"Covid rising in England" - let's stop the fear mongering

[yorkie]

Early signs that Covid may be rising in parts of the UK

Official estimates suggest there has been a small increase in infections in England and Northern Ireland.

www.bbc.co.uk

There are early signs of a possible increase in the number of people testing positive for Covid in England and Northern Ireland, officials from the Office for National Statistics say.
Their report suggests the small rise is likely to be driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron.
Studies show these variants may be able to spread slightly more easily than "older" Omicron variants.
The latest estimates suggest around 990,000 people in the UK have Covid.
That is about 1.5% of the population (roughly one in 65 people) - up from about one in 70 the week before.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covers the week ending 2 June.

The headline is misleading; Covid19 was the name given to a disease which was caused by a novel Coronavirus in an immunologically naive population.

The situation now is very different; the vast majority of the population has good immunity against the virus, Sars-CoV-2, and very few people are immunologically naive. In order to have the best possible immunity, vaccination alone isn't enough and we do need exposure to the full virus. This is inevitable and the majority of people have had at least one exposure. Multiple exposures may be necessary to fully downgrade the virus to a similar status to the 4 well established human Coronaviruses.

The virus is also adapting to humans; this process, which is through natural selection and is entirely unavoidable and inevitable, is occurring in line with expectations. The fact it has adapted to become even fitter recently is of absolutely no surprise and this will continue to happen. Nothing unexpected is happening in this regard.

Interestingly, the Zoe Covid study used to be the first to predict rises. However their data (2 June) shows no increase up to that date and indeed shows a decrease up to that date, with an increase being very slight and more recently than that:

Latest Daily UK COVID-19 Data: Vaccines, Cases, Trends | ZOE

COVID infection & vaccination rates in the UK today, based on public data and reports from millions of users of the ZOE Health Study app

covid.joinzoe.com

(Graph shows the total predicted number of cases, which reached a low point on 2 June 2022 of 1,623,503)

This does cover the whole of the UK though and no separate breakdown is available for England. It is also noteworthy that cases are higher in Scotland, still (probably as a result of a catchup in infections, from when cases were lower in Scotland than they were in England)

Maybe the Zoe Covid data is no longer a useful indicator and is no longer leading the way? I would imagine most people who used the app at the height of the pandemic would probably no longer feel it's relevant now. I've had a feeling they were losing their ability to predict increases as long as a year ago, so this should perhaps be of no surprise. Also the Zoe Covid data is based on symptoms but vast numbers of infections are asymptomatic these days.

I thought it was worth posting here because some media outlets will be wanting to push this story and the usual pro-restriction suspects and so called "experts" will no doubt want to engage in their usual fearmongering. Dubious attention-seeking individuals such Susan Michie, Eric Feigl-Ding, Christina Pagel, Trish Greenhalgh and their ilk will no doubt be desperately trying to remain relevant and try to get themselves yet more nonsense. They should be ignored.

I see hard left and authoritarian restriction activists are desperately trying to push the #CovidIsNotOver hashtag on Twitter; such odious individuals lack the intelligence to understand even basic concepts. They argue for restrictions in order to keep cases down, but any restrictions only serve to delay infections, not prevent them. Our regular exposure to Sars-CoV-2 throughout our lives is entirely expected, predicted, and unavoidable.

Sars-CoV-2 will be with us forever; it will never be "over" if the bar is set that the virus has to be eliminated or forever only circulating at low levels, as that simply will not happen.

We can expect to see many occurrences of a rise in infections and this will occur for as long as we are testing and measuring these infections. At some point this will no longer be deemed newsworthy. That day really should have happened by now, but the media are unlikely to want their Covid gravy train to come to a stop any time soon.

 

[yorksrob]

Covid is not over. But the majority of people are over it (as a lifestyle changing thing) now.

I've heard work colleagues taking about covid going round along with other more traditional infections. It's just one of those things now.

 

[brad465]

There won't be anymore restrictions in this country anytime soon for one simple reason: Johnson has lost his authority. If he tries to reintroduce anything, a huge subset of his party will rebel and do whatever it takes to depose him, remembering that Partygate breaking last December, while initially helping accelerate Plan B, weakened Johnson and stopped him making restrictions go any further. Then if he is removed, there's a good chance a replacement would be made to avoid bringing restrictions in, like when pro-restriction Hancock was replaced with the more pro-freedom Javid.

 

[MikeWM]

'Monkeypox hasn't taken off (yet) despite our best efforts, let's try another round of our greatest success at whipping up terror in the population and see if that still works'.

All very transparent and dull.

 

[Bayum]

I see hard left and authoritarian restriction activists are desperately trying to push the #CovidIsNotOver hashtag on Twitter; such odious individuals lack the intelligence to understand even basic concepts. They argue for restrictions in order to keep cases down, but any restrictions only serve to delay infections, not prevent them. Our regular exposure to Sars-CoV-2 throughout our lives is entirely expected, predicted, and unavoidable.

And I see the hard right (as far as COVID is concerned) back on the front burners on RailForums.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

The concern is if Boris goes soon, his successor could be much worse than him being a Sturgeon/Drakeford like figure itching to impose further restrictions needlessly like when England had more freedom while Wales & Scotland were under restrictions at the time.

 

[Bayum]

Maybe the Zoe Covid data is no longer a useful indicator and is no longer leading the way? I would imagine most people who used the app at the height of the pandemic would probably no longer feel it's relevant now. I've had a feeling they were losing their ability to predict increases as long as a year ago, so this should perhaps be of no surprise. Also the Zoe Covid data is based on symptoms but vast numbers of infections are asymptomatic these days.

Did you include the data that was collected via nose and throat sampling?

 

[dorsetdesiro]

I'm neither hard left nor right, like everyone else I do like my freedoms and wish to retain them. I was very supportive of restrictions at the start of pandemic when the virus was new, less understood & more lethal without vaccines at the time.

As time went on, with thanks to vaccines I saw that everyone weren't dropping like flies on the street and it became apparent we could live with it and have normal lives as possible.

Then you have governments like China that are repressive by nature and try to manhandle people at every turn, I just roll my eyes. In the West this shouldn't be acceptable unless this virus is just like the Black Death of medieval times striking off one person by one in a domino effect which clearly isn't the case.

Boris has his many many faults but I am grateful to his government for giving us some freedom while some parts of the world were being locked down.

 

[DustyBin]

And I see the hard right (as far as COVID is concerned) back on the front burners on RailForums.

I don't think that's really fair. The vast majority of us on the (covid) "hard right" as you put it simply want to live normally, free from restrictions and excessive state interference in our everyday lives. There is however undoubtedly a contingent on the far left, including the individuals @yorkie refers to in his post, that is hell bent on preventing this and will misrepresent data or simply lie in order to derail the return to normal. They're the ones trying to impose their ideology on others whereas I'd simply like to be left alone to get on with my life. What's (covid) "hard right" about that?

 

[yorksrob]

Covid is now a snooze fest for the majority of the population.

As someone once said "It's like that, cos that's the way it is. Huh"

 

[Bayum]

I don't think that's really fair. The vast majority of us on the (covid) "hard right" as you put it simply want to live normally, free from restrictions and excessive state interference in our everyday lives. There is however undoubtedly a contingent on the far left, including the individuals @yorkie refers to in his post, that is hell bent on preventing this and will misrepresent data or simply lie in order to derail the return to normal. They're the ones trying to impose their ideology on others whereas I'd simply like to be left alone to get on with my life. What's (covid) "hard right" about that?

I just find it pretty telling when people are saying, ‘It’s time to prepare for more cases’ without discussion of a lockdown (has anyone said anything to that effect thus far?) and the reference to Zoe data based on symptoms but ignoring the data collected from the ONS which has relied on standard samples.

 

[Class 33]

I agree. This fear mongering rubbish by the press and media has to STOP COMPLETELY. I was going to say recently that it's good that they've stopped their fear mongering at long last. But no, apparantly not when I noticed the "Covid infections rise in UK for first time in two months" on the Sky News website this afternoon! Only a SMALL rise in cases, and they're up to their bloody tricks yet again publishing/airing their fear mongering nonsense!!! Seems they just can't wait for a rise in cases, hospital admissions or whatever to publish/air their fear mongering nonsense again! For crying out loud, give it up and STOP this!!!

It would also help if the daily Covid stats was stopped completely. This was supposed to have happened "By Easter"!!! What happened to that??

I'm not worried though that there'll be another lockdown again. It came very close to their being another lockdown implemented back in December last year, but thankfully that didn't happen. I think those ridiculous DAMAGING lockdowns we had to endure, are long gone now. Those won't be coming back again, I'm fairly confident of. IF there was another lockdown, I think most people wouldn't tolerate it and would largely ignore all that "essential travel only", etc nonsense. Even if mandatory face masks were brought back again, I think this time many people wouldn't tolerate that nonsense and would ignore it. Currently at the moment, the vast majority(probably at least 95%) of people in the UK have given up wearing the stupid things and gone back to a normal life!!

 

[yorkie]

And I see the hard right (as far as COVID is concerned) back on the front burners on RailForums.

In terms of left and right, I am most certainly left! But those of us on the reasonable left can see how damaging the hard left are.

Anyway can you please quote the part(s) of my post you disagree with, and what your view is?

Did you include the data that was collected via nose and throat sampling?

I don't understand the question you are asking; the data concerned is showing the total number of estimated infections, which the Zoe Study had as reaching a low point on the 2nd of June. The Zoe Study group has said they are best placed to spot when cases are starting to rise and there was a time around 18 months ago when they were correctly predicting increases before any other source was able to confirm it, but those days appear to be gone now.

I'm neither hard left nor right, like everyone else I do like my freedoms and wish to retain them. I was very supportive of restrictions at the start of pandemic when the virus was new, less understood & more lethal without vaccines at the time.

As time went on, with thanks to vaccines I saw that everyone weren't dropping like flies on the street and it became apparent we could live with it and have normal lives as possible.

Then you have governments like China that are repressive by nature and try to manhandle people at every turn, I just roll my eyes. In the West this shouldn't be acceptable unless this virus is just like the Black Death of medieval times striking off one person by one in a domino effect which clearly isn't the case.

Boris has his many many faults but I am grateful to his government for giving us some freedom while some parts of the world were being locked down.

Spot on.

I just find it pretty telling when people are saying, ‘It’s time to prepare for more cases’ without discussion of a lockdown (has anyone said anything to that effect thus far?)...

Why do you think would we need a lockdown or indeed any other restrictions?

You are welcome to lock yourself down but the rest of us won't be going along with it.

and the reference to Zoe data based on symptoms but ignoring the data collected from the ONS which has relied on standard samples.

Who is ignoring what data?

I am not saying the ONS data - stating infections are rising - is wrong; if you got that impression, I suggest you re-read my post.

My point is that everyone is going to be exposed to the virus, multiple times, during our lifetimes. That's what we got vaccinated for; to prepare our immune system to fight an infection.

However it is very relevant that the Zoe study had estimated cases as continuing to fall throughout the week where the ONS had cases increasing.

The Zoe study is based on symptoms but the reality is that when exposure of Sars-CoV-2 occurs, the likelihood of symptoms occurring is rapidly diminishing all the time, as the virus continues to adapt for humans and our immunity to it increases all the time (due to a combination of vaccinations and natural exposure).

Being exposed to Sars-CoV-2 is not something we can prevent; it's time to move on and face the fact that it is inevitable we must live with the virus, just as we do with similar viruses such as OC43.

I'm not worried though that there'll be another lockdown again. It came very close to their being another lockdown implemented back in December last year, but thankfully that didn't happen. I think those ridiculous DAMAGING lockdowns we had to endure, are long gone now. Those won't be coming back again, I'm fairly confident of. IF there was another lockdown, I think most people wouldn't tolerate it and would largely ignore all that "essential travel only", etc nonsense. Even if mandatory face masks were brought back again, I think this time many people wouldn't tolerate that nonsense and would ignore it. Currently at the moment, the vast majority(probably at least 95%) of people in the UK have given up wearing the stupid things and gone back to a normal life!!

I am confident there will not be any more restrictions. People need to accept that the only way to live with the virus is to accept that, once vaccinated, we are well prepared to be regularly exposed to Sars-CoV-2, and that such exposures are inevitable. Any attempt at imposing restrictions would not only be widely ignored by many people but would also only have the effect of delaying exposure to the virus, not preventing exposure and that could only delay the onset of endemic equilibrium.

I await @Bayum's reply with interest and am looking forward to replying to it...

 

[43066]

I just find it pretty telling when people are saying, ‘It’s time to prepare for more cases’ without discussion of a lockdown (has anyone said anything to that effect thus far?) and the reference to Zoe data based on symptoms but ignoring the data collected from the ONS which has relied on standard samples.

It’s over, whether you and the hard left like it or not.

I think you need to get out and try living in the real world. Let me guess, you’re in favour of locking down and masks for monkey pox?

 

[bramling]

Early signs that Covid may be rising in parts of the UK

Official estimates suggest there has been a small increase in infections in England and Northern Ireland.

www.bbc.co.uk

The headline is misleading; Covid19 was the name given to a disease which was caused by a novel Coronavirus in an immunologically naive population.

The situation now is very different; the vast majority of the population has good immunity against the virus, Sars-CoV-2, and very few people are immunologically naive. In order to have the best possible immunity, vaccination alone isn't enough and we do need exposure to the full virus. This is inevitable and the majority of people have had at least one exposure. Multiple exposures may be necessary to fully downgrade the virus to a similar status to the 4 well established human Coronaviruses.

The virus is also adapting to humans; this process, which is through natural selection and is entirely unavoidable and inevitable, is occurring in line with expectations. The fact it has adapted to become even fitter recently is of absolutely no surprise and this will continue to happen. Nothing unexpected is happening in this regard.

Interestingly, the Zoe Covid study used to be the first to predict rises. However their data (2 June) shows no increase up to that date and indeed shows a decrease up to that date, with an increase being very slight and more recently than that:
View attachment 115988

Latest Daily UK COVID-19 Data: Vaccines, Cases, Trends | ZOE

COVID infection & vaccination rates in the UK today, based on public data and reports from millions of users of the ZOE Health Study app

covid.joinzoe.com

(Graph shows the total predicted number of cases, which reached a low point on 2 June 2022 of 1,623,503)

This does cover the whole of the UK though and no separate breakdown is available for England. It is also noteworthy that cases are higher in Scotland, still (probably as a result of a catchup in infections, from when cases were lower in Scotland than they were in England)

Maybe the Zoe Covid data is no longer a useful indicator and is no longer leading the way? I would imagine most people who used the app at the height of the pandemic would probably no longer feel it's relevant now. I've had a feeling they were losing their ability to predict increases as long as a year ago, so this should perhaps be of no surprise. Also the Zoe Covid data is based on symptoms but vast numbers of infections are asymptomatic these days.

I thought it was worth posting here because some media outlets will be wanting to push this story and the usual pro-restriction suspects and so called "experts" will no doubt want to engage in their usual fearmongering. Dubious attention-seeking individuals such Susan Michie, Eric Feigl-Ding, Christina Pagel, Trish Greenhalgh and their ilk will no doubt be desperately trying to remain relevant and try to get themselves yet more nonsense. They should be ignored.

I see hard left and authoritarian restriction activists are desperately trying to push the #CovidIsNotOver hashtag on Twitter; such odious individuals lack the intelligence to understand even basic concepts. They argue for restrictions in order to keep cases down, but any restrictions only serve to delay infections, not prevent them. Our regular exposure to Sars-CoV-2 throughout our lives is entirely expected, predicted, and unavoidable.

Sars-CoV-2 will be with us forever; it will never be "over" if the bar is set that the virus has to be eliminated or forever only circulating at low levels, as that simply will not happen.

We can expect to see many occurrences of a rise in infections and this will occur for as long as we are testing and measuring these infections. At some point this will no longer be deemed newsworthy. That day really should have happened by now, but the media are unlikely to want their Covid gravy train to come to a stop any time soon.

Completely agree this needs to be knocked on the head. The last thing we need is a frenzy especially as September is on the horizon now when there is bound to be an increase in raw case numbers, just like we would normally expect to see with flu cases.

Unfortunately there does still seem to be a subset of people who just want to cling on to this for whatever reasons.

It’s another good reason for wanting to get back to proper normal *now*, including mundane stuff like removing signage or stuff on the bottom of emails. Eliminate all traces of living in a pandemic (which as you say is no longer the case) and it makes it much harder to return to that should cases start to rise as at some point they will. For their part the government - and NHS - need to maintain a “have confidence in the vaccines” narrative, which is something I’m not sure I recall hearing once from Johnson.

 

[DustyBin]

I just find it pretty telling when people are saying, ‘It’s time to prepare for more cases’ without discussion of a lockdown (has anyone said anything to that effect thus far?) and the reference to Zoe data based on symptoms but ignoring the data collected from the ONS which has relied on standard samples.

I think I know what you're trying to say, but it's not only lockdowns that concern a lot of people, myself included. The likes of Michie are still pushing mask wearing for example. I suspect you know as well as I do that people like that will jump at any opportunity to get on TV and spout their nonsense as they have done previously. I think they've lost their influence over government policy at this point, but I'm sure they're still capable of whipping up a bit of hysteria and causing division within society (again).

 

[bramling]

Covid is now a snooze fest for the majority of the population.

You say that, but I’m just sitting at a table in the front garden of a pub, and someone has just pulled up in a Range Rover, alone in the car, wearing a “Thank you NHS” mask. There’s certainly plenty of people who seem to feel they can extract some more virtue-signalling points out of this.

 

[brad465]

The concern is if Boris goes soon, his successor could be much worse than him being a Sturgeon/Drakeford like figure itching to impose further restrictions needlessly like when England had more freedom while Wales & Scotland were under restrictions at the time.

I doubt it, the number of Tory rebels to covid restrictions gradually increased towards the end of restrictions, and if covid is in the news plenty around the time of a leadership contest, then these same rebels will wield a lot of power in ensuring a pro-restriction candidate doesn't get elected.

 

[bramling]

I doubt it, the number of Tory rebels to covid restrictions gradually increased towards the end of restrictions, and if covid is in the news plenty around the time of a leadership contest, then these same rebels will wield a lot of power in ensuring a pro-restriction candidate doesn't get elected.

I can’t really see anyone in the Conservatives being too pro-restriction, especially now the economic consequences are in plain sight. We’re certainly in the territory of cure being worse than disease.

Labour is a different matter as their pro-restriction stance is ideological, whereas in the Conservative party if anyone was in favour of restrictions it would at least be for pragmatic reasons.

 

[yorksrob]

You say that, but I’m just sitting at a table in the front garden of a pub, and someone has just pulled up in a Range Rover, alone in the car, wearing a “Thank you NHS” mask. There’s certainly plenty of people who seem to feel they can extract some more virtue-signalling points out of this.

True, but are they going to countenance another lockdown ?

I think that ship has sailed !

 

[Class 33]

And as well as the BBC and Sky, I see The Mirror(no surprise there atall going by their past behaviour!), the Daily Mail, and The Telegraph are at it with their fear mongering nonsense too! For crying out loud!!!!

It really is as though the press and media are publishing fear mongering nonsense like this to try and push for restrictions to be brought back again, or even a lockdown brought back again. I remember last year when just barely days after 19th July when most Covid restrictions were scrapped, the press and media were publishing headlines such as "Covid restrictions will HAVE to be reimposed next month, warns expert". I also remember back in August and September they were publishing/airing articles/reports that there is likely to be an OCTOBER lockdown!! I particularly remember Good Morning Britain at the time for a while kept airing reports and discussions on their programme about there is likely to be an October lockdown!! Thankfully these things didn't happen. But it's as though they were trying to push for those things to happen! At the time I don't think there was even any suggestion from Johnson and the cabinet that restrictions may be brought back again and that there may be an October lockdown!!!

I also remember just a couple of months ago NHS bosses were trying to get the government to reimplement all Covid restrictions, and Sky News in particular was airing/publishing this as BREAKING NEWS! Thankfully though the government ignored these ridiculous pathetic requests from those NHS bosses! So I'm very confident that Covid restrictions will not return again, let alone there being another lockdown again.

Sadly though as a result of this SMALL rise in Covid restrictions and the pathetic fear mongering from the press and media, it wouldn't surprise me atall if this persuades the likes of Sainsbury's, The Co-Op and Poundland stores yet again to bring back their pathetic PA announcements about wearing a face covering and "Keep your distance" and "We're still all in this together"!!!! Wouldn't surprise me atall! In which case I'll be avoiding going in those stores AGAIN! Does my mental health no good hearing those cringe-worthy words!

 

[yorksrob]

Northern Rail hasn't stopped it's electronic posters advising people to wear face coverings, not that anyone takes notice.

 

[kez19]

I just find it pretty telling when people are saying, ‘It’s time to prepare for more cases’ without discussion of a lockdown (has anyone said anything to that effect thus far?) and the reference to Zoe data based on symptoms but ignoring the data collected from the ONS which has relied on standard samples.

You do remember it was the media at press conferences asking the PM/FM to lock us down harder etc? I see that those in media circles seem to print/say what they like without consequences but hey at least they have jobs to go to but be you or I we could be here today gone tomorrow.

During COVID that’s all media ever spoke of was lockdown, no wonder trust in media is evaporating, I no longer trust any of them as they are #allinittogether

Covid is now a snooze fest for the majority of the population.

As someone once said "It's like that, cos that's the way it is. Huh"

If it’s not Ukraine or Mon(k)eypox it’s COVID, you think media are trying to run a pantomime is it that time of year? (oh no it isn’t….)

And I see the hard right (as far as COVID is concerned) back on the front burners on RailForums.

What does a difference in politics have to do with this? Is this just media tittle tattle you been brought up with? I’ll assume you come away with claptrap that someone is anti something without knowing them? Why not question things than take what media spew out as gospel? I thought RT were the bad guys in all of this, times change!

 

[Bayum]

It’s over, whether you and the hard left like it or not.

I think you need to get out and try living in the real world. Let me guess, you’re in favour of locking down and masks for monkey pox?

I never said it wasn’t over. I just raised the point that the use of statistics by Yorkie has been very select and has (purposely?) chosen to ignore evidence from the ONS showing that tested samples have shown a rise in COVID cases, rather than just the symptomatic Zoe study as mentioned. Has anyone from the ‘left’ or that agrees with restrictions previously made a post about covid cases rising? No. Did anyone post about the introduction of restrictions bar Yorkie? No. I’m not the one making a song and dance about cases rising here - that’s the OP.

We’re not at a point where anyone other than China and North Korea feel it’s necessary to introduce further restrictions with the advent of immunisation and IV antibody infusions.

 

[yorksrob]

You do remember it was the media at press conferences asking the PM/FM to lock us down harder etc? I see that those in media circles seem to print/say what they like without consequences but hey at least they have jobs to go to but be you or I we could be here today gone tomorrow.

During COVID that’s all media ever spoke of was lockdown, no wonder trust in media is evaporating, I no longer trust any of them as they are #allinittogether



If it’s not Ukraine or Mon(k)eypox it’s COVID, you think media are trying to run a pantomime is it that time of year? (oh no it isn’t….)



If it’s not Ukraine or Mon(k)eypox it’s COVID, you think media are trying to run a pantomime is it that time of year? (oh no it isn’t….)



What does a difference in politics have to do with this? Is this just media tittle tattle you been brought up with? I’ll assume you come away with claptrap that someone is anti something without knowing them? Why not question things than take what media spew out as gospel? I thought RT were the bad guys in all of this, times change!

Thats the media for you !

 

[yorkie]

I never said it wasn’t over. I just raised the point that the use of statistics by Yorkie has been very select and has (purposely?) chosen to ignore evidence from the ONS showing that tested samples have shown a rise in COVID cases, rather than just the symptomatic Zoe study as mentioned.

Did you read my posts? I have not tried to say there is not a rise in infections. You have completely missed my point.

Has anyone from the ‘left’ or that agrees with restrictions previously made a post about covid cases rising? No. Did anyone post about the introduction of restrictions bar Yorkie? No. I’m not the one making a song and dance about cases rising here - that’s the OP.

I am not the one making a song and dance about cases rising; this thread was created because some people are getting in a frenzy about it and the media are promoting this narrative.

If they were not doing so, then of course there would be no need for a thread.

But to back to the actual content, what do you actually disagree with, other than the mere existence of a thread which you do not appear to have read in sufficient detail to understand the purpose of?

We’re not at a point where anyone other than China and North Korea feel it’s necessary to introduce further restrictions with the advent of immunisation and IV antibody infusions.

Restrictions will never be justifiable for Sars-CoV-2 ever again, it's as simple as that.

 

[Mikw]

I don't think that's really fair. The vast majority of us on the (covid) "hard right" as you put it simply want to live normally, free from restrictions and excessive state interference in our everyday lives. There is however undoubtedly a contingent on the far left, including the individuals @yorkie refers to in his post, that is hell bent on preventing this and will misrepresent data or simply lie in order to derail the return to normal. They're the ones trying to impose their ideology on others whereas I'd simply like to be left alone to get on with my life. What's (covid) "hard right" about that?

And yet, the right wingers in the conservative party pushed through the loss of freedom of movement and the crime and policing bill with draconian policies on the right to protest.

 

[102 fan]

Is there a booster due? That's usually the reason for scare stories.

 

[Yew]

And I see the hard right (as far as COVID is concerned) back on the front burners on RailForums.

Does this imply that there is a hard-left, which wants to seize the means of (virus) (re)production?

 

[gabrielhj07]

If, in a sudden 'Men in Black' style moment, we all forgot covid had ever existed, we most certainly would not identify it now. Even during the 'height' of the 'pandemic', there were no obvious signs of the disease beside the (somewhat inflated) results of continous testing. It's high time those who have not already done so start living their lives as though covid did not exist, because for all intents and purposes it doesn't.