To think things are feeling a lot more negative this past week

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... Just that really.

Maybe it's just me but I was starting to feel really hopeful and positive but something has shifted in the past week (delays / local lockdowns) and the future is feeling a lot bleaker!

Just me?

Definitely not just you, it felt like we were going in the right direction and now.....despair.

I fee the same. I live in one of the areas that's had stricter measures introduced and everything seems to bleak at the moment

It's not just you. I think the rising COVID numbers in certain areas and the press conference on Friday has made me realise what a fine line we are treading between keeping numbers low and opening things up. I'm also not feeling very confident about schools; I think we are in for a rough time until Christmas at least.

A second wave has been largely inevitable. It is just a matter of when. I'm just worried that the false confidence in rushing to open up by politicians and businesses will make it very hard to row back on anything. I'm worried we'll be sending our kids back to school in the middle of a second wave because the politicians fancy a dust up with the unions as well.

I'm wondering at what point we say a life lived like this is not worth living?

Can we really go a year or more where we never meet anyone new, where people living alone don't see anyone from one week to the next, where people's lives are effectively on hold?

YANBU and I just want things back to normal - not the 'new normal'
I am worried about going back to work (secondary school teacher) but don't want schools closed either. Not sure what the answer is.

I have no confidence in this government and I never felt we were going in the right direction . They have no idea what they're doing.

We'll end up with herd immunity when schools return anyway.

Any reason you couldn't post this in the coronavirus topic?

It's disappointing but, if behaviour in our area is reflected nationally, then it was obviously going to happen.

Around here, a large proportion of people seemed to take the change to 1m+ to mean they could go back to normal, conveniently forgetting that it was 1m+ where 2m wasn't feasible and other precautions such as masks should be worn in such circumstances. There have been gatherings greater than 6 and of multiple households.

Unless people start to wear masks properly and appropriately and are mindful of their behaviour and the risk of spreading the virus, then we are going to yo-yo in and out of restrictions/lockdown for some considerable time to come.

Yes, it's dire isn't it. I'm really fed up this week. I have zero confidence in the government to manage thus adequately. Hitherto we've had a full lockdown, the administration of which they just about coped with, but the sort of nuanced response needed going forwards is beyond them IMO.

Yanbu. I think that the devolved administrations are handling it better. I think that Westminster was too gung-ho. I really hope that schoolchildren (specifically in England) won’t pay the price. I worry for friends in hospitality too. And needless to say, I feel for those who will be unwell or bereaved by a second wave.

I think the uncertainty over what's going to happen this winter is weighing on me

patch I worry for the devolved regions - if they get to a position where citizens have greater freedom than in England because of an earlier/harder/clearer response this won't show Westminster in a good light, and I can't believe that Dom will permit that.

yes, my anxiety is high again with all this and the restrictions on opportunities for social interaction in the home really dont help, as houses are where i tend to feel most relaxed for seeing people. not good :/

YANBU it does feel a lot bleaker. I think a lot of people are still abiding by the guidance but I think a lot are just saying 'sod it' because they have had enough.

Reports in the news today of police breaking up a house/street party in London that had 160 attendees. Packed out beaches. Round here, police prevented another illegal rave the other day. Plenty of people meeting in pubs/cafes etc.

I honestly don't know what the answer is.

@Hopoindown31

A second wave has been largely inevitable. It is just a matter of when. I'm just worried that the false confidence in rushing to open up by politicians and businesses will make it very hard to row back on anything. I'm worried we'll be sending our kids back to school in the middle of a second wave because the politicians fancy a dust up with the unions as well.

Talking with family members yesterday we realized that none of us know what is meant by a second wave. What is the definition?

Has the government defined it in some way, is it Number of cases or hospital admissions? I've gone along with using the phrase and only now realise I don't know what exactly we're looking at to be able to say that it has or hasn't happened.

What does everyone mean by it?

@Grottyfeet

I'm wondering at what point we say a life lived like this is not worth living?

Can we really go a year or more where we never meet anyone new, where people living alone don't see anyone from one week to the next, where people's lives are effectively on hold?

Back in April for me.

It's not that I'm not taking this seriously. It's just that none of the other nasties in life have gone away. People are still suffering and dying from heart disease, dementia, strokes, cancers and all the other health complicating and life limiting conditions. Plustheir access to care has got worse, which means mortality rates not directly connected to covid are likely to be worse over the next few years.

Plus the deterioration of mental health, increases in obesity and sedentary lifestyles. People working from home tend to add the saved commute time to their work time not their personal life. They aren't passing the gym. They don't have competitive events to train for. There is a significant proportion of people without significant, specific health concerns who 4.5 months in are still terrified to leave their homes.

I lost my dad suddenly in childhood. It made me determined to live life to the full because you never know when it will end, and to live healthily to give myself the best chance I can.

I'm in my prime. I don't want to waste these years.
DM is elderly, she may not have years to waste.
My children are young and childhood doesn'y have spare years to waste shut away lonely, under stimulated and under educated.

My family is only just feeling out of lockdown now it's the summer holidays and the inequality of school provision has paused. The first half of July I felt upbeat with new opportunities. That has been unravelling through the second half of July.

In the meantime, I will do what I can to enjoy the summer and try not to dwell on the winter months which are harder going even in normal times

Definitely not just you. I've been quite rational about it all but just have a sinking feeling this week. It's the uncertainty again.

I’m fearful of a second wave and being unable to see family again. Except this time it will be in winter. All the indoor kids stuff to do will be (still be shut) and it will be peeing down with rain so we won’t be able to enjoy being outdoors. When the first wave kicked off I was heavily pregnant and looking after a toddler this time I will have a 6 month old baby and a toddler to amuse all day with no where to go and no money and no family support

I don’t know why people suddenly feel that now, it never went away for me. It was clear this was not over and would get worse at some point. Despite many people returning virtually to normal life, it was always there and this was inevitable so I’m surprised that people are shocked by this now

I suppose a month or so ago I could try to believe it might all be over by Christmas. I've woken up and accepted it won't be now

Completely agree, and I am just so ANGRY at the people who are behaving like the virus has just gone away, refuse to wear masks, congregate in large groups at clearly already overcrowded pubs and beaches, don't social distance, refuse to stick to quarantine, feel that somehow they are special and don't need to follow the rules etc because ultimately they are affecting everyone.

Yes the government are shit and have handled a lot badly (don't get me started on DC) but we all have a part to play and people's behaviour will be a key reason things get scaled back, local lockdowns occur, schools going back properly is put at jeopardy etc

The pure short sightedness of the selfish people is so frustrating

Am in Leicester. Still in a sort of lockdown situation where cannot go to others houses. Kind of got used to it but .... can't see it changing anytime soon.

Yes, same here. I'm north of the border. I think maybe people had been working on the assumption that things might feel a bit more normal by the end of the year, but now that there are local restrictions and rising cases again (which we were warned about, to be fair) it's becoming clear what a long slog this will be. Quite a few people are saying that 2020 is basically a write off but what about 2021? I'm just hoping that my kids can go back to school, in the short term, and grateful that for the moment I still have ajob.

Nervous as the police and the government seem to be losing control. There are a lot of people blatantly breaking rules, with police not coming down hard enough. Protests, illegal raves parties and get together - people just sticking their middle fingers up at authority. Police need to get tougher or the lunatics are going to be taking over the asylum, and then we will all be screwed.