Freedom Day

~ beetleypete

Yesterday was the so-called ‘Freedom day’ here. The ending of all formal and legal restrictions in England relating to the pandemic. The country has now ‘Opened Up’.

No more legal requirement to wear face coverings or masks.
No more compulsory soocial distancing.
Theatres, Cinemas, Bars, Nightclubs, Restaurants, all fully open with no more restrictions on numbers.
Outside and inside events allowed without any limit on numbers attending.
Families allowed to visit loved ones in hospitals and care homes after such a long time.

Not everyone was happy about that.

Those with health conditions that give them reduced immunity. Staff at care homes being told masks were still compulsory for them, as well as vaccinations being mandatory. People attending hospitals, health clinics, and doctor’s appointments becoming angry that masks are still compulsory in those places. Despite the high statistics surrounding the vaccination programme, infections are still increasing, especially among those who have refused vaccination, or are in the younger age groups.

To confuse the issue even more, our buffoon of a Prime Minister then announced that from September, anyone attending an enclosed nightclub will have to show proof of vaccination, or will not be allowed in. I can understand their anger. Yesterday, they could go to a nightclub with no vaccination, and no mask. In September, that will not be allowed if they are not vaccinated. It is crazy. Why not wait until September to open them?

Because of money. It’s always about money. Pressure from the entertainment industry, and drinks manufacturers, the need to open during the peak holiday season, and get in as much money as possible before new restrictions apply at the end of that season, in September. The holiday market is equally confused. You can travel to some countries with no need to self-isolate on return, as long as you have had both vaccinations. If not, you will have to self-isolate for 10-14 days on return from your holiday. That means a 2-week holiday requires up to 4 weeks off work, so is not possible for the majority of the population.

Travel on public transport was left to the discretion of the carrier. So in London, the Mayor has made mask-wearing compulsory on all London Transport for the foreseeable future. But in other cities, it is to be left up to the traveller to decide whether ot not to wear a mask.

It’s a complete mess, and full of contradictions. The government has shown itself to be both decisive and indecisive in the same sentence. Many are confused, and that’s understandable.

No other European country facing a steady increase in infections attached to a new variant has taken the chance to open up fully. England has become an ‘experiment’.

An experiment with the lives of its people at stake.

66 thoughts on “Freedom Day”

    1. Sounds similar to our situation. The government here is putting tourism and entertainment industry profits before lives, and those refusing vaccination don’t care if they infect anyone else because they are selfish and entitled.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  5. I’m glad to hear things are opening up and you can again enjoy freedom even amongst the still confusing rules!
    In Alberta people are all smiles, it’s so wonderful to see each other without masks! But, none of us are throwing them away…🙁
    Enjoy life to the fullest! 😊

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    1. Thanks, Nadine. I feel I will be wearing my mask for a long time yet. We have far too many selfish people over here to take the risk of not wearing one.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  7. The US has had spikes and it seems to be getting worse…..but our leaders like yours is bowing to the profit takers that are whining and crying…..I wish your guys well…..chuq

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  8. This is so, so crazy. I never liked Boris Johnson (I think he reeks of incompetence), and I am really worried for my friends in the UK. This is just madness – every time I read about the UK right now, his quote about “let the corpses pile up” runs through my head. MAN.

    Kudos to everyone who is still weaing their masks and stays careful! My hometown had low numbers and you won’t have to wear a mask in public anymore as well – you bet I’m still wearing mine and will continue to do so.

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    1. Glad to hear that, Julia.
      Boris is a product of his background. A spoiled rich boy who went to an exclusive school that now supplies so many members of the current government. Privilege and entitlement are the main factors ruling the UK at the moment, sadly.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  9. I feel your agony Pete. Here in the US, everyone is freaking out about the new bug from Delhi. Just when things were getting normal, we now have to stare down the second wave from China. Good luck in UK, and get your vacation in before the shut downs begin again. Best wishes from Texas.

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    1. Thanks, Phil. We have a short holiday booked for September. But it is a self-catering lodge, so should not be affected by any further restrictions.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  10. If they had just kept masks mandatory they would have helped prevent so many infections, not just Covid but flu and other such nasties that are on the way. But Borris is going for the hero status that he might get if everything works out ok, no matter that he is risking lives to achieve it.
    Listening to the opinions of a few clubbers on a radio interview, it seems that many would be happy to show a vaccine passport to get in, so why they didn’t go this route at the start I will never know.

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    1. This government is too influenced by big business donors in the industries that want to open up. Profits before lives will always be the rule under any Conservative government.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. My sympathies to Julie as well, no one should have to put up with abuse of any kind. They should have a camera in place and have the abusers fined. Staff in such a position should be supported.

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  11. HI Pete, I suppose at some point people must make their own decisions about how they behave. The problem is there is no accountability attaching to that decision other than becoming very sick and taking up space in a hospital so that people who were careful and need non-covid related healthcare can’t get any help. It is a total mess, I agree.

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    1. I doubt it will be long before the hospitals are filling up with people who refused the vaccination. Allowing people the right to choose does not protect the vulnerable from being affected, sadly.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. So true. I don’t understand how one can be a “selective believer” in science as and when it suits one while endangering lives of others.

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  14. Totally irresponsible. Why not wait until September when all over 18s have had the chance to be double vaccinated. Cornwall is heaving with visitors and from zero cases infections are rocketing again. Makes you wonder why we bothered to lockdown, all that has been wasted.

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  16. It is not just England, the US government has put out so much conflicting information regarding the pandemic and opening everything back up people don’t know what to believe. It’s sad really😔

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      1. And me too, and hospital appointments….which does leave me a little perturbed. The joys of an MRI yesterday, first in ages, and had me thinking of Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra and Force Majeure…..

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  19. I agree, Pete. Johnson is incapable of clear thought and communication, and is completely unfit to be Prime Minister: a triumph of ambition over ability. Yet people like him and vote for him – there’s no hope for us, is there!

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    1. It reminds me of how popular Trump was, despite his crazy utterings. Unfortunately, Starmer is not a viable opponent, and we could be stuck with obnoxious Tories for decades. 😦
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Johnson is Trump’s Mini-Me, I think. Our problem is that Labour hasn’t provided a credible opposition for a good many years so the Tories just ride roughshod over everyone who disagrees with them.

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  20. With the virus still circulating, not just here, but all over the planet; and considering the relative success of the lockdowns, It’s sheer madness to relax everything that was put into place to keep us alive, just because the laim-brains in the country don’t like being locked down!!!

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  21. People making a fuss about having to wear a mask in a medical facility are just ridiculous and sublimely selfish. Even with the confusion caused by the PM (insert rude word) there is no reason to make such a damn fuss over such a minor inconvenience as a mask. Those people don’t have a clue what hardship is. My opinion of humanity drops another level with each passing day. And yes, it’s about money. What else?

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    1. Thanks, Yeti. My wife works at the local Doctor’s, and she was threatened by a woman today after telling her she had to wear a mask to come in. Staff on minimum wage should not have to endure abuse and confrontation over this issue.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  24. Calling Boris a buffoon is letting him off too lightly. Buffoons are generally harmless. Boris is far from that.

    Wishing all of the UK – and all of us – good luck. Those with common sense and access to good information will continue the safer practices of social distancing, masking, and limiting exposure.

    All the best beetleypete.

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  26. Pete, California “opened up” a month ago….last weekend we tightened everything up again because of a huge spike in infections – note that they were virtually ALL people who have refused to be vaccinated…here in the US, there is ample supply and the cost is FREE…in fact, many states offer gift cards and other incentives to get vaccinated! Still, our numbers rise and those at risk are placed more at risk by ignorant people…and at least we now have a leader who cares about people….no matter your politics, at least we can now say we have a caring individual trying to make things better…

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  27. It is the dame in government everywhere. We have been open here in the US for most of the summer. The government still doesn’t know what to do.

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