If the peak is in 9 days...

[SleepingStandingUp]

And we'd have been in lockdown for 3 weeks, does that mean lockdown is likely to end within the next 4-6 weeks? Or sooner? Could the kids be back at school before May half term?

@ThisFineMap and other posters have outlined the most likely scenario. Periodic loosening/tightening of social distancing measures until a vaccine is found. Schools won't go back this year though, too disruptive coming into exam period when alternative arrangements have already been made for exams.

I think the schools will open after the half term. Collectively Mumsnet is determined it won’t. Obviously they want it to be as miserable as humanly possible and damn the consequences to people’s mental health, the economy and subsequent life loss due to that.

I don't think people want it to be as miserable as possible. I'm certainly no expert but I just want there to be more beds and equipment to be available and surely if we stay in lockdown in will give them more time.

It is a huge worry about the deaths that could happen. Its a very sad time.

Other deaths

So much conflicting advice/info there are scientists saying' it could be ' relaxed in week' caveat that its public behaviour

and then Boris writing to the opposition saying its months not weeks.

We just don't know and can speculate all we like but it is just that.

The sky microbiologist from Reading also said there is no evidence that it will die off in the summer unlike the flu.

I think we all process this differently, in order to manage our own mental health in response to this extreme situation, as much as anything.

Some people will mentally manage best by maintaining the most optimistic possible viewpoint, because they find it easiest to cope by facing the situation a little at a time.

Others will mentally manage best by maintaining a worst case scenario viewpoint, because they find it easiest to cope by facing the worst possible option.

I don't think that makes one set of people 'wrong', and one set 'right' (though they will struggle to see each others' point of view at times). Just different ways of coping.

@SleepingStandingUp I just wanted to send you a hug. This situation is so stressful and scary for all of us, but I think you're worries for your DS really struck me and I hope you will both come through this happy and healthy xxx
ps sorry if my words don't come out right, I am Dyspraxic and sometimes don't convey what I want to.

I think people are confusing lockdown being lifted with "back to normal". Given they started to lift restrictions in China after 8 weeks I think it's logical to assume we could be looking at that too.

That doesn't mean pubs will be open and kids will be back at school. We're a couple of week behind Italy who are over the peak of new infection now.

@Moonbaby321 came out perfectly, thank you