Stealth Omicron

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Does that mean we can go back to hating gays like we did in the 1980s?

Oi. No. Not having that here.

Sorry, it was meant to be humourous, but obviously missed the mark.

[Yorick]

The new rules have suddenly hit this place. Usually this time of year all the bars are buzzing.
I came into town Sunday and it was quiet. Same tonight. In the square there's 10 bars. All less than a third full.
All hotels were booked, but no kids between 12 & 18 allowed. So they all cancelled.

Me and me pals are enjoying the quiet, but it doesn't feel Christmassy, yet.

[weeksy]

Does that mean we can go back to hating gays like we did in the 1980s?

Oi. No. Not having that here.

Sorry, it was meant to be humourous, but obviously missed the mark.

I get you, of course, hence no other reaction.

[Felix]

[Docca]

I was challenged by an anti-vax person in Sainsbury’s last week.

Looked like me (fat and middle aged), well spoken and very polite. It was the nicest challenge ever and went something like:

‘Aren’t you just so tired and frustrated with all this?’

‘Yes, I am’

‘I respect your right to get vaccinated but I won’t be’

‘Fair enough mate, I’ve just come here to get some sprouts- I’m a few months late getting them on’

He was wearing a mask and his eyes were watering. So we sat and had a coffee together at the in store Starbucks.

Turned out he’d lost his wife to cancer last year and has a firm view she would have lived longer if she had received the right levels of support.

His was more of a nihilistic protest vote. He wasn’t thick, he didn’t not believe in covid- he was just utterly fucking fed up with it all, and I walked away completely sympathetic to his views.

I guess not everyone is a Facebook believing mong ( a lot are).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

An interesting post from Docca, I won't be getting a booster because the first two jabs made me ill, I'll be avoiding Covid by avoiding people, which tbh is normal behaviour for me.
I don't consider myself anti vax as I'm happy for other people to do what they feel is best for them, I certainly believe in Covid, I think Omicron is being over egged, but if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, my opinion isn't going to affect anyone else.

[slowsider]

I'm not sure Docca's man is an anti-vaxxer. If he thinks his wife lacked adequate treatment he'd be likely to support measures that helped flatten the curve. The nihilism makes me think he prolly stopped using a seat belt too. No life without wife.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

BTW if I worked in a hospital I'd be jabbing myself with every vaccination available as the risk of getting it in hospital is much, much higher than it is for me in my normal life, the same goes if I had any health risk that might mean going to hospital.

[Asian Boss]

I see the government have changed the quarantine period from 10 days to seven.

I've telled you once and I'll tell you again; you can forget all that Covid bollocks, alright?

[Docca]

I'm not sure Docca's man is an anti-vaxxer. If he thinks his wife lacked adequate treatment he'd be likely to support measures that helped flatten the curve. The nihilism makes me think he prolly stopped using a seat belt too. No life without wife.

You’d be right, too.

However I think it’s easy to get caught up with people who don’t want to have the vaccine with those who believe it’s some kind of oppressive tool from ‘the man’ to control its population. He was anti the idea of him getting the vaccine, I suspect largely for the reasons I suggested.

I think there is a valid point where we question the validity of control vs benefit. Without going in to too much detail, we’ve had a run of suicides of children locally. Much higher than usual. I’m talking about 10 year olds here.

The far reach of covid on employment uncertainty and additional home stresses must be putting families under enormous pressure.

[irie]

I'm not sure Docca's man is an anti-vaxxer. If he thinks his wife lacked adequate treatment he'd be likely to support measures that helped flatten the curve. The nihilism makes me think he prolly stopped using a seat belt too. No life without wife.

You’d be right, too.

However I think it’s easy to get caught up with people who don’t want to have the vaccine with those who believe it’s some kind of oppressive tool from ‘the man’ to control its population. He was anti the idea of him getting the vaccine, I suspect largely for the reasons I suggested.

I think there is a valid point where we question the validity of control vs benefit. Without going in to too much detail, we’ve had a run of suicides of children locally. Much higher than usual. I’m talking about 10 year olds here.

The far reach of covid on employment uncertainty and additional home stresses must be putting families under enormous pressure.

There certainly is a valid point.

The epidemiological models beloved by SAGE and other institutions have been solely based on viral infection levels, and have never taken into consideration concomitant socio-economic impacts of lockdowns such as increases in deaths from suicide and untreated diseases such as cancer.

[Noggin]

I'm not sure Docca's man is an anti-vaxxer. If he thinks his wife lacked adequate treatment he'd be likely to support measures that helped flatten the curve. The nihilism makes me think he prolly stopped using a seat belt too. No life without wife.

You’d be right, too.

However I think it’s easy to get caught up with people who don’t want to have the vaccine with those who believe it’s some kind of oppressive tool from ‘the man’ to control its population. He was anti the idea of him getting the vaccine, I suspect largely for the reasons I suggested.

I think there is a valid point where we question the validity of control vs benefit. Without going in to too much detail, we’ve had a run of suicides of children locally. Much higher than usual. I’m talking about 10 year olds here.

The far reach of covid on employment uncertainty and additional home stresses must be putting families under enormous pressure.

There certainly is a valid point.

The epidemiological models beloved by SAGE and other institutions have been solely based on viral infection levels, and have never taken into consideration concomitant socio-economic impacts of lockdowns such as increases in deaths from suicide and untreated diseases such as cancer.

In the area I live, there is a MASSIVE issue with mental health due to restrictions and 18 months of uncertainty. I totally think that this 'side-effect' has been seriously overlooked

[DefTrap]

I doubt any serious analysis of socio economic impacts will be available for years yet. It'll need analysis, corroboration, reporting - otherwise it's just opinion.

[Noggin]

I doubt any serious analysis of socio economic impacts will be available for years yet. It'll need analysis, corroboration, reporting - otherwise it's just opinion.

Totally true. But in a small area with a LOT of business owners, its easy to make the statement I have. Yes, many will recover and all will be fine for them. But some won't. Some will be affected forever. Hopefully all will survive

[irie]

You’d be right, too.

However I think it’s easy to get caught up with people who don’t want to have the vaccine with those who believe it’s some kind of oppressive tool from ‘the man’ to control its population. He was anti the idea of him getting the vaccine, I suspect largely for the reasons I suggested.

I think there is a valid point where we question the validity of control vs benefit. Without going in to too much detail, we’ve had a run of suicides of children locally. Much higher than usual. I’m talking about 10 year olds here.

The far reach of covid on employment uncertainty and additional home stresses must be putting families under enormous pressure.

There certainly is a valid point.

The epidemiological models beloved by SAGE and other institutions have been solely based on viral infection levels, and have never taken into consideration concomitant socio-economic impacts of lockdowns such as increases in deaths from suicide and untreated diseases such as cancer.

In the area I live, there is a MASSIVE issue with mental health due to restrictions and 18 months of uncertainty. I totally think that this 'side-effect' has been seriously overlooked

You are right, it has been seriously overlooked. As an OHA Mrs irie deals with these mental health problems on a daily basis. For example, people who are suffering from mental health problems because their physical health is slowly degrading due to the fact that they are unable to access NHS treatment for cancer, diabetes, hip replacement, you name it.

[Horse]

it's a huge reset of human behaviour and the economic fallout will be bigger than anything the world has ever seen.

But other than that, crack on, we're fine

Like most things, there will be good and bad outcomes.

Physical health, for instance. The dramatic increase in people buying bicycles - followed by a dramatic increase in the numbers of people falling, or being knocked, off them.

[Noggin]

it's a huge reset of human behaviour and the economic fallout will be bigger than anything the world has ever seen.

But other than that, crack on, we're fine

Like most things, there will be good and bad outcomes.

Physical health, for instance. The dramatic increase in people buying bicycles - followed by a dramatic increase in the numbers of people falling, or being knocked, off them.

TBF, most people bought static bikes cos they weren't allowed out!!! And it's only FUFs like me that fall off static bikes!!!

[Supermofo]

The tide has turned with this I think. At the start when all we could do was obey the rules,

Yup last lockdown I didn't see my folks for best part of 6 months. On the 27th I'm supposed to be seeing them and my 2 brothers and their families. And regardless of what happens I will be. .

Unless I catch covid. Cock.

Spent 15 days in a house with 2 positive cases and all fine. In the last week I've been to Welwyn for an hour or so to see the lights, only about 10mins of that indoors. And pub for lunch Sunday to cheer the kids up as the Polar Express trip we'd booked was cancelled as we were leaving the house. Closest other table was about 6-7 m away, people were masked up when they got up as were the staff.

That's our crimbo knackered

[Docca]

We are seeing a definite spike in the acuity (severity) of mental health referrals. The volumes are up generally across the board, with kids’ referrals up 170%- but it’s the volumes of crisis referrals we’re getting. We can’t cope with the pressure because quite frankly we’re so threadbare as a resource, we were struggling before.

Lots and lots of anxiety. Stress. Having to live more with people you have a difficult relationship. Having to live more on your own with no social contact with work colleagues because you have to WFH.

Adult suicides aren’t up ( I don’t want to use death as the barometer here) but there is also a bit of a blurred line between normal reaction to losing job/worrying about pandemic …and mental health.

It will be far reaching- but it’s also massively impacting the physical health world- delays and queues and ops being cancelled. All a big mess right now.

On a personal level- I’ve been asked to cancel my annual leave over Xmas and come in. Ordinarily I would, but it’s been a very tough few months and I will go bang without the pause. Don’t feel great about that decision, but there we are.

[slowsider]

First Aiders are reminded to keep themselves safe or risk becoming an extra casualty. Mind yourself, Docca.