Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Why are the lockdown dates different all over Europe?

153 replies

Amymayapple · 26/03/2020 17:18

Each country has given a date of when restrictions will be lifted. I am in Ireland and we have been given April 19th, it seems so far away, especially as we started restrictions two weeks earlier than the UK, so it will be five weeks total of restrictions for us.

How are they making these decisions, do you think? See that the two most infected countries in Europe - have the earliest dates of when restrictions will be lifted.

Dates announced:

Italy - April 3
Spain - April 11
France - April 1
Germany - April 6
U.K. - April 13
Belgium - April 5
Portugal - April 2
Ireland - April 19

OP posts:
ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 26/03/2020 17:19

Those aren't the dates when they'll definitely be lifted. The UK date is the point at which it gets reviewed.

TerrorWig · 26/03/2020 17:19

Because they’re all different countries? They might all be part of Europe but they have their own governments and advisors.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 26/03/2020 17:21

It's highly unlikely Italy and Spain will lift restrictions on the dates OP. It's simply the date they're due to review the situation.

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 26/03/2020 17:22

I think you are being very optimistic if you think that all restrictions will be lifted on any of those dates. Governments will review the position, and will gradually lift restrictions at some point, but it's unlikely to happen in April.

And these are different countries, at different stages of the pandemic. There is no reason to expect them to apply an identical approach everywhere.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 26/03/2020 17:23

But why does Ireland - with very, very few deaths - have a date a week later than nearly anywhere else?

I have been so isolated, I honestly feel like I can't bear this until the 19th April.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 26/03/2020 17:24

the two most infected countries in Europe - have the earliest dates of when restrictions will be lifted.

Because the higher the infection rate the more people that will most probably be immune

cologne4711 · 26/03/2020 17:26

I thought Ireland was a little less restricted than the UK - is that not the case?

playthestation · 26/03/2020 17:27

The U.K. has announced the restriction will be lifted? I missed that. When did they do that?

Original poster
Amymayapple · 26/03/2020 17:27

@cologne4711 all the same things are closed and cancelled as in the UK.

OP posts:
ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 26/03/2020 17:28

Because the higher the infection rate the more people that will most probably be immune

No - because they went on lockdown earliest (due to the high infection rates) and therefore are more likely to have earlier review dates.

No countries have high enough confirmed infection rates to be confident of herd immunity yet, not even close.

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 26/03/2020 17:29

The U.K. has announced the restriction will be lifted? I missed that. When did they do that?

They haven't. Nowhere has.

OP - you will need to get your head around the fact that these are not dates for the restrictions being lifted.

Unicornflakegirl · 26/03/2020 17:29

As PP say they are dates for review, and highly unlikely to be actually when restrictions are lifted.
In Ireland they have maybe given a later date so people don't think it's only a matter of a few weeks. Wouldn't it be great if the restrictions helped to keep the death roll low?

In Spain they have a State of Emergency which needs to be approved to be prolonged, it could be the case in other countries.

Just take it one day at a time, it's hard for everyone. Are you connecting with people by phone or video calls? Getting some kind of routine might help you.

TheCanterburyWhales · 26/03/2020 17:30

Italy gave 3rd April as the date it will review the restrictions. It's already passed another decree saying they will be reviewed every 30 days from April 3rd. Nobody is expecting any lifting of restrictions until early May at the moment.

DramaAlpaca · 26/03/2020 17:31

I'm also in Ireland. The restrictions won't necessarily be lifted on April 19th, unfortunately. I understand how difficult this is, but I for one am glad the restrictions are strict here. Chin up, OP Flowers

tegucigalpa13 · 26/03/2020 17:31

Those dates are review dates not definitive lift dates. Much will depend on whether or not the measures now in force succeed in reducing the on set of new cases to a level that local health services can manage.

Big data is being used to track the progress of the virus across Europe. Most of the data suggests that Northern Europe is 2- 3 weeks behind Italy and Spain. That is why restrictions were imposed later. It follows that Ireland will probably lift restrictions later.

Lweji · 26/03/2020 17:31

What the Portuguese government is saying isn't that lockdown will be lifted (and I think it's the 9th of April), but that it it will be revised then.

Not sure about other countries, but it may be the same.

Schools won't open again this school year. National holiday celebrations in June have already been cancelled. My best guess is that lockdown will continue well past April.

ChilliMayo · 26/03/2020 17:32

I think it's because of the modelling on spread rates, size of population,likelihood of health services being unable to cope, a combination of all.
Personally, I think although our conditions will be reviewed on 13/4 they will not be eased then. If they are I'd expect them to be tightened again after some weeks, there will be an ebb and flow element to the next six months. That is how the NHS will cope.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 26/03/2020 17:33

It doesn't say that is a date that things will be reviewed in Ireland. I looked at his speech again. It said

"Schools and childcare facilities are to remain closed until 19 April."

OP posts:
ginghamstarfish · 26/03/2020 17:33

No point worry about it, or planning for it, now, as nobody knows what will happen ...

OwlBasket · 26/03/2020 17:33

Netherlands has 1st of June as review date for most restrictions, 6 April for others that were implemented earlier. I’d not be surprised if they lock down harder before either of them though.

The sooner the review date the earlier the restrictions were imposed, as a general rule. AFAIK no country has committed to lifting anything on any specific date.

playthestation · 26/03/2020 17:33

They haven't. Nowhere has.

I thought that!

OP - you will need to get your head around the fact that these are not dates for the restrictions being lifted.

And please don't posts things like this and try to pass them off as fact Hmm

Lweji · 26/03/2020 17:34

"Schools and childcare facilities are to remain closed until 19 April."

Not the same as saying "will open on the 20th"

Original poster
Amymayapple · 26/03/2020 17:35

@tegucigalpa13 thank you for that information, that makes sense.

So, we have later dates for restrictions being lifted (or reviewed), because the progress of the virus in Northern Europe, is 2 - 3 weeks behind Italy and Spain.

OP posts:
tegucigalpa13 · 26/03/2020 17:36

"Schools and childcare facilities are to remain closed until 19 April."

This does not mean that they will re-open on the 20 April.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 26/03/2020 17:36

@Lweji then why give a date of April 19th at all?

Okay, so they don't mean it. Why give it?

OP posts: