At the end of the three weeks

[Changedname78]

What will happen? Obviously things will take a long time to go back to complete normality but will shops re open? Will people be able to go back to work ?

I think theyll tighten things up and make the lockdown even stricter at the 3 week review. The message just isnt getting through enough just now

Probably until August, September time, schools reopen then. We have booked a caravan holiday for a October in anticipation of a break in lockdown then.

Sadly, I think @Southsideowl is spot on.

12 weeks I reckon. As a minimum

The virus is just a virus.
The stringent-lockdown-no assembly measures are another thing.
No vote of confidence? No elections? No protests because they are public gatherings? No dissent of any kind?
There might never be any other party in power ever again.
But hey, at least some elderly and vulnerable people got a few more days of Piers Moron...

Despite what I think should happen, I believe you can't keep people in a lockdown for an interminable amount of time. People will push back. There'll be a revolt. It's not a natural state for people. And whilst I value human life above everything, economically, if we continue in a semi permanent state of shutdown for a long period, we'll emerge with a crumbling economy/society that will see unbearable levels of unemployment, a destroyed health care and increased suicides; untilmately, a (different) massive set of problems that will cause huge swathes of deaths in other ways

I disagree. IF - and it's a big IF - people do as they are told then there is a chance restrictions can be slightly lifted in 3 weeks time. We wont be back to anything like normal and anyone in a high risk category will still be required to stay in.

At the moment everywhere is in lockdown because otherwise everyone would flee to places that could not cope. In 3 weeks I think we'll see different geographic restrictions and maybe the sort of traffic light system other places have had so those who have had the virus are free to do a lot more.

Agree with Southside. Can people seriously expect a country to grind to a halt for months on end? To pay people’s wages, pause children’s education and confine people to their homes? Like it or not, people won’t adhere to it.

The whole point is that we can't just get rid of the virus. If we lock down for 6 months, it will come straight back, unless you ban all flights forever. We are all going to get infected, it's just a case of not doing it all at the same time.

The Imperial study said some form of restrictions (may be less strict after few weeks) till May/June, then July/August let people go out and enjoy themselves - this is the best time for a second smaller wave as NHS is least busy and also sunlight/warm weather will help with virus. Then when it re-emerges, do more restrictions in September/October but hopefully much better prepared this time round.

Until there is a vaccine

The virus won't come back just the same as the initial wave. Firstly, lots of people will now be immune, which will slow the spread. Secondly, there will be widespread testing available in the next few weeks. Thirdly, treatment and a vaccine will both be ready in coming months.

Current estimates put the peak somewhere around easter, so, that's in around 4 weeks at least Maundy Thursday is 2 weeks today. Easter will be well over in 4 weeks.

I know that isn't the point, just wanted to point out Easter is closer than you think.

A vaccine is about 12-18 months away. Clinical trials take forever because you really, really don't want to get it wrong - like thalidomide. Vaccines are relatively quick but a standard drug is about 10-15 years from lab to being sold. The testing and hoop-jumping and rigorous documentation they have to go through is immense.

I think waves of varying restrictions around soft lockdown. Hopefully not a hard, don't leave the house at all lockdown. This will be months. I'll be pleasantly surprised if the DCs are back at school before September.

I could do with access to clothes shops at some point; the DCs are growing like weeds (and online is beyond useless for a very lean, very sensitive sensory child!)

I expect an extension to the three weeks.

Someone walked past my window earlier talking loudly on the phone saying 'I actually wish I was sick now so I could just get it over with and go back to normal....'...

Couldn't help but think that could be alot of peoples attitude right now...and if not now, then certainly in the coming week or so...until it unfortunately hits home.

We really seem to be a nation of 'that'll never happen to me's'....'bad things happen to other people'....

I do worry for the shock element some people are facing-

It's 12 weeks at this level or tighter is people play up. That is what is already planned. They are just easing us in.

50,000 deaths v a destroyed economy ofr a generation. Escalation of MH issues.

66m people in the UK. I'll risk death, including mine.

Longer than 6 weeks and there will be civil unrest and the MH wards will collapse.

@Taddda, but most people who get it will not end up in hospital or suffer hugely. The Daily Mail can print the giant face of the youngest victim of the day, but for every one of those there are thousands of symptomless people. Look at the stats from the Diamond Princess. We just don't know who here has already had it because we haven't tested.

swprs.org/a-swiss-doctor-on-covid-19/

*50,000 deaths v a destroyed economy ofr a generation. Escalation of MH issues.

66m people in the UK. I'll risk death, including mine.*

Me too. The vulnerable relative people are saving today may be dead next year from austerity, meaning they can't pay their heating bills, might have less/no state pension and a 10 hour wait in A&E because there is no money left for the NHS after we had to bail out every company.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow, I agree but not a popular opinion around here. People prepared to completely decimate the economy to save their relatives, not realising that austerity will be the biggest killer of all.

I think it will be 12 weeks and they will eek it out in cribs and drabs because people won’t cope with being told 12 weeks all at once.

I’m hearing it more and more bejing.

At the end of the three weeks another period of shutdown will be announced.