I'm faintly hopeful that lockdown will be relaxed for some shops (garden centres, boo k and toy shops, charity shops) before the end of May as well
I don't think so. Garden centres/DIY superstores they may come under some pressure to open - 1) in an attempt to keep people occupied at home 2) because the garden/horticulture industry sells short-lived perishables and their industry is ruined if stocks not sold and 3) most stores are large, so social distancing can be enforced.
But charity shops and bookshops I am certain will not reopen any time soon. Lots of 'touched' items. Small shops. etc
I don’t understand why people think it is a good idea to give up every single civil liberty we have and no one is questioning how many lives this is saving.
To be at a point where you aren’t allowed out even for a walk? This is crazy.
I don't necessarily think it is a "good idea" but I think it is the only realistic option. The peak has not hit. You're not seeing the "lives being saved" because the outcome of these restrictions is 3-4 weeks into the future. They're trying to stop the NHS being overwhelmed next week, the week after, the week after that and so on. At the moment you can't see what is coming. It seems silly right now, the empty capacity. But it is going to be needed.
What is the exit strategy from this? Why isn’t it obvious that there isn’t one. At some point we have to take the hit - and I’m someone in one of the highest death rate catergories - or destroy society. That’s how it is as I see it.
We cannot afford to "take the hit" at the peak of the curve. This is to prevent everyone "taking the hit" at once, when no help can realistically be given.
The exit strategy is come out of lockdown slowly and strategically and put us back inside if it outbreaks again. The economy is already fucked. The only upside is that the whole world's economy is fucked, so, you know, it's a level (fucking awful) playing field.
I am worried for a great many personal and not-so-close-to home reasons. I know I am privileged in many ways and poverty is going to hit a lot of society much, much harder.
But what is the other option? We can't reopen all the industries, lift travel bans etc. Or many many more people will die than need to. And that will have an enormous repercussion on society.