Easing the lockdown

Also, I live in a seaside town and, looking at the beach, you could be forgiven for thinking lockdown is already over, which is definitely a worry.

Well, I don't think there is anyone who isn't over the moon about seeing family again.

That was rather my point.

We can't stay in full lockdown for ever. The virus will still be out there. Personally, I am very excited at meeting up with family next week.

Yes , I do because Professor Valance was trying to say it was too early in yesterday's Corona virus update but Boris wasn't listening. Lifting the lock down more quickly irrespective of infection rates and with no functioning track and Trace system in place until at least the end of this month is asking for trouble. Boris is lifting more of the Lockdown earlier as a distraction from the Dominic Cummings fiasco!

JenniferEccles. I think you’re missing the point. Those of us who are nervous can still hide away. But we’ll still be affected by the NHS being inundated by new cases and all other treatments being put back again. The whole country gets adversely affected, even the young. If cases rise people will keep getting the message to self isolate for a fortnight, possibly over and over. Only the rich could possibly cope with that.

We are taking it very steadily here and not charging off to see folk in huge numbers. We MIGHT meet my daughter for a distanced picnic next week as not seen her since March 22nd. But not going shopping or on transport as we feel we have come this far .
I don’t think BJ is in real control. I think he is still struggling from being so ill plus he relies heavily on DC for support which is why he has not been fired!

I think perhaps if the testing was in place, it would have shown the best way to ease, gradually.
As it is, I felt a bloody fool yesterday sitting on the bus with a mask on.

I felt easing lock down (prior to the DC debacle) was far too soon. Personally another month would have been acceptable. Scary yet acceptable.

I don't intend to change my personal lock down! I'm waiting until the numbers have dramatically reduced.
The 'R' rate hasn't reduced.

Boris seems to be panicking and trying to placate all of us. I'm very disappointed so can only use my own common sense....

A second wave will happen. I live an isolated life anyway so none of it really affects me...

It's too soon. We can personally still self-isolate, but it's not under control in the general population imho. The App won't be enough to stop it. Give it 6-8 weeks and the numbers could be shooting up again. There has been insufficient time put into providing PPE, making public toilets safe, solving the problems of workplaces, schools and public transport. Sorry about the gloomy comment, I just think we should have waited a bit longer, got the App working and made sure there is proper widespread testing.

We were very very careful, I haven't been anywhere for 13 weeks either, but hubby got cv from work and brought it home. We are very very slowly starting to recover but it has been a long, hard haul, and although not hospitalised we were very close to being. It is an AWFUL illness, we have had really bad effects and in answer to OP's question, because no one knows if we can get it again, I am MOST uneasy about relaxing lockdown.People are desperate to get out and about again, I know that, but if they knew what this illness felt like they wouldn't be so quick to want to go out and mix !!

Always, not airways!

Advice has been ignored for a couple of weeks now by many. The better weather and being allowed to meet with people will more or less signal all is back to normal now. For public transport it shoujd be obligatory to wear a mask the whole time. Other countries have reduced lockdown conditions but imposed masks to be worn in a lot of circumstances. Anyone noticed when reporter are interviewing in Sweden, Netherlands
Denmark, it is airways young people, never seen anyone looking over 40 on screen yet. Those countries do have older people don't they?

There is another discussion to be had on whether the lockdown was ever needed in the first place.

From reddit website www.reddit.com/r/LockdownSkepticism/comments/g25v40/why_the_lockdown_is_tyrannical_unnecessary_should/

'Given the evidence we have on countries which haven't enacted lockdowns, it does not seem that enacting them has any effect on controlling the spread of the virus. Countries like Sweden, South Korea, and Iceland have not enacted lockdowns. Yet somehow, the spread of coronavirus in these countries has not been considerably worse or better than other countries. If anything, these nations are testing more people than anywhere else, which has contained the spread of the virus better than any lockdown ever could.

Additionally, several states have not been enforcing stay-at home orders either, yet you see the exact same thing. It is clear that, in spite of all the authoritarian measures the governments of the world are putting in place, COVID-19 still manages to spread. As such, it seems that the key concepts behind people's justification of the lockdown are simply false'.

It's worth reading the whole thing.

I will be really interested in any unbiased research on the different ways of handling of this virus in the years to come. If it is allowed to be published!

I wouldn’t say slowly and carefully Jennifer, from one person to 6 people suddenly having bbq’s and using toilets? I would say it’s a big jump and wonder why the rush? Why now?

No.

Yes I’m nervous, although things have moved quickly in places like Italy, I spoke to my daughter there this week - she says although restrictions have eased they have very strict rules and they have to abide by them or all hell breaks lose and there’s the difference - no real control here, relying on people to use common sense and so many people don’t have any!

I know I shall have to brave the big shops and garden centres one day, but am very apprehensive. So far I have only used little local stores where distancing can still be a bit difficult when customers don't obey the rules. I am immunosuppressed, elderly and overweight (not shielding) but I will probably be a goner if I catch the virus. Until we have all had a reliable vaccine the danger will be out there - scary!

Boris only announced this to divert attention from arrogant Cummings. It’s a bit like Watergate really. The offence wasn’t as bad as all the lies of the cover up.
The scientists didn’t look comfortable at so much easing. Would be so difficult to have a BBQ with a glass and remember to ‘stay alert’. And can anyone go clothes shopping and not touch things before deciding whether to buy?
We’re still booking home deliveries. Terrified of the deaths rising again and don’t want to be one of them.

And on and on it goes, the complaints, the doom and gloom predictions.
If we were still completely in lockdown that would be wrong in some eyes but now we are slowly carefully coming out, THAT is wrong too or is driven by some ulterior motive.

Why don’t we all just enjoy the chance to see family and friends again, still being cautious of course, without turning into prophets of doom?

Those who are still uneasy can continue to isolate if that feels right for them.

Exactly what I thought Gingster. Why not say “From now” then he would have looked more in control. Whose going to wait till Monday?!

I’ve never been that sure about the value of lockdown, especially when you compare with countries that didn’t do it in the same way...but...because I just don’t know...and I’m not sure anyone does with certainty....I’m prepared to take the government advice. But many havent, and will go back more to normal now, so it may not make that much difference. The government must know that..but are probably reckoning on the majority taking their advice.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My first thought was this is to try to take focus from the Cummings situation. Our numbers are very different from anywhere else in Europe and the world so Cynic that I might be I think this has been introduced too much too soon. Nearly38,000 already lost their lives, plenty more will follow as we get together, eating, drinking using indoor toilets, and being very merry.

We are all bound to be nervous, I mean us older ones as we are at increased risk just because of age and medical conditions. I'm not a very sociable person so my life won't change much anyway. My DC and DGC are far away so no imminent reunion.