Has their been a change of opinion about lockdown?

[Maryann1975]

So three weeks ago, all I heard about was why weren’t the government locking everything down quickly enough. There was such outrage about it at the time, how bad it was that the government hadn’t shut schools quickly enough, that people were still mixing and big events were still going ahead.

We are now at The start of week three of the ‘lockdown’ (which wasn’t really a full lockdown, But I’m not really sure what to call the period we are in) and people are desperately wondering when everywhere will reopen and seem to be desperate for the schools to reopen.

I’m wondering if the reality of ‘lockdown’ doesn’t fit with what everyone thought it would be (it’s quite hard dealing with dc every day with no break and no where to take them especially if you are having to work through out from home with the dc arguing around your feet). It’s really boring staying at home all the time, missing holidays, missing family, missing friends and gatherings, social interactions, No eating out, cinema, theatre, coffees etc.

Maybe there are two groups of posters and three weeks ago I mainly caught the pro lockdown group Posting and now I am just seeing the pro economy/lift the lockdown posts. I don’t know? I have also just had a group call with friends and it seemed to be that some thought we should be lifting lockdown pretty soon.

It just seems so contradictory from three weeks ago when people were clamouring for the government to take action.

I think people realise now there's no cure for CV just take your chance. It's alright locking down but unless you lockdown forever what has changed when you end lockdown . Vaccine long time off

@CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate. Interested to know if you are still pro herd immunity? How do you feel about the thousands of people who would have to die (& not just the vulnerable) to get herd immunity and even then the scientists themselves acknowledge that they are unsure just how immune you will be?

On the schools point I am aware that the vast majority of children will have a minor illness but they are super spreaders. That is the reason why schools were closed not because children are affected.

I would love lockdown to be over, but it’s there for a reason. Whether we like it or not it’s critical that we stick with it.

@okiedokieme you can’t enforce social distancing and keep schools open! The two completely contradict each other. Schools are a breeding ground for germs and you can’t keep kids 2m apart in a full school!

I'd love for life to be back to normal. I hate it. But even if lockdown ended next week the situation wouldn't have changed. Many people are still infected with the virus and may pass it on. We wouldn't just be able to wave a magic wand and go from people on Mumsnet washing vegetables with Milton and worrying if someone passed them 1.9m away to sitting happily chatting in Costa.

We're in this for the long haul.

It was in the news this morning that schools being closed only reduces infection spread by 2-4%

Doesn't sound like a lot, given hand washing reduces infection spread by something like 30%

I know cancer patients who have had their chemo put on hold at the moment- putting their life at risk. A 3 year old in UK died recently because they were ill (not corona) but hospital wouldnt admit them due to being overloaded with CV cases.
There is a feeling around me that it seems unless you have corona, your life doesnt appear to be "prioritised" as much.
Thats pretty disgusting in my opinion. Death is death. I dont know why it apparently matters "more" if you die of corona than fcking cancer or sepsis or any other non- CV illness.

oh, also- cancer screenings are not happening right now, neither are a whole raft of diagnostic tests. There will be many, many people in that cohort who will die as a result later on

It was in the news this morning that schools being closed only reduces infection spread by 2-4%

Pish how can they possibly know that? Doesn’t even seem sensible given that children mix and can carry it. If that’s the case why are teachers terrified and why are schools limited at all?

Think there’s a lot of propaganda about.

How would you feel if the real figures were released from China, the estimates seem to be 40,000 at least in wuhan alone. So 40,000 in say Manchester. Still want to go shopping on Saturday ?

The economy must get moving again.

2-3 weeks more at most followed by a staged return.
Primaries back first week in May
Smaller shops and garden centres open 3/4 days per week
Book shops re-open
Constuction resumes
Offices reopen probably half staff return
Secondaries return June
Gradual return to normality
Restaurants open before pubs
Travel from City to City restricted
God knows what one does about publuc transport in London.

Closing schools only reduces infection rates by 2 to 4% IF not coupled with other social distancing measures

The Ferguson chap needs a communications skills course

Looking at the daily death figures, at our own PM being in intensive care, I’m very happy to follow lock down rules. Yes, it’s not easy, especially trying to work and look after children, and I get that people are suffering with MH, but the suffering and grief of lock down was stopped would be even worse. If we allow the NHS to get overwhelmed in one go, it’d end up being more than a 1% death rate. And I don’t want to lose my family or friends to it, frankly.

People want to know when it's going to end OP, because many people are finding this really fucking hard. Personally, I'm not and because it's the Easter holidays the DC would be off anyway at this point, but going forward yes, I'm very concerned about the economic damage being done to our country and also to the lives of millions of Britons. I'm also concerned about DC's education - not my DC as they'll be fine - but those DC for whom school is the safe, predictable, calm, kind place to be. I'm also worried about people in abusive relationships, people who are socially isolated anyway, people on zero-hours contracts, who are self-employed and don't quality for the government's help, people who own businesses that will fold. I absolutely don't think the 'lockdown' should be made more strict - it's hard enough for people with DC in substandard accommodation as it is, without locking them in their fucking homes for weeks. From what I've seen, the vast, overwhelming majority are doing as they are asked, but they're finding it tough and being able to go for a walk once a day is keeping them from tumbling into depression. The government needs to bide its time and can't be making rash promises about when the lockdown will lift just yet, but next Monday they need to let us know what's happening next.

@Shitsgettingcrazy very well said. I'm terrified of CV but I also know that my family is very lucky. We have a garden, our finances haven't been decimated and we're safe at home. Lots of women and children are stuck in unsafe housing with abusive partners/parents -that must be unbearable.

Also my daughter heart scan was cancelled. Fine but that carries a risk in itself.

I agree ontheroses.

@schmoana There is evidence on school closures only having limited impact here.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(20)30095-X/fulltext

I think they do have a bigger impact than 2 to 4% but only if taken in combination with all the other lockdown measures otherwise children will undertake other activities that will increase spread e.g visits to grandparents, holidays and mixing outside of school. The issue is that we cannot keep all these other measures in place for more than a couple of months max and even if we do manage this as soon as we stop them there will be another huge spike in cases.

I hate how anyone saying that they are struggling is jumped on with the whole "at least you're not dead" or " some people have to work with no PPE". It's ok for people to be struggling with this.

I'm usually the most unfazed person who just gets on with it. Stiff upper lip and all that. Up until 3 years ago I had been living with an abusive husband and managed to keep the whole I'm ok it could be worse mentality going. This lockdown no matter how much it's needed and I know it could be worse has pushed me to breaking point. I'm struggling with the kids and the loneliness and I know I could be dead but half the time I've been feeling like things could be better that way. I don't tell anyone in RL I feel like this because it sounds pathetic and as everyone says it could be worse.

Anyway back to the point I don't like how unsupportive this had made a lot of people.

I think a lot of people calling for a lockdown sooner thought it would be a few weeks then everything would be ok. The reality that there is no easy way out of the lockdown and the knock on effects of that are now very scary.

Lockdown fatigue!
I havent got it because i have to go out to work but my daughter has it.
I think schools back in september, see if that causes a surge. They should test kids before bringing them back though.

On a very small sample of my local area's social media I have noticed a lot more people talking about the "exit strategy" and economy whilst understanding the need for the current restrictions alongside a massive decrease in the quite frankly horrible naming and shaming and scaremongering style posts that were around for the last couple of weeks. I think people have got tired of the curtain twitchers and realise we all are doing what we can to get on with it but have to start looking forward.

At least we are allowed to exercise which includes walking dogs. This is not so in other countries where I have family. Honestly our lockdown rules are fairly relaxed in comparison

Anyone questioning lockdown a couple of weeks ago was called a 'death cult capitalist' and suchlike.

I think some are beginning to question the balance. Thank god.

It seemed to me a few weeks ago there were a lot of comparisons with other countries and calls for lockdown - they've closed schools and locked down in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland. Why are we just washing our hands?
Now, even though our restrictions are a lot more lenient than some of these countries, I'm seeing a lot of voices saying "going to the park and keeping apart is fine, you're not going to spread it on a beach", etc.
So I do think the voices I'm hearing have changed, whether individual opinions have changed I don't know.

I think that lockdown could be lifted somewhat in areas outside the large cities where it is at it’s worst. Garden centres who are really suffering, could be allowed to open for plants only, not the cafes. Perhaps a with limited amount of people entering at a time.

Anything where people are crammed together in large crowds will have to continue to be closed down for longer. The huge crowds at football games, in Spain and Italy in particular helped spread the virus in Europe.

happymumof22019

Interested to know if you are still pro herd immunity? How do you feel about the thousands of people who would have to die (& not just the vulnerable) to get herd immunity and even then the scientists themselves acknowledge that they are unsure just how immune you will be?

I concede that the NHS couldn't cope with a huge influx of cases and without testing, PPE widely available for those working in 'contact' industries, and efficient methods of targeting and enforcing fines.

So I concede that with regards to the rate of cases a lockdown may (possibly) be justified.

When it comes to peoples lives though herd immunity is the only thing that we have as a strategy. In other words herd immunity is the strategy we have now. We are just trying to slow the rate of transmission, not prevent people from getting it at some point. We actually need large numbers of people to get it if we ever hope to get the country up and running again almost normally in say 18 months or so.