The significant number of covid deaths are 'with' extreme measures in place - it's important to remember that. I'm fine with just carrying on as normal, but we can't have it both ways. If we're willing to say "Doing so will wipe out far more of our nearest and dearest, but I deem that it's economically worth it to carry on as normal because there are grave consequences to that also" then that's a perfectly valid argument. Instead we often get the 'have our cake and eat it' angle, where people find any way under the sun to talk down what we're dealing with.

We indeed do have to live with the realities of the virus in some capacity, regardless of what measures we put in place or don't. And we can do so by acknowledging and respecting those it has claimed, and by cheerleading vaccinating those most at risk - and fast - that's the quickest way of getting out of this as it's clear that the government won't be opening things up while numbers are at these levels. There are several posts on here dissuading people from taking the vaccine. One just days back of a video saying 'were being sold a lie' and that the idea the vaccine works is 'absurd'. It's a negligent act at this time to dissuade the vulnerable from taking a vaccine.

I can see numbers getting worse over the coming few weeks, but once say all over 75s have been vaccinated, rationally speaking we have done all we can to protect the groups that are most impacted by this horrible virus. Case numbers (however high) will draw a shrug if the number of deaths start moving sharply in the opposite direction.

For me, if they're going to impact the high street to this extent, they may as well just close schools for a month or so too to gauge things (with the possible exception of uni). To do otherwise or regional, just seems to continue to provide an avenue for the numbers to escalate. It's more like following every changing gameshow rules right now. Either shut down, or don't.

As for April, I do hope not. If they can blitz through the over 75s by the end of February with the first dose (a big ask I know, but easier with the Oxford vaccine), opening up with a word of warning for those in vulnerable groups to remain very cautious for a month or so might suffice. Mid January is likely to be a bit of a horror show, but hopefully numbers will start to drop in February. Maybe opening up mid Feb Or March 1st following sustained vaccinations, could prove to be a point where we're finally moving beyond these numbers and into a better situation.

My wife, who is active in part of our health care system, has just been emailed to arrange for her vaccination. So far, although I am 76 and have cancer, I have not been.

It appears the priorities might be shifting to ensure the NHS has sufficient staff to cope with what is coming.

We both test every week.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Feels very much like the restrictions placed on us in March which was referred to as 'Lockdown'.

And yet the roads are busy this time when last time they were empty.

There aren’t as many people walking around because it’s quite a bit colder today.

There was no mixing last time. Read some doctors say you should stay over 2 metres apart outside snd with masks on. Unnecessary and unhealthy in several ways, as is co****ing ourselves indoors for months.

This isn’t good for people living in shared blocks but neither is stupid people coughing all over the place. I won’t be surprised when I see the latest high numbers by area. Plenty of them won’t have tower blocks. Just ignorance. The numbers will be inflated but the order of the areas will mostly be a true reflection.

COYP

This is so last year.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)