To be shocked at the number of people who think the lockdown is "stopping" coronavirus

[dotty202]

Several of my friends and colleagues have made comments such as, "we need a long lockdown for coronavirus to disappear!" and "why do people keep going outside, we will never stamp it out to zero cases." Or "people breaking lockdown will mean that coronavirus is never stopped!"

Whilst I understand the lockdown is important for managing the number of cases, it is my understanding that the lockdown was never to completely rid us of the virus. It will still be there after lockdown- We will have to learn to live with it. It'll be a significant part of our lives until there's a vaccine, or effective treatment. Lockdown was just a temporary measure to curb the initial outbreak ripping through society and give us time to prepare.

One of my friends genuinely believes that if lockdown gets the cases down to zero, we can immediately come out of lockdown and carry on as before.

I tried to explain that it wouldn't work, even if we miraculously got zero cases- ie, when flights start up again, it'll come back from somewhere! And how can you possibly ensure no one in the country has a virus? You But no. Same friend even suggested a "worldwide coordinated lockdown."

Am I BU to not understand how people can still think this? They watch the news everyday, it's not like they're keeping themselves in some quarantine bubble. I understand we are trying to slow the virus and stop the curve but this does not equal one singular lockdown to eradicate it.

[LittleLittleLittle]

OP a lot of people in this country have poor comprehension skills.

[dotty202]

@LittleLittleLittle

I understand that, however these are people I would consider "highly educated"; one of them is a solicitor, etc... Not that I would only attribute intelligence to a university graduate, but they all have received first class or second class degrees with no issue, which is certainly more education than I have myself. If anything, I am the one with a simple, hospitality based job. I consider myself the least educated out of our 'group.'

[TheCanterburyWhales]

For every person like your friend, there's one who thinks lockdown hasn't had any effect at all.

[Duckyneedsaclean]

Most people don't understand this unfortunately. Hence the outcry about mentioning herd immunity.

[Inkpaperstars]

I haven't heard anyone say that at all and you are right, it would be a bizarre statement.

What is true is that the closer to zero R is when we emerge from lockdown, the more normal our lives will probably look in that time until a hoped for vaccine. That won't be normal at all but it will give us more options for what life looks like in that time.

So even though your friends are mistaken it is probably motivating them to act in a helpful way for right now.

[DeathByBoredom]

Hope springs eternal

People don't like the truth so they ignore it

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Something so out of the ordinary was bound to make some people react illogically. There are so many panicked, conspiracy theorising, highly emotional responses. It is hard, no matter how you approach it.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Some people aren't very good at thinking.

[tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz]

My understanding of lockdown is it can help the virus die as in theory () if it doesn't have a new host to jump to, as we're all in our fortified homes with family. So once it's done the rounds on those individuals it stops? Then there's sensible measures to ease lockdown so as much lower numbers of new cases pop up its easier to trace and contain?

I'm very prepared to be told I've got that entirely wrong

[dotty202]

tellmewhen-

It can help get cases low so we can control and trace it, yes

However, it’s impossible to wipe it out as soon as everyone comes out of lockdown, it will transfer again. Getting to a ‘true’ zero would be impossible given we’d have to lock everyone up for so long, including flights, all movement, etc...Especially as we don’t know if people can be reinfected. (May be wrong on that!)

It’s definitely about getting the virus to a level we can control and track hopefully but even that won’t involve no one getting it at all

What I mean is that there won’t be a moment anytime soon when coronavirus ceases to exist at all because we stayed inside for six weeks

although it would be nice

[effingterrified]

Your friend is (partially) correct.

Lockdown is needed to stop the virus.

The other thing also needed to stop the virus is a thorough test, contact trace and quarantine strategy.

As we don't seem to be anywhere near that yet, we clearly need to continue lockdown until most cases have gone and the testing and tracking capabilities exist.

Herd immunity is not seriously being considered as an option any more given that it seems increasingly likely that a) those who have had the disease are not immune and can catch it again and b) the disease appears to cause long-term health complications in some, including damage potentially to the lungs, heart, kidneys and reproductive facilities.

Telling people 'Oh well, you're just going to catch it, so no point trying not to' seems rather less appealing if you know that even if you're lucky enough to survive this time, you could get it again or end up with serious organ damage.

[Cuddling57]

I assume it will come in waves. With lockdown measures being eased, then increased again as needed. Until they are confident on treatment/medicine or we get a vaccine. I don't understand how it could be any different. We are not like some countries where you will have to have a tracker on your phone or you can be sealed in your home.

[MrsSpenserGregson]

Agree OP.

I think some people are so frightened that they aren't thinking rationally. The government message has always been that their strategy has been to protect the NHS and stop it being overwhelmed. The current lockdown is part of that strategy of flattening the curve, so that the number of people suffering from Covid-19 doesn't overwhelm the NHS at any point. Their graphs have always shown a second curve, and they were very clear in the early days that this second peak/curve would need to happen before the flu season starts in the autumn. So, realistically, we need the second peak to happen in July/August, which would coincide nicely with school holidays in the majority of the UK. Lockdown was never meant to stop Covid entirely; it was meant to push the second peak of infections out to late summer. The government doesn't (and rightly so) care about individuals; it just cares about the overall numbers. I think that is starting to be understood by more people now, and it must be very scary if they've previously thought that the lockdown was designed to protect them specifically.

Also, there are plenty of people who just don't understand what's going on, and never will, due to lower IQ, lack of education, etc etc.

Also - what @MrsTerryPratchett said. Some people - and I know a few of them - seem to be deliberately misunderstanding all this, or just not engaging their brain at all because they don't want to face the reality of what's happening

[MrsSpenserGregson]

Apologies for sounding like a Boris bot in my above post! I'm no Tory, but the government's reasoning has never been hidden, even if you don't personally agree with it.

[Devlesko]

You won't catch it if you don't go out and nobody in your family does.
less risk going out if you keep the required distance.
So whilst staying in won't eradicate the virus, you are much less likely to catch it.
The gov aren't stupid they are letting the dumb kill themselves off first. I like looking out of my window and seeing our park full, pics on tv about those out and about. They are the cases in ICU in about 3 weeks, bringing us nearer to the 66k suggested that will die.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

You won't catch it if you don't go out and nobody in your family does.

So how are all the essential jobs done? How are you getting shopping? How are you getting exercise?

Don't picnic in the park but some of us have to go to work every day.

[tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz]

Ahhh so that's where my thinking was too, thanks.

[DeathByBoredom]

Devlesko unless your park is full of over 75s, that's really not how it works
It's a virus not some kind of divine retribution

[Herpesfreesince03]

There’s a thread literally next to yours saying how well lockdown is working, and that they wish the media would stop scaremongering people with death statistics because it makes people think it’s not working when it is