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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:
MadameBlobby · 04/10/2020 15:52

I don’t think so @bettsbattenburg, given I haven’t actually broken any rules at all at the current time. The people of this country have made huge sacrifices whilst the Margaret Ferriers of this world go around doing what the hell they like on our coin.

HesterShaw1 · 04/10/2020 15:53

@FourTeaFallOut

Hospital admissions and deaths are rising Confused
But they ALWAYS DO at this time of year!
FourTeaFallOut · 04/10/2020 15:55

Covid hospital admissions and deaths are higher.

EvaHoffman · 04/10/2020 15:55

Teachers don't know anything more than anyone else though. It's not like we are getting secret briefings. Teachers are getting prepared just in case.

HesterShaw1 · 04/10/2020 15:56

Is that admissions with or because of Covid?

Who is being admitted?

Where did they contract it?

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 04/10/2020 15:57

Just out of interest, why do so many people call it ‘Marshall law’?

NRatched · 04/10/2020 15:58

@Midlifelights

As in, the last one the rules were unclear, it probably wasn’t strict enough- my friends in Spain couldn’t leave their house at all apart from shopping & medicine - no daily exercise etc. I really don’t want another one but the last one was exceptionally blurry in so many ways
And Spain shot up with cases as soon as it was relaxed. As will always happen, regardless of how 'strict' the lockdown is. As soon as people mix, even if following 'rules' the infection rate will rise. The problem is we didn't act soon enough, and now are stuck really. Lckdown will pause it all temporarily, but as soon as its relaxed, numbers will rise again, and again, and again.
Tyranttoddler · 04/10/2020 15:58

@EvaHoffman

Teachers don't know anything more than anyone else though. It's not like we are getting secret briefings. Teachers are getting prepared just in case.
This. Don't base anything on what we are doing. No one tells schools anything 👍
napody · 04/10/2020 15:58

@MarcelineMissouri

It’s possible but not based on what schools are doing. They don’t know any more than anyone else and are just trying to cover themselves for future possibilities.
This. Schools have absolutely zero inside info at all.
Disconnect · 04/10/2020 15:58

@noblegiraffe

It'll be tough selling a nationwide lockdown to the South East and West were infections are much lower.
Yes, exactly. I think they really need to tackle the reasons why infections are higher and rising more in the NE/NW/some Midlands areas/some London areas/Wales etc. There are some difficult facts to point out and some tricky political/economic decisions to make at a local level. It isn't about being unfair to those areas. No-one in those areas wants high circulating virus levels do they?
NandosPeriometer · 04/10/2020 15:59

My area in the Home Counties has low cases and hospital admissions and is normally a very Tory area so I'll be surprised if they lock down nationally because it cannot get much lower than what it is right now.

LakieLady · 04/10/2020 15:59

work places seem to be making people go in - know quite a few who did work from home fine but work is still making them all go in now as its too wooolly on the 'guidance'

DP's manager started making noises about them going back to the office and he flatly refused, and refused to ask his team to do it. Then the advice went back to "wfh if you can" and made the issue go away.

I think employers who pressure staff to go in when it's not essential and wfh doesn there's no impact on service delivery should be ashamed of themselves tbh. There's no chance of keeping the infection rate down if people are being unnecessarily forced back into workplaces.

Viv0321 · 04/10/2020 15:59

Will theme parks etc be open if the schools close? As if they do, What’s the point?

FourTeaFallOut · 04/10/2020 16:00

Why would the number of covid deaths rise five fold over the course of a month if it was simply dying with covid? Have the number of other deaths risen five fold to account for the uniformity of dying WITH covid? Shot in the dark, but I'm guessing - no?

AlternativePerspective · 04/10/2020 16:01

Right now cases are very stable, no increase over the last week you’re wrong. Nearly 13k cases yesterday, and even if you factor in the fact that there are some unreported cases in there that is still about 1000 cases more a day than were previously reported.

As for things which might work, if you want to compare countries who had lockdown and how they’ve managed afterwards, the best example is Italy.

Their figures have stayed stable because A, their lockdown was incredibly strict, and B, when people came out of lockdown, they stuck to the rules, precisely because the lockdown was so strict.

Mask wearing needs to be clamped down on hard. There should be a system where if you’re exempt you need a certificate from a doctor to prove it. Otherwise all and sundry are claiming they’re exempt and no-one is allowed to question that. I have 0 doubt that the majority of people claiming they’re exempt aren’t and that they just don’t like wearing a mask.

Dish out more on the spot fines for those who don’t wear masks.

Make people adhere to the rules. Pubs who don’t social distance should be shut down. Pubs who don’t take track and trace details should be shut down. People who don’t quarantine should be fined, with additional fines if they haven’t quarantined and have infected someone.

AlternativePerspective · 04/10/2020 16:05

As for areas with low case numbers, instead of locking those down, ban travel to and from those areas to prevent people with the virus coming into those areas and people leaving the areas and coming back with the virus...

unchienandalusia · 04/10/2020 16:05

Gosh I hope not. Kicking the can down the road springs to mind.

Redlocks28 · 04/10/2020 16:08

Teacher know no more than anyone else-we find out changes about schools on the telly announcements like everyone else.

I do think that the latest guidelines about making online learning a legal requirement from the 22nd strongly suggests something is afoot though.

dementedma · 04/10/2020 16:09

It is very much on the agenda here in Scotland but going to be harsh on the areas where there is little infection. Round here you have more chance of being hit by a bus than contracting Covid.
Leisure sector hoping for a decent half term to make up for a shit summer will be finished.

Disconnect · 04/10/2020 16:10

As for things which might work, if you want to compare countries who had lockdown and how they’ve managed afterwards, the best example is Italy There was a section on the news yesterday/Friday about Italy. They are making widespread use of those quick tests - while the UK can't even reach the point of approving them. This massive rapid testing capacity in Italy is clearly making a huge difference. I wonder if the government are reluctant because the testing and results are then at a local level that they can't control. I wonder where the profit goes (with this government, follow the money to see why decisions are made).
I despair - this country is stuck in the testing stone ages.

ThrawnCow · 04/10/2020 16:11

Schools were directed weeks ago to get online learning ready for the end of September. It's a contingency measure, not a sign.

MadameBlobby · 04/10/2020 16:11

@dementedma

It is very much on the agenda here in Scotland but going to be harsh on the areas where there is little infection. Round here you have more chance of being hit by a bus than contracting Covid. Leisure sector hoping for a decent half term to make up for a shit summer will be finished.
I’m not sure that’s accurate about it being on the cards here. It was Jason Leitch who said it would be ineffective due to the R number, plenty of places have started their October holiday already, and NS said not to go abroad in the October holidays she didn’t say anything about not going away in the U.K.
NandosPeriometer · 04/10/2020 16:13

@AlternativePerspective

As for areas with low case numbers, instead of locking those down, ban travel to and from those areas to prevent people with the virus coming into those areas and people leaving the areas and coming back with the virus...
Or they could reintroduce the no overnight stays away from home rule (with support bubbles being exempt)
JalapenoDave · 04/10/2020 16:14

I really really hope not. There is a gang of kids on our street who are an absolute nuisance. If they have nothing to do for 2 weeks they will cause hell for me and my neighbours.

HarryBlackberry1 · 04/10/2020 16:16

I teach in a school in the North East (in a high infection rate area) and certainly don't get the impression that there will be a full school lockdown. It's just business as usual.

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