Easing Lockdown

Thank you for the link NemosMum. Well written. Although I’m not ready to go just yet, I do realise I might. Instructions have been left!

It doesn’t look like there’s going to be any easing of restrictions here in Scotland. I’ve got mixed feelings / it doesn’t bother me massively but I have a sense that younger people may start rebelling if they see their English counterparts getting more freedom than they have, rightly or wrongly.

I am frightened and not ashamed to say so. Frightened for myself because my health isn't brilliant, for my husband because of his age (and his ethnicity - seems that Asian people are amongst those more susceptible to the disease), and for my children who will have no choice but to go back into the fray.

It seems that some people believe that they can dictate to Nature what it should do. The economy is suffering, people need to go back to work, everyone is sick of being cooped-up and isolated, so this crisis is over. Except that it's not. People are still dying in considerable numbers and the virus is still spreading. A pandemic doesn't end just because you want it to.

In Wisconsin, where my daughter lives, the governor imposed a Safer at Home order which is now being challenged in court by the Republicans. My daughter's friend is the attorney fighting them but he expects to lose. He has pointed out that, if the lockdown is lifted, another surge in deaths is very likely but that seems to be considered an acceptable risk.

I think that attitude prevails here in some quarters. Time for the peasants to return to their toil. I won't name names, as it would only lead to a political argument, but I am sure you can fill them in yourselves.

Obviously we have to come out of lockdown sometime but why now? What had changed to make it any safer than before we went in?

And why are they talking about opening the schools first? Mass gatherings of small people with no concept of risk? How are they going to do social distancing in the playground? Seems to me there is a strong possibility that children could be both vectors and victims.

It seems there are two different ways to look at this. If you are retired, have a nice house and garden then easing of restrictions will have a lot less impact than families stuck in flats, their children barely able to play outside, playgrounds closed, but they are too young to understand why. Heartbreaking.

IF I choose to risk it (travel through the UK - Corona murder capital of the world other than the US) and travel back to Switzerland to work, I will be tested for the virus before I'm allowed to start teaching AND will be given an antibody test if I wish.

I might go back to work JUST to get the antibody test (also because I miss my students and want to finish the year, before any criticism!).

Very good article NemosMum.

Great post Nanniejc1.
It’s very easy to tell other people they are doing it wrong. Politicians from different parties are never going to get together. That would mean sharing the blame!!

A post in a Facebook Group asked people to say what they would do next if they were in charge.
There was only ONE response from someone who said THEY didn’t know.
All the posters, mainly men but a few women too, who had been loudly criticising past and proposed future decisions were suddenly silent.

I think there are things we could have done better-closing borders, earlier lockdown, police immediately fining those who ignored the rules, but if easing means reopening schools I am totally anti at the moment.
This lady has a lot to say about that. www.facebook.com/DrKerrynPhelpsAM/videos/536712053708414/
Interestingly the media has announced today that Scotland’s plans will be very different from those in England.
I didn’t know the BBC employed mystics who can tell the future. Boris said they’re meeting on Sunday and he’d announce decisions next week, so even in the event of the usual ‘leak from a trusted source’ they don’t know yet.
I’m glad I’m not making the decision, money wise I’d like it. We can’t stay not working for much longer.
Health and safety wise I’m not sure we’re ready and I haven’t seen the planned easing strategy yet.
Anyone here ready to say what they think the strategy should be?

Personally no. My family live overseas not as if they can do a daily visit so rely on technology to keep us in touch. I can shop on line that will fill my fridge /freezer, a large garden to sit in when I like as I have no near neighbours. Bliss.

GagaJo
Here in France although lock-down is ending there are still restrictions. We can only travel 100 klms from home for pleasure and if there is an underlying illness you are not forced to go to work.
Only certain years have been opened by the government eg first and last primary classes. In my 'private' primary school at least one teacher is off and I am not going in either but I am continuing the work sheets I have been doing since the middle of March and offering to tele teach to the classes in the school.
Moreover, as the schools work normally a four day week but a much longer day, there will be in my school, two days on for one half of the school and two days off, when the other half of the class will be present, in alphabetical order. Wednesdays are free normally.
However the parents have the choice whether to send or not. In my grandchildren's 'private' schools, the lycée will not be opening before Sept. college we are not sure of. I don't think my daughter with three younger ones will be sending her children in the next few weeks even if the primary is open all day.

In Switzerland, mainstream school is opening, although I think it is being staggered by age.

As my school is an international school, it's a bit different. A lot of the students won't return because they'd have to fly.

I came back to the UK just before the virus really hit here, thinking I'd be safer. Oh foolish me! Switzerland is doing very well whereas the UK looks set to be 2nd only to the US in being affected.

I think Boris will follow Scotland and keep us in lockdown for another 3 weeks I can’t see how he can start lifting it with these high numbers. Let’s hope common sense prevails.

Gaga CH being what it is I'm sure everything is tickety-boo, compared to the UK! (DS2 lives there)

With that Swiss efficiency they're doing a 3-phase return, including the hairdressers opening

What is it you're afraid of, the flight - have you investigated a high-quality mask for travel?

Yes, mainly the flight. But also because I have asthma I'm higher risk. No flights until 6th June in the UK for me anyway, so until then... A month away. Will things be better by then?

Why is everyone so terrified? The death rate is something like 0.04% of the population. People are acting like headless chickens and have lost all sense of proportion. I can’t wait for lockdown to end and am frustrated and angry that people can’t see what it’s doing to the economy and the nation’s health. Because there are other health issues apart from COVID-19! If you’re vulnerable stay inside but FFS let the rest of us go about our business. I’m an NHS key worker BTW and have not stopped going to work. Or exercising as much as I like. I’ve even been known to have a sit down.

Currently some people seem to be ignoring the lockdown advice, I feel that any lifting of the guidelines in place at the moment will give those people the idea that they can just do as they please.

Yes I agree , have to wait and see .
Ireland have set out a road map to lift restrictions. Its a long processes. Uk may do the same thing .

I'm at 75, seen as at risk, but a§ working mainly from home but every few days I have to visit one of my customers' sites to facilitate their working on site or from ther homes. As such I am a key worker.

I think that talk, at this stage, of raising or loosening the top-down, matter how slight, is totally irresponsible. The government reacted too slowly at the start, costing at least 20,000 lives and now is willing to sacrifice many more lives so that Johnson,Hancock and the rest of. Those male ministers can puff out their chests and strut like farmland cockrels

I am anxious about the easing of lockdown, even though, like "teacheranne" , I am on my own and long to rejoin the human race. I feel it is too soon and our Five Pillars are not robust and consistent enough. Surely we could hang on a little bit longer and learn from other countries as well.x

I’ve been reading today a theory that many countries will end up in roughly the same place regarding the number of infections and deaths, the difference being how we each got there ie a short, sharp shock or a prolonged pandemic scenario.

We can’t go on in lockdown forever and when people are faced with the choice of working v not feeding their children, it’s pretty obvious what they’ll choose.

I believe lockdown will be eased gradually and everyone will be able to make their own decision as to whether they remain in lockdown according to their own circumstance. No one will be forced outside.

Oh dear NfkDumpling this is becoming a habit. We need to be careful or we could always end up singing from the same hymn sheet

Agree entirely with MaggieTulliver. Sweden has had no lock down and their death rate is lower than ours. The ‘science’ has being completely one-sided with nobody apparently challenging the predictions made by Neil Ferguson on which government policy has been based. His previous forecasts of death tolls (BSE, foot and mouth, bird flu etc) all turned out to be grossly inaccurate. We now know a lot more about the virus and that the majority of people who get it only have a mild case. My concern is not about easing lockdown but about the the price our children and grandchildren will pay for the almost irretrievable damage to the economy not to mention people with non COVID illnesses who are being denied treatment and diagnostic testing.

I would like to see us under lockdown for another 3 weeks, by then hopefully the death rate will be down. Then a very careful ease.

Dominic Raab said today that there is no change in the rules. Tomorrow Johnson is speaking, what's the betting he confuses Raab's clear message. Nicola Sturgeon doesn't want to lift restrictions.

No, I’m not worried. Like Yellowmellow said, we can’t stay in lockdown until there’s a vaccine. I think we all need to be responsible for our own social distancing. I’m also highly hopeful that there will be a vaccine soon as there’s a lot of very clever people out there..

Also we are told that the government will pay x amount of money for this, that and the other. Who pays this, us in some way or another.

Let’s see a gradual ease and test the water so to speak.

Gingergirl: good balanced post. Thank you!