@MarieIVanArkleStinks
Pandora's box has already been opened. We are past the containment stage. Sensible precautions like hand-washing are the best possible preventative measures. Beyond that it's all noise.
The collateral damage is far more worrying. The sort of society we are creating. Where the needs of the vulnerable are consistently ignored. Not selective vulnerability, but the broader picture of people who will die from untreated cancers which might well have otherwise been curable had attention not been so consistently focused on one particular disease. Those who have addictions and will suffer relapses because they can't access their 12-step support programmes. Who were/are the poor, poor student/s who commit suicide in their university accommodation. Who are the families who grieve, no matter how their loved ones have died. Who have fallen victim to domestic violence in their own homes, owing to being locked down with an abusive partner. Where neighbours report each other for perceived breaches, where people are losing their livelihoods, homes, and their mental health put at serious risk. Where the hospitality industry will have been decimated to the point that it barely exists. Where it will be all work, and absolutely no play, relaxation or leisure activities/facilities. Where mental and physical health will have declined - as if either in Britain were in a particularly healthy place before - because much-needed forms of exercise and respite such as health clubs are now forbidden territory.
And, talking of territory, the territorial disputes. Will all you oiks stay off my land? Stay in your cities and don't come to the countryside? Feel free to tip rubbish/excrement if you don't? Deny the use of urban utilities to rural dwellers? 'Report' anyone you see breaching your interpretation of the rules?
The world can't stop indefinitely for the coronavirus. But if we are willing to sleepwalk into these situations, it can change irrevocably as a result of it.
I can only speak for my local area but Cancer diagnosis and treatment has gone ahead. One of my parents had extensive tests for cancer at the earliest sign following a telephone appointment back in April, they underwent 8 weeks of tests as both an in patient and outpatient and were totally fine by June. I know two other people who have completed Chemotherapy as normal having been diagnosed during the lockdown. I also know several oncology outpatients who have had all their follow ups and scans as normal. I am in a very poor part of the U.K. with an NHS Trust that always struggles so if ours can cope there is no reason anywhere else in the country wouldn’t.
Also under the current rules 12 Step Programmes can and do go ahead in socially distanced groups of up to 15. This is the same for any “support group”. Locally NHS and Social Services Mental Health services never stopped during the first lockdown and are continuing. I’ve accessed treatment, was offered face to face back as early as April if I’d wanted, a friend was sectioned, another helped by the crisis team when she was close to another suicide attempt and right now a relative is attending an in person Psychiatric review with their Psychiatrist and their Social Worker and has been told their follow up will be going ahead in 6 weeks time providing no one has to self isolate.
It’s very clear in the official guidelines that if you are in danger (domestic violence) you are not obviously exempt from staying home and domestic abuse charities are still offering their services (in fact more than ever).
Places of worships are still allowed to be open for private prayer and also for vital community services such as Foodbanks, Childcare, Support Groups, Homeless Drop ins etc.
The university at I teach at has never stopped running Well-being and free counselling for students.
We are allowed to travel within a reasonable distance for outdoor exercise. Walking, Cycling, Running and outdoor recreation has increased not decreased and again, in the guidelines it’s very clear that we should be taking exercise with even the elderly told to get outside and walk this time round.
Hand washing won’t make a huge amount of difference for an airborne disease which is extremely contagious at close quarters.
I’m not denying that there have been huge problems but I just felt I should offer that it’s not everywhere that certain treatments have stopped and that actually there’s been no reason to stop them. Some people have been too scared to access them but again that’s a separate issue and again, at least on a local level, our NHS Trust and social services are putting out regular pleas for people to access their services.
I think some lessons have been learned this time round but also we need greater coverage of the fact that actually some vital support and healthcare never stopped but some people who are totally against lockdown use incorrect facts to justify letting it rip through the whole country, doing worse damage to health and the economy than an EFFECTIVE lockdown would.