Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

No again. It does affect me. I'm not living under lockdown though. Neither are you. A lockdown is a restriction on movement. The 2km, 5km and countywide restrictions were lockdowns.

WHS ^^^

Don't suffer alone. Talk to someone. Seriously.

Vaccinated30, I'm glad your being proactive and making the appointment. Wishing you the very best of luck.

Titan18, your feelings are fully valid and there is no point in pretending everything is fine when it's not - because since March 2020 it very much hasn't been*. Your mental health is extremely important and feelings of being defeated and questioning (in a serious nature) whether life is worth living is not healthy or a good mindset to be in. Not everyone has easy access to mental health help but if you (or anyone) feels that way, please seek help. Please.

As for what you said about "save some 80 year olds". Could you not use the argument about "some pub owners"? That's not me suggesting you could or should but I find it interesting how people have somehow decided it's okay for anyone elderly or immunocompromised to get sick and die so long as us young and healthy are fine. Again, though, not suggesting that is what you are saying

*This is a conversation I think will need to be had post-pandemic. I get the feeling some people think the world was perfect pre-Covid and will be perfect again post-Covid. Mental health for the last few decades (or forever?) has been a serious issue in this country and across the globe, so I don't usually like to try to belittle that. That is not me suggesting anyone here is doing that btw

You must've missed my posts criticising the decisions made tonight and previously.

I just wish people wouldn't compare what we have now and lockdown. They're worlds apart.

NHS will be plagued by Covid ‘for at least five years’ Vaccines may be needed for a decade or more, say Downing St advisers...

To me, it's simple math. How many people are you saving (and the composition of that group is important) Vs how many lives are you ruining. I was very supportive of lockdown at the start of all this as none of us knew anything and it was definitely best to err on the side of caution, but for the last 6 months imo, we are curtailing more life than we're saving. We've spent almost 2 years now making life very difficult to actually live for everyone, and whilst a period of it was very justified, it isn't anymore imo. Anyone who wants to be vaccinated, can be free to take it and it should be very much advised for elderly and vulnerable people, much like the flu vaccine, but for others, let them live. We should put more resources into the health service to cater for this, or better allocate the existing resources, and maybe even setting up some covid only treatment centres would be worthwhile.

Things like covid certs, constant lockdown and fear (this is the more troublesome one imo as people are not doing things cos they're afraid there'll be restrictions and they're financially out) and mandatory vaccinations should all be off the table. We need to just go on with this, do our best to protect those who need protection but let people go when those protections are hurting more lives than they save.

50% I believe. Not sure what the story still where tickets are already sold. Haven't seen anything definitive there yet.

ireland: to be sure to be sure

It seems to say indoor events and sport, so I'm assuming sport is separate there.

Thanks for explaining yourself. I completely understand what you're saying, even if I don't agree on a lot of it - especially the lives being saved VS lives being ruined. This is completely anecdotal but I know of no one whose life has been ruined by this. That isn't to say that there aren't people who have been, I'm sure many thousands of people in this country feel they are at the point where their life is currently ruined. I also know of people who have had coronavirus and been extremely sick from it, and I know at least one person close to a family member of mine who died. I myself had coronavirus and was lucky enough to be post vaccine and wasn't even remotely sick bar one night of fever. It had a severe impact on my mental health as I had spent so long abiding by all the rules and being known for being extremely cautious, and yet I got it. I have thankfully recovered mentally from it having going to my doctor and looking at appropriate ways of dealing with that, but it wasn't easy. Post recovery I spent countless days unable to get out of bed, spending most of the day asleep as I couldn't handle my thoughts awake. So I completely understand that coronavirus is more than a problem for physical health, it is mental health too. I just feel sometimes it's only one part of mental health that is the focus of it. I fear Long Covid and the effect it will have on people who have had it, including me. But that's my opinion, yours' and others' are or may be completely different and that's okay. I appreciate your civility in the answer and I hope I was as civil back

What I will say is that it's Friday night so if you (and anyone can) reading this is able to choose to forget about coronavirus tonight, do. I'll be following my own advice and logging off here now. Have a nice night

Basically you follow Dr Tony, Michael, Stevie D, a few old ones, one's who've diseases, one's who have loads of money and are settled down(IE They aren't loosing a job and have a partner) and few one's who are afraid of everything.