Thread by @cv_cev

People follow rules when they are clear:
"KEEP LEFT ⬅️"

Any ambiguities result in uncertain outcomes:

"Try to keep left if it feels right for you"
would probably result in a lot of accidents.

1/🧵

Imagine having to explain to your car insurance following an accident, in such circumstances wouldn't be easy...

When we have clear information individuals, employers, healthcare, schools, and businesses can act with certainty.

Rules help to protect lives and health.

2/

If you change the rules you need to carefully consider the consequences for all people in all circumstances.

Many new emergency laws were passed during the height of the pandemic which had notable negative effects on lives.

3/

Balancing decision-making for any government was not easy. Even when apparently simple rules were applied the knock-ons were complex.

There was therefore a huge pent-up desire from *everyone* to reclaim that old normal and forget this global trauma.

4/

It is important to highlight this is what we *all* desire (including vulnerable people), a return to normal life. To wake up from what feels like a bad dream, to move on and let the memories fade.

5/

However, vulnerable people simply cannot when our lives and health may depend on it. As such, we are the only people for whom any semblance of pandemic rules remain.

But not clear "KEEP LEFT" rules.

6/

Instead, we have vague suggestions that don't assist individuals, employers, healthcare, schools or even friends & family.

"You may"
"You might"
"If it feels right for you"
"If you can"
"Consider"

All decisions/consequences are left to us in a world that has left us behind.
7/

There are no guarantees of "reasonable adjustments" in workplaces because vulnerable people aren't all protected under the Equality Act 2010.

So where does that leave us?

It isn't easy...

8/

People don't like to be reminded of past trauma.

We know they can respond negatively to masks:

💙 We experience verbal abuse
💜 Coughs aimed at us
💗 Told we don't need masks
💙 Some ignore us completely

The least privileged are experiencing the greatest challenges.

9/

Employers can refuse remote options, just as schools had done before. Risk assessments are frequently not protecting people.

We have
👨‍⚕️ lost jobs
🏡 lost homes
🏥 been denied safe access to healthcare
👪 children locked out of education / in unsafe schools
🕊 lost freedoms

10/

The world has changed irreversibly since the advent of Covid-19. This is not a nightmare we can simply wake up from, it is an ever-present ever-evolving biohazard.

11/

"Personal responsibility" is no way to handle public health as it places the greatest burden of "responsibility" onto those with the highest risk and the least agency.

12/

Clinically Vulnerable people must to be recognised as a distinct group with distinct characteristics and needs so that they can be addressed.

Ignoring the problem simply won't make it go away.

At the very least, #CleanAir must be a 'reasonable adjustment'.

13/

3 years on and we still haven't learned to live with Covid-19.

Air filtration #CleanAir is at the top of our list.

Public support for other protections (even those worn on the faces of other people) is at an all-time low.

14/

Our #FreedomDay will only come if we actually #LearnToLiveWithCovid.

Everyone is 3yrs older.
Everyone is 3yrs more vulnerable.

By acting, we improve the quality of life for those still shielding, we reduce Long Covid and save lives.

/END