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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that every winter from now on there will be a lockdown?

142 replies

HopelessBlue192 · 31/12/2020 10:34

Once we've vaccinated against Covid enough, then Flu will be back (with social distancing relaxed). With Flu overwhelming the NHS every winter before this year when it's been Covid, I'm really worried that every November to March, we are going to be locked down again.

We've shown as a country (UK) that we're willing to accept lockdowns, strict or not, and frequently now, so what's to stop them doing it again? When they think that the NHS is going to be overwhelmed and they can argue that it's an emergency and in our interests / safety? And who would stop them if it isn't?

OP posts:
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 31/12/2020 10:36

We've shown as a country (UK) that we're willing to accept lockdowns, strict or not, and frequently now, so what's to stop them doing it again?

Because it trashes the economy. And the government cares far more about the economy than they do about the NHS, in normal times at least.

justanotherneighinparadise · 31/12/2020 10:37

You are certainly being unreasonable and irrational to think that.

RaspberryCoulis · 31/12/2020 10:37

Don't be ridiculous.

ballsdeep · 31/12/2020 10:39

What?? You are being silly now. We've never had to have lockdowns before. This is a pandemic. You are being ridiculous

CousinLucy · 31/12/2020 10:39

I think we should all take a step back at times and not over think. As far as I'm aware (and I haven't researched) something similar to the Spanish Flu epidemic has only happened now, 100 years later. Yes there was Asian flu in the 1960s or whenever, but it didn't have this impact.

I think extra hygiene is here to stay. That's a good thing. I shudder to think of the germs on cafe tables, door handles, in schools and offices. But no, I think I disagree. I don't think lockdown will happen more frequently after Covid.

AlternativePerspective · 31/12/2020 10:39

No. I do think though that wearing masks in e.g. flu season should become the norm as it is in e.g. the Far East.

There is a lot of evidence that masks and increased hand hygiene has contributed largely to the reduction in flu cases this year not only here but across the world.

unchienandalusia · 31/12/2020 10:40

Insane thought. No way.

Backbee · 31/12/2020 10:41

No. Hopefully people will continue to wash their hands and not go out spreading their germs if they're poorly though (D&V etc I'm on about here, not colds etc), but you'd hope they would do that anyway.

FeltCarrot · 31/12/2020 10:42

Agree with the mask wearing, it should become the norm if you have a cold/cough or worse.

Timeturnerplease · 31/12/2020 10:42

Maybe the government could consider funding the NHS (and other public services) to a workable level. Might help.

LST · 31/12/2020 10:42

No definitely not. And no one will willing to accept them either

DrunkenKoala · 31/12/2020 10:43

I don’t think lockdowns will occur each winter, but i do think some people will choose to wear masks more and shops/venues will keep hand sanitising stations for people to use as they enter.

TipsieM · 31/12/2020 10:43

No. I do think though that wearing masks in e.g. flu season should become the norm as it is in e.g. the Far East.

I do agree with this.

Taking public transport during the flu season used to feel a bit like Russian Roulette...

Crunchiedelight · 31/12/2020 10:43

Absolutely not.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/12/2020 10:44

No, there won't be any shops or hospitality left! As soon as this is over my masks are going in the bin.

Ozgirl75 · 31/12/2020 10:46

I don’t think there will be lockdowns but I’m sure we can learn some things from this that will help to reduce the incidence of flu in the years to come.
In Australia this year we had a minuscule number of flu cases, simply because the things we did to reduce Covid also helped to reduce flu. And we weren’t locked down in winter (Sydney), but I think we were all washing hands more, not shaking hands, wearing masks out and about, plus some school specific things like getting them to wash hands before eating, making them hand sanitize in the morning, taking temps before school and sending home at the first sign of a sniffle.
We also had some things like wipes for supermarket trolleys, more cleaning of high touch surface areas like touch screens in banks, shops etc, more cleaning in the gym, just a general awareness of keeping the place clean and hygienic.
There was a high uptake of the flu vaccine I think but Drs over here have basically said that it was all the other stuff we were doing - and especially staying home when we were sick. Plus of course people were already working from home loads so they weren’t coughing etc on public transport.

MillieVanilla · 31/12/2020 10:46

Oh for goodness sake

Look, I don't want to come across as a bitch, so please understand that

I've also had times where I could cry at the madness of it all

But all these threads and scaremongering. Please stop. It's not good for anyone's mental health. We must, we have to, stay positive. We must try and keep faith.
There is no way there will be flu related Lockdowns, the affect of the Lockdowns/tiers has already screwed up the economy. They will do everything to avoid this situation ever happening again.

Please try and find a positive within your own day. Stop doom scrolling.

Mintjulia · 31/12/2020 10:48

There would be no need for lockdowns just for ordinary flu, and people wouldn't accept them anyway. Quite apart from the damage to the economy.
But hopefully working from home when suffering from a cold, or even taking time off sick will be more accepted now.

Reallybadidea · 31/12/2020 10:48

Flu does not overwhelm healthcare services in the same way as covid. Suggesting that it does is just another attempt to minimise the dangers of covid.

Original poster
HopelessBlue192 · 31/12/2020 10:49

We've never had them before doesn't help with reassurance that it won't happen again - there's always a first time before something becomes the norm.

Would you ever have thought before that we would do something like this? And it hasn't even been just once this year.

Especially as Tier 4 (which now applies to most of the country) is effectively national lockdown by another name.

Absolutely agree extra hygiene is, and should be, here to stay! I have had anti-bacterial hand gel for years, especially when I was travelling on the tube, and used to wish more people used it.

OP posts:
Cabinfever10 · 31/12/2020 10:50

No nor do I think that mask wearing will become normal. However I do hope that more people who are eligible will take the flu vaccine

SoupDragon · 31/12/2020 10:51

What is it with ridiculous threads like this? They are all over the place.

Ozgirl75 · 31/12/2020 10:52

Mask wearing has become very normal here in Sydney as so many people from Asia wear masks when they have a mild cold normally.
It felt weird and self conscious wearing one at first but I’m over it now and even when this is over I’ll probably keep one handy for if I have to go out with a cold.

InglouriousBasterd · 31/12/2020 10:53

Nah, there wouldn’t be the appetite for it. However I did realise today that if I had a stinking cold and needed to go out, I’d happily wear a mask now to keep my germs to myself - it wouldn’t have crossed my mind a year ago.

shouldistop · 31/12/2020 10:54

I think the extra hygiene measures are here to stay and mask wearing during flu season but there won't be lockdowns every year