Easing Lockdown

Good heavens, stop speculating and worrying yourself sick you poor things. Wait until Sunday and don't expect massive easing of restrictions. It will only be something very small to start with and employers will have to put strict safety measures in place, likewise public transport if you need to use that. I think the press have a lot to answer for, trying to imply that the lockdown will be suddenly lifted on Sunday, but I think it has become clear that it will be a case of a very gradual and phased programme that could be halted at any time. Relax and don't believe everything you read in the papers on line or see/hear in the news.

Thank you NemosMum , very interesting articles.

Nicola S. Wow - Respect. She has done a good job. Is there no end to the woman's talents.

Going to get the goodness network app right now!
I need something to look forward to. Thanks for that.
And whoever mentioned Nicola Sturgeon's hair cut - you are right, I never noticed but will now. Thanks all. Did my bit of yoga and feel better.

Boz Nicola Sturgeon posted photos online of her cutting her own hair recently.
She did it on a video call with her hairdresser while following her step by step instructions

Yes very worried, I feel that Boris has caved under the pressure of the journalists asking every day, “when are you easing lockdown”. I have visions of Margaret Thatcher shaking her head in dismay.
I am very interested as to how Ireland have considerably low figures overall. I wonder what their strategy is?
Sending good health wishes to everyone.x

Thank you NemosMum for putting things into perspective, it is a very necessary call to common sense.

All life is a risk from the moment you are born, and you have to do your own risk assessments and get on with it. If you have become terrified to go out, then don't, but the world has to pick itself up and carry on. On Monday you will be allowed out to exercise as long as you want, and more people will be encouraged to go to work, that seems to be the only change so far.

Sorry, spell check, meant devisive

The economy cannot sustain a lengthy lockdown and so there must be some return to work. I suspect that many younger people cannot weather this time financially as well as those of us lucky enough to have pensions and no mortgage, It would be wrong and decisive to only look at this from our older persons point of view.

I just need to get out. Cabin fever has set in and I could argue with my fingertips.
Just a little aside. Can anyone shed light on the perfect hair-do of Nicola Sturgeon. I am very suspicious.

I have downloaded The Good News Network app as it’s all positive stories.

Seems to me that we are damned if we do and damned if we do not. This is unchartered territory and we are all feeling our way around. Who knows the best way forward. Scientists and the medical profession still do not know how this virus works properly. I think I must be suffering from lockdown syndrum as I am starting to feel so frustrated and fed up, I never hear of any good news or optimism, and there has to be that somewhere - does'nt there??? Getting out of lockdown is risky but so is staying where we are - anyway we will all go bust if we stay still.

Other countries are gradually lessening the restrictions.

Here in Denmark, junior schools are back, have been for a while and kindergartens and creches are open. They must ensure there are 2 metres between each child, that everyone washes their hands ever two hours and that toys are washed every two hours as well.

Schoolchildren too must stay away from each other and wash hands every two hours.

Whether it is actually possible to implement these restrictions is another matter.

Buses are running, carrying fewer passengers and you cannot buy a ticket on the bus, but have to use an app on your smart phone or have a travel card.

Shops are open and depending on size may only admit a certain number of customers at one time.

So far there has not been an increase in cases since these steps were taken.

It remains to be seen whether there will be an increase in the number of cases again, or not.

If you are worried about going back to work and cannot get your GP to state you are not well enough to work, then I think you should contact your employer now and ask what steps he/she is going to take to protect you will at work.

In these circumstances I think you are fully justified in wearing a mask and gloves while at work.

Contact your union - it is their job to protect your interests.

If you don't belong to one then join ASAP.

I honestly have no faith in the leadership here in the UK
And now the PPE from Turkey that caused such a scandal weeks ago turns out to be unusable and is to be returned.
Daily briefings saying nothing
And dont get me started about 'we're straining every sinew'.. If I hear that one more time I will truly go crazy
We are not the idiots the government seem to think we are

I'm deading it. I have hardly been out in weeks to protect my 89 year old mum for whom I am full time carer. I went to my local co-op early this morning to get some things I can't get on my delivery. What a joke! No-one except me following the one in one out policy. Whilst it wasn't particularly busy, people were simply not keeping away from one another. God alone knows what will happen with the easing, but I will be staying away till a vaccine is available. As one person has already said, people are doing what they want, and my nearest busy main road is notably noisy today.

unherd.com/2020/05/not-every-death-is-a-tragedy/?tl_inbound=1&tl_groups[0]=18743&tl_period_type=3

I think this article Not every death is a tragedy is worth reading.

I think this government have sent so many mixed messages
Exercise once a day outside if you wish from your doorstep.. Oh no its ok to drive somewhere to take a walk as long as your walk takes longer than the drive there!

I work in a huge college on the largest campus 2,000+ students and staff and I will not go back to work. I do not work with students. My work is office based but staff related. I have consulted both my union and my friend who works in HR and unless it is imperative you physically have to be in the building you cannot be made to go in.

If you’re retired, you can carry on staying in. Which will help. But the rest of us can’t stay off work forever. There are a lot of people who have carried on working, to keep us all safe. It will be scary to go back , but we just have to be sensible.

Blue daisy- I live in Ireland and have personally been cocooning for 8 weeks now. As many have said on Gransnet we need to decide for ourselves IF we in the very vulnerable age-group can continue to cocoon. I am very lucky to be able to do so & I dont wait for government to tell me.
It seems to me that many English people did not/do not take Covid 19 as seriously as they need to. I make this observation on what I read and also what I know of English relatives/friends.
My niece who lives in Manchester has been laughing at me for weeks when I tell her I'm constantly disinfecting surfaces, wiping down shopping etc. Two weeks ago she told me she was driving to the bank to collect her daughter from work, I said I hoped she had her hand-sanitizer/wipes and she answered laughing 'we don't bother with that here '
I know there are certain individuals everywhere who through ignorance, arrogance or just self-centredness are flouting the rules daily. However my niece is a well-educated mature woman who should know better. I can't understand the attitude. Final death numbers in all countries may be closer when this pandemic ends. We won't know for years to come why some countries have higher death rates than others but here & now it would appear that the tighter & promptly-timed the lockdown the fewer deaths.
On a lighter note, having cocooned for so long I am now delighted to be able to get out for a good walk in the current beautiful weather as recently permitted by our government/ health experts. However I wear a face mask even though not required/ advised to do so - again I made the decision for myself as sometimes another walker/jogger can get too close. It's comforting to realize how such a small liberty can mean so much & I imagine as restrictions ease over the coming months we will savour our time & truly appreciate our freedom.
Look after yourselves. We will get through it

I HOPE lockdown will be eased …...before the country goes to the dogs completely. This 'rule' (what happened to democracy ?) was imposed on the advice on someone who appears not to have taken it himself ….and neither have a lot of MPS or even the PM ...visiting their country houses etc !!! one law for some makes Boris feel all powerful and enables him to keep his delusions of power …..NO I have had enough !!! …….this has been treated with mass hysteria, not common sense like a lot of other countries. time to stop.

Boris should be making it more strict,not easing it! Just like Italy and China- theres still a rising death rate and yet people really think its safe??? It beggars belief- IF he put us on a more stringent lockdown AND THEN issued enough tests (both wether we have it or are immune) for the whole of Britain first- THEN i would say, yes its safe-ish, to ease off a little- but he cant/won't do that,so how is this going to work? There Will be more and more deaths.

I think its crazy, with a sky high death rate, inadequate PPE, poor access to testing, and an NHS which only just coped in April its far too early. Boris is like Trump & has a very macho/immature style of leadership which basically says 'what the hell, lets do it anyway,' they're probably driven by business, which wants to get those cash tills ringing

We do not have a robust test trace and isolate system in place. If lockdown is loosened watch out for the second wave of deaths.

I had a text message from the NHS this morning telling me because I'm in the high risk group to carry on self isolating till the 30th of June.
Anyone else had this notification??