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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we are heading for a full 2 week national half term lockdown

594 replies

Midlifelights · 04/10/2020 13:15

DS’s school ramping up the preparation to teach on MS teams & making sure they can all use it & have the tech in place.

Teachers indicating that it’s going to be half term plus another couple of weeks after.

Given the rising numbers, it’s seems more likely that’s what’s coming - and maybe even a full lockdown this time & not the half arsed one we had before.

Aibu? I am worried as my kids really hated it last time but with so many new cases, it just seems the likely path

OP posts:
Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:41

How will people afford to eat ?

Universal Credit
Millions are already having to claim it, including me. It isn't a lot but you can eat

BikeTyson · 05/10/2020 17:42

You can eat, you’ll just lose your home. But you can eat.

MadameBlobby · 05/10/2020 17:43

If anyone think that’s the UC system can cope with a tsunami of millions of claims they have more faith in it than I do.

Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:43

You can eat, you’ll just lose your home. But you can eat
Why would you lose your home?

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 05/10/2020 17:45

@Flaxmeadow

You can eat, you’ll just lose your home. But you can eat Why would you lose your home?
Do universal credit pay your mortgage?
Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:47

Do universal credit pay your mortgage?

www.gov.uk/housing-and-universal-credit/property-you-own

NRatched · 05/10/2020 17:48

@CrappleUmble

After this, something needs to be thought up for a way to support people who have to isolate for 2 weeks. As otherwise, many simply cannot afford to do so, and no matter how much people shout at them that they are selfish and horrible, they still cannot afford to take indefinite 2 weeks off work. Yeah, some people can and find it selfish if others can't, but if you had a choice between staying home for 2 weeks on the offchance you had covid and thus losing your home and job, or taking the chance that you are fine and keeping your income and roof..most would take option 2. Many will say they would disagree and would chose to lose their lifelike in favour of 'the greater good', but in the actual situation, they wouldn't.

Yep. People don't stay at home in large numbers unless their bills are paid while they do it, one way or another. Whining and moralising about this doesn't make it any less true.

Quite. Taking any potential future 'lockdown' out of the equation, this should be THE priority now surely? Get something in place to enable people to be more likely to be able to isolate as asked to. Else, it all falls at the first hurdle.
SoUtterlyGroundDown · 05/10/2020 17:48

So I can get help with my mortgage in 39 weeks time?

bigmumsymcgraw · 05/10/2020 17:48

Universal Credit do not help with mortgage payments unless you have claimed it for 9 consecutive months and earned zero in the 9 months

BikeTyson · 05/10/2020 17:49

Why would you lose your home?

Because it’s entirely possible to have a spouse earning above the limit for any support but not enough to pay the mortgage and all the bills on their salary alone.

NRatched · 05/10/2020 17:50

As of course just shouting at them or lambasting them in headlines for being horrible people who want the elderly to all die, or whatever, will not change the situation for them, nor make them more able to isolate. It just makes them feel worse, while they try to keep their heads above water.

nuitdesetoiles · 05/10/2020 17:51

I bought into the first lockdown as we were led to believe it was a short, sharp intervention to curb the hospital admissions and deaths. And it dragged on and on and on. The harm of the lockdown already exceeds covid harms and the resultant spike in infections in the UK, France and Spain proves that not only do lockdowns not work they cause irreparable harm.

Lots of individuals won't be able to afford this one. My DH is a contractor he's had one day off sick in 20 years as he only gets paid for the days he goes in. His engineers are unlikely to "obey" any quarantine directives as 2 weeks of no salary risks them being unable to put a roof over their heads and food on the table for them and their families. I know full well that of my family were at risk of that (we're not fortunately currently) I'd go and earn money as the spectre of poverty is far greater than a viral infection that, like the vast majority of the population we're at very low risk from. Call me selfish of you want but the lockdown advocates seem completely unable to take on differing perspectives and just screech "selfish!" at every turn..

Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:52

It depends on your assets. But it's the same wether we are a pandemic or not. The rules haven't changed

But the question I was answering was about being able eat.

munchkinman · 05/10/2020 17:52

Schools were supposed to be using teams from the first lockdown so that in itself means a nothing. My children have every lesson also on teams. I have no doubt we will be in full lockdown soon though.

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 05/10/2020 17:53

@Flaxmeadow

It depends on your assets. But it's the same wether we are a pandemic or not. The rules haven't changed

But the question I was answering was about being able eat.

Well I guess people can choose between whether to eat or whether to pay their mortgage.
Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:53

Because it’s entirely possible to have a spouse earning above the limit for any support but not enough to pay the mortgage and all the bills on their salary alone

Then you might have to sell and rent.

There are loans from UC for people with mortgages

Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:55

Well I guess people can choose between whether to eat or whether to pay their mortgage.

UC does have schemes and loans for people with mortgages. You'd have to look it up on the websites

Aragog · 05/10/2020 17:55

Schools were supposed to be using teams from the first lockdown

There was absolutely NOTHING in the guidance which said that schools need to use Teams, or any other learning package for that matter.
Infact the initial guidance was that the curriculum was suspended and that the Government were going to be providing some form of online and on screen curriculum materials instead.

MollyMinniesMum · 05/10/2020 17:55

It’s gonna happen

H007 · 05/10/2020 17:57

We are in the South West and things are pretty good at the moment, I’d be really annoyed if we are forced into lockdown because other areas are really high.

Flaxmeadow · 05/10/2020 17:58

...the problem ATM isnt so much to eat and and roof over your head. It's more that because its winter, the heating bills will be a big problem

Many people on UC will be looking at not heating their home all winter. But that was true before the pandemic

Lisa82sim · 05/10/2020 18:01

Borris said in March, that we would only ever be able to have one national lockdown and this was a once in a lifetime possibility...to make the most of following the advice as we would never be able to have another. Money doesn't grow on trees... If we lockdown and businesses fail then we are all out of a job and no benefits as no one is paying into the system. Basically... Your killing the whole economy... Get used to being poor for the rest of your life. This is why I don't see a national lockdown happening because we couldn't afford to. Not because its not needed. Plus if they had sense they would realise that the first lockdown didn't work... We open back up and the virus is back... Second and third and fourth lockdown will just be the same. Which is why we just need to live with the virus. Could take 15 - 20 years to get a vaccine based on other vaccine time scales.
My kid isn't at school. He's having to quarantine 2 weeks because his teacher has it. When he goes back he has 5 days of school then the school holidays so I can't see them shitting schools nationally. Too many people will be with little education... Thankfully I do 5 hours school work with him everyday

FelicisNox · 05/10/2020 18:03

If it's the safest thing to do I'm all for it.

This middle of the road crap gets right on my nerves: pick a bloody side and stick to it.

Bebs677 · 05/10/2020 18:05

Honestly, I'd be really surprised. I just don't think we can afford the economic damage and I think they will do everything to avoid it. We are going to have to start living with this somehow. It could be with us for years and you can't just keep shutting down people's lives and incomes in indefinite loops.