Lifting all Covid resrictions- how do you feel about it?

According to the statistics on this link, 616,000 people died in UK in 2018 so 153,000 dying in the last couple of years looks perfectly reasonable. In fact it looks too low for two years.

I think you need to look at the number of excess deaths above the previous 5 year 'average'. ONS publish these figures weekly. Yes, 'some' of these people 'may' have died anyway, but a sudden surge in excess deaths 2020 - 2021 isn't explained away by 'comorbidities'

Mind you, the ONS has now muddied the waters by using their 5 year period to include the 'covid years', so figures will look much 'better' now.

Larsonsmum

As a CEV person, with compromised immunity/multiple incurable, progressive and chronic illnesses & conditions this means total shielding for me.

I can empathise with you. Life is basically sh*t for us!
I do believe that the only people who can take responsibility for keeping ourselves safe, is ourselves. Sadly, even that may not be enough.

We can neither expect, nor rely on others to take that responsibility. It's not their problem.
However, I often wonder if those who are insensitive and dismissive on GN, would have a different attitude if they were in similar circumstances.

Dickens

Can I just make it clear that I am in favour of 'getting back to normal' along with all those healthy, strong and well individuals who are fed-up with the restrictions and the impact it has on their lives.

I am CEV, 80 years old, partially disabled - my partner more so (I am his carer), we both still work in our own business (oil & gas technical consultancy), enjoy going out, and attempt to live life to the fullest. And I would love to be able to socialise even more than I do at present.

I just would've liked a more objective and cautious approach to the ending of restrictions, and don't believe that the PM - although I'm sure he's listened to his advisors, has taken that approach.

That's it - I'm off out now to 'get on with life'... me and my mask!

Well done. I hope you both continue to live life well for many years.

I’m really scared because I’m extremely clinically vulnerable. Hey ho

Husband was on train tra elling to London On Saturday. No one had a mask on except his group. Covid will not be over until all the World is vaccinated, not just affluent Western Countries. Where is the fairness? Feel we need to get back to some element of normality. Right to be responsible for ourselves. Can't have nanny state all the time. Do what you feel right.

I have emailed my MP.
I accept that the economy has to be got going in order to pay for nurses, vaccines, and everything else, etc but it's reckless and short-sighted for people to be charged for tests as they simply won't test and Covid will then ramp up.

It was obvious at last night's Press Conference that Prof Whitty and St Patrick Vallance wanted to emphasise that we must still be extremely cautious. Unfortunately the Govt is withdrawing the tools for us to do that.

I hate them- we all look like terrorists and not to mention the barriers they cause- yes they’ve served their purpose, yes they’ve protected the clinically vulnerable, yes they should be sensibly worn if you have a bad cold etc- but? In my opinion we have to live with this virus like influenza. Glad they doing booster in Spring for over 75 and Clinically Vulnerable. I have been a Frontline NHS Staff Nurse during height of Covid19 so obviously I’ve worn masks daily for 12 hr shifts but they have caused mental health issues etc. I will obviously have to wear in the meantime but thanks to Vaccines , our lives should be normal( ish!)

More info here from ONS.

It's actually tricky to find numbers for the whole of the UK.

I think perhaps they could ease up on masks but continue to report positive cases, or keep masks and ease up on reporting.
Not just stop everything.

Iam64 and Marydoll and anyone else with chest infections

4 years ago, feeling depressed about the latest in a bad bout of bronchitis, a client recommended that I try Vitamin D3. Which I did and still do. I have not had a chest infection since and, if I feel a cold coming on it is gone by the next day.

I am writing this as someone who has often been bed ridden for two weeks, at least twice a year. Apparently some doctors have been saying that it might also help protect against covid.

Please try it - it can't do any harm and may help you.

I will continue to wear a mask in crowded places, on transport, entering our choir location etc! To me that is the safest way to avoid the virus and prevent me from passing it on! I shall test when necessary and isolate if I get the virus as I would with the flu, a cold etc!
BJ needs to get the economy going and get money in the bank! I prefer to heed the scientists such as Whitby and Valance !! They are the honest ones !

I really want to get back to normal but I do think it is a little early to abandon the mask wearing and especially the need to isolate if you have tested positive. I have been shopping today and there is a mix of people some wearing masks and others not. I will wear mine and I do not care if people look at me. I have just come out from two and half years of illness/CEV/and being scared. I am not ready to catch Covid just yet

I shall still be cautious and wear the mask in public places and many around here are doing the same thing. I won’t be taking the advice of one man, especially coming from Boris Johnson.

Meant to say I am a 74 year old person

i am classed as a vulnerable person and have continued to wear a mask and will still do so in shops and anywhere there are lots of people. i think from now on it is up to us to do as we think best to protect ourselves and our loved ones

maddyone

I saw somewhere, was it on this thread/site, that a box of LFTs will cost about £20. That’s an awful lot of money for seven tests in my opinion.

In Australia, 2 single LFT tests, not boxes, cost $20 to buy.

So you're trying to tell us that in the last couple of years 153,000 people would have died anyway?

According to the statistics on this link, 616,000 people died in UK in 2018 so 153,000 dying in the last couple of years looks perfectly reasonable. In fact it looks too low for two years.

I feel concerned about the clinically extremely vulnerable (I feel privileged this doesn’t include me) and how they will feel about this ‘we need to get back to normal’ obsession. To protect such vulnerable people and myself as a 74 triple vaccinated person, I will continue to wear masks on public transport in crowded places medical facilities, etc, wash my hands regularly and social distance as much as possible.

Not true for medical settings- nhs , gp and pharmacy, still mandatory mask wearing- I’m a nurse.

I really feel uncomfortable about this "well, they would have died, anyway" view.
People can live with frailties for many, many years.

I'm Scottish, ours hasn't been lifted yet. I feel quite relieved to be honest. I have Covid just now, I've had all jags boosters etc, wear a mask when out and still feel rotten. So it's definitely still out there.

17,000 died from Covid alone. The rest were older and had comorbidities which could have been fatal in themselves.

Oh, give your head a shake, Lilyflower

So you're trying to tell us that in the last couple of years 153,000 people would have died anyway? A massive number of excess deaths, way above the 'normal' annual figures? What a coincidence that they happened to occur while covid was raging through the population.

And they died from things like asthma and diabetes which, although being higher risk conditions, are normally controlled by medication and enable sufferers to live normal and healthy lives... What went wrong with their treatment in 2020 and 2021?

I will continue to wear a mask when going into shops, hospital, cinema, etc. I can't control what other people do but I can protect myself. I don't think a lot of people can be trusted to think about others. I'm "vulnerable" with a rubbish immune system, but I do out and about regularly. Lifting all restrictions so suddenly will probably backfire. There are still round about 1000 people dying from covid every week. And there is a high probability of other variants emerging, this being a virus. I don't think Sajid Javid cares a toss about the general population or the NHS - he is money oriented and is swayed by business buddies. Boris Johnson is only concerned with saving his own skin now. Scientific evidence is mixed, but I did think Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance looked uncomfortable in yesterday's briefing. We can't go on forever with restricted lifestyles, but how will covid be tracked when free mass testing is scrapped? That's what is worrying me most. It's a bad move.

That's it - I'm off out now to 'get on with life'... me and my mask!
As we have been doing too, Dickens
And Marmadoit I agree.

Have not gave.