Easing Lockdown

Hi fellow grans, I don't often post.
I think we must put things into perspective. Nearly thirty thousand people die or are seriously injured on our roads. No-one is suggesting we stop driving though.
Certainly we should be cautious and follow guidelines.
But life is uncertain anyway and we all take calculated risks otherwise we would never progress.
I will listen to the PM on Sunday and look forward to seeing my family and friends, taking any necessary precautions

I too am lucky I am retired and do not have to go to work but truly the government has handled this so badly.
We most definitely should not be out of lock down yet with so very many deaths.
I still get the feeling the government cares more about business than real people and is under pressure to open up from people with money who don't want to lose more.

I remember reading somewhere that over 3 million people died of the Spanish flu. 50 million died in the second wave. Think on Boris !

It’s not about the current death rate but about the number of new cases which will indicate future hospital use and future death rates. It is also about the R or rate of infection which has been lowered to manageable levels. Lockdown will be eased slowly to keep R low but if it starts climbing past 1 then back to lockdown. Next winter will be the crux point when the virus could return with a vengeance and into a second phase worse than the first.
I for one am in the fortunate position of being able to stay home and I will stay there to protect myself and dh until they get a vaccine or a cure.

I think it`s all paper talk.
I wouldn`t take any notice of anything you read/hear until it`s out of the horsesmouth.

I agree with Bluedaisy they have not been truthful from the beginning also think all countries should stop trading with them until they tell the truth

No,its to soon. Yes the impact on the economy is disastrous. I think the media are whipping up a frenzy with endless speculation which will result in some thinking lock down is being eased to a greater extent than it will be taking unnecessary risks. Those who are anti lockdown will probably have a wonderful time in the expected hot weather crowding beaches and parks with little regard to others. I think Boris is being irresponsible waiting until Sunday to make an official statement. Maybe that is deliberate. The Governments handling of the crisis is shocking on many levels. In whose main interests is the economy kick started? Maybe it's big business that needs large numbers of low paid,zero hour workers to make vast profits. Reputable research has shown a disproportionate number of covid sufferers from poor /low income/deprived areas. Workers who have no choice other than to take additional risks using public transport and work in work environments where social distancing is impossible or lip service is paid to safe working environments. Professional workers can probably continue to work from home etc. The super wealthy company owners will remain safely on lock down. When the next big wave hits the Government will say how terribly tragic it is etc. Everyone has to try and do there own risk assessment. I do feel frustrated by people who state they've been working through the crisis implying those who may be more vulnerable for a variety of reasons may be shirking. I am lucky I have a small amount of savings I can live on for a few months. I work in care. I'm in the private sector. Previously I worked for council. I have friends in the public sector and know how they are much more protected by safer working conditions,sick pay etc,and yes more informed and qualified management. My life is worth more than £9 hr.

Yes, I am concerned too Gagajo,

I think it’s more about the economy as well. We can’t sustain wages I’m on furlough on minimum wage and losing 20% of my wages was awful. So really with my husband self employed and no money coming in I’m more worried about making ends meet than the virus which is sad. But there you go.

The other day, someone was asking whether it's right to tell on neighbours who are flouring the rules. There was an article about this: www.bbc.com/news/world-52525463

I can see both sides. Luckily we are not too badly affected by lock down as we are able to go to supermarkets etc. & are doing shopping for more elderly neighbours. We can walk from the house to some nice spots if we wish too- well I can - DH doesn't 'do' exercise.
However we need him to get back to work! We have no money coming in & he was out of contract for a few months before this so we have been without a salary for about 5 months now. Living on savings is OK but that is what the are- savings.
He loves his work & has had several calls seeing if he is free for when this is over.
I want the dining room free of computers too!
My elder son is working 7 days a week as his job is essential & my younger son is 'working form home' as much as he can with 3 small children.
I think we all need to get back to normal as soon as is possible while recognising that there will be certain restrictions for many weeks to come.

I’m concerned that once everyone is “set free”, there will be another wave like the Spanish Flu scenario of years ago! I’m very fortunate in that I am now retired so don’t have the worry of going back to work, but can understand it must be a worry for those that do. If I can keep getting online food deliveries I should be ok, plus the local chemist has been very helpful in delivering my prescriptions. I have a nice home and lovely garden, so I am quite content to stay put! I must have saved a small fortune by not going shopping, buying clothes I don’t need! I was due to go to Portugal in April with my partner to celebrate his 70th, but we decided to postpone the trip until the end of August, naively thinking things might have “settled down” by then! Now neither of us want to go - apart from the airport and being on a plane with hundreds of other people coughing and spluttering into the air conditioning, who knows what it would be like when we did get there. Goodness knows what it would be like at the hotel and beach, plus all the restaurants and bars might still be shut - and we might have to wear face masks! We’ve told Jet2 we wish to cancel, but so far have only had an automated reply as they are busy trying to deal with holidays in the immediate future. If we only lose our deposit plus any “cancellation charges” it will be worth it because I really do not want to fly anywhere, even if restrictions are lifted by the end of August! As far as my family go, my younger son is still sulking because I wouldn’t let him visit me for Mother’s Day and hasn’t attempted to contact me since! At the time he thought I was making a fuss over nothing! My elder son texts me occasionally and I miss my two young grand-daughters.

i think speculating is causing a lot of anxiety

Seems we are to Lockdown for every then. It was to allow the NHS to gear up. Not forever, in the end the Country needs to earn money to pay for this. Then of course the Austerity card will be played for Ty duration by certain parties.

Yes agree with you Oldwoman (hate calling you that!)
Just heard on the News that we shouldn’t expect too much of a difference. Do hope that’s true as I’ve been worried too.
We just have to keep calm until Sunday eh?

The lockdowns are being gradually phased in until 20th July.
What I’m interested to know and nobody seems to bring up is why has China 1 and a half billion people population yet only 4,600 people died of the virus yet in the U.K. our population is 66 million and we’ve had over 30,000 deaths? Doesn’t anybody find this strange?

I don't know if it is OK to add this but if it is, please consider signing this petition to stop schoos opening too early.
There are very cogent reasons as to why schools should remain closed.

I hope it works!

httpss://actionnetwork.org/forms/open-schools-when-it-is-safe?source=direct_link

Absolutely not worried if it’s handled responsibly, the majority of the population have done what is asked and I am sure that will continue. We need action not some timorous inaction. The economy is crumbling, the ‘science’ is only based in modelling (which in itself is subject to human error).

My understanding is That the virus will always be out there and just about every one will be infected. It's how their body will cope until we have a vaccination that works.

Dh and I are both vulnerable but me in particular with diabetes and COPD. When lockdown is eased its clear that more people will get ill. This is how the virus is managed....... People getting infected gradually and not overwhelming the NHS.

So eventually I will have to come into contact with the virus, we all do. unless we stay isolated forever. Because as long as there are hosts (us) the virus will be there.
We are waiting on the vaccine.
Have I got this right or wrong!

Far too soon just like implementing it in the first place was far too late, which is why we have the highest death rate in Europe. This government are totally inept and have blood on their hands.

I feel very concerned that if lockdown ceases abruptly the death toll will rise even more rapidly. We are the Country with highest death rate exceeded only by US. Government response has been too little too late which doesn't leave you at all confident in the handling of the virus. We had hindsight before the virus struck UK but government failed to react even knowing what was happening in other countries. BJ went around shaking hands on the day lockdown was announced. PPE was supposedly stockpiled according to government in March. All untrue. Care homes were left to fend for themselves without headcount of deaths even recorded. The economy and BREXIT are what government prioritise not the welfare of citizens. I for one will not be going out until I feel it safe to do so. I do not rely on this government to do the right thing for it’s people as they are completely out of touch. Latest PPE purchased from Turkey collected by RAF is below standard so useless. Manufacturers in U.K. were at the ready to supply but government were uninterested in sourcing here. The list of government errors is colossal and never ending I feel so sad and angry. The aftermath of virus will bring additional poverty and homelessness the problems are endless..... we must individually decide

I agree Oldwoman 70.I'm sure they're not going to lift all restrictions straight away.We would all like some sort of normality to return,but it can't happen yet.I don't think distancing would work on public transport if it's busy.Yes,let's just wait and see,and we don't have to go out do anything yet that we're not happy about.

Well said Essex59!

We were told that five criteria needed to be fulfilled before any easing of the lockdown could be considered:

1. The NHS has the capacity to provide critical care right across the UK
2. A sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths from coronavirus
3. The rate of infection decreased to manageable levels across the board
4. Operational challenges including testing and PPE are in hand with supply able to meet future demand
5. Confident that any adjustments to the current measures will not risk a second peak of infections

Are we there yet?

It is a worry. I have been told that I must stay at home for the forseeable future and Im ok with that as I cannot afford to catch it. I can work at home if I want to go back to work, but Im seriously thinking about that as some days I do not feel 100% and Im not sure for how long my Company will allow me to home work. As for easing the lockdown much as I feel safe with things the way they are for myself and my family I do understand the need to get things moving but I do think it is a little early and we as a country should wait until the death rates drop lower. I also think Boris is under pressure and that he should stop talking to DT