Is no one even a little concerned about the intrusion and removal of freedoms?

[DoubleAction]

I know needs must and we're in a real crisis situation but it does make me a little uneasy to see how easy it has been to remove all freedoms.

The real shocker for me today was the text messages. I've spent the last year or so working on GDPR stuff and all the "threats" associated with that. Who gave the government all our numbers?!

I know it's insignificant in the scheme of things now but is it right that it's so easy?

Really? Spend 16 hours or so in ICU and then see if you have the same opinion.

I don’t like it but I do genuinely believe it is necessary and temporary.

It doesn’t benefit the government at all to have us all stuck indoors. I don’t think there is any conspiracy here. But it does make me think how easy it would be to enact the same measures for a reason I didn’t believe in.

Personally I'm happy that these measures have been taken but also happy that we do not have army checkpoints, police roaming every street or the government tracking our movements via GPS. I've been following the rules to the letter and, while it's infuriating to see people buggering off to the countryside in their caravans, I honestly think I'd rather that frustration than a full police state.

As PP mentioned - those in the at risk groups have the biggest duty to shield themselves from infection. I am most frustrated by those in the at risk groups wandering into town for various unnecessary errands (my parents being a prime example) as we are all making sacrifices to protect them.

the government were always going to do this. It wasn't a case of let's ask & see if they comply, it's drip drip. First advise the vulnerable, social distancing, soft lockdown & then we will have strict lockdown. Imo the gov need willing & to instil shane & fear because realistically you can't physically control 66m people.

Because as I said in my OP and repeatedly since, I am happy that it is necessary on this occasion but it has made me think about the "what if" another time it wasn't.

The data exists - people have access to it - to think otherwise is naive

The fact that it can be used positively in a situation like this is surely a good thing?

I don’t understand why people are so precious about this anyway - have you seen what Amazon and Google know about you?

As others have said I think it's best for every individual (where possible) to take responsibility for themselves & leave the idiots to it. I have young dc but have avoided the shops & parks for 4 days now & plan to continue.

I am concerned that initially they talked about the model - the scientific model - that no longer gets discussed - it is now just what the people want - the uneducated masses who have decided that eliminating this virus is the aim - it's impossible.

Tbh I am pleasantly surprised that things can move quickly when speed and decisiveness is literally life or death. Prior to this I half expected that a civil servant getting a new biro out of the supply cabinet probably needed 17 forms in triplicate and a full departmental meeting. 😁

It would be great if people didn't need these measures because they were capable of following sensible instructions but I think there have been enough pictures and reports to demonstrate that a significant number of people simply won't do the sensible thing without being made to.

In the current situation no-they didn't want to have to do it but were forced to so I completely understand and accept it. Don't have a problem at all as it's for everyone's good. My family home has in the past been raided by the police so I know all about removal of freedom-well complete violation of privacy and being treated like a criminal. And I hadn't done a thing wrong (long story) that's something I probably will never get over being such a private person and the loss of that. So I already knew that if you are very unlucky you don't actually have freedom/right to privacy etc. in this world anyway long before Coronavirus.

Not even Owen Jones is protesting!

My DH and I are healthy and not particularly worried about getting the virus, but we are worried about passing it on and someone then going to visit their mum or dad and them dying as a result of us going out.

So for the last two weeks we had been socially isolating and apart from a food shop and DH going to work, we have stayed home.

I think anyone who is arguing that it’s selfish to expect them to do the same is an entitled selfish individual. Surely it’s not worth the risk?

No and I wish they'd do more. I want the app, temperature taking, mass testing and status tracking, military intervention - the fucking works. I don't give a shit about mine or anyone else's personal freedoms when they come at the expense of thousands of lives.

Yes mooboy. Initially, this government, that we are now happy to have control us, told us that it wasn't necessary and they had another plan going with the science. Public opinion seems to have changed that, which is the opposite of removing freedom

Not at the moment no.
I am more concerned about keeping people safe and making sure that when people get sick they can be treated properly and safely too.
People need to calm down and stay at home.

@angell84

Five weeks of lockdown is a long time

Not as long as an eternity of being dead.

For fucks sake.

I think the new powers are temporary and must be renewed after 6 months. All the parties need to agree to it. So the new powers can be cancelled by the other parties when the time comes.

Trouble is when you leave the idiots to it, they then pass it on to a key worker or end up in hospital using resources that could be avoided.

The freedom for people to stay alive is far more important than the freedom of covidiots to commit mass murder by spreading the virus.

So happy to have a strong government running things.

“ Yes mooboy. Initially, this government, that we are now happy to have control us, told us that it wasn't necessary and they had another plan going with the science. Public opinion seems to have changed that, which is the opposite of removing freedom grin”

The government haven’t changed the plan, they always said there would be multiple phases to it. We’ve simply moved into the next phase (which then needed more enforcement because people are dicks and didn’t follow the guidance)

Don’t often praise the government but they’re doing a great job with this

For those whinging about lack of freedom being imposed by the government, how much freedom do you think you will have in a casket when you have caught this killer virus?!

My husband and daughter didn’t get ‘the text’ so I don’t think it’s providers ?
Gov have my phone no on all our government gateway accs tho

Thepigeons, except the choice need not have been between lockdown and letting the spread take it's course. We could have done what other countries (South Korea, Singapore/WHO advice) and done early testing and contact tracing. We still have not scaled testing when other countries have done, just put HCPs in the front line with no testing, inadequate/expired PPE.

I too agree that it is necessary but also have that feeling of disquiet at how swiftly it has happened, especially when there is talk of the police ‘dispersing gatherings’.

Don’t be daft. They are trying to keep people (including me) alive. Boris didn’t want to have to do this.