant I have not been crying every day, wondering when I'll next be with my family. 

So thanks, I'll take a "long hard look at myself" when I'm upset, put out, disappointed that there's a rules change, and remind myself of what a twat I am for needing to see my parents in the most responsible way we could.

I’m with you. I’m rationalising it by saying that the risk of spreading it to my folks, and them becoming sick, is vastly reduced by taking every precaution but of course its gonna be higher than not seeing them at all. But its been a year since i saw any of my family non virtually and there have been bereavements and a host of other trials and tribulations and this has been in my mind as the finishing line really. Its unfortunate with the timing but I am going to take a leap of faith and just hope and pray that we only spread a little Christmas joy to keep us all going for the final stretch without spreading any of the dreaded lurgy..

[zahidf]

BBC: FDA approves Moderna vaccine
The US' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has found Moderna's vaccine to be safe and 95% effective.

The move clears the way for US emergency authorisation.

[st dan]

Mrs st dan has started using the 30 min rapid response tests today in her hospital - she’s doing them twice a week.
First one came back negative - not quite sure how reliable they are but gives us a bit more comfort in regards to visiting family at Christmas.  

[Gilgamesh69]

Question that has probably been answered many times before, but where's the best place to find covid case information for specific areas? Mainly looking for stuff like cases per 100k people

[xxialac]

33 minutes ago, DeanoL said:

Also worth saying that the "it's too risky for too little reward" line that plenty are taking here about Christmas will be the exact line that other people will be taking in the new year about letting festivals go ahead in June.

That's a desperately poor analogy.

Christmas = pre-vaccination of vulnerable

June = post-vaccination of vulnerable

[Fuzzy Afro]

1 minute ago, zahidf said:

BBC: FDA approves Moderna vaccine
The US' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has found Moderna's vaccine to be safe and 95% effective.

The move clears the way for US emergency authorisation.

Are the regulators looking into this one in the UK? I know we don’t actually have a batch of it to use, but it would be good to at least get it approved so they can use it once we do get some delivered. 

[Fuzzy Afro]

Just now, Gilgamesh69 said:

Question that has probably been answered many times before, but where's the best place to find covid case information for specific areas? Mainly looking for stuff like cases per 100k people

@avds on twitter 

[zahidf]

1 minute ago, Fuzzy Afro said:

Are the regulators looking into this one in the UK? I know we don’t actually have a batch of it to use, but it would be good to at least get it approved so they can use it once we do get some delivered. 

Yeah its with the MHRA

[Euphoricape]

Maybe there will be a full lockdown over christmas and new year now instead, then allow maybe 3 days of very limited family mixing over Xmas / boxing day. That way you can still see family but pubs, shops etc all closed to compensate..?

[zahidf]

Gonna be a fudge on days I reckon to 2 or 3. And maybe 2 households.

 

[squirrelarmy]

How many of us on here partake in the religious side of Christmas celebrations? 
 

I certainly don’t. Christmas to me is just a commercial holiday where I get an extended break from work. 
 

Other than the religious aspect of the holiday, is there any reason why people can’t postpone their events to a time where people can actually enjoy time with their friends and family safely. 

[Guest]

Just now, Euphoricape said:

Maybe there will be a full lockdown over christmas and new year now instead, then allow maybe 3 days of very limited family mixing over Xmas / boxing day. That way you can still see family but pubs, shops etc all closed to compensate..?

I think what the medic would like them to do is not allowing household mixing at Christmas to be honest as it’s one of the main vectors of transmission.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, zahidf said:

Gonna be a fudge on days I reckon to 2 or 3. And maybe 2 households.

 

Sorry but that won’t be enough, if that happens cases will still rise sharply in Jan. 

[st dan]

1 minute ago, Ozanne said:

Sorry but that won’t be enough, if that happens cases will still rise sharply in Jan. 

That is as good as were realistically going to get though. A total lockdown/no households mixing over Christmas Eve to Boxing Day can almost certainly be ruled out at this stage.

It’s now about finding the happiest medium, and I would say 2 households for 3 days is probably as close as they are going to get. 

[Euphoricape]

http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-gove-to-hold-talks-with-devolved-nations-over-relaxation-of-rules-at-christmas-12162548

[zahidf]

5 minutes ago, Ozanne said:

Sorry but that won’t be enough, if that happens cases will still rise sharply in Jan. 

A harsher lockdown may make more sense, but if people ignore it anyway, a looser one with scary warnings is probably better. I simply dont think people are going to cancel their plans at the last minute. They may modify their plans though

Edited December 15, 2020 by zahidf