Taking into account how YOU see the situation, when do YOU personally believe we will start returning to normal?

[Whitefeather01]

Just that really. When do YOU personally think restrictions will start to be lifted? Schools going back? Travel resumed? Etc.

What about large gatherings such as weddings etc? I have 2 weddings to attend in Sept and just not sure if they’ll be able to go ahead.

End of may. You can’t end the lockdown prematurely because it will only spike again within a month. Once it’s done you’re committed to it I’m afraid.

I dont think this version of lockdown can go on for long. The cost the government and economy will be too great. Plus people's mental health will tank from being isolated for months on end, it can't go on too long.

Lots of people are saying schools will open again in September, perhaps to work around normal term dates, but do people think childcare will open earlier? I can't imagine working from home full time while having my child full time for the next 5 months, I don't think it's possible for most people.

Unless I've totally missed the point, I thought the semi-lockdown we have in the UK at the moment was to spread out the influx of new admissions to hospital, and that eventually we will all either catch it (and become immune) or at some point in the future be vaccinated against it. I don't see a future where front doors are flung open and we all emerge from hibernation to be told we are now safe - the virus will always exist unless everyone develops an immunity. If this is correct, I see limited reopening of facilities in June with schools back in September but no foreign travel for months (2021?). Perhaps we will get 'immunity passports' once the testing is in place that will allow us to travel. The Trump is right - you cannot let a country be broken by the cure so, economically, we need to be pragmatic about what might happen. We're going to need to put our big pants on...

At the moment, most people are still being paid in full or going to receive 80% pay or are claiming benefits with the added bonus of no longer having to attend Jobcentre appointments; and we’ve only been sick indoors for a week. People are seeing it as a novelty paid holiday - and that’s a very good thing. Once the novelty wears off and millions of people feel their lives really are being disrupted, and the inevitable financial impact hits, and the realisation that this will Secretary the economy for years to come sets in - that’s when the unrest will start to occur and people will decide that they actually don’t care all that much about people who they don’t know and who don’t contribute much to society in the first place getting sick. And start breaking isolation. The government has to have a realistic plan for giving us some semblance of normality before discontent becomes widespread.

@OpticVA

They've cancelled all spring and summer weddings in some counties

70% of the UK will contract the virus according to the experts. The peak as it stands is not due for 10weeks. They're hoping that 10week peak may have been flattened and moved further away so 12-14 weeks just to hit peak. Then a further 12-14 weeks to come down the other side I'd imagine. So end of June just to hit peak, if measures have worked.

I think schools will be one of the first things to go back to normal. The country can’t sustain the propping up of business and the economy for months on end and getting the kids back to school so people can work, if they are able to, will be a priority. Things like social gatherings will continue much longer I think, so restaurants, theatres etc will stay closed. I do think we’ll have another period of school closure and more restrictions again next winter.

I don't think we will ever be back to what was normal.

We will have to go back to normal at some point, or the vast majority of us will be bankrupt.

The peak as it stands is not due for 10weeks. They're hoping that 10week peak may have been flattened and moved further away so 12-14 weeks just to hit peak.

That is total rubbish. The peak is expected just after Easter according to the deputy chief medical officer, about two weeks behind Italy's.

May/June back to normal (ish - still think no large gatherings and no schools) for a few months, hard lockdown again in winter when the second wave hits.

Basically it'll be on/off for a while till there is a vaccine.

The peak as it stands is not due for 10weeks

Where did you hear that?

As an armchair expert with very little scientific understanding, I think schools will re-open sometime in May.

Bloody hell you lot are cheerful. China are getting back to normal - I very much hope that we will have most restrictions relaxed by the summer. Call me delusional if you like but I haven't given up on my summer holiday yet.

Based on a phone call I just had with my NHS Occupational Therapist, it could well be in or by September. I had an out-patient appt booked for mid-April so I rang the department. They said all up-coming outpatient appointments were cancelled but I could book an appointment for September, which I did. Thankfully they also advised that they are setting up Skype calls for any urgent need, and offered to send splints etc out by post too. I was impressed with their contingency planning.

Lockdown finishing end of June.
July and August fairly normal with some social distancing. Vulnerable groups still advised to distance themselves as much as possible.
Schools September
Winter may involve a month lockdown again if hospitals get too busy
As for Dentistry as some have mentioned - personally I won’t be drilling teeth again until I either have a test to show I’m immune, I have been vaccinated, or both my nurse and I have FFP3 masks. This may be the end of my career.

I think this will be over a lot sooner than people think. I'm saying at least by July.

I'm as unconcerned as it's possible to be.

I think the government will move hell and high water to get schools back by September (if they cannot do it any earlier)

It wouldn't surprise me if we saw a year or more long foreign travel ban, though areas that rely heavily on tourism will suffer.

I’m another optimist. I think schools will gradually go back in May starting with the year 12s so they can catch up and gradually increasing so everyone has some schooling before the summer break to get back into a normal routine. Big gatherings still cancelled until autumn and encouraging those who can to work from home until autumn.
Not sure about retail - that’s when it’s hard to control numbers as they can accumulate a lot of people. Maybe opening with some controls of numbers in and out. Same for cafes/restaurants.
I think by the end of the 12 weeks for the vulnerable there will be all these things in place except for control of large gatherings.

June onwards, with on and off lockdowns for 3-4 weeks a go, until about next March when there will be a vaccine

I don't think it will be before July. But I work in a field with colleagues who are being re-deployed in the NHS to deal with COVID-19 and the changes I'm seeing, I can't imagine they will be short-lived ones. I also do quite a bit of commuting and travel for work, which I don't see being possible in June. My office has shut down anything face to face until at least mid-June and meetings already cancelled for June and July. I think July would be the earliest I can imagine going back to the office.

Given the challenges of balancing childcare though, I can see it may not be possible until September if there is no school or holiday club available in the summer holidays. Dh and I will both have to work fewer hours and more time at home.

I know someone living in Hong Kong and they posted a picture on Facebook where they were in a restaurant. I asked if they were allowed out now and he said yes but groups of up to four only and 1.5 metres apart. Perhaps this is how it will start here.

Maybe June time?

I can’t see the government saying that the bans on gatherings have to continue but schools can open, though. Schools are mass gatherings. Many schools also won’t have the teachers to work in them until the self-isolation for those with existing health conditions is lifted.

September for priority year groups in schools e.g. Yr 11, Yr 13. October for rest of children/teens.

Some workplaces e.g. offices maybe September/October. Perhaps leisure industry later e.g. cinemas etc.

Agree with others that there probably will be some more spikes of this and phased lockdowns may return. Especially if there seem to be very localised hotspots...which is why we need testing!!!! Knowledge is power to defeat this thing.