Time To Start Living With The Virus........

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-live-news-boris-johnson-announcement-today-end-coronavirus-rules-tests-masks-isolation-12507015
...a bit late coming but the right decision in the end. Well done to the government.

[Bobbisox1]

I totally agree Tora , we can’t go on living like this and the government can’t go on spending money on free test for everyone either

[ToraToraTora]

apparently we are spending £2bn a month on tests etc! Madness!

[Bobbisox1]

Yep and the Brylcream wants it to continue

[Mamyalynne]

Brylcreem is a product, how can it want anything.

[New Judge]

Indeed, tora. Many month slater than necessary but better late than never.

Still there are people calling it "reckless", "lunacy", "insane" etc. Here's an example from an article yesterday:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10531705/ALEXANDRA-SHULMANS-NOTEBOOK-want-life-need-Covid-rules.html

I find it very odd that the relaxation of rules should be described as "unnecessary." The requirement for "rules" (i.e. restrictive legislation, particularly that which confines people to their homes) is precisely the opposite. Those imposing them should provide an absolutely sound case for their continuing need. As soon as that need disappears the rules should be ditched. I find it astonishing that a UK journalist should suggest that a reason has to be found to end restrictive legislation rather than a justification to be presented to continue it.

Personally I would not be prepared to risk my cash on there being a substantial rise in hospitalisations if the requirement for isolation is ended. The number of daily admissions in England is half the level of mid-January. The numbers with Covid who are not isolating far outnumber those who do and I doubt there will be any significant difference in those requiring hospital admission. But even if there is, that's what hospitals are there for - to treat the sick.

[Bobbisox1]

Ahhh, well spotted Mamya, miss out Boy

[burlyshirley]

I've been living with it for ages now and getting back to normal, thank God the government is now catching up with me at last !!

[ToraToraTora]

judge: //Still there are people calling it "reckless", "lunacy", "insane" etc. Here's an example from an article yesterday: // - yep but they are the wooden tops that have absolutely loved this whole pandemic thing and want it to continue as long as possible it arouses them so much.

[jourdain2]

More than time enough i.m.o..

[dave50]

Also can everyone stop testing themselves every time they get a sniffle, it's ridiculous.

[grumpy01]

Ah but Dave it’s like the headstone for a hypochondriac,”I told you I was I’ll.”

[ToraToraTora]

dave50: "Also can everyone stop testing themselves every time they get a sniffle, it's ridiculous. " - they will when they have to pay for tests.

[William51]

Yes. Boris has done the correct thing, but i think tests should still be left free for people.

[Bobbisox1]

William the country can’t afford to pay out two billion pounds indefinitely.
Perhaps giving the tests to the extremely vulnerable might be the answer but that’s a form of means test

[ToraToraTora]

william, if something is free then it will get used unnecessarily. Charge £10 a pop and we'll save £2bn a month.

[bhg481]

and, if something isn't free it won't get used when it should be. £10 is a lot of money to some people.

[ToraToraTora]

that's the idea BHG, most of the testing up to now has been unnecessary, from Thursday even more will be.

[Bobbisox1]

Plus people have already started to stockpile them, I’ve got none and don’t want any ….simples!

[sevenOP]

There are dangers in ablative* covid measures:

https://www.thelocal.dk/20220217/explained-are-deaths-from-covid-19-in-denmark-increasing/

* 'taken away', or, ‘by’, ‘with’, or ‘from’

[New Judge]

Ah but Dave it’s like the headstone for a hypochondriac,”I told you I was I’ll.”

Or Spike Milligan's, even.

//... but i think tests should still be left free for people.//

Why, William? Why is there a need for people who are not ill to take a test for a specific disease?

//...and, if something isn't free it won't get used when it should be.//

When should it be, then? The idea that a testing regime will prevent the virus from spreading is fanciful. Just about everybody in the country will eventually be exposed to the virus. It is inevitable. There are hundreds of thousands of people roaming around with the virus. Most of them don't know they have it and many that do know don't care. I have been saying for about six months now that the only people who need to test for Covid are those displaying symptoms and who need medical treatment. The overwhelming majority of Covid "sufferers" do not need treatment and those who do need only be tested so that the appropriate treatment can be provided.