COVID-19 Freedom day, how do you feel about it?

Wiebke said:
I fully understand; as an over 50 years old, I did feel very stressed during June when in limbo over getting my second jab. I am certainly going to take a very deep breath of relief tomorrow when I am two weeks past my second shot! I may actually end up in bed again, if relaxation means that all the lost sleep over the last year is starting to catch up with me at once...
Anyway, all the best!

Please keep in mind that you may not have as much protection against catching Covid (only about 1:3 with AZ; Pfizer and Moderna perform noticeably better) and passing it on (about 1:4) but that you are actually two weeks after the first shot already largely protected against hospitalisation and death. AZ relies a bit more on a second jab for full protection than Pfizer and Moderna.
The difference between the two variants (Alpha and Delta) lies mostly in that Delta is much more infectious but the protection against hospitalisation and death is high against both variants, even after the first jab.
I sincerely hope that the link below will allow you to take a deep breath and relax a bit more. Incidentally, protection against hospitalisation also means a much higher protection against Long Covid. ;)
Even after the first shot you will pass on Covid noticeably less than a not vaccinated person. Wearing a well-fitting mask means that you are much less likely to pass on your Covid to others around you in close quarters, especially over prolonged periods and with loud shouting or singing.

I hope that this link here, which makes a comparison of case studies of vaccine reactions in the population will give you hope. The dotted lines are results after the first shot and the full lines after the second in a comparison between Alpha and Delta.
How effective are coronavirus vaccines against the Delta variant?

PS: Moderna results are generally roughly comparable with Pfizer as they both operate in the same way. Protection is a bit generally a bit higher than AZ.
AZ is just a lot cheaper and easier to distribute as it doesn't require the deep freeze storage temperatures.
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Thankyou for this it's very helpful :) Sam had covid in January and while definitely not the worst case there were some frightening moments and the fatigue seemed to last months, I'm lucky enough to have been double Pfizer vaccinated for some time now due to health conditions and I do feel so grateful to have been vaccinated and slightly less worried but I will still Excercise caution given I have a family to think about and given we never know someone else's situation 💖
 
Ive now been able to bring my second jab forward so I am now getting it this weekend.
Having had very low cases this whole time and not had to isolate at all until the other week, both my childrens schools are now getting clusters of cases and isolating classes.
 
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Two year groups at my son’s school have confirmed cases. The reception class at my girl’s school had a confirmed case two weeks ago. So the school ended up with 3 year groups off! 😳 cases seem to be rising
 
My daughter went back to school today following 10 days of isolation due to a cluster of cases. So relieved that they weren't sent home again before the day was out. The main thing she would have been bothered about is missing horse riding tomorrow. She's so happy to be able to go having had to miss it last weekend.

In the last three weeks, Reception have been off, followed by Y2 and Y6 and then Reception again. I know things are similar in the other local schools.

Btw apologies for misspelling satellite in an earlier post!
 
They are going up very quickly here now everywhere. Of course, Euro 2020 is not helping! :(
 
Piggies&buns said:
Ive now been able to bring my second jab forward so I am now getting it this weekend.
Having had very low cases this whole time and not had to isolate at all until the other week, both my childrens schools are now getting clusters of cases and isolating classes.
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Glad that you can get your second jab sooner. I wonder how many classes will end the year in school the way the infections are shooting up everywhere. :(
 
More than 2,500 children isolating here at the moment, effecting 119 schools or early leaning centres. Seems to be a lot of children running around the streets and shops though, not sure what part of isolating that is!
 
piggieminder said:
More than 2,500 children isolating here at the moment, effecting 119 schools or early leaning centres. Seems to be a lot of children running around the streets and shops though, not sure what part of isolating that is!
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I was paranoid about us being outside in the garden! It is allowed, right?…When I put the rubbish out today, I checked for other people first. Did the same when I took the older girl for a PCR test.
 
A lot of the children in this area are ferral and their parents don't care about them or anyone else. 2 12ish year olds were throwing stones and apples at me when I went for my walk yesterday, another no go area for me. No point reporting it, these children are untouchable and they know it.
I was glad to hear your girl's are feeling better and will be back to school next week. Pleased to hear your weather was good enough for you to get outside and enjoy some fresh air in the garden, that will do you all good.
 
Not ready. I've only had my first jab with my 2nd this Friday after exactly 8 weeks. Same place I had my 1st as at my GP.
 
I see the groups and crowds on the news/facebook etc and don't really want to be a part of it! I don't really go out much anyway - socially - like the odd lunch or breakfast or cinema trip... I will still wear my mask in supermarkets - it doesn't bother me at all.. I hope people will be sensible still....
 
Feeling v worried as a CEV person with children and school holidays coming up. Will keep doing what I'm doing and not go to Durdle Door and other lovely places which is local to me and I'm sick.of seeing it advertised everywhere so thousands are descending here and around. I know it's good for local businesses, but anxiety at the thought of all those people is terrible! I'm keeping the secret places to myself to feel safe and get some peace 😬
 
I think freedom day will be something of an anti climax with so many people isolating- my whole extended family are isolating for one reason or another!
Not me and piggy daddy but my nephew's childminder has covid, my daughter's boyfriend has covid, one of the care workers in mum's nursing home who refused the vaccine has covid...
Glad so many businesses are keeping the mask rules, just hope people will mostly still follow them...
 
I'm hoping and praying the vets don't go into closed door policy again. As I think but I'm not sure that I'm losing Alfie one of my rats . There's nothing else we can do for him at the vets. I think and Simon thinks he might have a brain tumour , and he's already said when the time comes he will help him . I think Simon was trying to tell me it's likely he's not going to recover.

And it'd be nice if I could have my 2nd vaccine before freedom day . But it's in August 🤦 I'm asymptomatic anyway , but to all varients ? Don't know that
 
I'm in Ontario, Canada, but I've been keeping an eye on Britain as thus far we've been a couple months behind you. We are just starting a broader reopening now, but masks and such will still be in place for now. A lot of people (myself and two of my kids) are not yet double-vaccinated, we're holding off on doing anything different until we are. Fortunately the last three of us will be vaccinated as of next week, then two weeks for it to kick in and maybe then we'll be braver.

My main concern is school in the fall.... my kids are university/high school age and all three were online last year (my son's university gave him no choice, my high schoolers we opted to keep them online rather than have them be in school, which worked out fine because schools had prolonged shutdowns in December and from March to June.) My son will be in person in university in the fall, my middle child (who is autistic and actually thrives in the online milieu rather than face-to-face) will be online, and we really want our third child to go back to school in person, but she is really resistant. She has social anxiety and being at home for a year has worsened that a lot. It's a really stressful time right now... actually finding reopening a lot harder emotionally and anxiety-wise than the prolonged lockdown, which I had really gotten fairly accustomed to.
 
Freela said:
I'm in Ontario, Canada, but I've been keeping an eye on Britain as thus far we've been a couple months behind you. We are just starting a broader reopening now, but masks and such will still be in place for now. A lot of people (myself and two of my kids) are not yet double-vaccinated, we're holding off on doing anything different until we are. Fortunately the last three of us will be vaccinated as of next week, then two weeks for it to kick in and maybe then we'll be braver.

My main concern is school in the fall.... my kids are university/high school age and all three were online last year (my son's university gave him no choice, my high schoolers we opted to keep them online rather than have them be in school, which worked out fine because schools had prolonged shutdowns in December and from March to June.) My son will be in person in university in the fall, my middle child (who is autistic and actually thrives in the online milieu rather than face-to-face) will be online, and we really want our third child to go back to school in person, but she is really resistant. She has social anxiety and being at home for a year has worsened that a lot. It's a really stressful time right now... actually finding reopening a lot harder emotionally and anxiety-wise than the prolonged lockdown, which I had really gotten fairly accustomed to.
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I am very sorry about your issues. For all the introvert/shy people with anxiety or social difficulties it is much harder to get back into the swing again while those who thrive on direct human interaction have suffered over the last year. It is much more difficult when you have both extremes in the family.

There is a lot of re-opening anxiety around here, too - especially in the face of case numbers exploding right now after the UK has made it to the final of the European football championships for the first time in over 50 years.

In view of this, many transport networks and all the big supermarket chains are pushing for continued mask wearing in order to keep the business running and their employees safe. London transport has made it mandatory (much to the relief of the majority of people relying on it) and many other conurbation mayors have also pushed for making mask wearing mandatory in public transport.

Right now, the country and the economy is on the brink of becoming paralysed by over half a million of people being pinged by their Covid app to self-isolate every single day - most of them working people in contact with others, so businesses or services are at risk of having to close at least temporarily. Masses of school children will end the school year isolating at home; taking more parents out of work. If too many people ignore the app, then this will contribute to a further rapid and unchecked rise infections. It is turning into a real shambles right now and will continue when people go on holiday... :(
Our rubbish collection this week has already been affected by staffing shortages.

Hospitalisation numbers are starting to reflect that and even death numbers are now going up; not as much as in January during the second wave since a good half of the people in hospital are not vaccinated and more have only had a single vaccine yet but it is becoming much clearer that doubly vaccinated people can get Covid with the Delta variant - including our new Health minister right now who did announce that he would drop the mask wearing as soon as possible (i.e. from tomorrow). He may reconsider... The cabinet and staff are currently trying to establish who is infected.

Hub and I are by far not the only ones who are largely continuing to miminise direct contact and be very cautious about where we are going and how we are shopping (mainly by prepaid pick up); who and where we are meeting up and socialising with others - due to our age group - mainly doubly jabbed friends. And we will continue to wear masks wherever closer contact cannot be avoided. Not just for ourselves but to help protect those we are in contact with.
The old measures of distancing, wearing masks and washing hands still apply. This pandemic is far from over.
 
I wore a mask to the GP surgery today, and then again to Tesco because I'm supposed to still be wearing one in my support worker's car, which is fine by me. Got my stuff in Tesco, sat down on the grass outside afterwards for a smoke, and my mask fell out of my pocket onto some tree roots :doh: wish I'd carried a spare, I wasn't putting that one back on! Had a conversation with another patient (from across the room, and I couldn't see because I had no glasses on, and she was struggling to hear me because of the radio in the background, but we made it work!) and we both said we'd be wearing masks for a while, she actually said she'd want things relatively clear altogether, no or very few cases, before she'd be happy to be out without a mask on.

She was a lovely lady and I have no idea what her name even is, but I think she's got the right idea.
 
I’m not happy at all. I’ve become a major germaphobe since all of this. I’m too scared to touch anything. Shopping I leave things for days before using them (3 days) and I won’t touch my phone at all while out shopping. It’s horrible.

With masks lifted and people touching things and sneezing and spreading it I’ll be even more scared to touch things. I’ve had one COVID shot so far. Next is at the end of August.

i desperately want to go to conventions again and miss my friends - I haven’t seen anyone since November 2019…. But I believe the masks are a good idea. I will continue to wear mine.
 
I took my mother in law to the dentist today. We were waiting outside to be called in. The receptionist came out and told us to come on in as restrictions had been lifted 🤦🏻‍♀️. I can’t keep up with what’s allowed and what’s not. 🤨
 
Julesie said:
I’m not happy at all. I’ve become a major germaphobe since all of this. I’m too scared to touch anything. Shopping I leave things for days before using them (3 days) and I won’t touch my phone at all while out shopping. It’s horrible.

With masks lifted and people touching things and sneezing and spreading it I’ll be even more scared to touch things. I’ve had one COVID shot so far. Next is at the end of August.

i desperately want to go to conventions again and miss my friends - I haven’t seen anyone since November 2019…. But I believe the masks are a good idea. I will continue to wear mine.
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I went through a stage of that but the evidence is stronger and stronger that touch isn't a big spreader of covid. It's airborne. So I've stopped worrying about shopping deliveries and post, and happy with mask wearing.
 
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i went to the dentist today. Masks were required once inside and I had to socially distance whilst sat waiting to be seen. I also volunteer in a charity shop which is tiny. Masks are required and numbers allowed in are still limited. Because of the heat it has been quiet in the shop so far anyway as not many shoppers around.
 
Black piggies said:
I went through a stage of that but the evidence is stronger and stronger that touch isn't a big spreader of covid. It's airborne. So I've stopped worrying about shopping deliveries and post, and happy with mask wearing.
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Yeah I had someone tell me that too but then he doesn’t believe COVID is a big deal, fell out with his family Over it and refuses to wear a mask…. So I didn’t believe him.

so do you now just buy stuff and no longer wash your hands? I would love to buy milk and use it without worrying about washing my hands every time I touch the bottle ^^;;
 
I nipped to our local shop to pick up some bits for lunch today and it was quiet. Sign had been taken down about wearing a mask. The staff weren't wearing any but still had the perspex screens up so I didn't put mine on. I have to say I felt very anxious and naughty going in. It was so unusual
 
I felt naughty too @Lady Kelly not wearing a mask going in a shop and buying a Cornish Pasty. It feels very odd not wearing a mask in shops.
 
Julesie said:
Yeah I had someone tell me that too but then he doesn’t believe COVID is a big deal, fell out with his family Over it and refuses to wear a mask…. So I didn’t believe him.

so do you now just buy stuff and no longer wash your hands? I would love to buy milk and use it without worrying about washing my hands every time I touch the bottle ^^;;
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Ah I'm not like that person. I'm quite OCD, risk avoidant, I'm a health professional and have looked at the research about transmission. I always wash my hands when I've put shopping away now, but that's it. A while back, when I thought covid could be picked up from touching things, I was putting my mail in quarantine for days and things like that 😁
 
Black piggies said:
Ah I'm not like that person. I'm quite OCD, risk avoidant, I'm a health professional and have looked at the research about transmission. I always wash my hands when I've put shopping away now, but that's it. A while back, when I thought covid could be picked up from touching things, I was putting my mail in quarantine for days and things like that 😁
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It’s really nice to hear from a health professional :)
I still quarantine my mail, wash the heck out of my hands which are so dry now… and as a major fingernail chewer from anxiety I worry if I touch anything new I’ll catch it because of my subconscious nail chewing….

I won’t even touch handles in my own home as my family are more than happy to touch items after purchase. ^^;

You wash your hands after putting shopping away but if you want to eat one of the items do you wash them again? Sorry for the questions. I really want to be less freaked out over touching things.
 
Julesie said:
It’s really nice to hear from a health professional :)
I still quarantine my mail, wash the heck out of my hands which are so dry now… and as a major fingernail chewer from anxiety I worry if I touch anything new I’ll catch it because of my subconscious nail chewing….

I won’t even touch handles in my own home as my family are more than happy to touch items after purchase. ^^;

You wash your hands after putting shopping away but if you want to eat one of the items do you wash them again? Sorry for the questions. I really want to be less freaked out over touching things.
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At one point I was wiping everything that came in the shopping delivery but now I just wash my hands after putting stuff away, and then treat all the food normally. Touch it and eat it OK.
My slight OCD has turned to close quarters airborne transmission. If a jogger runs right by me puffing and panting, I'll turn my head away. If a child is having a coughing fit in the supermarket, I'll really be avoiding them!
It's all a nightmare isn't it.
 
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