French Lockdown

[138go]

The Gov.UK site states:

Under current UK COVID-19 restrictions, you must stay at home (or in Wales, stay local). It is illegal to travel abroad for holidays.

 

[pandas]

We’re booked to go on the tunnel on 17th may still keeping our fingers crossed we will wait until the last minute if we have to change it AGAIN

See you there unless...

 

[138go]

What then? As soon as people come out the virus will be transmitted again. Like I said we either live with that or we become hermits. I hope we learn to live with that level of risk, transmission, cases, and ultimately deaths. If we don’t we isolate forever. To me isolating isn’t living, it’s existing and I don’t want to just exist in isolation. I want to live.

We all want to live Glenn, it's a fundamental human need. None of us want to exist in isolation, it's not just you.

You say that as soon as people come out the virus will be transmitted again, are you forgetting the vaccine? It's evident that the vaccine is working and working well. We all have to be patient.

 

[glenn2926]

We all want to live Glenn, it's a fundamental human need. None of us want to exist in isolation, it's not just you.

You say that as soon as people come out the virus will be transmitted again, are you forgetting the vaccine? It's evident that the vaccine is working and working well. We all have to be patient.

No, not forgetting the vaccine but judging by the recurrent posting on here that the vaccine doesn’t stop one catching Covid and doesn’t stop the vaccinated transmitting Covid I think (if the pessimistic ones are correct) we should forget about vaccines helping and just learn to live with Covid being another risk to our lives. We don’t seem to live in constant fear of catching influenza. HIV, etc. I hope we get to living with Covid in the same way.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

I suppose we could all stay at home but for how long? I don’t really expect you to answer as the only answer to stop this virus is to stay at home forever, never ever coming out of our houses again. Coronavirus is here now and will never go away. We either learn to live with it

I suppose we could all stay at home but for how long? I don’t really expect you to answer as the only answer to stop this virus is to stay at home forever, never ever coming out of our houses again. Coronavirus is here now and will never go away. We either learn to live with it or we become hermits for eternity. Which do you think we should do?

People should change their behaviour, plain and simple, if you act accordingly and make compromises there is no reason that foreign travel should be "risky", or uk travel for that matter.
If people don't change their behaviour then this disease will take much longer to get under control.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[glenn2926]

"I think we are running a real risk if we do start to have lots of people going overseas in July and August because of the potential for bringing more of these new variants back into the country."

Yes it's new variants, that the vaccine is not effective against, that seems to be the real concern around foreign holidays.

We have the ferry booked for the beginning of September, and a campsite in Spain. However, I would much rather not go, than face another lockdown. I think that's the bottom line.

What makes you so sure that the vaccines are not effective against new variants? There was much scaremongering about the vaccines not being effective against the variants we have already had. All scaremongering proven to be unfounded.
So I ask again how do you know that the vaccines will not be effective against any hew variants? You do seem quite sure of this.

 

[The general]

We either learn to live with it or we become hermits for eternity. Which do you think we should do?

Preferably live with it with sid of vaccine . But I must admit I like my own company so being a hermit on the road dies tick a box especially seeing over the last few months the general public view on the virus situation

 

[Al n Val]

As i see it, once you've had the vaccine it will not stop you getting the virus but its effects will be less

so similar, not same as, to Flu then??

Neither will it stop you passing it on, so once i've possibly passed it on the someone who's had the vaccine then the effects will still be less. If that individual hasn't had the vaccine because they think they're gonna grow another head then tough tittie.

Fact is we HAVE to live with this virus one way or another, people need to accept this or you/they will be in isolation for ever for the rest of your/their lives.

The EU country leaders that withheld the vaccine rollout recently quite frankly need xxxxing shooting and they have only themselves to blame if tourism or the lack of it puts local businesses out of business.

Bureaucratic Imbeciles, they need sacking

 

[DandG5515]

We're in a real quandary as to what to do ... we haven't had a break since we returned to the UK in February last year, not a single night away, so going totally stir crazy.

Whatever we do we have to ensure that my Mum (nearly 96) is catered for but as she's back to her old 'witchy' self (don't I know it!) and doing odd bits of shopping at her little local store (they are VERY strict with the rules) she can get her fresh stuff and other smaller bits as required so just the major stuff once a fortnight or even longer if we stock her up and other can get her odds and sods if needs be, or I'll just do an on-line shop if we have to.

We have considered Scotland but its likely to be silly season although we don't 'need' to be in the popular areas (eg NC 500) so long as wherever we go is nice and peaceful, ideally not a million miles from water, and without loads of ruddy midges! Down south would be good as the weather is likely to be warmer but there's no way I would want to be in what are likely to be very crowded places - the latter will apply to a lot of the UK I think too though. We even thought about the Isle of Wight but the cost of the ferry to/from there is ridiculous!

We're also thinking about Ireland as, although it's expensive to get there, we have a load of Tesco vouchers which we can use to offset most of the cost, we love the place (all areas) but we know if rains ... a lot ... (been 3 times so far!) but can live with it so long as it's not constant (first time we went it rained every day for the whole fortnight!). We'd be able to go for longer though so hopefully have more time to have good weather too.

We had pretty much ruled out mainland Europe though as hubby's a bit 'concerned' about the infection rates etc but as we don't do bars, sites etc, preferring nice out of the way areas, aires, wilding etc, we won't be mingling with loads of other holiday makers anyway ... of course the upside is the weather is likely to be better .... so this may go back on the 'possible options' list.

Its a real problem as we do so want a break of some sort as we've had quite a stressful time over the last 18 months and really need a change of scene. Obviously we would be extremely careful not to spread anything anywhere or bring it back home but when/where to go isn't an easy thing to determine and we're getting to the point that if we do want to go somewhere that needs booking (eg ferry/tunnel) then we need to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

Are we being too cautious? I don't know, but if we don't get some sort of break soon I think we'll go mad!

wightlink normally do 50% discount booked though ccc, we normally go once a year.

 

[The general]

The EU country leaders that withheld the vaccine rollout recently quite frankly need xxxxing shooting and they have only themselves to blame if tourism or the lack of it puts local businesses out of business.

Bureaucratic Imbeciles, they need sacking

Job for life if they want it

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Helen Ariel]

Except that for political expediency - economics trumps science

It was identified by UK scientists, it didn't "pop up" here. A small but significant difference.

Lol it is believed to have originated in the uk not just been identified. It's hilarious how when it originates in China or some other foreign place people are happy to call it from there but if a strain dares to mutate within the uk it must have actually come from somewhere else. Nationalism gone mad!

 

[MITHRANDIR]

No, not forgetting the vaccine but judging by the recurrent posting on here that the vaccine doesn’t stop one catching Covid and doesn’t stop the vaccinated transmitting Covid I think (if the pessimistic ones are correct) we should forget about vaccines helping and just learn to live with Covid being another risk to our lives. We don’t seem to live in constant fear of catching influenza. HIV, etc. I hope we get to living with Covid in the same way.

Fact, the vaccines are not 100%, you can albeit with a reduced risk still catch it.
Fact, just because you have had the vaccine does not make you immune or as is yet to be proved less transmissible, although there are encouraging signs that transmissibility may be reduced.
Fact, HIV and flu are very different diseases to covid.
Live with it? yes, absolutely, but that involves realistically a change in people's behaviour, in the medium to long term.
The danger is that when people have had the vaccine, they think this somehow gives immunity, and they go and behave exactly as they did before covid, that if that were to happen it would be a mistake.
There is the other possibility, that once the majority of people are vaccinated the virus will disappear gradually over a period of time, unlikely in my view but still a possibility.
Covid has changed the world i'm afraid and in my view one of the most important things we can do, vaccine or not is change our behaviour, and adapt.
Let's face facts, the far east has been mask wearing when out for years, because of pollution, sars, etc, way before anyone had even heard of covid, here, some people find any excuse they can to not wear a mask in public.

 

[Larrynwin]

.

 

[Larrynwin]

Lol it is believed to have originated in the uk not just been identified. It's hilarious how when it originates in China or some other foreign place people are happy to call it from there but if a strain dares to mutate within the uk it must have actually come from somewhere else. Nationalism gone mad!

Is there indisputable proof that it started here ?

 

[glenn2926]

Fact, the vaccines are not 100%, you can albeit with a reduced risk still catch it.
Fact, just because you have had the vaccine does not make you immune or as is yet to be proved less transmissible, although there are encouraging signs that transmissibility may be reduced.
Fact, HIV and flu are very different diseases to covid.
Live with it? yes, absolutely, but that involves realistically a change in people's behaviour, in the medium to long term.
The danger is that when people have had the vaccine, they think this somehow gives immunity, and they go and behave exactly as they did before covid, that if that were to happen it would be a mistake.
There is the other possibility, that once the majority of people are vaccinated the virus will disappear gradually over a period of time, unlikely in my view but still a possibility.
Covid has changed the world i'm afraid and in my view one of the most important things we can do, vaccine or not is change our behaviour, and adapt.
Let's face facts, the far east has been mask wearing when out for years, because of pollution, sars, etc, way before anyone had even heard of covid, here, some people find any excuse they can to not wear a mask in public.

The mask is for me the worst restriction on us. I really hate it. I’ve never trusted anyone hiding their face. There’s a reason we’re not allowed in banks etc whilst hiding our faces. It’s because throughout history the ones hiding their faces were the bad guys. The sooner we don’t need masks the better for me.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MITHRANDIR]

The mask is for me the worst restriction on us. I really hate it. I’ve never trusted anyone hiding their face. There’s a reason we’re not allowed in banks etc whilst hiding our faces. It’s because throughout history the ones hiding their faces were the bad guys. The sooner we don’t need masks the better for me.

I don't like them either, but it is the responsible thing to do for others as well as yourself.

 

[busby]

You make a valid point but a ban on foreign holidays won't include a clause that says "motorhomers can still go". It just won't happen.

I know,,shame really but for economic reasons I cannot see foreign travel being banned,,,BUSBY.

 

[138go]

What makes you so sure that the vaccines are not effective against new variants? There was much scaremongering about the vaccines not being effective against the variants we have already had. All scaremongering proven to be unfounded.
So I ask again how do you know that the vaccines will not be effective against any hew variants? You do seem quite sure of this.

The science is currently saying the vaccines are effective against the Brazilian variant but has low efficacy against the South African variant. No one knows if the vaccines will be effective against future variants.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

The science is currently saying the vaccines are effective against the Brazilian variant but has low efficacy against the South African variant. No one knows if the vaccines will be effective against future variants.

Which is why behavioral changes that people could make could be a powerful tool in the fight against covid, along with any current vaccines or future "tweaked" ones.

 

[glenn2926]

The science is currently saying the vaccines are effective against the Brazilian variant but has low efficacy against the South African variant. No one knows if the vaccines will be effective against future variants.

Most aren’t sure how effective against new variants. In your earlier post you seemed quite sure the vaccines wouldn’t be effective against new variants. I just wondered how you knew this?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Gellyneck]

I know,,shame really but for economic reasons I cannot see foreign travel being banned,,,BUSBY.

Not sure how outbound foreign leisure travel would give an economic benefit to UK. Would a ban by UK Gov not result in, potentially, more staycations?
The consequential impact is that foreign countries could reciprocate with their own foreign travel bans.

 

[138go]

As i see it, once you've had the vaccine it will not stop you getting the virus but its effects will be less

Neither will it stop you passing it on,

Yes the vaccine doesn’t completely prevent infection but it will significantly reduce the amount of virus coming out of your nose and mouth – a process called shedding – and shorten the time that you shed the virus. A person who sheds less virus is less likely to transmit it to someone else.

 

[138go]

Most aren’t sure how effective against new variants. In your earlier post you seemed quite sure the vaccines wouldn’t be effective against new variants. I just wondered how you knew this?

It's been reported widely, that the vaccine is not especially effective against the South African variant.

 

[glenn2926]

It's been reported widely, that the vaccine is not especially effective against the South African variant.

Really? I’ve not seen any reports of vaccinated people dying of the South African variant.

 

[138go]

Really? I’ve not seen any reports of vaccinated people dying of the South African variant.

AstraZeneca Vaccine Fails To Protect Against The South African Variant, Says Study

Two doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine were found to have only a 10.4% efficacy against mild-to-moderate infections caused by the B.1.351 South Africa variant, according to a phase 1b-2 clinical trial published on Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

www.forbes.com

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Rob Hammond]

Don't want to prolong this as it's pretty much just going round and round, but are the people who are saying they are not going to Europe, not going into pubs and restaurants here when they open again because in my view that idiotic paying folks to go into pubs was the main thing that kept the virus going when we had nearly got the upper hand against it.
Far more dangerous than sitting in the sun somewhere in France with not another person in sight.

Is there indisputable proof that it started here ?

Or hearsay .

 

[suavecarve]

It will be HMG who decide if we can leave the country and the governments of France, Spain etc will decide if they will let us in.

It now seems to be accepted by most of the boffins that the surge in cases in the UK last September was due to people coming back from foreign holidays they had taken in the summer. This is the background to the statement about the risks this year.

We shall see but the PM has to decide if there are more votes in allowing foreign travel against the loss of votes if we have to go back into lockdown this autumn.

You are more cynical than me ! BJ making decisions on best plan for himself ! I m not going to disagree though.

I do have an issue with the boffins who have suddenly decided that when the whole of Europe had an increase in infections, it was down to the end of the holiday season. France went early because of a night club in Quiberon.

Up to September 1st, for the previous 3 months our rate didnt change. I reckon there were people on holiday during that period.

Dependant upon who you are chatting to, the increase is because of the Eat out to Help Out, students returning to schools, Students coming from all over the world for a Fresher's week and now people who came back from places with 35 infections (greece).

It does make it difficult to try to agree with all of them as the main reason for an increase.

 

[138go]

Really? I’ve not seen any reports of vaccinated people dying of the South African variant.

The Brazilian variant of the coronavirus may be less resistant to vaccines than had been feared, according to a study from Oxford University.

The research suggests that another strain first identified in South Africa is more likely to evade the immune system after people have been immunised.

Covid vaccines more effective on Brazilian variant than thought, study reveals

The Brazilian variant of the coronavirus may be less resistant to vaccines than had been feared, according to a study from Oxford University. The research sugge

www.thetimes.co.uk

Scientists across the world have begun to assess whether or not they will need to edit their vaccines to make sure that they work against new variants.

Science is working hard on our behalf. We just need to be patient.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Time will be the great teller in all of this, never mind speculation on anyone's part including my own.
All i know for sure is that once i have had my second jab, i should have some protection against this disease, i will continue to make small sacrifices in behaviour and be very cautious, at home and abroad, that will stand me and others in good stead, it did last year in france, it will again this year in europe, assuming i will be allowed.
I get as much pleasure, looking at the Gorges du verdon, for example admiring its beauty, tea or wine in hand, as i ever would from having a meal out. easy sacrifice to make.
I for one will travel this year and the years to come if i can and adapt as necessary.

 

[glenn2926]

AstraZeneca Vaccine Fails To Protect Against The South African Variant, Says Study

Two doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine were found to have only a 10.4% efficacy against mild-to-moderate infections caused by the B.1.351 South Africa variant, according to a phase 1b-2 clinical trial published on Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

www.forbes.com

So what that’s telling me is 2.5% of vaccinated people developed Covid 19 symptoms having been exposed to the South African variant. That’s hardly not effective. Well not to me it isn’t.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}