If there was another pandemic in your lifetime...

[GoodChat]

Would you follow all the rules as stringently as you did the first time around?

I was thinking about this today. I was completely law abiding the first time round - followed every single rule and guideline they put in place.

I had a 9 month old at the start of lockdown so it was nice to spend more time with her as I'd just come off maternity leave and then got furloughed. We were basically living in a little bubble and it was lovely.

I was made redundant which was crap, but it also opened up new opportunities for me and now I'm in a completely new industry, with a far better work life balance and better pay for a more relaxed life.

But... I now have an 18 month old and an almost 4 year old. I can't imagine only leaving the house for an hour a day and not being able to take them to parks etc. I don't know how people managed it. I think those who did are incredible. My mental health was battered by the end and I still get wary of groups in enclosed spaces without masks - even though I'm not scared of catching anything.

I also think any kind of lockdown/furlough scheme etc would destroy the economy beyond repair if it were to happen in the next 50 years or so. I imagine more people would die from poverty than die from infection next time.

I don't think id cope with a pandemic being managed as it was last time, and I don't think I could trust the government with the complete mockery they made of us before.

I think I'd approach it the next time with a stiff British upper lip of "keep calm and carry on".

What do you think? What did you do before and what would you do again? Would you be as fearful as you were at the start of covid?

Where do you live? From what I could see if what we were told about other European countries eg Spain, France, our rules weren't so different ? Eg I know in Spain children were isolated in their homes and count even go out, people with dogs could only take them to the end of their roads and later people wire face masks outside - all harsher than anywhere in the UK - and not forgetting the different regulations in England, Wales, Scotland .

I would abide by the rules, especially if I thought my child was at risk. We are lucky though at the moment, dh can work from home and we have a decent garden.

Honestly don't know.

Many of the later restrictions did seem unnecessary( or went on to long ) and not backed by science - which subsequently information leaks do seem to confirm.

However next likely one is flu - and asthma and flu aren't great combination and our older relatives are just going to be older and frailer - plus it's even less likely rest of population will follow any guidance which increases risk to vunerable.

Sure, but you could also argue that the elderly have contributed all their lives, spent decades providing and caring for us younger people, and deserve better than their premature deaths being dismissed with a wave of the hand and an "I'm alright Jack".

What I'm trying to say is that some people people behaved revoltingly towards the minorities that were most affected by this pandemic, and although, as I indicated, I wouldn't actually do what I described, it would be tempting to highlight that behaviour by showing how the same kind of thing looks when it's directed at a different minority.

I would. You're talking with the benefit of hindsight, if that black fungus or the nosebleed death or whatever became a problem here, you'd be scared and stay in.

My DC were roughly the age of yours in the pandemic, I tried to make them keep distance on pavements etc. There were rules saying how many kids could be in a park or piece of equipment at once, it was bonkers but I followed it.

What we didn't follow was the one hour a day thing, going to a nature reserve/open parkland where we wouldn't see anyone close up and staying as long as we wanted was a no brainer in terms of risk.

Yup same here. Nearly gave myself a breakdown

No I wouldn’t be keen to follow rules like that again

@SueVineer No one was keen first time round

People followed the rules because they didn't want to get seriously sick when hospitals were overloaded, or be responsible for someone else being sick (esp loved ones, older people etc)

If there was a bug that made you likely to die of a nosebleed and the hospitals were so full that you'd be likely to die of it, you'd follow the rules if that meant you'd reduce your risk

I don't know. My first reaction is 'fuck that' but given how terrified I was around this time three years ago... I'd likely do exactly as I'm told!

What about the people furloughed from hospitality on 80% of minimum wage and unable to access the overtime hours they normally relied on? Or the single mum with a low level clerical job that has been moved to WFH and who still needs to work full time hours whilst supervising her 3 children?

Not everyone who worked from home was middle class with a big house and garden.

Well obviously no because covid wasn’t only pandemic and how we (and governments) handle it differs by the disease. 🤷‍♀️

I thought that would be self-evident.

I.like u followed the rules. Was without face to company during lockdown as I live one and it nearly broke me. Dark days. Partner was in a different country and consequently we were apart. If it happened again and a mate invited me to stay with them.i would. Having to wait fir bubbles was inhumane.

Yes, because I’m not an asshole and I have a PhD in public health and recognised that the COVID lockdowns (while massively shit) we’re necessary to protect vulnerable people.

Same as I support a strong welfare state that takes care of families and vulnerable people who need additional support by the government, I’m happy to not go to get my hair done or go for a meal at the pub for a few weeks.

Dh and I were affected by lockdown (Dh self employed in an industry that needs people going out and about) and I’m in education (so was doing a lot of online teaching with my 2 dc including a toddler at home, because our local school/preschool didn’t provide support for children of key workers). We managed and we came out the other end fine. I’ve worked with children in my career who have been through horrific stuff and lockdown just isn’t that, I’m the absence of other abuse and neglect. Was a massive PITA though!

I hope there’s not another pandemic as the idiots would make it so much worse this time

The idiots were the ones who allowed lockdown to happen and who slavishly went along with the rules.

The nightingale hospitals, the crisis in Italy early in the pandemic seem to be forgotten. Who in their right mind thinks drastic steps weren't needed at the time.

I followed every rule. I wouldn't again. Unless you shouted it from the rooftops who would know anyway? So I'd wear a mask if told. But if people was willing to meet up sensibly? I would do it.

The nightingale hospital they built near us was never used. I don't know about elsewhere.

They weren't used, thank god. But at the time no one knew how it would pan out. It was part of preparing for the worst.

When no one knew what would happen, lockdown was the obvious way to try and reduce contact and therefore spread

I mean, also in a fresh pandemic you'd hope they'd have learned from the last one. Eg what restrictions are reasonable to impose, have an actual effect etc.

I doubt they'd repeat exactly the same approach as last time.

It depends on so many things. If it was a virus like Ebola, I certainly would abide every law and guidance.

By later in the pandemic it was obvious that so many of the rules were rubbish. I was a scared and a fan of the rules in beginning. It actually makes me feel a bit sick when I think of how much I backed the authorities without question in the beginning.

Here in Australia I lived in one of the less impacted states but got caught up in the drama of listening to press conferences from other states and was shocked that people were leaving their 5 km zone or having clandestine gatherings to play video games and eat KFC. I was such a smug rule follower. Victoria actually lost it’s mind with outdoor mask wearing and seemingly endless lockdowns. Slowly I started to see through the fear that the governments and media were using to get people to comply and how police power was abused.

I would comply.

My friend's husband (mid 40s) was struggling to breathe with covid in March 2020 - she said it was terrifying and they couldn't get an ambulance for him.

A neighbour (60s) was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and was there for months. She has made a recovery now, but it has been slow and difficult.

A friend's mum (60s) died after catching covid (from my friend) at a small birthday gathering after the lockdowns.

I'd want to keep my family safe until we knew what we were dealing with.

I would follow the rules again if there was a chance of the NHS being overwhelmed or to protect others. I absolutely followed them during covid.
What I would be very mindful of is how the people who had to continue going into work have been shat on from a great height since the pandemic. It was quite scary in the beginning but we did it. All the clapping amounts to nothing when you have to strike to try to pay your bills.
I won't forget that, but I'll still do what I need to in order to protect others.

If there a some sort of flesh eating ebola horror doing the rounds, I guarantee you WILL be staying indoors.

People always chuck this about. If it was a more serious illness people would know they had it and it’d be a lot easier to contain.

I wouldn’t but I suspect most people would lap up the propaganda again just like this time.

I doubt they'd repeat exactly the same approach as last time.

I think they would. The fear porn worked an absolute treat.