To really not like the way the Government is doing next steps as a 'big reveal' on 22nd

[hastingsandchips]

There's something about this I think is very wrong, the way the Government is keeping us guessing about what's happening next, when it has such a massive impact on all our lives. Especially for small business. I think they should release information/plans as and when they know. Doing this 'we know and we will tell you on X day' to me is all about power and control.

Let's face it the numbers are going down but they are still high. Incidence rate double that of Germany who have just extended their Lockdown. Expecting major changes in what is going to be allowed is unrealistic, yes maybe there might have to be something with schools children can't keep on like this. But if course it is totally irresponsible in the UK to ease measures, surely everyone sees that?

@StareIntotheMaggotDrawer You're very optimistic, I reckon they won't have made it up until at least lunchtime on the 22nd....

The point is more NoKnit that people need and deserved to be informed properly, as adults, about what's going on, and what the plan is. We are all having to speculate because we're operating in a void

If schools go back 8th March as hinted by some

Then on the 22nd he will tell us

As said schools would get 2w notice before going back

Seems that they've leaked it to the Sunday newspapers after all then

We've known that March 8th was the earliest date for schools for weeks.

We've known that schools are the priority to reopen - so, therefore, there will be no changes to anything else prior to March 8th.

We've known that schools reopening was heavily contingent on reaching key vaccination figures in the 1st 4 groups 3 weeks prior (ie Feb 15th) so that the data could be checked and analysed. Progress in this is variable - my area is still on group 4, projected to move to group 5 towards the end of next week, but country wide, we're on target.

We've known that it would take time to gather and analyse that data after the target was hit, but that the government would give two week's notice to schools to reopen when they had. For March 8th, that means Feb 22nd at the latest.

You have the exact thing you're asking for - a timeline of 'if this, then that.' You have the criteria, and you know when to expect the next steps to be given. We're not at those dates yet and nothing has gone wrong to need to change them, so there's no update.

Now, I personally question the sense or the point of reopening schools for two weeks pre-Easter, vax or no, because I think it risks muddying the impact data and us risking underestimating it when the holiday acts as a firebreak for it - but that's not the point.

The point is, we have as much of a time line and a plan as can reasonably be given in the current situation. This is honestly the first time it's felt like the government is listening to the science and proceeding cautiously. We all just have to be patient, and stop looking to speculation and twitter posts for information that isn't available yet.

ALL of this is now about control. People need to wake up!

It’s pointless for people to be wishing for a vaccine or feeling thankful that they’ve had one if it’s not the thing that’s going to get us out of lockdown.

This is the thing that worries me. The vaccination priority groups are supposed to prevent most of the hospitalisations, and lockdown is supposed to be about the NHS. Therefore I think it's now logical to assume 8th March, given we're on target for vaccinations for 15th Feb.

But if Boris et al decide that actually we need to get under an arbitrary number of cases, or a certain R number, before we can see (vaccinated!) family inside in a place that's not Nandos, I think people will just start sacking off the restrictions.

@hastingsandchips

There's something about this I think is very wrong, the way the Government is keeping us guessing about what's happening next, when it has such a massive impact on all our lives. Especially for small business. I think they should release information/plans as and when they know. Doing this 'we know and we will tell you on X day' to me is all about power and control.

But your solution creates the exact problem you're complaining about.

Things changing on the fly is almost impossible to plan for. But things will be x until the 22nd then Y will be announced means there's just one disruption. Not weeks of fractional changes

I agree OP. I am self employed and not entitled to grants or support. I'm assuming I will be able to operate as BAU by mid-march and as such am now taking bookings. It would be really helpful to know of this was going to be the case or not, so I don't have to rearrange everything, but I'm not losing another month of income just in case (as in, not booking things in but then finding out it would have been fine). They clearly already have an idea of what they're going to do so they need to get on with it. The more they tease info, the more I see people not following lockdown rules out of frustration, too.

It must be very stressful Propercrimboselecta It's peoples lives and it feels like it's all a game to them, designed to get them maximum votes/popularity and sod everything else

I would prefer more clarity e.g. if X happens, then we can do Y

At the moment, too much smoke and mirrors for my liking. For all we know, OP could work in no 10, and this post is to test public opinion!

All I need to know is when the pubs will open and when we can ditch the masks.

I find it hard to rely on any plans they make after the debacle of schools open / closed on Monday 4th January. If such a key matter can be changed within hours then how can we rely on a plan stretching out for months?

Yes they've had no proper criticism or consequences to my mind over the schools thing Lemons1571 That could have cost lives.

notnaothertakeaway I don't work in number 10 but can totally agree with you. I hate the leaks to their mates in the newspapers then gauge opinion, that's no way to run a country.

I think I prefer having it all laid out, once they have enough information to do so. They needed the time to see how many were vaccinated and whether those vaccines make a difference before deciding.
I assume it will be approximate dates like last summer, "pubs will open but not before the 4th July". Which seems fairer to me than giving them a few days notice - at least some sort if plans can be made.

I think it's good that the government are trying s different tack because obviously the last minute briefings, all leaked to the press and glib statements which then had to be u-turned on, was a disaster.

It can never be a guaranteed plan anyway. The only thing we know is it is schools first, but then you definitely need to wait 3 weeks from that to see the impact to the infection rates.

People need clear details as to what will happen next.

My personal view is we need to accept Covid as part of life and open up. People are sick if lockdown and what it is doing for our futures. Boris should look at what is going on in California with Gavin Newsom facing recall if he did open up.

I think it's good that the government are trying s different tack because obviously the last minute briefings, all leaked to the press and glib statements which then had to be u-turned on, was a disaster.

Sadly not so, as it's all been leaked to the press again today

It's already starting to leak a bit watch the papers. Mail (sadly and frustratingly) have been spot on so far.

I wish they'd shut up about the bloody pubs. I don't care. I want to know when my mum and dad 4 hours away can come and stay nearby so they can see DS.

www.google.com/amp/s/inews.co.uk/news/politics/lockdown-end-when-government-plans-roadmap-reopen-pubs-shops-schools-uk-travel-covid-rules-870809/amp this is probably wbag best will announce. So really it all still depends on situation nearer end of march and beyond

*probably what they will announce

Best it’s done all on one day all at once so it’s clear and precise as the general public can’t seem to get their story straight between them. Everyone thinks the rules we have now are different to each other, no one altogether seems to collectively know! So one message on one day seems the best tactic really

the general public can’t seem to get their story straight between them

It makes you wonder if the whole tactic is to get the public to blame each other