I'm terrified about the restrictions being eased.

[ssd]

I don't feel the government guidance has been that good so far and I don't trust them to tell us how to get back to normal safely.
My workplace was one of the last retailers to close and I know they'd have us straight back in as soon as anything is lifted and without definite checks everything is safe.
I think there will be a second wave of this when the rules are relaxed and a lot of workplaces will be so desperate for money they'll have the full staff in straight away.

[Peridot1]

I don’t think they will be. I think COBRA are meeting this morning to discuss restricting movement even more.

[lubeybooby]

we are nowhere near that happening yet (easing)

there absolutely will be a second wave and likely a second wave of restrictions, and a third and probably more on and off indefinitely til a vaccine is available. Businesses will just have to make use of all the governments help - not ideal I know but this is a terrible emergency circumstance so it's sink or swim - they have to take the life belt.

[VerbenaGirl]

I don’t think the restrictions will be eased any time soon. I think a lot will depend on how the peak in cases anticipated for this weekend (NHS info) plays out.

[ssd]

I know they won't be eased for a good while and I'm fine with that.
What I mean us, I'm worried it goes wrong once it begins easing. I seen a clip of an airport in China and how they are scrupulous in checking people coming into the country and I just thought, they'll never do that here, they'll be so desperate for the economy to start up big business will be pushing for things to get back to normal and this government will listen. And that's what terrifies me.

[midgebabe]

I am hopeful that once they get out of the immediate crisis they will want to avoid things being this bad again because it's an unnecessary cost and that will drive more sensible choices

[Ranguski]

I am worried too... the government might speed things up because the economy is suffering.

It will take immense about of discipline for us to keep the curve flattened but how many of us will be able to do that? Many will go back to the merry ways of poor hygiene and coughing/sneezing all over the place and we all will suffer.

Oh and don’t forget coming into an open lab office clearly unwell just to show that I’m a star worker!

[Linlinds]

I think it will be another three weeks of this followed by schools slowly reopening for a few weeks then slowly businesses.

At the end of the day it's here to stay. But we can't hide for a year. Not only will it crash the economy. It will also kill many other people who can't have treatment for cancer and a veriety of other conditions. Mental health will be on the rise.

People seem to think this lockdown will last until it's safe. But it won't be safe without a vaccine. The vunerbale must protect themselves indoors. but for a huge majority of us we need to get back to something sooner rather than later.

The biggest problem is the lack of testing. What's the point. If mild cases are never discovered then how will they truly know how serious this virus is? If they don't know how many have had it. Or how many are asymptomatic then what's the point?

The deaths are horrendous and I have family I worry about with this virus. But if a huge proportion of us have had it mildly already then we need to know. All lived are as important. But where are the age stats for the UK? Were over 4500 of these deaths over 70? How many were kids? Were the younger deaths caused through heksth issues?

The trouble is they originally said 80% would have mild or no symptoms. Then you have people online saying. I've had it mild. I wasn't tested but it felt like the worst flu. I couldnt breathe. I was burning up.y lungs were burning..... Im sorry but that's not mild. Mild would be like a normal crappy virus surely? There are no good facts to base this on.

It sounds really friggin harsh but at what point do you put the kids and the healthy majority before 80+ year olds? I wish everyone could be saved. But I also understand we can't carry on like this for six months. We can't keep the kids out of education and away from people for up to a year. Because we may aswel all give up and die now if that's the case. We have got to get out of this. Slowly ofcourse. A huge majority of people are following the rules. Theres a few that ruin it for the vast. But that will never change. Tightening the rules and refusing us a daily walk would make people struggle and suffer more than needed. A huge majority of us are supposedly going to bat this away and get it mild. So therefore keeping our bodies moving is a positive. The more we stay indoors the weaker we become as people. our immune systems will get weaker if we are banned from moving and getting out in the sun. Our kids need vitamin d and excerice. We all need to get out heart going and burn off some calories. I know they have done it in other countries and it probably does work. But there has to be a balance.

6000 deaths out of 55,000 cases is a huge number! But if it's 6000 out of 5 million people it's more hopeful.

It's all in the balance. It's scary but we will have to take some chances otherwise we will loose everything else and have nothing to go back too.

It's a crap situation but I hope they leave the lockdown as it is for a few more weeks. No more restrictions

Also our local police have said today the supermarkets are busy. They have tool pictures of the queues. But we can't get home deliveries. I honestly don't know what the police expect. We need to eat.

[ssd]

School won't open till at least August in Scotland or September in England.

Also, I don't want our young people to be paying for this for the rest of their lives. They had it hard enough before all this, no social housing, too high rents, cash deposit needed for buying a house, zero hours jobs, no stability, social media and all that entails... Please don't make them pay the price for covid as well.

[Pickpick101]

I'd heard on the radio that Austria are opening schools next week. Not sure what's the thinking here but they must have some science behind this.

[Linlinds]

They will likely open in late may June. Someone said it will be discussed as one of the options of coming out of this. Reason being kids seem least affected. Nothing else can begin until childcare and education is back in place. Nobody can return to work without the kids being in school.

It schools can't open until September. Then nothing will change and we will be locked down for 6 months.

[ssd]

Not sure, but apparently Germany have been dealing with this brilliantly, partly because Angela Merkel is a scientist and has the right approach eg. Testing.

[TheCountessatHotelCortez]

I absolutely see where you are coming from OP but there is no point letting it take over your life. I’m see it as everything in life is a risk, I’m more likely to die in a car crash than die as a direct result of this virus and I’m in the frontline nhs. I’m cross with how deaths are being reported whipping everyone into a frenzy, we won’t know for years probably how many actual deaths were cause directly by the virus not just those who had it in their system at the time of death.

Things need to return to normal and sometime soon, not after this first 3 weeks but maybe after the next 3 weeks, furlough was stated to be paid for 3 months and that’s what may need to happen but furlough payments won’t be paid indefinitely and companies will not survive the uncertainty of yo yo opening and closing

[OldEvilOwl]

I could have written your post OP. I'm dreading the phone call telling me to go back to work, I hope this lockdown lasts another few weeks yet and we see a decrease in deaths before that happens. This government is putting money first as usual

[ssd]

You are right, thank you.

[TempsPerdu]

@Linlinds Thank you for being the voice of reason! A vaccine is 12 months away minimum (which would be unprecedented in terms of speed - more likely 18 months/2 years to widespread vaccination). There’s no way we can stay on lockdown until it’s ‘safe’ - that would crash the world economy, store up massive problems for the future and throw younger generations under the bus.

We need widespread testing, which our government has been utterly useless at so far, and some kind of phased exit strategy that releases key groups to kickstart the economy. Lockdown is necessary now and will be for a few weeks/months more. Any longer is just unsustainable.

[MummyPop00]

Easy: isolate the elderly & vulnerable groups & end lockdown for everybody else as soon as this curve is over. Then let Covid-19 spread, build up the herd immunity among the comparatively young, fit & healthy as the odds of not developing severe disease are favorable.

When that point is reached, let the vulnerable groups out.

If the old/vulnerable can’t hack staying indoors to increase their chances of stay alive without a vaccine or effective treatment, that’s ultimately their call & on their heads.

[Foghead]

I think California have been doing well. Both Germany and california are starting to encourage mask use. Maybe that’s the answer.
Let’s see what happens there.

[Glaceon]

I'm worried too.

People are going to be out in droves the second they're allowed.

The worry with school for me isnt the kids themselves it's going to be passed between adults at pick up and get worse again.

We dont know what level of immunity you get after having it either. I remember when I was pregnant and never got immunity to a winter vomiting bug and repeatedly caught it. I had it 4 times I was so I'll each time. One time I apparently called an ambulance but i dont remember. They turned up at 3am and i was on the end of my bed fully clothed asleep. The only memory i have of that night is lying on the bathroom floor vomiting thinking i was going to die.

[Appuskidu]

isolate the elderly & vulnerable groups & end lockdown for everybody else as soon as this curve is over

As has been repeated in lots of threads-so many of the teachers in my school (and I’m sure we aren’t alone) were in the vulnerable group, we wouldn’t be able to open. When that group can return to work, then we can reopen. There were no supply teachers to be found in those few days between the vulnerable groups being announced and the schools closing. We had classes of 45 being babysat by TAs. That is fair on neither TAs or the children and is not sustainable.

[maleficent53]

Totally agree with Linlinds well said

[Linlinds]

Perhaps staggered days with school so less staff need to be in.

Reception year one and 2 one day.

Then the next 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Secondary can do the same.

At least Half the teachers must be in good health.

[Lindy2]

I absolutely don't want my children back in school yet. Homeschooling is a nightmare but their safety comes first. No way do I want my 11 year old travelling by bus to school either.

We are no where near properly flattening the curve just yet so I am hoping the lockdown stays for a while. I can't believe people are even really discussing easing or ending restrictions yet. It's not even been 3 weeks yet.

Why are some people so keen for schools to open? Is it because it's convenient for them? Clearly they aren't prioritising safety.

[Peppafrig]

If the schools went back the kids all crammed on trains and buses at rush hour would spread it faster than anything.