How many people actually understand what a lockdown would involve?

[Bearbehind]

I realise there’s outrage about our governments handling of this but, on one hand we appear to have countless people insisting schools must shut now

And on the other hand we have people who-

• think they could still participate in their hobbies
• think a lock down would be over in a fortnight
• think they could go on a cheap holiday while the kids are off

How many people genuinely understand locking down now will be for months and you won’t be classed as ‘exceptional’ or ‘special’ - you’ll be expected to actually stay inside for the duration otherwise it achieves nothing.

I dont know why anyone thinks a lockdown would be intended to prevent it spreading, it would only be to slow the rate of spread to give the NHS half a chance of coping, which is why there's no point doing it now, while the NHS is coping.

I would imagine it’s perfectly obvious to everyone that it’s easier to be isolated in a large house in the country than a bed sit in the city.

I am in 'lock down' in northern Italy and it has been a gradual thing. From the end of feb we were strongly advised to work from home and maintain social distances. In work they even only allowed a limited number in the canteen and then insisted we maintained a distance of more than 1 m. Then we moved to stay at home as much as possible but shops, parks, cafes till 6 pm were open so people still went out. Now the only things open are supermarkets and pharmacies. They limit the number of people in a shop and queuing is done outside with a distance of more than 2 m. People are taking it very seriously and understand that it's not to protect themselves but to protect the vulnerable. I think we can go out for a run or cycle alone but advised that there is likely no medical assistance if there is an accident. I haven't been out at all for over a week. Oh and if we leave we are meant to have a self certificate justifying why we are out - work or medical reasons. Police are issuing fines for breaching the rules.

iwantvino are you allowed out in the garden at all (if you have one obvs)?

The horses in our village are in fields away from homes. I cannot see why you cannot take food to them and steer clear of other humans.

The horses in our village are in fields away from homes. I cannot see why you cannot take food to them and steer clear of other humans.

I think it pretty clear you cannot see why it’s not possible but the reality is the government cannot legislate for how far away your animals are or whether you get to them via electric car or public bus so will have to lay down generic rules meaning one size will have to fit all

And it’s clear that won’t wash with huge numbers of people, thus any lock down won’t really work

Nasty yes, if we had a garden, we could use it. We just have a big terrace.

I am pretty sure that doing things like feeding horses etc. Would also be allowed - justified as an essential activity. People can still go to work but the social distance must be maintained.

Doubleaction yes you are right - the lockdown is to protect the vulnerable and to slow the input to the hospitals which are overwhelmed.

Good thread all. It has made me think quite hard about some potential realities. My dp and I don’t live together. I’ve done the walk (45 mins before) - I think I was assuming if things ‘got bad’ or one of us was ill We would be able either to walk (maintaining distance from other walkers) or drive to move in/care/food shop etc. This is ludicrous. Assuming if it comes to it just like italy there will be some notice and ability to return home etc.
I’ve listened in random way to a podcast which discussed ‘bug out bags’ and so on - I can’t believe I’m now thinking about what I would need to take if in lockdown at dp’s house.

I am pretty sure that doing things like feeding horses etc. Would also be allowed - justified as an essential activity.

Why though?

If walking dogs isn’t considered essential, why would driving miles to feed horses be considered so?

Are you seriously suggesting the government will just allow animals to starve? What is the point your trying to make?

Are you seriously suggesting the government will just allow animals to starve? What is the point your trying to make?

The point I’m making is that’s what China did

And if you want school closures etc to have a big effect, that’s what it’s going to take

Otherwise you end up with the situation where Amazon is delivering your kids entertainment to you door because you deem that a ‘necessity’ and the numbers still aren’t going in the right direction

We are moving towards lockdown in Austria.

As of Monday schools are closing but they will accept children if both parents HAVE to work and can't work from home (you are specifically told not to send them to grandparents)

Only supermarkets, pharmacies and banks will remain open.

Restaurants will be open for a limited number of hours.

But ultimately, we live in a democracy and the government is relying on everyone doing their bit. If you have to feed horses, then you do it. But you don't go riding etc. At my son's school of about 200 pupils, they have about 15 who will have to go in.

We are lucky to have a garden but it will be really hard for people in apartments in the city. Just glad it isn't summer right now for those people.

There are far more essential keyworkers than you think. As well as frontline health care professionals, I'm assuming other emergency services ( police and ambulance) carers, delivery drivers, manufacturers and growers of food, e.g. farmers, fruit pickers etc, supermarket workers etc, petrol station workers, electrical plant workers etc all will need to be working. There are likely far more I haven't thought off.

I'm a health care professional. I will be required to work. I can't imagine how strange/ chaotic the next few months will be....

fluffy I don’t doubt that

I’m just asking people to justify why they think an Amazon driver delivering paper for kids to draw on or a Deliveroo driver dropping off a Wagamamas is consider ‘key’

Bearbehind we can walk the dog. The advice is to stay close to home and maintain the social distance rules. Why do you think we can't walk the dog?

I don’t know if you could or couldn’t walk your dog

I’m trying to illustrate 2 things

1- the practicalities of walking your dog or looking after your other animals vary widely, depending on where you live

2 - the definition of what is essential varies widely depending for example on whether you view kids entertainment and takeaways as ‘essential’

Which makes a ‘lockdown’ impossible to define for the UK

And whatever it is is likely to be a shock to some and a relief to others.

I think it will become abundantly clear what is or isn’t ok.

No doubt 5zeds

And I think this thread has shown that plenty of people will still insist that whatever is made clear will be denied by those who feel it doesn’t apply to them

I went to feed my horses today and walked my dogs. Didn't see another person. I'll carry on doing it. It won't be made illegal to physically leave your house. My friends in Northern Italy are still going to work every day.

@bearbehind, I do actually get where you are coming from. It is a shock, it's like living in a post apocalyptic film. But you must consider the thing that Boris keeps saying is the economy must keep going, and that is precisely what Italy is trying to do. I know paper is not essential for me with kids at home, but Amazon and that driver are working anyway. The businesses forced to close are trying not to go bankrupt by home delivering. Even hairdressers are trying to do WhatsApp videos to clients to encourage them to buy home hair masks and stuff as they have a massive hole in turnover. This is all in an effort to keep the economic wheel spinning while slowing the virus. It could be months. I hope not because as you say, if you have a house in the sticks you can wander round a bit in your garden and the fields. If you live in an apartment in the centre it's already at the cabin fever stage. Dog walking and jogging is allowed but you underestimate the peer pressure once this starts. Just look at the hashtag "#iostoacasa" (I'mstayingathome)

I’m just asking people to justify why they think an Amazon driver delivering paper for kids to draw on or a Deliveroo driver dropping off a Wagamamas is consider ‘key’

You're doing it again. No-one has said that they're 'key'. We don't have any rules on 'lockdown' in the UK, because one hasn't been implemented. So this whole conversation is conjecture at best, and irresponsible at worst.

If and when the government do decide that there should be restrictions on our movements, the terms of those restrictions will be made clear to all. Those terms won't be decided by you. You will be free to start threads about them if you choose, and they will be as pointless as this one.

It's very likely that, as in other countries who have enacted this, a 'lockdown' won't actually mean people must stay in their homes and not leave them for a period of weeks. Instead, certain activities will be curtailed and, things like dog-walking and home deliveries will be allowed - with certain restrictions.

Again, you coming on here berating people for entirely hypothetical situations, most of which don't actually reflect how 'lockdown' works in other countries (and many of which aren't actually what people said - just what you chose to interpret), is pointless.

Whether or not you think that walking dogs, feeding horses and having home deliveries are 'key' activities is entirely irrelevant. If those activities fall within the allowable activities that a government sets out, then people are allowed to do them, as long as they follow any associated restrictions that are set out. Otherwise they would be prohibited. You will be free to start threads about it if you choose, and they will be as pointless as this one.

To reiterate:

• The UK has not implemented a 'lockdown'.
• If the UK were to implement a 'lockdown', no-one on this thread - and you in particular - knows what the terms of that 'lockdown' might be
• People who are actually living through 'lockdown' in other countries have made it clear that the terms of that 'lockdown' allow them to do things like walk the dog, go to the supermarket, have home deliveries - with certain restrictions
• People who follow the terms of a 'lockdown' but don't further restrict their activities to the extent you would prefer are not doing anything wrong
• One person on a thread with 250+ posts stating that they would go out to feed horses even if they were symptomatic is not proof that the whole country is planning on flouting the terms of any 'lockdown'.

Good post.

itsgoing a person in a country which is locked down has said they’ve ordered paper from Amazon to keep their kids quiet

I’ve not made that up

It’s a fact

It’s the perfect example of what people think others need to bring to their door if they deem it’s essential

@bearbehind yes that's me and ok now you are definitely on the wind up! Well trolled my friend. Touché.