Learning to live with Covid

[Morrison10]

Since all the rules were dropped in favour of learning to live with covid, I’ve been expecting to see comments on here, perhaps I missed them. As someone who was born with PCD, survived war living in industrial Birmingham, going to bed in cold damp air raid shelter, did my bit by collecting shrapnel walking alone to school four times each day, saw my first corpse, and suffered broken nose from bombing, and have allowed experimental treatment to aid younger people born with the condition, I think I deserve better, as do others. At the very least masks could have been kept as requirement.

[CDPO16]

I think this has been discussed at various times Jean although perhaps not recently. As I recall, many of us aren't happy with the lifting of all restrictions and guidelines including me but there is little we can do about it other than take care of ourselves as best we can. I have never really stopped shielding. Take care, Carole.

[Morrison10 in reply to CDPO16]

Thanks Carole. I feel that the powers that be want rid of us, costing too much money etc, as they did when encouraged sending old people with Covid to care homes. I think that as group we should make our feelings known, we gave up so much in our childhood, as did our parents, x

[CDPO16 in reply to Morrison10]

I signed a government petition against stopping the wearing of masks in indoor settings some time ago. As with many things government related, I never heard anything about it.

[Hidden in reply to Morrison10]

If you want your say, look at my pist on 2nd booster. Email addresses of Sajid Javid and JCVI and write to your MP.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hello Jean I agree with you about the masks, I still use mine and I'm still self isolating as the rate of people testing positive in my area doubled in one day alone Have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻

[Hidden]

I think that you have just missed our comments. Many of us feel that we have been thrown off a cliff. Spitting barbed wire!

[Morrison10 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, living alone without help and having to Nebulise for hour twice daily, then sterilise equipment and do postural drainage takes lot of time. Decided against doing chores today as it’s Mother’s Day, even though not seeing either of my disabled daughters. So been catching up with reading. Do few posts when have spare minutes and Morrison not demanding attention. Yes I feel like spitting barbed wire, not sure who at!

[Hidden in reply to Morrison10]

I can empathise with you Morrison as I too live alone and have the same daily health maintenance burden as you. I have watched The Scapegoat today, which is a good version of the old Daphne du Maurier novel. Onwards and upwards. (Just scatter the barbed wire- there are plenty of people who deserve it) 😊

[sassy59]

I completely agree with you Jean and was dreading going to a pizza restaurant today. Pete, myself and our family were the only ones wearing masks. Many seem to think it’s all over when it clearly isn’t. I feel very strongly that masks should have been kept and a reminder of hand hygiene and distancing should be on tv every week at least. It’s all too lax and quite upsetting I think. Xxxx

[CDPO16 in reply to sassy59]

My stepdaughter went to the Trafford centre last week (a big retail park in Trafford, Manchester). She was very unsettled to find that she and her friend were the only ones wearing a mask. I wasn't surprised. At least she is still being careful.

[sassy59 in reply to CDPO16]

That’s not a shock Carole but so wrong. I’m pleased your stepdaughter and her friend were being careful. It’s mad. Xxx

[watergazer in reply to sassy59]

Totally agree Carole x

[sassy59 in reply to watergazer]

Makes me very cautious Anita. Xx❤️🤗

[watergazer in reply to sassy59]

Me too but unfortunately hubby has covid so I’m wearing a mask in the house and windows were flung open when the weather was warmer now it’s colder. On top of that I’m not well. Been prescribed doxycycline today. All my lateral flows are negative as was my PCR. Take care x

[sassy59 in reply to watergazer]

Oh bless you Anita, how awful for you both. Wishing you and hubby well and hoping you keep testing negative. Lots of love and hugs. Xxx❤️🤗

[watergazer in reply to sassy59]

Thank you Carole x

[SORRELHIPPO]

I was housebound before this started, so my main change was to reduce the visitors I had. Some of my friends do find it a little odd that I am still being very cautious about who comes and when, especially if it is raining, when I cannot have my windows open. I know my sister-in-law and her husband are still using masks and properly hand washing, it seems to be up to us (oldies and sickies) to think about this for ourselves. Whilst others just get on with it. However, a friend of mine in her late 50's and her daughter, went down with Covid last week. Caught from a 3 year old, who regularly goes to Nursery School. Because she did not have symptoms all the adults had their masks off indoors, one of the adults was a health care professional, seems to have forgotten everything we have learnt across the last 2 years.

[battison]

I’m relieved to see these comments as I still feel really scared and isolated. My husband is frail and with severe COPD. I have pleural thickening after Empyema and diabetes currently not controlled. We have no family to assist, have no car to go out. We are still keeping away from everyone! When we wear masks we get funny looks. No one wears masks in shops and buses. Yet every day we hear of someone going down with it and some have been pretty ill. I don’t know what the answer is.

[Alberta56 in reply to battison]

Do keep on wearing masks. A few people are still wearing them round here.

[Patk1 in reply to Alberta56]

I'll wear masks in shops forever more.i avoid small shops if i can.really only use supermarket,whn im up to it.reduced exposure to coughs colds covid rsv etc,is my policy now.if family have a cold,I wear a mask or avoid til its clear

[sassy59 in reply to battison]

Best to err on the side of caution. Pete and I don’t care what others think and wear masks always. Covid hasn’t gone away. Stay safe xxx💕

[battison in reply to sassy59]

We do wear masks but, like just now, when hubby tottered out to local shop as we needed milk, some schoolchildren jeered at him. It’s a bit intimidating. My neighbour, 74, tested positive today. Seems rife in our area! been so cautious & no idea how she got it. I agree young people want to get on as normal and they need to. But for the vulnerable it is well not over??

[sassy59 in reply to battison]

School children can be very silly as it doesn’t affect them as badly. They are best ignored. I hope your neighbour makes a good recovery. Covid’s not over for anyone but it’s seldom given airtime now. Take care xxxx

[battison in reply to sassy59]

It’s lack of real news on it, makes me feel so confused on how to go forward from such a long time of isolation.. One minute it’s like ‘back to normal’ then it’s “it’s on the rise”…which it clearly is…whilst most maybe can be a bit ill and shrug it off…can we with serious underlying conditions?

[sassy59 in reply to battison]

No you certainly can’t take any chances with serious underlying conditions. I’m determined to keep Pete safe and pleased he has had his 4th vaccination. Xxx

[Patk1 in reply to battison]

My neighbour has it q bad but refused vaccines doesn't wear a mask

[sassy59 in reply to Patk1]

Yard very sad. X

[ElsaC]

I think those of us who were shielding during the pandemic were alarmed by the removal of all restrictions. I was particularly alarmed by the end of the requirement to isolate after a positive covid diagnosis which must be behind the current steep rise in infections. I expect to be wearing a protective mask for the rest of my life.

[Izb1]

Its very sad that we who are most at risk have been ignored and sadly we have to live with this situation. I will wear a mask whilst this virus is still with us and continue to wash my hands, doing everything possible to help myself keep safe. I dont go out as much as I used to and dont feel that i want to anymore but live in hope that this virus weakens to a point that it is no more than a cold or we develop a virus that stops us getting it altogether x

[Lfcpremier in reply to Izb1]

Exactly.Irresponsible & downright dangerous!

[Saracat23]

I completely agree that the government has just left us to get on with it. I live with my 22 year old daughter (who is self-employed and works at home). I’ve got to say where we live (Norwich) we’ve been surprised by how many people are still using masks. The really surprising thing is that most of those still doing so are younger. Our doctor’s surgery is still screening patients with phone appointments too unless it is an emergency. We’ve also found that most people who have come inside the house for business reasons (like the boiler engineer and washing machine repairman) have been happy to wear masks when asked to on making the appointment so we’ve been very lucky. It’s unfortunate that there’s been so little information about the current state of the pandemic on the main news outlets lately as I think that does influence behaviour. Sadly at this stage it really doesn’t come as a surprise that the government has thrown us to the wolves.

[Thepainterswife]

I agree that the dropping of restrictions is putting elderly and vulnerable at risk, unfortunately because most younger healthy people are experiencing mild symptoms and there is less threat to life they are willing to take the risks in order to enjoy a more “normal” way of life , which to an extent I agree they’re entitled to , although I think some of them will be surprised how poorly they will feel if they do get it - my 46 year old daughter had it for the 2nd time two weeks ago ( caught from her 5 year old) and she was unable to breathe and terrified for the first 36 hours . I saw on the news last night that Shanghai has gone into lockdown again , having 5000 cases reported on the previous day , I wouldn’t be surprised if this happens worldwide before long and so all the restrictions will be back and perhaps lessons learned 🤷🏻‍♀️ We obviously haven’t beaten Covid , not by a long way yet 😒

[battison in reply to Thepainterswife]

Yes feels thrown to the wolves is right!

[Otto11]

Hi I can only agree with everyone’s comments & am still pretty much isolated from others & if I go shopping always still wear my mask as does hubby. In our village a lot of people do still seem to be wearing them & I’ve noticed quite a few wearing them outside too. Having had Covid myself last summer ( Delta) I’m still nowhere near back to my oral self so not taking any risks. Would be nice to go to the theatre or for a meal but for me it’s a no at least for now 🙁

[Mavary]

Well said.

[Caspiana]

Totally understand where you are coming from. My mother is seventy seven and still wears a mask all the time. She lamented to me yesterday that almost no-one wears one anymore and it is "such a small sacrifice to make". I constantly am in a state of worry about her wellbeing. Love to you Jean and the fabulous Morrison. xx 💕

[watergazer in reply to Caspiana]

Your mum is completely correct - wearing a mask is a small thing to do. X

[helenlw7]

I wasn’t happy about the lifting of the restrictions, but understand we need to get back to normal. I have shielded pretty much all the time since the first lick down, but in recent weeks have been getting out a bit more and always washing my hands and wearing a mask. Guess what. I tested positive for Covid on Friday! I’m off to have an antiviral infusion in a bit.

[Alberta56 in reply to helenlw7]

Hope you soon feel better. xxx

[helenlw7 in reply to Alberta56]

Thank you

[sassy59 in reply to helenlw7]

Sorry to hear you have covid Helen and hope you’ll be feeling better very soon. Good luck with the antiviral infusion. Thinking of you. Xxx

[helenlw7 in reply to sassy59]

I actually don’t feel too bad today, it’s just the cough and the difficulty breathing that’s a pain. My cough was initially a dry cough but now it’s a productive one so I’ve started my rescue pack antibiotics! I don’t want it turning into pneumonia!

[sassy59 in reply to helenlw7]

Take care Helen. Xxx

[Patk1 in reply to helenlw7]

Hoppe u soon recover

[helenlw7 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you

[HollyBoyd]

I agree Jean. Life has definitely changed for us, having to be so careful. I must say I no longer go shopping or into crowded place and my family are very careful and always test before coming to visit, but how long that happens remains to be seen, especially as they are stopping LF testing kits. Here in Scotland we are still meant to wear a mask in shops and hospitality premises but again this will soon stop being mandatory. I think it is a matter of keep shielding especially when it's 1 in 11 affected just now. Take care of yourself xxx ❤️

[Morrison10 in reply to HollyBoyd]

Hi, haven’t been into shop etc since start of covid. Had last Xmas lunch in very well ventilated, drafty, dining pub. Now that cases have increased again don’t think I’ll be eating out except actually outdoor,when well enough. Hope have nice summer weather. My older daughter is too disabled with MS to come here,doesn’t live locally. My younger daughter is hoping to come soon, neither have partners or children. Good luck to us all, x

[HollyBoyd in reply to Morrison10]

I hope your daughter does manage to come over and see you and hopefully if weather is good you will be able to have a lunch out together, something to look forward to? take care xxx😊

[Lfcpremier]

Totally agree! I have Bronchiectasis & pseudomonas infection so have been so careful for 2yrs, included in CE V group.However, I have finally got Covid, feeling rough & the GP will not give me antivirals despite consultant saying I should be eligible. Concerning!

[Morrison10 in reply to Lfcpremier]

Sorry not getting treatment for Covid, GP are getting more difficult, because I think they are short staffed because of retirements and resignations. Can you ask your consultant to message or speak to GP. Best wishes, hope recover quickly and well soon

[Lfcpremier in reply to Morrison10]

Many thanks. Will do thatx

[Hidden]

I was really concerned once the gov said we dont have to wear masks anymore how ever, I do have a different carers every morning and they are still wearing them thank goodness

plus if its ok not to wear masks, why does my gp practise insist we put our masks on before they will unlock the door and let us in.

😷😀