When the pandemic and lockdown are declared officially over

[Whenismumhome]

How do you think the world and the U.K. will react?

Do you think there will be mass celebrations? Would it even be safe enough at that point to have big gatherings?

[PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle]

I don't think there will be any definite point of it being "all over"
Instead it will be a long, gradual process of the infection rate slowly declining, fewer hospital cases and fewer deaths. If a vaccine is found, and there is no guarantee that it ever will - still no vaccine for chickenpox, it will take a considerable amount of time before there are the resources for everyone in the population to receive it. Even after that it'll be several years before it can be proven to be effective.
Then there'll be the anti-vaxxers who decline to take it and could be the cause of more spreading.
There'll probably be infections springing up in various areas. Businesses, restaurants, cinemas etc, will continue to close and re-open accordingly. And, very slowly, these outbreaks will become smaller and fewer between.
Sorry to be so grim but looking at epidemics in history this seems to be the pattern. It took at least 2 years to get over the Spanish flu, there are still some countries with the occasional incident of the Black Death. In the meantime we'll get on with life as best we can and learn to live with it.
Be grateful for each day, take pleasure from small things and please help others whenever you can.

[lazylinguist]

No, because it won't be a clearly delineated end. If there's a vaccine, not everyone will be eligible for it. And if it just carries on until there's greater immunity, life will gradually go back to pretty much normal. Either way, the virus will still be around, but less of a big threat.

[daytripper28]

I think you’re getting ahead of yourself there OP . But I like the optimism

[Spied]

I was thinking about this earlier.
I don't think there will be some great announcement that it's all over and we run into the street hugging everyone, having street parties and fireworks.
I think it will gradually receive less media attention, numbers will gradually decline and a vax that limits the threat of the virus ( not eradicate it) will be rolled out but I can't see a total end that's worthy of mass celebration.

[Tfoot75]

Lol we will all have forgotten about it and moved on to other concerns before it's officially declared 'over'. What did you think, we'd all be called for mass vaccination, pass through the tunnel afterwards and everyone on the other side is having a massive party? It's not going to be anything like that 😂

[timeforawine]

When they say no more masks/social distancing i'll crack open the champagne and try and arrange a meet up with friends and their kids so the kids can all play together again

[BearSoFair]

I don't think there will be a declaration, it won't be so clear cut as that. Just very gradually less cases and thing being able to stay open or return to a more normal routine over time. Still lots of potential/likely bumps, stops and starts on the road to reach that point.

[Juniperandrage]

We do have a vaccine for chickenpox though?

[TakeMeToYourLiar]

@Juniperandrage

We do have a vaccine for chickenpox though?

So glad it wasn't just me thinking that!

No vaccine for the cold is a more factual and useful example

[Bikingbear]

Nope they won't have mass celebrations. We learn from historical mistakes. When the Spanish flu was declared over they had massive street parties and parades I cant remember the city but it might have been New York and it caused another surge.

[EssentialHummus]

What puddle said.

I miss hugging my friends.

[CheeseAndOnionIcecream]

There IS a vaccination for chickenpox!

[oldwhyno]

I'll celebrate.

But then again, I celebrate Fridays. And Wednesdays for being half way there.

And sometimes getting to the end of Mondays.

[speakout]

I agree with others- it won't be a sudden point, and civilisation will have been changed dramatically. We will be on our knees and no one will feel like celebrating.
Except those of us who think this change is necessary.

[RosieLemonade]

It will be nice to feel sick with anxiety and dread all the time.

[BlusteryShowers]

It'll be like it was in the summer. I imagined everyone emerging one morning, blinking into the sunlight but in reality we were allowed to roam a bit further, and then do garden gatherings etc...

It'll peter out again. I like to think our family will have a big get together though. We've had a wedding and two babies since lockdown and we normally get together a lot.

[spookybitches]

But there will be a time when WHO will announce when the pandemic is officially over, right? Even if there are pockets of cases floating around. I think by this time, everyone would be so bored of it, they won't care enough to have a huge celebration!

[LeSquigh]

@CheeseAndOnionIcecream

There IS a vaccination for chickenpox!

Yes, there is DEFINITELY a vaccination for chicken pox because my kids had it done in Boots!

[PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle]

I stand corrected on the chickenpox vaccine!
I was basing this on the fact that my generation and my children didn't have the vaccine. We have no further generations in our family so I wasn't aware that it had been introduced.
Number is certainly educational 😃