Looking forward to the ‘roadmap’

Santana

Getting schools back is the best news! With secondary pupils being tested weekly this should help to control the spread, but no easy task. I am concerned for school staff but the needs of the children are paramount. On line teaching has not worked well for my grandchildren.
Opening up the rest of society will legalise what many people have been doing already in my neighborhood.
For those of you who feel nervous about moving forward, you can still remain cautious and continue as you are, unless you have to go back to work of course. Just see how things go, and venture out when you feel comfortable.

Oh yes? Who's organising the weekly testing of school pupils?

The needs of children are paramount, which is precisely why they shouldn't be forced back into an unsafe environment, where they'll be in and out of schools, as infections occur.

There needs to be a sustainable return.

annodomini

My DGD who has MS has had a vaccination. She is 29. DS1's partner (48) , also has MS and has had hers too. There must be differing interpretations of who is 'vulnerable' if your diabetic DD hasn't had a vacc yet,*rosie1959*.

Did you read the list I posted yesterday?

Diabetes on its own isn't a reason for somebody to be clinically extremely vulnerable. Diabetics are in Group 6.

Franbern

I am very much in support of getting out young people back into their schools. However, surely - one in order to aid this to be done without having to close them again is to vaccinate ALL staff who work in those establishments. Cannot understand how getting schools back keeps being talked about as Priority - yet no such priority is being given to all those adults in those places.

Franbern The pupils need to be vaccinated too. They're the ones who are bringing the infection from their families and then passing it to other children and their families.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a partial U turn on the 8 March date for all pupils returning to school. At the moment, it would be a disaster and I don't think the government can afford a fourth lockdown.

I really hope we will be given a date for the schools to return, we have three grandchildren living with us, and are becoming quite worried about the ten year old, who is becoming withdrawn and sad it’s not helped by the fact that most of her friends are actually at school!

annodomini

My DGD who has MS has had a vaccination. She is 29. DS1's partner (48) , also has MS and has had hers too. There must be differing interpretations of who is 'vulnerable' if your diabetic DD hasn't had a vacc yet,*rosie1959*.

She is in group 6 she has been type 1 diabetic since she was 8 years old
Diabetes makes you pretty vunerable I have seen her twice in intensive care with good old pneumonia

I am very much in support of getting out young people back into their schools. However, surely - one in order to aid this to be done without having to close them again is to vaccinate ALL staff who work in those establishments. Cannot understand how getting schools back keeps being talked about as Priority - yet no such priority is being given to all those adults in those places.

My DGD who has MS has had a vaccination. She is 29. DS1's partner (48) , also has MS and has had hers too. There must be differing interpretations of who is 'vulnerable' if your diabetic DD hasn't had a vacc yet,*rosie1959*.

School opening is the most important thing as far as I am concerned.

I very much look forward to shops and restaurants being open but recognise the need for extreme caution.

Sport doesn't interest me but I acknowledge it's important to very many people, both young and old.

Rosie
Don’t want to sound too frivolous, but I can’t wait for the hairdressers to open!

Lauranorder
Pubs are not Covid hotspots, supermarkets are worse.

Boris just open the hairdressers !
On a serious note they have really have to ramp up the vaccinations. Once shops bars and restaurants are open people will not stay in. They have vaccinated those that are actually more likely to still stay in.
Our GP practice seems to be running slowly I am hoping they will soon open the NHS vaccine booking service to groups 6 my DD as a type 1 diabetic is still patiently waiting but would gladly book a vaccine anywhere just to get it done

Re schools and exams.

My GS is due to take his GCSE’s this summer. DS said they had an online Parents/Teachers evening recently. At the start of each slot, every teacher began with “Before you ask about exams, we don’t know anything yet”, which of course is what everyone wanted to know.

No idea how it will all work out.

Along with the wonderful spring weather, it will be great to meet up outdoors, with more than one person, again.

Like suziewoozie, I'd be cautious despite what's officially 'allowed' this summer. We've come so far, it'd be a shame to ruin it now.

I think there’s quite a large number of people on GN ( of which I’m one) who have done less than we were actually allowed in order to feel comfortable. But I’ve always felt comfortable with the rule of 6 outside and have really missed it ( as again like most of you I’ve never done more than allowed either) My dgc are at a small primary school and so going back into the classroom is less problematic. It must be so worrying re exam years - the govt has had plenty of time to formulate robust assessment plans but I have to say I have my doubts

Getting schools back is the best news! With secondary pupils being tested weekly this should help to control the spread, but no easy task. I am concerned for school staff but the needs of the children are paramount. On line teaching has not worked well for my grandchildren.
Opening up the rest of society will legalise what many people have been doing already in my neighborhood.
For those of you who feel nervous about moving forward, you can still remain cautious and continue as you are, unless you have to go back to work of course. Just see how things go, and venture out when you feel comfortable.

I have just read that up to 6 people, or 2 households may meet in a garden from 29th March! If this is true that would be a start. May be able to meet DD in the garden for Easter!

What I do not understand is how a husband and wife for example can have a walk (even round a golf course ). but can’t have a game of golf, or 2 friends come to that , far easier to stay at least 2m apart . I’m not a golfer by the way.
All I want personally is to get back to some tennis. That’s outside and distanced far more than two people walking side by side with a coffee !

We seem to have heard quite a bit already.

Schools 8th March.
Care homes- one regular visitor.
Meeting 2 others from different household for coffee outdoors. (2 weeks later).
More people meet ups end March possibly.
Non essential shops and hospitality- much later still.

All subject to data and numbers.

I feel the same as you Suziewoozie. Slow and sensible ?. I think the past few months have been so hard for so many but we need to carry on working at it. I hope they have really thought about how to open schools safely as it needs to happen.

Why do we need to be rewarded for keeping ourselves safe?
I would think not catching the virus and being given a vaccination free of charge to protect us from serious illness is a pretty good reward if we must have one.
I believe slow and steady opening up is the best course. Certainly schools first and, although I understand the job loss significance, pubs should be way down the list of priorities.

We've done exactly what we've been told and what are we rewarded with? You can meet a friend in a park, this is what people have been doing for ages!!

Too early for schools in my opinion need very small steps until more are vaccinated.

That's all I hope for too suziewoozie

The R rate is still too high for anything else yet

Another roadmap out of lockdown. Let’s hope it’s better than the previous ones. We were very naive last summer when we thought that was it! Hopefully the vaccinations will make a big difference, but I appreciate it’s going to take time.

A letter in the paper a couple of days ago asked "If roadmap is the new word for a plan what are we supposed to call a roadmap now?" I wish they would learn that changing the name of something doesn't make it any more effective!

I don't think the figures are anywhere near low enough to start changing things yet.