Does this mean lockdown will not be reviewed again for the next 3 weeks?

[shesgrownhorns]

At the daily press briefing they made it quite clear that lockdown would not be lifted when the review comes on Thursday.

So will that mean that it will remain the same for the next 3 weeks until the next review?

[Annarosez]

I think so but probably longer.

[dementedma]

France has just announced lock down to continue to mid May.We are behind France. We will be luck if we are out of lock down byJune

[gamerchick]

Probably. I wouldn't expect it to be lifted any time soon.

[Blankscreen]

I think the government are frightened that if they give so much of a whiff of lifting lockdown that the idiots that have barely abided will be out in in their droves before it is safe to do so.

It's annoying not seeing people but if you are safe at home it's not all that bad.

[ilovemydogandmrobama2]

Really hope any announcement gives clarity - I would prefer to know that we may be in lockdown until end of May or whatever than the expectation it may be lifted in 3 weeks.

[Redcrayons]

I think the initial 3 weeks was just to ease us into a 2/3 month lockdown.

[PleasantVille]

I don't think it means that necessarily, it has to be revised at least every 3 weeks but that doesn't mean it can't be done before that time afaik.

I don't see the point in trying to predict what will happen all the time, we can only wait and see.

[Cranb0rne]

Yes, I'd rather know if it's going to go on until June rather than this irritating day by day drip feeding.

[BeetrootRocks]

It was written into the legislation that they have to review every 3 weeks.

So it's procedural rather than anything else.

This won't be ending any time soon.

[Redwinestillfine]

They can't consider lifting the lockdown in any way unless they're sure the numbers are coming down. We've had a few days of lower numbers but it's been over a weekend which tend to dip, so the numbers tomorrow and the rest of next week will give a better picture of where we're really at. If they are coming down they may think about relaxing things a little, but if they start hitting the 8 or 900's again it may well be 3 weeks before they can properly tell.

[Sparklingbrook]

I agree with Blankscreen, they can't give those numpties that aren't abiding by the lockdown any clue as to when it may end at the moment.

[mynameiscalypso]

My personal prediction is that they'll wait until after the first bank holiday in May and then announce some easing of restrictions then.

[PowerslidePanda]

Really hope any announcement gives clarity - I would prefer to know that we may be in lockdown until end of May or whatever than the expectation it may be lifted in 3 weeks.

I think it's unlikely that they know at this point when lockdown will end, but even if they say they'll review again in 3 weeks, I can't see any way that it could be lifted in that short a time. We haven't even hit the peak for cases yet, and the peak for deaths will be several weeks behind that. So I know it's easier said than done, but best not to set any expectations based on what they say.

[shesgrownhorns]

They certainly said no lifting of measures would even be considered until there had been first the plateau and then an established downward trend. So we haven't yet plateaued (or even reached peak) - It really is looking like it will be many more weeks yet.

[shesgrownhorns]

Interesting Beetroot - didn't know it was written into the legislation. So does that mean any decision on Thursday is the status quo for the next three weeks?

[moomoogalicious]

It's annoying not seeing people but if you are safe at home it's not all that bad

Its hell actually. I'm living with my autistic dd and its awful.

[Wannabangbang]

I think it was to ease us in. Although awful for all of us, some worse than others. Ours lives and children's lives are at stake so if it means we live and don't die im happy for it to continue. I'm assuming thursday it will be another 3 weeks and harsher this time as there's a fair few still going out without a proper reason putting themselves and others at risk in the process

[ilovecakeandwine]

Don't they have to review it within 24 days ? So that's Thursday and today's only Monday .
I suspect by Thursday they will say another 2-3 weeks then it will be a gradual process .
But yeah they can't give a date until the figures drop or level out .

[MummaGiles]

It’s going to be AT LEAST 4 weeks until anything is eased. In the press conference today it was said they expect numbers to rise for the next week, then to plateau for another 3 weeks, and that they cannot contemplate lifting restrictions until they are confident we are “the other side” of this.

[Reastie]

There’s so much talk atm of when lockdown will be lifted yet surely, at this point, if anything lockdown will be tightened whilst we are at or close to the peak. Other European countries like Spain and Italy banned all non essential work out of the home for a while and restricted how far from the home people could exercise but we haven’t. I wonder if those measures will come in for a short time when we have such high death figures. I can’t understand why more isn’t being focused on with our death stats yet when they were similar in Italy and Spain it was big news. Are we all just desensitised to it all?

[shesgrownhorns]

@moomoogalicious feeling for you. I really want people with terribly challenging circumstances to be given some sort of (safe) dispensation. Let's hope that's being talked about eh 😐

Yes I think they'll lock us down for a long while yet, and as for the economy - we'll just get taxed to death for the rest of our lives 😂

[Iateallthecookies000]

I just hope we are all safe, that’s way more important than being stuck indoors with family.

[cologne4711]

My personal prediction is that they'll wait until after the first bank holiday in May and then announce some easing of restrictions then

That's my view too. Pity they moved the BH - they could have eased things slightly earlier otherwise, but an extra week will go quickly.

[shesgrownhorns]

But that wouldn't be three weeks from Thursday, which would be the next review?