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We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

How do you feel about the government lifting coronavirus restrictions?

Tori_Scope

Are coronavirus restrictions being lifted?

What are the Covid rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? (BBC)

Current Covid restrictions are due to expire in England on 24 March.

Boris Johnson has now told MPs that the remaining domestic rules would end a month early "provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue".

This would remove the requirement for people to self-isolate if they have Covid symptoms or test positive.

He said that the government would outline its new strategy when parliament returns from recess on 21 February, and would expect to lift the rules later that week.

In Wales,

A gradual easing of Covid restrictions is under way but some measures remain in place

We want to hear from you

Scope is here for you during this difficult time, and we want you to know your voice is an important one and must be heard.

Coronavirus has drastically changed all our lives. It’s vital that the Government, businesses, and the public don’t forget disabled people when revising coronavirus restrictions.

How do you feel about the lifting of coronavirus restrictions?

If you would rather discuss this privately, please email kit.taylor@scope.org.uk.

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Comments

janer1967

I think it's time for people to use their own common sense as it won't go away and we have to live with it

I'm not too sure about those who are positive not isolating but hope they use some sense and don't mix with those more vulnerable

I think people should get vaccinated and get any booster offered

My son has had covid very mild symptoms he did isolate and I was surprised I didn't catch it

CoffeeFirst

We need to be mindful of others, using our best judgement. This day was always going to arrive but I do understand the apprehension.

Tori_Scope

Thanks to everyone who's shared their thoughts so far

As I'm sure many of you know, the government has set out its 'Living with Covid' plan. I've included a brief summary of the changes below.

Taken from What are the UK's 'Living with Covid' plans? (BBC)

How are the rules changing in England?

From 24 February:

people with Covid are not legally required to self-isolate
however, guidance recommends that those who test positive stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days
self-isolation support payments of £500 for those on low incomes have stopped
routine contact tracing has ended - people in contact with someone with Covid will no longer be advised to self-isolate or take daily tests
workers are not required to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate
face coverings are not mandatory on Transport for London's tubes, trains or buses, but they are still "strongly encouraged"

From 1 April:

PCR and lateral flow Covid tests will no longer be free for most people
Covid passports will no longer be recommended, except for international travel
employers will no longer have to consider Covid as a separate risk when working out how to keep employees safe

Over-75s and people with a weakened immune system are also being offered an extra Covid booster jab this spring, six months after their previous dose.

How are the rules changing in Wales?

A gradual easing of Covid restrictions is under way.

Nightclubs have reopened, social distancing rules have been lifted and limits on socialising in pubs and restaurants - known as the rule of six - have been removed. The legal requirement to work from home has also ended.

Some measures remain in place:

compulsory face coverings in schools, on public transport and in shops and hospitals
secondary school pupils are asked to test for Covid three times a week

You can read the current coronavirus guidance on the gov.uk website.

How do you feel now that the 'Living with Covid' plan has been launched?

How do you feel about the prospect of paying for PCR and lateral flow tests?

Do you think the guidance goes far enough in encouraging people to use their common sense to keep themselves and others safe?

L_Volunteer

As I have been shielding, I am feeling terrified of lifting these restrictions. I am also worried about people with low socioeconomic status. As we know, they could also be shielders themselves or be more likely to care for someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable. I think I would be ok if these restrictions were due to being in a better place with no COVID-19. However, where I live, the cases of COVID-19 are actually higher! Stay safe all

MarkGibbons1

I'm nit happy I don't feel comfortable with them being lifted, I'm high risk and had to shield for almost two years. And there wanting people to go out and about with Corona and they'll spread it around, the government haven't a clue. I think it's going to cone back and bite them!!

calcotti

The government's response to those classified as clinically extremely vulnerable is that they are being offered fourth (and possibly fifth) doses of vaccine and will be given access to antiviral treatments if they test positive using the free tests that have, and will continue to be, issued to them. This measures are said to reduce the risk of serious illness resulting from catching Covid.

I would prefer to still be able be able to reduce the risk of catching Covid in the first place by asking people to take tests before visiting me. To this end I am frustrated that free tests will no longer be available as I don't think I can ask visitors to buy tests.

Government are asking us all to be sensible and say taht CECV may wish to take additional precautions - they need to give us the tools to help us do so.

calcotti

Username_removed said:
I think it’s predictable that the first large employer who abandons all pretence of Covid safety and gets prosecuted after an employee dies having been infected in work will open a few eyes to the fact that health and safety legislation (and insurers) will have something to say about all this.

Proving that infection took place in the work place rather than somewhere else could be hard to do.

SueHeath

I find this a hard one, i will still wear a mask in shops, i know they are ment to protect others but i have not had a cold since this all started and i'm liking that.
I am now in the position were i do not have to use public transport any more, so thats a relief.
I do look at it as having to live with it , but then i am lucky that i am not in the vulnerable class, i also feel for the people who are, as they have been so isolated and careful but their now expected to go out and about and rely on other people's common sense.
The "jabs" are ment to protect us from having covid really bad, not stopping us catching it, like the annual flu jabs.
In my mind if your really ill with a cold or flu you wouldn't be going to work anyway.
So i think i for one will still be careful out there, but i am lucky as i'm not in work now so i can choose were i go.

vikingqueen

I'm CEV and frightened of the gung go attitude this government has forced on me and millions more. I get my 4th vaccination on Sunday but I have no idea if I'm protected. I cannot afford to pay upwards of £50 for an antibody test...that's if you can get hold of one.
I'm being told I will have access to antivirals, who do I get in touch with? my GP, my consultant, 119 there is no information to tell me. My whole family take a test before visiting me and shortly they will either have to pay or not come.
I seldom venture out these days but I still wear a mask and try to distance myself from others but those others have no idea how ill I could get if they pass on the virus.
It's Russian roulette out there!! Try to stay safe everyone

MarkGibbons1

Vikingqueen is CEV as well but haven't been told or contacted about a fourth injection, how do you go about it?

vikingqueen

I booked my 4th vaccination on the NHS website, it'll only let you book if there's been enough time since your 3rd, I think it's about 92 days. If you are entitled to a 4th make sure your 3rd one is registered as a dose and not a booster. If it is down as such you need to ring 119 and they will amend the record.

MarkGibbons1

I think it was classed as a booster I think will have to look it up. Thanks for the advice and what to do.

vikingqueen

PS 119 don't rush as they are so busy so it might take a couple of weeks for them to ring you back @MarkGibbons1

MarkGibbons1

Ok thank you I will wait when ringing them fir them to get back in touch @vikingqueen

MarkM88

I can understand frustrations, however testing, isolation, and everything else can’t last forever, there has to be a time to end it.

vikingqueen

I understand your comments @MarkM88 and I fully agree but this government has thrown CEV people to the wolves, they really don't care if we live or die, it's as simple as that.

MarkM88

I respectfully have to disagree. I was classed as CEV. I was sensible, I followed guidance, I washed my hands, used sanitiser, wore my mask, got my vaccinations. I don’t know what else you wanted them to do?

You can still be sensible, continue to wash your hands, wear your mask, use sanitiser, limit contacts, go where you need to, keep your distance, you have protection from your vaccinations and the option for future ones if offered.

It’s all in your control and you need to decide what’s best for you.

vikingqueen

I did all of the above, to the letter I know what is best for me and I am probably more sensible than most. I have no idea if I'm protected from the vaccine as my immune system doesn't work
Maybe the government could offer us a free antibody test, that may go some way to settling the unease. I am registered with the NHS for a free test but not everyone can have one.
Scary times ahead.

Astronomer65

I live in assisted living, and felt let down that care workers don't seem to have to have a vaccination starting on 1st April, however it is their choice.

However i feel that disabled people should have a choice when cared for by unvaccinated carers.

Recently we did a poll where we only targeted those that didn't have cognitive difficulties, which was 15 out of 45 tenant's, they all signed that they didn't want unvaccinated staff helping them in daily visits.

All the tenants have been vaccinated, and 99% of staff.

However when this was brought up at a recent Tenant's meeting we were told that this was discrimination by the manager.

We feel that we can make this decision without being told we are discriminating, and is a matter of public health, any comments welcome, the meeting minutes is below:-

https://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/img/xx621a3438.png

calcotti

vikingqueen said:

I'm being told I will have access to antivirals, who do I get in touch with? my GP, my consultant, 119 there is no information to tell me.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk

Above has guidance for those with compromised immune systems. (I think this group is a smaller group than the CEV group.)

If you are in the group you should have been sent a home PCR test. If you develop symptoms you are supposed use the test and if it comes back positive you will then be contacted to discuss treatment.

Note the above guidance only applies to the end of March.

As others have commented the difficulty is not knowing our individual level of risk which makes it very difficult to balance risk and reward.

When we travel in a car we know we might be in a road traffic accident but we can balance that risk against the reason for travel (even though admittedly we are generally very bad at accurately weighting risk). Weighing the desire to mix socially against an unknown risk of catching a disease which might make one seriously ill is rather more difficult.