AIBU to think lockdown must continue

[whacks493]

I have previously posted threads about how I feel about schools and children staying at home now I have started to see more stories like this snippet taken from BBC

A mysterious illness believed to be linked to Covid-19 has killed three children in New York state, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

The governor described the illness as a “new” syndrome that caused inflammation of blood vessels, leading to possible heart problems.

Cuomo said health authorities were reviewing 73 similar cases of children across the state.

Many of the children did not display symptoms commonly associated with Covid-19 but later tested positive for the disease or the antibodies it produces.

The three deaths may indicate the virus poses a more severe risk to young people than previously thought, Cuomo said.

Surely all those saying this virus is not dangerous to children need to start having a rethink. The Spanish Flu was dangerous to kids in its first peak and the second peak affected adults more. Lets hope this is not the same kind of thing.

Agree that its ok for some people . My friend reckons we need lockdown until we get a vaccine, shes being idiotic. It's ok for her as shes furloughed from a teaching agency earning 1.6k a month for doing fuck all. She also lives with her parents so no bills. She doesn't seem to grasp that no government, let alone a tory one, will bankroll the public forever.
People need to get moving.

And if you’ve lost your job due to covid how would opening schools change anything for you other than not having to look after your children?

Erm, because you’ll be able to go out and look for another one.

I can’t imagine employers being in a big rush to hire people with caring responsibilities and no childcare right now.

Ifyou have no job you’re entitled to full universal credit. No one is being left with no money. Is your point that you can’t afford to live on UC despite child and housing elements and a basic rate that has been increased due to the pandemic?

What about the self employed? I stand to lose a lot more than a job if this lockdown goes on any longer. Including a roof for my children's heads.
It's not as simple as that. The answer to your question also being yes.

@TheHoneyBadger have you ever been on Universal Credit?

I have. It's not sustainable long term. If you have a mortgage you are not entitled to any of the housing element. The majority of private landlords won't accept it either. And if you are entitled to the housing element, it is not enough to cover rent in most areas due to private rent costs being so high.

Yes I have. I am a lone parent, work part time due to health problems and earn little enough to qualify for some UC. I haven’t starved. Starving to death is massive hyperbole

I'm desperate for my DC to get back to school as they aren't coping. They don't have a parent who is able to spend quality time with them and home school. We are blessed to have jobs but both working FT means little time for them & negligible education

I haven’t starved.

Well I’m glad. That is a low bar though.

Most people would like to keep the roof over their head too.

If you have no job you’re entitled to full universal credit. No one is being left with no money. Is your point that you can’t afford to live on UC despite child and housing elements and a basic rate that has been increased due to the pandemic?

And if you have a mortgage you're screwed, you don't get a house element. It's not enough to live on for a lot, that's why foodbank use has increased since its introduction. Minimum five-week wait still applies. Private landlords often don't want anyone in receipt of and with even with increased housing element it's quite commonly enough to cover the rent.

Agreed OP. Although not for the same reasons as you.

People talk of 'Lockdown'. No - this wasn't a Lockdown. Boris could have implemented a proper Lockdown & curfew - but he didn't. UK ports have remained open right thru. People were flouting lockdown guidelines all over the place, with no consequences. & They were guidelines, not compulsory rules.

If there had been a Lockdown I'd say yes, children should go back to school. But there hasn't been; my DCs are grown up but if they were school-aged I wouldn't be sending them back either.

Boris is a disgrace. He is utterlyincapable of leadership and making a firm, clear decision. He needs to say something to reassure parents right now and yeah, it will be difficult but that does not mean it can't be done.

I agree @whacks493 there's no way my dc are going back to school anytime soon. I think it is good our schools understand there are vulnerable children who need school for many reasons, but my children don't and have a safe and loving home. There's no way I'm sending them back before it is safe to do so. We do have an added complication as I have a child with various disabilities who has a very weakened immune system. But that's only part of it for me, I'd feel the same even without that added factor.

It's pointless it's about time people got real lockdown is not a solution it briefly presses pause. Doesn't matter how long you lockdown for it will rock as soon as its lifted.

I do wonder about working parents and whether when schools and workplaces re-open - would you rely on your employers' goodwill to keep your job open, or not to place you on unpaid leave? Bearing in mind employers will also have taken a big financial hit and I somehow think that's going to impact women more than it does men, generally.

I think some people don't really understand how a lockdown works or that it has to take place on a collective, cooperative basis to be effective.

Unfortunately as the UK has only had a mild version of the lockdown and hundreds of people headed to parks, beaches, VE parties etc this weekend, in two weeks time there will be another spike in cases and we’ll be back where we started.

I have often disagreed with @Parker231, but in this she is spot on.

As you must be aware banks have been told to offer mortgage holidays and frankly you’re already benefiting from over a decade of crazy low interest rates whilst non home owners have seen rocketing rents and any savings depreciating with interest rates lower than inflation.

I rent privately and anyone renting privately has a tenancy agreement. Landlords can’t throw you out if you start receiving uc. More hyperbole.

Society can’t constantly be punished for the sake of mortgage holders who’ve overstretched. You may also want to consider equity release. It’s an asset you hold and an investment that pays off.

As you must be aware banks have been told to offer mortgage holidays

3 months will hardly touch the sides of those in industries like travel, events, hospitality. I could go on and on.

frankly you’re already benefiting from over a decade of crazy low interest rates

Relevance of this? Not something anyone has any actual control over. The corollary of this has been rising house prices.

Society can’t constantly be punished for the sake of mortgage holders who’ve overstretched

Who has ‘over stretched’? Banks have been much stricter in their lending.

What happened was that they didn’t see the deepest, fastest recession in the history of the modern economy that has essentially shut down a range of industries. Shoot them now.

Relevance is if I’d had over a decade of low interest I would have been overpaying my mortgage and or saving heavily ready for interest rates to return to normal levels.

And three months without paying mortgage is not to be sniffed at.

People in hospitality eg pubs won’t be going back to work till July earliest whether lockdown is lessened tomorrow or in 6 weeks time.

Are you really saying that people’s mortgages, aka lucrative retirement investments paid for with virtually no interest, should come before public health? Three months of no rent to pay and either 80% of your income or enhanced benefits and you think you’re at crisis point. You don’t know you’re born.