Why Does The Government Continue To Publish Daily Covid Infection Rates?

[dave50]

What is the point? It only gives fuel to the lock down fanatics. We are all getting vaccinated, we need to ease all restrictions now and that includes stopping sending school children home to self isolate just because one child may have tested positive. Why, when the young are hardly affected by it anyway? Stop over reacting and learn to live with it and move on, just like we do with the flu virus. We don't need to know the daily figures anymore, it's pointless, counter productive and frankly, I'm not interested.

[youngmafbog]

// I think the government have done a pretty good job.//

In some aspects yes, in most no.

We now a totalitarian Government who are not going to be willing to give up the powers they have got. It will have to be dragged from them.

Could get messy.

[New Judge]

//Could get messy.//

I agree, youngmaf.

It needs people to realise that this whole exercise is now mired in hypocrisy and double standards. You can't sing or dance at a wedding but you can it it's at a football match - best to hold your wedding in a football stadium. Parents cannot watch their children take part in an egg and spoon race on sports day but they can assemble in vast numbers to watch football, cricket or tennis. You can't go on holiday to the continent without quarantine when you return but football fans, "VIPs" and dignitaries are allowed in to roam all over the country to watch football.

There was an interesting article in one of the Sundays explaining how politicians were amazed at what they managed to get away with when imposing restrictions last year. They simply could not believe that people were so compliant. That said, most of the restrictions involved forcibly closing down the places they would be most likely to want to go, so staying indoors was not such a hardship. However, now they have those powers (which were assumed by secondary legislation, much of it on a very dubious legal basis) they will be very reluctant to let go of them. They will need to be retained, they will argue "just in case."

Well there is no justification for retaining them now. The Delta Variant has been around for quite a while and whilst infections are still high, hospitalisations and deaths are not.

[Canary42]

We need to detect the approach of the next wave. If it doesn't happen, then that's a bonus, but we would be foolish not to be ready to slow it down if it did occur.

Remember the aim is to stop it overwhelming the NHS.

[Ellipsis]

Which makes stories like this one all the more tragic, New Judge ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-57503382

[Deskdiary]

There's too many people who are prepared to blindly accept the absurdities of the 'rules' even though most of them don't stand-up to even the merest of scrutiny - it's as though they enjoy what has been unnecessarily foisted upon us.

When the Govt reneged on June 21st, there were people on this site who were saying things along the lines of "it's only another month", which I really didn't get. I strongly suspect, if the Govt disgracefully reneges on 19th July and kicks the can down the road for another month or two or three, these same people will be again be saying "it's only another month" (or two or three). They obviously aren't affected.

[New Judge]

//Remember the aim is to stop it overwhelming the NHS.//

The NHS is already overwhelmed. There are more than 5m people waiting for treatment. Many people have died in the last year because they had fatal illnesses which were either undiagnosed or untreated. Many of the 5m will die prematurely whilst waiting for treatment. Many more, whilst they may not die, will endure pain and discomfort for many years until they reach the top of the list. Some of them will have a quality of life so dire that catching Covid would be a blessed relief for them. At least they'd get into hospital. Just because a patient is not short of breath and needs a ventilator, it does not mean they are fit and well.

When Mr Cummings was in the middle of his hissy fit he presented to the media a picture of whiteboard which had been completed by some group or other when the virus first hit. It was some sort of "brainstorming" exercise. Among the remarks on the board were "who do we allow to die?" Well we now know the answer - anybody not suffering from Covid.

[dave50]

Just stop testing people, it's a pointless exercise now.

[pixie374]

This is the problem, nj. The NHS wasn't so much protected by lockdown, as by refusing to treat anything other than covid. We've sacrificed countless people, to be "not overwhelmed".
And not allowed people to e with relatives, such as in ellipsis' link. We have to get on with it now.

[bobbinwales]

//just stop testing people, it's a pointless exercise now.//
Bonkers idea! I'd want to know if I had it so I dont infect others. Hopefully the people I work with or friends and family would do the same. If you or an elderly relative got covid off a mate in the pub who hadnt been tested but was a carrier would you not mind

[pixie374]

How long for, bobbin? I'm not disagreeing particularly. Testing would be my last thing to stop. But, how long for?

[burlyshirley]

Exactly, how much longer do you want to be tested for ?? Until after the 19 July, or forever ?? It's never going to go away, like the flu ...

[New Judge]

I don't get tested for 'flu. If you catch Covid and pass it on the chances of your victim being seriously ill (provided they've been vaccinated) are minimal. The chances of them dying are extremely minimal. If they really are that vulnerable and that worried they must stay in. They cannot expect people to fanny about any longer for a disease that is only fatal to about 0.1% of the people who are known to have contracted it (and a lot less deadly than that when those who have contracted it but do not know or care are added in).

[andy-hughes]

I have been saying since before Christmas - and gradually the rest of the world is saying it now as well - Covid is going to be another 'flu' - we will simply live with it.

It will kill some people, the vast majority will get it and recover, and it will be part of the way we are.

From July 19 onwards, this is how it is going to be - and that certainty has increased with the ousting of the over-cautious Hancock, and the replacement by his more pragmatic and realistic Mr Javid.

[Peter Pedant]

// It will kill some people, the vast majority will get it and recover, and it will be part of the way we are.//

um yeah wow Andie - half a million americans - and 128 000 UK

This thread is characterised by posts on the lines of - if you are posting you cant be dead and so that it OK

doesnt count AB brayne dead

publihsing figures since it is still a subject of interest

[pixie374]

Tbf, I think most people know that, Andy.
PP, what are the figures of those who have died from lack of treatment and care- because of covid. And how many have not been able to see dying relatives? What are the stats for elderly loneliness, for being unable to see their families so long (no, I know- irrelevant). When will the rest of the population matter again?

[New Judge]

//um yeah wow Andie - half a million americans - and 128 000 UK//

We're talking about now, Peter, as I'm sure you know. That is, an average of 16 deaths a day. Out of every 100 deaths that occur, 99 of them are not Covid related.

[andy-hughes]

NJ - // //um yeah wow Andie - half a million americans - and 128 000 UK//

We're talking about now, Peter, as I'm sure you know. That is, an average of 16 deaths a day. Out of every 100 deaths that occur, 99 of them are not Covid related. //

Since I have yet to read a post from PP that is in understandable English, or that realistically contributes to any thread, I usually skip over what he says - kudos to you for bothering to engage with him.

[pixie374]

He makes sense, if you read it x

[cashier]

Do masks offer people reassurance? Certainly not me, I hate the damned things and can't wait to stop wearing them. A lot of people who at the beginning wouldn't leave the house without them, have largely stopped except for in shops and other areas where they have to be worn.

[pixie374]

Not for me. I have worn them in shops, and will do for as long as required. They are so unlike our actual PPE, it could almost be laughable.