How can the UK gov or anyone read this and not put the UK on lockdown?

[UnderReview]

The NHS won't. and shouldn't have to, cope with this...

Travel should have been stopped. Borders closed. People put in to lockdown.

ICU Doctor from Italy on current situation

That’s what the government is working off, best thing we have for now....the problem is it’s based on data from outbreaks in China and they took different measures. There is no reliable prediction. The truth is everything is guess work at this point. Informed guesswork I would suppose. Potentially we could model on Italy but their crisis is still ongoing. Best to put it, a lot of people are going to suffer and a good number are going to die. That’s fact. The UK will be in a recession potentially for a long time, how bad that becomes depends on “making the right decisions, at the right time”.

Ok, I am genuinely trying to get a handle on this.
On one side I see worried people quoting statistics that seem alarming to me.
On the other I see people saying, 'don't be hysterical' and other patronising remarks without giving me any evidence of why they consider it hysteria, why they consider the problem is likely to be minimal, etc.
I realise what we can do is limited. But I think most people who are concerned want to do what they can and want to get it right. That seems like the opposite of hysteria to be, but sensible.
I also realise that it is soon to be sure what will happen. But by the time we know, it may be too late.
Some precautions would be difficult or expensive, and might cause other problems. But surely debating them can help find new ideas and solutions.
But other precautions like working from home and keeping your own kids off if you can and want to, like maintaining greater social distances in public, wearing gloves, etc etc are so easy, yet many are choosing not to bother. Cutting down on public tranport use for non-essential journeys wouldn't be a huge inconvenience. Not going to the pub wouldn't kill anyone - though I do understand it would affect the livelihood of publicans. But surely we can look at all these things and consider them.

I am at home with the children - as a mum of young children I have permission to work from home.
Lucky you are not a medic
or somebody whose work cannot be done from home
or a self employed person who would then have no earnings
or an employee whose boss does not give paid leave

What are THOSE families doing?

@Seventyone72seventy3 great for you - but I can’t work at home, nor can my husband and we have no family here in the uk so we would be fucked of the schools shut. What would you suggest we do if that was to happen?

Rory Stewart

This is going to be fun once hay fever season gets going. I'll spend summer sneezing in isolation.

If the U.K. locks down I’m just going to leave, the benefits of being a foreigner!

What are THOSE families doing?
Relying on friends.
Taking paid leave.
Taking unpaid leave.
Changing work hours.
I didn't say it was easy.

@Kaptenkrusty What do you do when your children are off school sick?

KaptenKrusty

That’s exactly the reason why schools are still open and will remain open until it becomes impossible, it’s why legislation has been introduced to lower ratios. If they close, you’ll have to make it work like everybody else. One of you will have to stop working. You do what you have to do.

Scientists have now made it clear that the government is prioritising economy over people’s lives.

Which scientists?

The ones Rory Stewart refers to.
I don’t know their names.

@Seventyone72seventy3 very rare occurrence a child being off sick - and it’s for a few days at most!

indefinitely though is a different thing - are you actually suggesting that people quit their jobs? We need both of our incomes to pay the rent and bills - so it’s not an option! Am sure that’s the same for a lot of families

Will the government bail us out??

Relying on friends. Taking paid leave. Taking unpaid leave. Changing work hours. I didn't say it was easy.
How are people on Universal credit meant to survive with no money to buy food?
Thousands of families in the UK are using food banks already.

was just trying to ponder what he had in mind by saying govt should I’d be generous when Shelagh Fogerty asked how would NHS staff who are parents manage if schools would close

Yes, it's a good point, but as you touched on in a PP, throwing money at it does not equal immediate, adequate provision anyway.

When people pose what seem to be simple questions with a simple answer, they don't always get that the questions and answers only seem simple because they have oversimplified complex, multi-faceted issues, not because no one has thought of their answer.

I imagine they'll just stick to usual methods and try to take advantage of those without children to care for.

I think more testing would help, beyond just those from infected areas or those in touch with those people.identify and isolate actual cases.

I'm not suggesting anything. However, I heard all these arguments a couple of weeks ago in Italy. Now everyone seems to be saying they wished we'd started taking more drastic measures earlier.

I’ve not read that claim from anyone but looking at tedros adhanom ghebreyesus‘s Twitter, he is praising a lot of government leaders from across the globe for their handling of the outbreak. Boris and Donald are notably missing....

Relying on friends. Taking paid leave. Taking unpaid leave. Changing work hours. I didn't say it was easy

Actually - this relates perfectly to the point I was trying to make in the middle para of my last post

I am also in Italy and living a very different experience from pp.

Not working because we were sent home= no money because I, like very many others, get paid for the hours we work. Dp is worried his workplace will soon be shutting down for a few weeks at least as they do a lot of exporting and countries not willing to accept consignments from Italy right now.

Not many people anywhere in Italy are allowed to stay at home with their kids just because. Not now, during Corona, not usually.

How are people on Universal credit meant to survive with no money to buy food?
Thousands of families in the UK are using food banks already

Not to mention the homeless who would no longer even be able to beg for food/ money. I can only assume that many making the sort of demands mentioned in the OP are either blinkered by ignorance, privilege or both.

I saw this today, will try and find it.

basically it was saying that government have been advised now it's up to them to do the right thing, or something like that.

What do you do when your children are off school sick?
Rely on a relative take annual leave hope it's no longer than a couple of days but if schools close it will be a nightmare having to arrange childcare. I will have to work unless I'm told by my employer that I'll get paid I'll have to come in & make childcare arrangements. If I don't have childcare I'll have to use annual leave that means no annual leave in the summer / Christmas. Or unpaid. If not really got any choice those that think we should all shut ourselves away are being so unrealistic. I'm probably more fortunate than most some people live hand to mouth , they can't afford to take 1 day off .

@BookMeOnTheSudExpress I am sorry that you are not getting paid! I realise I am lucky that I can work from home, although at the moment it doesn't feel that lucky. Anyway - just heard we are ALL in lockdown now!

grandparents must be so worried they will be roped in for even more child care