Has their been a change of opinion about lockdown?

[Maryann1975]

So three weeks ago, all I heard about was why weren’t the government locking everything down quickly enough. There was such outrage about it at the time, how bad it was that the government hadn’t shut schools quickly enough, that people were still mixing and big events were still going ahead.
We are now at The start of week three of the ‘lockdown’ (which wasn’t really a full lockdown, But I’m not really sure what to call the period we are in) and people are desperately wondering when everywhere will reopen and seem to be desperate for the schools to reopen.
I’m wondering if the reality of ‘lockdown’ doesn’t fit with what everyone thought it would be (it’s quite hard dealing with dc every day with no break and no where to take them especially if you are having to work through out from home with the dc arguing around your feet). It’s really boring staying at home all the time, missing holidays, missing family, missing friends and gatherings, social interactions, No eating out, cinema, theatre, coffees etc.
Maybe there are two groups of posters and three weeks ago I mainly caught the pro lockdown group Posting and now I am just seeing the pro economy/lift the lockdown posts. I don’t know? I have also just had a group call with friends and it seemed to be that some thought we should be lifting lockdown pretty soon.
It just seems so contradictory from three weeks ago when people were clamouring for the government to take action.

[Raffathebear]

Im fine with it tbh.

[SouthsideOwl]

Hey,

I think you're right there's been a 'change of opinion' but it's also more complex than just black and white.

We did need to put the restrictions in when we did, and they should continue for a bit longer...what (some) people are asking now is...what next?

Fact is, we can't live like this so that no one ever dies of CV. Fact is, we're having these restrictions not to overload the NHS and create some breathing space by spacing out infections, not to eradicate it.

Viruses are living things, and take many forms. It is ridiculous to assume that 'this is life now forever'. The fact that people are being shouted down as blasphemers because they are rightly thinking about how we come out of this is wrong imo.

So yes, attitudes may have changed in some ways, but it's very human to want some sort of plan.

Ironically, the next stage of ensuring we protect people is people naturally become immune which we can only do by exposing ourselves at the mo so it'll be go out,save lives next

[AmelieTaylor]

Personally, no.

On MN. I don’t think so. I think there’s quite a mix of opinions.

[Sennetti]

no i think the lockdown should be more severe if i'm honest......its not been taken seriously enough

i dont have small children who i want to palm off on to teachers though

[Puppybum]

If being at home all the time was easy prison wouldn't be a punishment would it. All I'm thinking is if we keep everything locked down there's not going to be a lot to return to

[AmelieTaylor]

I think he (DR) was right what he said tonight - they don’t want to say what the ‘exit’ plan is as it’ll just muddy the waters (people are struggling to understand the ‘rules’ as It is) and people will start to do what the ‘fist stage of exit’ is straight away. As frustrating as people are finding it, I think keeping it to themselves is the right thing to do.

[minipie]

I think there has been a growing realisation about the costs of lockdown.

Not “just” the economic costs but the suicides, DV, divorces, other illnesses that get missed due to GPs being virtually shut - plus the long term cuts in public spending to pay back all this debt and due to lower tax take - those cuts will cost lives too.

There are also doubts being expressed (by reputable sources) around the death rate being as high as feared, and about how many years of life are being saved weighed up against the enormous human cost of saving them.

Plus people realising that (as the PP says) the virus cannot be avoided, most of us are going to get it, it’s just a question of when.

[MummyPop00]

I thought it should have been done a week before it was & I still absolutely hold that view.

A lockdown costs you money, but what you're buying for all that economic hardship is time - time to buy/build ventilators, time to expand your critical care capacity, time to get healthcare workers tested, time to roll out PPE etc. That will have an enormous impact on the eventual death rate in a country like the UK, whose healthcare system runs at close to capacity all year around.

Because when a healthcare system gets overwhelmed, death rate goes up from something like 0.9% (Korea) to something like 3-4% (Hubei, parts of Lombardy).

[Sennetti]

@minipie which suicides?

[Sennetti]

i'm sorry but if it was 4 year olds dying with this virus people would not be saying weigh it up against years left to live v cost to nation and feelings around lockdown

it should be no different if its 70 year olds dying or 4 year olds

[minipie]

Here’s one example. I’m not saying there have been lots yet but the longer lockdown goes on, the more many people with depression and other MH issues will struggle.

[BroomstickOfLove]

I was in favour of an earlier lockdown, and I haven't changed my mind. Having said that, I'm not finding lockdown all that tough - I've been furloughed, so it's not really all that different from when I was a SAHP, only with more sleep, more money and more social inclusion.

[PumpkinPie2016]

I haven't changed my mind. I think lockdown was/is a good idea to try to reduce how quickly the virus spreads and to ensure the NHS can (just about) cope.

I would far rather have to stay at home than risk me/my family members getting the virus. I worry a lot about my Dad who drives HGVs for a company who deliver food to supermarkets as he has to go to work. They are obviously doing all they can to stay safe.

I have a 6 year old and I am working from home. It's not the easiest thing to do but you just have to get on with it.

[Wewearpinkonwednesdays]

I half agree. I think there is a very mixed veiw on MN and I think the majority called for a lockdown, and the majority of MN are happy to stick to that. From most of the threads I've read over the last couple of weeks since "lock down" people are following the "rules" stringently. Where I am, most people seem to be following the rules, but then I've hardly left the house, except to exercise (a walk or run with the dog) dp does the shopping when needed and has been for a couple of runs. However I do feel as though there is a backlash coming. More and more people are questioning the descisions made by the government, but that's nothing new.
Anyway I'm rambling (too much gin so apologies if what I've said makes no sense) . I think most people were all for lock down, but reality has hit, and irl a lot of people don't like what that actually entails.
I do think, unfortunately, there will come a time when the lockdown will cause more problems than they are preventing. I will stick to guidelines as long as they are in place. It's a very worrying time for us though, because we are both self employed.

[JediJim]

Saw the BBC news report about a hospital, the staff were wearing PPE. It’s hot, they can’t talk to each other properly and some staff have panic attacks and struggle to wear it.
If isolating for a few weeks is the answer then so be it. The warm weather will make it harder and the tide will turn from the public the longer this goes on.
Some people live in flats with no garden and in unpleasant surroundings. So I do get it’s tough for people.

[pocketem]

missing family, missing friends

You'll miss them more if they die of coronavirus

[JediJim]

There are some older people suffering because they can’t go to hospital to get routine procedures done. They are given the choice to go but many have been told to stay at home and isolate. They don’t want to risk getting ill from going to the hospital. The risk is too high for them.
It’s really sad. Peoples health will be dramatically affected by this which will cause deaths as a result.

[starlightgazers]

the more many people with depression and other MH issues will struggle

A huge death toll is not conducive to a low level of MH issues either.

I get MH issues are common and hugely underfunded, the risk pales comparison to an uncontrolled pandemic.

[Fatted]

I think it's interesting to look at the social and economic back grounds of people in agreement of lock down and those against it. It's all well and good saying it should happen when you're sitting on your arse on full or 80% pay. Or saying the schools should close when you're a SAHP anyway. Lockdown isn't fun when you're still working and trying to find child care or your family has lost their entire livelihood overnight.

[starlightgazers]

Lockdown isn't fun when you're still working and trying to find child care or your family has lost their entire livelihood overnight

It is better than dying a horrible premature death because the NHS is swamped though. Because for many that would be the alternative. I get that lockdown is not 'fun', but it is better than the alternative of mass death and huge suffering.

[SummerBreezemakesmefeelfine]

My Dh has been on furlough and this is applicable until June according to info he has received. To be perfectly honest he is as happy as could be, being paid to sit at home. He tried volunteering for the NHS and the local County Council, but was told applications had exceeded expectation and no current need for more.

Adult DS is working from home in his old bedroom and is pretty much keeping office hours. He came back from London before the shutdown and is happy to be productive and still be paid.

Dsis is a teacher and very happy to be at home for now. My elderly Mother is 90 and hiding away at home, just hoping not to catch the virus as she knows it would probably be the end for her.

DD and I are both nurses so still working, we want people to stay at home for now to stop the NHS from being overwhelmed. Many different views in one small family.

[Mascotte]

I agree with @Fatted

[starlightgazers]

And btw, I'm saying that as a single parent of 3 DC's (one disabled), with a history of MH problems, no savings, who still has to work (and on a low wage), not as someone on 'sitting on their arse still being paid. I've also lost a lot of money on bookings for the holiday home I rent out.

[Reginabambina]

@JediJim I was asked to wear a medical grade face mask recently, that alone was horrible, I couldn’t breath properly and my top lip was drenched in sweat. The full PPE must be horrendous.

[starlightgazers]

The full PPE must be horrendous

Still better than none, which is what many NHS workers are still currently faced with.