Are we approaching another lockdown?

I have kept very busy and occupied my mind this last year. I usually have a positive outlook but it's wearing thin just lately.
Our friends are the same we all basically retired the same time. Our retirement so far has been abiding by the rules not breaking them at all. We have not seen our families and there doesn't seem to be an end to lockdown.

I would like to think that travel to European countries will not be permitted until their vaccination programme catches up.

It would be great if lots of us stayed here this year to support our own hospitality industry, although I can sympathise with those who have holiday homes abroad as well as those who long for guaranteed sun!

I do, and always have done, the masks, sanitising, space, and not going out too much, but I still got the virus. How much good do the masks, and distancing, and sanitising really do?

I tend to look back at history when the Spanish 'flu killed millions. Okay we have the vaccination programme but we also have millions more in populations around the world with many who are still on the move from country to country.

There weren't even any passenger planes in 1918, people were static but it still killed millions worldwide. Taking into consideration that malnutrition was rife during WWI and hygiene was non-existant.

This pandemic is following the same pattern as the Spanish one as it travelled through France, Germany and then the UK in April of that year as it continued in waves for 2 years and like Covid, the 2nd wave was the deadliest. The 4th wave followed in the 2nd year as unfortunately we're bound to have after gatherings during Easter and if lockdown is lifted too early. Masks and distance should continue until the end of this year if we're to avoid any more deaths.

Thank you *Laura *for words of encouragement. I do hope you’re right.

It’ll be okay Maddyone. Europe will get going now it’s had its wobble.
We’ll be able to be out and about in the U.K. as long as we remember hands, face and space. A bit of caution and perhaps a few local lockdowns to keep
It under control.
We will get there.

Please God, I don’t think I can bear it. I was optimistic with the vaccination scheme going so well. But now, things don’t look quite as rosy. I don’t want to live the rest of my life like this. It’s worse for children and younger people.

Thanks for the link Casdon, we also have a spike in Anglesey thought to be the same causes as in Merthyr Tydfil.
We may be heading to local lockdown.
The cases in Europe seem to be the so called Kent variant so highly contagious and very worrying. I just hope the world gets a handle on vaccination before this thing mutates

Confusing what everyone is perceiving as lockdown and when?

We actually come out of lockdown 29th March
I believe we will continue as set out and lift all restrictions in June

We are not out of the current lockdown yet!

Some of us are still in the first lockdown.

Yup. I am in Switzerland and I know of only TWO people who have been vaccinated.

I know that lockdown change on April 12th, but that won't stop people gathering in large groups. We will wait and see.

Yes, Jj, my friends in Brittany are less than ecstatic tonight. Every train out of Montparnasse is "complet."

BlueBelle I don’t live in France, but did and there is another concern. With some areas entering a lockdown tonight many, Parisiens are mentioned, are dispersing to either summer or family homes in the more rural areas which are relatively Covid free. To the OP’s question, I sincerely hope not, I’m really hoping the current vaccines are robust and people continue being considerate.

Barmeyoldbat

Easter will be the crunch time with everyone making then most of Easter. I just hope there is not another lockdown.

But aren't we still in lockdown until the week after Easter, April 12th? I should imagine that's why it was done that way, to stop everyone.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56441619
This is an example of a very local flare up, I think from now they will be trying very hard very quickly to impose local controls to prevent the whole country needing to go into lockdown again.

Although the rates are low, any delay in the vaccination programme isn’t going to help unfortunately, as we really don’t need the rate to go up exponentially now resulting in a high hospital admission rate for the under 50s, the sooner all adults who want it are vaccinated the better.

I’m not expecting the country to go back to normal this year, but with a fair wind and sensible behaviour we should be in a much better position than we are now soon. I hope so, I can’t wait to see my daughter!

Easter will be the crunch time with everyone making then most of Easter. I just hope there is not another lockdown.

Our COVID figures are falling dramatically, thanks to the extensive vaccination program in this country and new COVID cases are also very low, so of course they are levelling out, we are unlikely to ever get rid of the virus completely.

Figures are rising rapidly in Europe because they have not been vaccinating their population for all kinds of nonsensical reasons. Looking at the figures for my LA area on this link www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51768274 A site I check every day, the virus has almost disappeared among in the over 60s, although there is a slight rise in the under 60s.

Our figures and European figures are completely decoupled following our mass vaccination program. I see no reason at present why release from controls should not go as planned, the dates are dates FROM, not dates WHEN

There is a reason Europe is going backwards in my opinion and that’s vaccination a lot of european countries do not have good take ups for any vaccinations France has a very anti vaccine stance I believe anyone living in France can put me right if I m wrong and recently there has been bad press
We have managed to do a lot of vaccinating (the only thing we got right in my opinion in this sorry state) and I believe, in the U.K. in the older age group there’s a 90 % take up we have to do all we can to encourage others to take the vaccine and not listen to the anti s
The world will open up again and our teens will get out and about we will heal over and forget about it
My grandkids have bought their summer festival tickets fingers crossed they may even be vaccinated by then

My fear is that people will start holidaying in Europe where so few are vaccinated. The biggest surge before the first lockdown was people returning from Italy and Spain. Maybe we should just stay in beautiful Britain this year.

I’m optimistic, have to be…….?

I think the 'roadmap' out will probably be as expected - and vaccinations are making a huge difference. Nothing is guaranteed, though, as new variants may arrive at any time.

Riverwalk