Whatever happens next on Plague Island, it's now on us.

[Soph0571]

Today we are freeeeeeeeeeeeee, allowed to go out and do anything we want too, although possibly absolutely maybe don't do that. We don't need to display a mask on our noggins… except when you might have to but only if you wish to or maybe not. Whatever happens next on Plague Island, it’s now on us. When it all falls over again, as it must, as we are the flag waving leader of new infections in the entire frigging world, they will blame us. With a straight face they will go on the airwaves and point that finger at the great British public, we weren't prudent and failed to heed the suggestions to be cautious, that we were told we were allowed to disregard but maybe shouldn't, depending how we feel about it.

I trust I have cleared that up for you!

[Cosmo Blues]

1. Sympathies

We in America had a leader 7 months ago who also declared money to be more important than people's lives. Good luck with yours Soph

[SoCalDavidS]

2. We're Right There Behind You

And by that I mean, in a few weeks, we're going to be facing Exactly what you are facing at the moment.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Proof of Vaccination to be needed in UK nightclubs - in 11 weeks' time

I think the government has just produced a 21st century metaphor to replace "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted" - after all, we don't deal with horses much these days:

Covid certificates to be compulsory for crowded venues in England

Covid certificates will be made compulsory for crowded venues such as nightclubs from the end of September in a bid to boost vaccine uptake among young people, the vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, has announced.

The government had previously backed away from the compulsory use of coronavirus certificates – which involve customers using the NHS app to show their vaccination status, or prove they have had a negative test result.

Instead, the government had urged venues such as clubs and sports stadiums to introduce them as a matter of “social responsibility”.

But after footage emerged of packed clubs on Monday as the government allowed them to reopen, ministers plan to work with venues over the summer to encourage them to use the system – and expects to make it mandatory from the autumn.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/19/covid-certificates-to-be-compulsory-for-crowded-venues-in-england

But until then, it's the Summer of Covid. They could have said this when they opened up vaccines for everyone, a month ago. If they did it in combination with giving the 2nd Pfizer dose 3 to 4 weeks after the first (as still recommended by Pfizer), they'd even have some people able to use nightclubs now (above 25s already, and even some 18 year olds within a week or so), if they'd had enough Pfizer vaccine. But no, their sacred dates came before the data, and they didn't dare ask people to take a free vaccine to stop infections and preserve the Right to Party.

[T_i_B]

4. I've not noticed much difference when out and about...

Other than pubs looking noticeably busier from the outside.

Masks are still being worn and a lot of people are not making any alterations to their lockdown habits because the virus is plainly still not going away. ☹️

[Soph0571]

5. I have noticed the yummy mommy's of London discard their masks

Probably worried about smearing their make up - other than that it seems very much like before. I am just so fed up with them though - did you watch the Cummings interview tonight? Good grief. Plague on both their houses.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. I'd say about 75% of people in the supermarket were wearing masks properly

In the 'not wearing properly' category were some who had gone back to wearing one around their chin, for some reason. These seemed to be mostly in couples, with the partner wearing one properly. I can imagine a few arguments before and after this ("look, I'm wearing the fucking mask for you, OK?" "Arsehole ..." ).