Easing Lockdown

I can only hope and pray that this government eases the lockdown in a safe restrictive way. There is already more people on the trains this week. Otherwise this government will be turning people into poor lambs going to there slaughter.

I saw that too on Facebook

I am very afraid as I am vulnerable - I have had two letters, and the 2nd takes me to mid July.
My husband is self employed. He has not worked since the start of February as he had an operation. He was due to go back to work the week the lock down started.
He wants to go back to work for financial reasons - but my health is a major concern. If he returns to work he will come into contact with a lot of people. What can he do?
The death rate still seems high to me.
I think I will be in isolation until there is a vaccine.

Lots of people seem to delight in knocking everything that the Government try to do. Every country has the same problem, what to do & when. Each Countrys Governments have done the best that they can with what they have be it equipment or knowledge. No one has had any experience of a virus as virulent & deadly as Covid so can we all stop pontificating & realise that this is a difficult time for any one in any Government. Can we just be thankful that they are all trying to get through this as best as possible.

Oldbat sorry to hear about your husband’s health. An added worry for you in these difficult times.

Hopefully “normal” services will resume very soon in our hospitals. I hope your husband will soon be back on track with his treatment ?

The interesting thing is that on the BBC website this morning, in the Health section, there was an article about a recent study done by scientists at a university somewhere showing that the actual figures for this coronavirus are no different from last year's flu.

No-one was panicking last year or the year before that and this year appears to be no different, according to these figures.

It’s too soon to say we’re past the peak and still 600+ dying daily. I’m shielded and terrified that the danger will still be high risk, but the govt is coming under pressure from businesses. Will profit be more important than lives?

My husband and me are over 70 and are the prime carers for our grandsons aged 6 and 3 .Our daughter is a single parent and works 3 days a week as a Special needs teacher.
Anybody else out there in our
position?

Even.. well-SAID

Well-paid GagaJo

Well it appears that the biggest motivator for the government is the economy the government cannot afford to continue furlough indefinitely will ask the Bank of England to step in to stop the banks bankrupting many businesses including football clubs people have to accept lots will change and not for the better ineptitude will continue because the government and scientists seem to be on different wavelengths and BJ will do what he wants for our sanity we can only do what we feel comfortable with we may or may not get a second wave but above all remember we can change things at the nxt elections council or otherwise we are the electorate and if we don't agree then we have to fight for accountability or change things rather than moan about things

I think uk should wait at least two more weeks to see what happens elsewhere in the world. Remember we have the most deaths currently. Can’t stand BJ BUT feel he is being pressured by the hard liners within his party. Time will tell just hope my family don’t suffer like others. My husbands cancer has returned found out before shutdown but no treatment plan in place due to COVID.

It seems at the moment the government is dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. Clearly we can't stay in lockdown for ever but equally they are not going to flick a switch and make everything as it was before Covid hit our shores. Maybe we all need to stay a little bit calmer for now, wait and see what Boris says on Sunday and then follow the new advice or make our own decision not to come out of our personal lockdown if we feel unhappy with the guidance that is given and are in a position to make that decision

Yes I am very worried . There are so many idiots in rush to go out there and catch the virus . Just because they are relaxing lock down , doesn't mean the virus has gone . As for going back to work , stay at home for as long as you can . My daughter works in a supermarket the owner of the company couldn't care less about his staff health . He refusing to give the staff gloves , masks and wipes he doesn't care about staff , only profits . This is the same with the government they don't care about life's only the economy .

Speculation and scaremongering abounds on GN and other forums.

I shall wait until the announcement is made on Sunday, then decide whether or not to stay in isolation.

This virus is not going anywhere, whenever you set foot outside your property whether it be the Supermarket/Chemist/Farm Shop etc. we have the potential to be exposed to Covid-19 or one of its variants.

It is nonsensical to expect the U.K. To remain in lockdown until a credible vaccine is found (there was a thread would you have the Cocid vaccine and many gransnetters said no). The same with the smartphone app to track and trace Gransnetters were worried about their cyber security
People are struggling with their mental health already, spousal/child abuse is on the rise.

Businesses are going to disappear from our High Streets and with them many jobs, which will cause hardship and more stress and mental health problems and maybe a rise in suicides.

Whatever this Government does it will be condemned by some and praised by others which is the nature of politics in the U.K.

Sweden hasn't locked down the majority of bars and restaurants are open and abiding by Social Distancing, they all have a table service only policy.

Sorry that was ( too many I missed the many have died ) out x

I had a "joke' send to me a picture of a blazing house and the inhabitants being told, "The peak is over, you can go back in" does that sound familar? Say no more!

The government are an absolute joke.....a child of 3 could have handled things better....clearly life means nothing to them and their inefficiency has caused thousands and thousands of death. I thought the figure of a thousand new cases a day were the benchmark for easing lockdowns...we are having four/five thousand a day , that makes 35,000 a week....!

Agree it's madness and much too soon, some Ill at my son in laws place of work, now heard one has died only a young man too ,.. were not clear enough yet!!
Too have died and are dying already, many through us not being ready and lockdown much to late!!
Ridiculous and very dangerous for us all.

My daughter is high risk, and
refusing to return to work this early regardless if she loses her job, and I don't blame her
We all need to put our safety first!! We must!!

Italy are two weeks ahead of us, so why not wait to see how they fare?

I’ve become used to lockdown and quite like it. If I have to go out now, I can’t wait to get back home, but for those with businesses and jobs, I can see why they would want to hurry it along.

You will be able to picnic with your family...isn't that what you want, what you've been missing?

I composed a long angry post about people I know well, boasting about flouting lockdown rules, all of them categorised as vulnerable, shielding and self-isolating. The post vanished so clearly too much personal detail. These people I would have classed as pillars of the community.

Suffice to say, I believe lockdown has not worked as well as it should because too many people ignored the rules brought in for their own protection, and this country chose not to employ draconian measures to enforce them, trusting to their common sense.
Wrong.
I think the minute the slightest relaxation is introduced more will ignore them, and then complain bitterly when infection rates rise.

My sympathies are now with those who have lost their income, their jobs and future prospects, and they have to get back to work. The rate of recovery is at risk from the selfish few, sadly in my age group, those classed as vulnerable, but who persist in leaving their homes unnecessarily, and/or socialising with friends and family despite so much help being offered to protect them.

...and that is why Boris and his teams are making it a gradual process so they can apply the brakes swiftly should a spike occur.
The economy is teetering and he's looking for ways to restart the engine before more businesses go bust.
The number of people who are claiming JSA and UC has risen exponentially and Sunak is considering reducing furlough payments to 60% instead of 80%. Government coffers are finite.
Small businesses will be able to go back to work soon and public transport will be severely limited in the numbers they accomodate. Buses likely to be 15 passengers in total and spacing on trains.

I fear that the government may revert to what was going on in the beginning when economy was given priority. A truly shocking situation unfolded in Italy 2 weeks ahead of us and we carried on regardless.

Surely Boris won’t announce easing of restrictions while there are still 600+ deaths daily and we now have the highest death rate in Europe?

Reckless tabloid speculation this morning has already set the wheels in motion for a free for all by the weekend.

I too am concerned. I hate all this "we may do this or the other". So many people on hearing the suggestions will take it upon themselves to assume well its being thought about, I'll just do it. Why can't the powers that be just announce the actual decisions. A huge factor in what will happen is the econony. I have yet to see or hear any person in Government warn about wearing face coverings. If you trawl through all the scientific blurb available face coverings should be made of specific materials and washed at 60°C after each wearing. Obviously masks are different and are disposable. So get your sewing machines out, as we will need a pile of face coverings once the restrictions are reduced. Terrifying!