Coronavirus - Remain Calm. Do Not Panic

Let those under 65 do what they think is right. If an 18 year old who lives with his granny in number 2 wants to flaunt the rules that’s on him and his conscience. The man who runs a business next door in number 3 who is stringent in his hygiene and social distancing shouldn’t suffer because of the thick next door to him.

Those over 65 can make their own choices. If they are worried about contacting the virus which a lot understandably are they can make their own bubbles as they see fit. My mother is nearly 65. If she rings me and says she would like to see her two your old grandson I’m not going to say no, my door is closed. She’s made her decision and I will respect it but maintain social distancing. 

It’s not fair that those who think this way are labelled far right, trump loving nazis (which happens in this thread daily) who like to march at the weekend. Personally, I think those marching during the week are f**king idiots as the minimum we can do is wear a mask and social distance, large gatherings are a bad idea, you don’t have to be an expert for the penny to drop on the one. Comically, I was called a nazi yesterday by someone who thinks our overlords are correct to tell us all what to do while I would be more for the above. Ya gotta laugh like. That’s the internet for you I guess - you aren’t entitled to an opinion if it doesn’t match mine. 

Victimhood. You must think I was offended. I was nearly on the floor laughing 😂 

That's what you went for though Babbs - feigned victimhood

My posts addressed at you have been very fair and reasonable

The reason my interest was piqued by your views was because you started out by claiming the whole thing was a "load a bollox"

But that's clearly wrong - it isn't a "load a bollox"

But we had something like that, it was called Level 2, and it wasn't working

Cases were exploding and as "a rising tide lifts all boats", that did indeed mean we were heading for an overwhelming of the health system at some point this winter and a considerably rising death toll, not just from Covid but from all causes, because the more Covid there is around, the less the health system will be able to deal with non-Covid medical problems

If the mantra is that "people should make their own decisions", it pretty much destroys any hope of collective action solving the problem, because many people will make decisions that only benefit them and pay no heed to the well being of others

Again, this is a collective problem which can only be solved by collective action

Follow the logic, if pub owners are allowed "make their own decisions", well, they aren't going to enforce restrictions which are aimed at reducing virus spread, they're going to get as many people in the door as possible

What you are arguing for is a policy that has been proven to not work

The mantra of "let people make their own decisions", if followed to its logical conclusion, would result in people deciding not to wear seat belts or drink drive

Followed to its logical conclusion, it would result in the abolition of all tax

That's why I get suspicious when people say "let people make their own decisions" 

Because it's a broad brush statement that is treated as an absolute by a lot of people, in this situation, can only result in the constant growth of virus spread, with disastrous implications for society

TJ, they have the choice if they want to risk getting a mild flu and bring it into their household. I doubt they would take that risk if they have someone vulnerable in the house. They wear a mask in case they have picked it up somewhere and to help stop the spread to others. That is the reality that most people are basing their behaviour off of

But if they get the virus, they can pass it on to somebody to who does have somebody vulnerable in their house or workplace

You are framing it as a situation where personal actions can only have consequences for that person 

That is not the case, the consequences are passed on to others

But the consequence is ever growing virus spread which reinforces that circle of hospitalisation and ICU admittance

The consequence of increased hospitalisations and ICU admittance is lockdowns because the consequence of not locking down is the overwhelming of the health system and a significant increase in all cause mortality

And I very much doubt most people are prepared to accept this

So we need to discuss what it is that people are really prepared to accept

There is a dishonesty in public discourse about this 

Again, we need a long term strategy and this is where the debate needs to move

Yes I know the worst case scenario is that someone at the gathering had the virus and it passes to you and then from you to others but if we want to eliminate the risk then we should lock down completely because there is just as much risk (probably more) that your child brings it home from school. 

I know every little helps so the more we do, the more we reduce and I do think household visits should be banned at the moment but I can see why people will take the risk because as said, the risk is there anyway as we have only locked down some things but not others.