A lot of things are so much easier, in hindsight. As someone who was involved in some of the minor decision making, in another part of the planning, it was almost impossible at the time. Many of us did not agree with each other, and all had strong reasons for their views. There was no precedent when planning, and every possible solution had many possible outcomes. There is no doubt the Government did a lot wrong, but I have grave doubts any other Government would have done better. Maybe we will be better next time, and like many colleagues, I believe there will be a next time.
I've just caught up on this thread and completely agree with @punkdoc. It is so easy to be wise after the event. Whatever actions were taken would be correct in the opinions of some and wrong in the opinions of others. Likewise actions which were not taken.
Better now than later! You might be past the worst by the big day
Despite all vaccines I went down with Covid on C'mas Eve last year and slept through both C'mas and Boxing Day and into New Year.
My poor daughter had to look after me as well as all our animals and the cooking for herself and partner and their guests while I remained quarantined upstairs.
Though feeling very weak, I managed a full 15 minutes of gardening early in the New Year. It felt so good to be gardening again. I did 30 minutes next day, then two, and never looked back. I'm certain that gardening contributed to my recovery.
Does anybody think that Covid has gone away? It's here to stay in the same way that flu is, and it's worst effects are controlled for most people by the annual jab. Widening vaccine access would seem to be sensible.
It took me a long time to realize I had Covid before it was deemed a pandemic. I still fight with fatigue and a distorted sense of taste and smell. When I went for my first vaccination I mentioned to the nurse my suspicions about already having had it. She said thousands of people suffered from it before anyone realized what was going on.
I agree, we were totally ignorant about how serious it was and it wouldn't have mattered who was in charge at the outset, we were all shooting in the dark. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Hopefully, lessons have been learned to help deal with any future major outbreaks.
There was a particularly bad strain of flu around 98, it left me with my eye problem, destroyed part of my immune system, I was told at the eye infirmary that when you have a bad bout of flu it can destroy some part of your immune system which never rights itself, in my case, my eyes. Also left my daughter in law with what they call ME, she still gets bouts of tiredness now and my eyes just got worse.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Infections are rising here and there are worries about low uptake of boosters.
Several ladies in the patchwork group have had Covid recently but none with serious consequences, thank goodness. Some are still faffing about and even refusing to have their booster jabs which I find incomprehensible given that they know it's worse than flu and are all in the 60s, 70s and 80s, many still with elderly parents to keep an eye on.
OH and I had our boosters 10 days ago. Sill get a sore arm for a couple of days but better than being ill.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I'll be really lucky if I get away with it. An hour on the bus to Dublin Airport. The woman next to me coughed the whole way. She had a dry cough. 40 minutes on the bus this side. The woman next to me was coughing so much, her hand got wet through her mask. She rubbed it on her trousers and rang the bell. I chose a different button when I was getting off.
We are still using hand sanitiser when we go out. Don’t get too close to too many people, so not wearing masks again yet, although I do on my irregular trips on the bus. Christmas with family will be our biggest risk for a while. We have both had our recent boosters, and nothing booked for the new year, so nothing to get cancelled if we do get infected.
Posts
I've just caught up on this thread and completely agree with @punkdoc. It is so easy to be wise after the event. Whatever actions were taken would be correct in the opinions of some and wrong in the opinions of others. Likewise actions which were not taken.
Worth a read. Covid has NOT gone away. Very good suggestion about widening vaccine access...
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I agree, we were totally ignorant about how serious it was and it wouldn't have mattered who was in charge at the outset, we were all shooting in the dark. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Hopefully, lessons have been learned to help deal with any future major outbreaks.
Several ladies in the patchwork group have had Covid recently but none with serious consequences, thank goodness. Some are still faffing about and even refusing to have their booster jabs which I find incomprehensible given that they know it's worse than flu and are all in the 60s, 70s and 80s, many still with elderly parents to keep an eye on.
OH and I had our boosters 10 days ago. Sill get a sore arm for a couple of days but better than being ill.
An hour on the bus to Dublin Airport. The woman next to me coughed the whole way. She had a dry cough.
40 minutes on the bus this side. The woman next to me was coughing so much, her hand got wet through her mask. She rubbed it on her trousers and rang the bell. I chose a different button when I was getting off.