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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:
DariaMorgendorffer · 27/03/2020 00:57

I assume social distancing advice will last beyond April 19 th. I imagine the government picked that date to start with as it's the end of the two-week Easter holiday break, and schools would have been closed up to that date anyway.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 11:08

I am still not sure why so many people on here told me I was so stupid for expecting restrictions to be lifted in Ireland in April.

I see another exact thread from a woman in England on mumsnet. posted yesterday - asking will restrictions will be lifted in England in April too. She was also called stupid, dumb and posting false informaiton

It might be useful, at these times, to help each other, instead of calling people stupid, but then mumsnet has never exactly been known for being "helpful and kind".

Do you know what my male friend said to me once, he said that men will always be able to keep women down, because women are so cruel to each other. It is very true on this website

OP posts:
playthestation · 27/03/2020 11:14

I see another exact thread from a woman in England on mumsnet. posted yesterday - asking will restrictions will be lifted in England in April too. She was also called stupid, dumb and posting false informaiton

I read that thread, I thought it was you tbh.

It might be useful, at these times, to help each other, instead of calling people stupid, but then mumsnet has never exactly been known for being "helpful and kind".

People were trying to help. People were telling you it wasn't fact. They were helping both you and others by clarifying that vital detail.

Do you know what my male friend said to me once, he said that men will always be able to keep women down, because women are so cruel to each other. It is very true on this website

You should take a look at the things you said yourself. Particularly the post where you asked 'who dragged you up' when I dared to suggest your information was not fact.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 11:15

@donkeytail you are another one who might like to learn compassion.

The Irish Prime minister said "schools in Ireland will be shut until 19th April",

I am on an Irish Facebook page for teachers. I am a teacher. All of the teachers on there are posting questions,

"Will it be back to normal on the 19th"
"Will schools be back on the 19th"

These are legitimate questions. When this is over, you might remember the worried people that you were rude to. I hope you do. And shame on you.

OP posts:
HoffiCoffi13 · 27/03/2020 11:16

What do you think would happen to the rate of COVID19 infections if all restrictions were lifted at once on that day OP?

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 11:17

Here is a tip for everyone: as people are worried, as we all are right now, about jobs, family, job losses, everything,

think before you write.

A teacher on my facebook page said

"I am so worried about pay, I am a sub, will we back on the 19th"

I didn't say

"It couldn't have been clearer you are an idiot" etc

Because I have a fucking heart

OP posts:
playthestation · 27/03/2020 11:20

Here is a tip for everyone: as people are worried, as we all are right now, about jobs, family, job losses, everything,

think before you write

That works both ways OP, both ways.

You were as rude, if not more so, than anyone else on this thread yesterday.

DrinkSangriaInThePark · 27/03/2020 12:35

No OP, if you really are a teacher, you will know that this is what the Taoiseach and Minister for Education said (from RTE news website):

Today, as the Government was announcing a series of significant new restrictions to deal with the virus outbreak, the Taoiseach said: "We are all hopeful that schools might be able to come back in May and June and to have the Leaving Cert in the normal way", the Taoiseach said, but he added that if that did not happen then the Minister for Education was working on contingency plans to allow the Leaving Cert to go ahead

DrinkSangriaInThePark · 27/03/2020 12:36

I think that is very clear. NOWHERE has the Irish government said that schools would be open in April. Ever.

eggandonion · 27/03/2020 14:39

And NOBODY EVER interferes with the leaving cert!

Namelessinseattle · 27/03/2020 14:54

I think giving short milestones like the 29th March and 19th April are helpful. Back when Leo (I feel like we're on first names at this point I've seen him so much in the last 3 weeks on tv) made the first announcement I knew it would take more than 2 weeks but I found the idea of two weeks more palatable then an indefinite 6 months.

And now as 29th March is upon us it would be madness to go back- so we've just extended it to the far side of the Easter holidays. And I'm sure when the 19th come around we'll all think it would be madness to go back so it will be another month. For me I find that easier to deal with than the idea of an open ended plan.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 21:01

Has Leo just announced today that we are not allowed on public transport at all?!

OP posts:
eggandonion · 27/03/2020 21:09

Only for work I think, but to be clarified later.

Pinkerpellosa · 27/03/2020 21:13

Because the Easter holidays end on 19th. Schools would not be open before that anyway

Biscuitsdisappear · 27/03/2020 21:15

There are different dates most likely because each government is free to make its own decisions on what it will do and when it will do it.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 21:19

Leo Varadkar gave another speech today with new restrictions. We can only go 2 km from our homes.

And we started the lockdown 10 days before the UK.

I think I am going to have a mental break down

OP posts:
Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 21:23

New speech from Leo Varadkar.

No private or public gatherings allowed in Ireland.

Can anyone clarify- did he say that no one was allowed on public transport? Or some of us are

OP posts:
Namelessinseattle · 27/03/2020 21:30

Only for traveling to essential work. Not sure if that includes for essential care or hospital appointments

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 21:32

I can do it for myself, I am just worried about elderly family members in different parts of the country.

We can only go 2km from our houses?

OP posts:
StarsThatTwinkle · 27/03/2020 21:39

Eh, BE KIND, people?!

Clearly the bottom line is the OP is not feeling the best about the restrictions and lockdown. It's hard. Some empathy might not go amiss.

PatriciaHolm · 27/03/2020 21:41

Official doc (which is on Twitter) says

  • stay home except for essential workers who can't work from home/getting food/medical appts or medicines/ vital family reasons such as providing care to kids or elderly/brief exercise no more than 2k from home /farming

Public transport restricted to essential workers or for one of the above reasons.

Original poster
Amymayapple · 27/03/2020 21:44

What do you think about it @PatriciaHolm

OP posts:
eggandonion · 27/03/2020 21:47

I think you could travel to care for them, but would risk bringing infection to their homes. Can you return to your home place and quarantine there for two weeks? Are they in one area?

PatriciaHolm · 27/03/2020 21:59

Well - I should say I'm not in Ireland, I'm in England, but I would say he's clearly what's happened here and has consciously made the rules more specific; stating no public transport unless specifically of those reasons, only essential workers who cannot work from home and only 2km from home for exercise. All essentially what we have but that important bit more specific.

Zucker · 27/03/2020 22:03

Amymayapple, with the best will in the world you shouldn't be thinking about going near to elderly relations. Ireland is now in lockdown. No going on public transport unless you are an essential worker. Are you an essential worker? You cannot travel more than 2km from your home.

Yes this is tough. It is necessary to protect the elderly and the vunerable in our country.

Break the time into manageable bitesize chunks for yourself. You made it through today, you can make it through the weekend too.

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