Time to Prioritise?

[DomDoesWotHeWants]

Opening up has been an absolute shambles and it looks like there will be some closing down soon.

Johnson's merry men and women should have had a list in order of priority of what is essential to get the economy moving. Opening up too much, too randomly has caused chaos.

Someone from the "wedding industry" was on TV demanding a timetable. It is frustrating for her but weddings are not essential just desirable. And no one can predict a timetable, it's foolish to ask.

I've been involved in theatre all my life but I'm angry with those pushing for theatres to open with no social distancing at all. Madness.

Everyone wants there to be a degree of normality but not if it means taking too many risks and then having to close down again.

Let's get the schools back, with masks and part time if necessary but let's get every child into school for some of the time come September. Then look at other "industries" and open them up slowly.

The important thing is to keep the schools open and the NHS functioning.

[Baaaahhhhh]

I disagree that is has been a shambles, they have actually done exactly what you are suggesting, based on assessment of impact.

[DomDoesWotHeWants]

You think so? I cannot agree, for a start pubs opened too quickly. There is no social distancing in the pubs in our local town. People can't be trusted. Restaurants and cafes seem to keep to the rules but pubs just haven't

[user1487194234]

I think they have tried to prioritise,although there are anomalies
No real reason why weddings are different from pubs and other hospitality
Wedding industry business (it is a thing no need for quotes) is worth a lot
Obviously if they have to slow things down they will as they have this weekend
What else can they do keep everything shut until everything is safe
By which point the economy will be more fucked than it already is

[Qasd]

I think while the U.K. was uniquely bad to start with its path now is very similar to many other countries and the lesson (from Spain, Israel, Hong Kong, Australia) is it is devishily difficult to control This virus effectively without pretty serious social restrictions which are unrealistic in the long term. Maybe we opened pubs too quick but given Australia and Spain opened later and still had problems I genuinely don’t know what the answer is..more worryingly I am increasingly realising no one else really does either!

[sunseekin]

The ship has already sailed on getting every child into school. If that was the priority it needed to be from the outset, they’ve let coronavirus creep back in across the country now. Full return in September carries too many risks.

It’s not fair to expect parents to put their faith in the idea that their children mental and physical health are better cared for at school. I don’t trust that it’s anything more than an experiment. As you say, they’ll assess based on the impact - for some it would be too late.

We need a more cautious strategy that seeks to build up numbers. We need to be liaising with families to find out their needs - the vulnerable list will have grown not shrunk.

It’s a shambles.

[mackers1]

Why is it seen as chaos? We have to edge forward and stop fearing this virus.

As testing is made readily available to everyone, infections being diagnosed are bound to increase. As long as 111 calls, hospitalisations and deaths don't start increasing, then we are heading in the right direction. I know it's not a term liked on MN, but it will help to build community immunity.

if brakes need to be applied, it is solely to shielding the vulnerable. Protect the vulnerable should be behind everyone's thinking. So those of us that are prepared to risk getting on with their lives, ensure that you protect the vulnerable people that you know.

[sunseekin]

Because edging forward isn’t putting every child into a classroom and 🤞🤞🤞

[Isotope456]

I think the government are a incompetent but I'm unclear why you think opening up has been a "shambles". Furthermore, if we don't continue to open up (with sensible safety measures in place) pretty soon there won't be any money to keep schools open and fund the NHS.

[DomDoesWotHeWants]

It's the pub opening that has been a shambles locally. Maybe it isn't where other people live but here it's been chaos.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I agree. Schools should be top priority.

[Whoknowswhocares]

I wonder if they’ve done the fast opening deliberately, with the knowledge that they are likely to have to restrict or even close pubs etc more as weather conditions prevent the use of outdoor tables etc.
I could just about understand a logic that said ‘let’s get them open for a while and get them earning’ in the hope that it will be more likely that larger numbers of businesses survive the winter.
Especially as school opening isn’t an option until September anyway

[sunseekin]

@Whoknowswhocares I think you could be right, better to have a more controllable peak now than in the autumn/winter when it could grow far more rapidly.

[LeggyLinda]

With the exception of town centre pubs (which I can’t comment on) pubs around here seem to be safer than surgeries! Weird experience if you ask me.