Having come out of the second lockdown, where I live in the UK, we have now gone back into Tier 3, and people (with exceptions) are breaking the rules thinking the Covid rules don’t apply to them.
During the pandemic, it’s not been difficult to see, when out for a walk, people from different households walking together. You don't have to look for it, because it's obvious.
Living with the virus
We have already been told we’re going to have to live with the virus for decades, by Jeremy Farrar, a Sage Expert. Sir Jeremy Farrar, who sits on the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) and is a Director of the Wellcome Trust, has said the illness ‘would not be done by Christmas.’
A 'Human endemic infection'
Having spoken to the Commons Health Committee Farrar also told MPs the coronavirus was ‘not going away.’ He also went on to say that, ‘it is now a human endemic infection and that things will not be done by Christmas.’ and added ‘If we have a vaccine or very good treatments, humanity will still be living with the virus for very many, many years to come.’
Farrar also reaffirmed that we needed to move to a consistent long-term approach because humanity will be living with the infection for decades to come.
Taking responsibility for ourselves
The way the virus has been handled in the UK has switched people off. Now 9 months into the virus and it's important to take responsibility for ourselves, to have a chance at depleting the virus.
By saying it won’t happen to me we're increasing the risks. We cannot continue to live our lives normally; there is no normal anymore. Continuing to live our lives normally is putting us at risk and increasing the virus even more (Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk)
In the US, the virus is surging because many people still believe it's a hoax, or don't believe the virus is as bad as reported. These people are swimming in misinformation, thanks to conservative media.
Meanwhile, front line health-care workers are exhausted from the surge of deaths, and I'm exhausted from the surge of stupidity.
Again, the information you provide on this site is priceless, Ilana.
That's kind. Thanks Tim. Your response resonates with me too and part of what the problem is in the UK, also.
Independent scientists know exactly what the virus means and how it works and is getting the information out there, but they don't make the decisions, politicians do and mistakes have been made.
I feel for the front line health-care workers also. It is my hope that my blogs will resonate and show people a completely different way to think.
Here in the UK we are seeing a worrying polarisation of attitude towards the vaccine. On the one hand we have a cavalier political attitude, banging on that the "UK is the greatest," which contrasts markedly with a much more cautious scientific voice.
I for one will not rush into having the vaccine. I am content to wait several months to see how it pans out and in the meantime I will be taking all the necessary precautions I have implemented in the last 9 months.
Thank you for this. I agree with you and have my own concerns about the vaccine. It's one of the reasons I blog about Covid.
It is also clear to me that the UK is dealing with and seeing a worrying polarisation of attitude towards the vaccine, but a lot of that stems from the government's handling of the vaccine and Covid in general.
But the biggest change we need right now is attitude. The independent scientists are telling us Covid_19 is here to stay and with that in mind, we need to knuckle under and continue to take the necessary precautions.
We also need to have confidence in the government.