To wonder whether it will be difficult to convince people to go back to normal once the restrictions end

[CruCru]

Supposedly more people are complying with the restrictions than anticipated. This, coupled with the massive STAY AT HOME campaign makes me wonder what people will do when the restrictions start to be lifted. On another thread, quite a few people said that, even if schools go back at some point in the summer term, they will refuse to send their children until September.

Do you think it possible that a chunk of the population will carry on acting as though they are in lock down, even once the restrictions start to be lifted?

As soon as it's safe to I will go out as normal i.e. work, children to school. I will still go to the cinema, pubs, shopping but not as regular as I used to. I think as soon as they say it's say to lift lockdown etc then we need to trust as we can't carry on living the way we are now forever

But then again I am not high risk or vulnerable. I might have a different view if I was

But how many people just exchange one indoors for another indoors doing some bit of useless shit like finding tax loopholes for the rich or thinking up vacuous slogans for vacuous marketing campaigns, selling bits of throwaway tat in shops, producing foodstuffs with no nutrition or inventing circular admin tasks for the sake of busy-ness. Is that a life well lived? How many people were being properly productive doing something that actually contributes to society?

Probably lots were not actually contributing to society but they're not exactly contributing to society if they're at home getting paid to not do those things either are they?

I'm a key worker and fully behind lockdown and recognise why people who can work from home should be. I also support furlough payments (although I think some businesses are taking the utter piss taking the handouts). However, as another poster said, there is only so long people (not high risk etc) can declare they're not prepared to go anywhere when lockdown is over while expecting others to enable that either financially or through the services key workers provide and perform. Apart from anything else, if we all die those people would be a bit fucked.

I don't think it will be rushed. They'll do the lifting of restrictions slowly. For example, they may open the non essential shops first and wait for a few weeks before moving onto the next thing to reopen. Each stage can be carefully monitored for any new infections of the virus and social distancing will probably still be in place during this time. It has been said that more than half the population will have probably had the virus by that point so there will be some level of immunity in place which will help keep the spread under control until they get the vaccination sorted. I'm hoping we dont go back to what was normal and we'll have a new normal. Society that existed pre CV was a very materialistic society. The majority of us expected things to be available whenever we wanted. We were also a throw away society. The community spirit has been lovely and I really hope it stays.. I love the social distancing especially at work as there are two people I work with who have no idea about personal space and still get too close.

It's very clear that some people on MN have been absolutely adoring lockdown. I think they'll be disappointed as society will go back to normal very, very quickly.

Some of the most hedonistic societies are those who've been through the toughest times as it breeds a "live for today" mentality. So the idea that we're all going to become mindful lentil-eaters is unlikely to become true.

@DDIJ if you think staying in doing nothing is not a life well lived, why are you not planning to go out once we can?

What about your children @DDIJ, don’t you want to go out with them?

How old are they @DDIJ?

I'm really hoping that schools do go back for at least part of the summer term. Supposedly far fewer people are working than had been anticipated - a lot of the people I know can't work because they need their children to be in school to do so.

I'm a housewife anyway so I'm used to being home most of the time. We aren't really close to our families and don't really have friends (just aquaintencies) so not really missing anyone. My dad causes me lots of stress and anxiety so I'm quite enjoying not having any contact.

The things we are missing the most are days out. Particularly the kids. So 1st things on our list will be a trip to the seaside, a theme park, that type of thing. Oh and my daughter wants a mcdonald's lol

I think all schools and workplaces should change their absence policies as it is not good forcing people in when they are poorly. I shall always now be very mindfulness of germs and I don't think I will want to physically touch people

I was somewhat agoraphobic before self isolation. Now I'm finding it really hard to go out even for essential meds. Going out freely will be really hard. Impossible even. We'll emerge to a new normal anyway. Life can't be the same again.

@IPityThePontipines

Some of the most hedonistic societies are those who've been through the toughest times as it breeds a "live for today" mentality. So the idea that we're all going to become mindful lentil-eaters is unlikely to become true

This is interesting. Can you point me at any reading material or links?

My reaction will be based on how well the government have contained the virus - evidence of extensive contract tracing, quaratining international arrivals and banning large events like the madrid football game.

Based on the terrible strategy so far I'm not seeing enough to give me confidence the risk of infection in low - in fact it is currently high. So I will be waiting for a vaccine or excellent containment from gov before returning to normal life. I think it is a severe pandemic and it's normal and sensible to protect yourself - as in other pandemics in history/ SARS/ ebola etc.

The biggest difference to my life is the loss of school, both the structure of the school runs and volunteering, and the loss of the children's extra curriculars (involved in volunteering for some of those too)

I don't tend to go for mass scale events, but I'm missing little things like the National Trust and museums.

I'd happily go back to normal as soon as it is viable. DH working from home is quite tolerable and he did it about 10 days early.
I like the "normality" of doing the supermarket shopping. Fortunately I'm good at long distance family and friendships so as long as I don't think too big, I can handle that day to day.

DS1 will be the challenge. He has ASD and he's loving the excess screen time and quiet life. What you want is not always what is best for you, and he will struggle most with returning to a busy life. I think there will be lots of meltdowns at the return to school stage.

We've both been working full time throughout, I'll be bloody glad to be able to go back to normal

The overwhelming majority of people will go back to work and send their kids to school to enable it, they won’t have the financial options not to or realise they can’t home educate appropriately.

However there is a small percentage of the population who will be too scared, who are struggling badly and ceasing to function normally and they will be highly resistant.

I think social distancing rules will maintain and people will over whelmingly comply because we have learned to, we know how to do it now.

But yes, there is a percentage of the population who have struggled badly mentally with it and who will resist as long as possible until they have no further options. Some might even do it for years.

I have been talking with a woman I do business with in South Korea. She tells they've been out of lockdown for some time and everything is back to "normal". But normal is now different from before. so there is social distancing, no large public gatherings yet, everyone is wearing masks, shops are quiet and you Q to go in. shops and all public places are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every day, people tend to do the minimum they need to & then go home.

So they aren't living under a lockdown and there is mobility and activity in the world but it's a lot more restrained.

Masks are widely available and affordable. She offered to send me some as she was horrified we weren't all wearing them.

I expect we will see similar modifications to our lifestyle here for some time too.

I'm living in a bubble in lockdown, wfh, online shopping deliveries only, daily walk only for a month now.

The psychological impact is frightening as even in that short time I've somehow got it into my head that if me or the kids get CV we'll die from it and associate being home with feeling 'safe'.

I literally feel sick at the idea of normal activity like soft play, school, shopping, swimming lessons etc. I have no idea how I'll react

Personally for me I would Like to get back to normal as soon as lockdown restrictions start to ease, I’m really missing dropping into see family, going to my friends for coffee, perusing the shops, going for a meal if we fancy it etc and I know all this won’t happen straight away but gradually it will and I’ll be there with bells on, all little things that add to the enjoyment of life for me

Oh and hairdressers and beauty therapists are a massive miss for me

I can't wait to get back to normal; I'll be straight out that door to see my family, boyfriend, friends. I doubt pubs, restaurants etc will open for a bit longer after that but I'll be happy to get back to normality or some sense of it
I've always been one to wash my hands for 30 seconds but I am hoping other people remember it too for at least 20, the amount of people I used to see leaving public restrooms and not even washing

It all depends on your circumstances doesn't it? If you can WFH then that's great and if your life is settled and you live with your loved ones then of course continuing to social distance will come more easily.
But if your job is not doable from home (mine isn't) or you're living away from your partner then it's going to be much harder to isolate for months on end. I for one can't wait to see friends and family again.

We’ve been discussing this at my work place and we’re going to continue running a skeleton staff on site with the majority working from home for the rest of the year. Thanks to Teams its perfectly possible.

As for going out, I’ll be out as soon as it’s allowed but wont be going anywhere near large crowds until next year.