07-01-2021, 03:52 PM
(07-01-2021, 03:47 PM)Derek Hardballs Wrote:(07-01-2021, 03:37 PM)Ted Maul Wrote:(07-01-2021, 03:10 PM)baggy1 Wrote: I think that the decision to reopen on the 19th needs to be made with as much info as possible. If, by the 14th July, we have had another couple of weeks of 20% increase in hospitalisations then we need to think carefully, we also need some clear data of who is in hospital. If we have 20% a week increase for 5 weeks (which it will be on the 14th) then we need to understand that removing all restrictions will, most likely, increase infections and as we know hospitalisations follow that. The 20% increases will take us to over 3k in hospital by the end of July (allowing for the two week delay before the rate increases), then let's say it moves to 30% a week as restrictions are removed, that takes us to 10K by the end of August and 30k by the end of September.
Lets not ignore the lessons learned because we think we've cracked it with vaccines. And I hope all of those figures are wrong btw.
Vaccines work or they don't, we're on the verge of 2/3 adults being double vaccinated and by the time the end of August rolls round a good chunk of the 20-29 bracket will be double-jabbed too.
What will force their hand in July is knowing that there is going to be an exit wave, it's better to have it during summer than as we head into winter.
(07-01-2021, 03:05 PM)Derek Hardballs Wrote:(07-01-2021, 02:53 PM)Ted Maul Wrote: Kids need vaccinating but that should have no bearing on reopening society.
With the majority of over 18s jabbed at least once, we should have sufficient leeway to start dishing out booster jabs to the old and crusty and safe vaccines to kids.
Who said it should do?
There is however a small but significant group of young people and children that are very vulnerable to the virus who were / are on the shielding list who haven't had the vaccine because they are under 12yrs of age. They need and deserve just as much as any 'old crusty' the same chance of a normal life as everybody else. They don't have that luxury and are still having to isolate. I don't think you will find one person connected to those children that wants restrictions anymore than anyone else, other than to protect their children. Until their rights to a normalish life are addressed I will always defend their rights.
All fair points, begs the question why more consideration wasn't given to this group during the initial vaccine roll out? The US have been giving Pfizer to kids, why can't we?
From the comments Johnson and Whitty made on the 14th June, it very much seems that by the 19th they feel they'll have done everything they can to protect the vast majority of people. I find it pretty hard to argue with that as well.
They have done pretty much feck all for the protection of vulnerable children under 12 other than to say shield! Whitty at least in the speech where we delayed opening did acknowledged this group of people existed! Still who cares, it doesn't seem like anyone is fighting on their behalf and as you say why it wasn't made a priority like in the US is very much open to debate.
The handling of this for the past 18 months has been shambolic at best, but good luck explaining that 19th July is to be pushed back due to the small proportion of children who are unable to be vaccinated and therefore have to continue to shield.
It's not right and those responsible should be held account, but if they don't 'unlock' this time, then we're looking at lockdown until spring 2022 at the earliest.