Is there an exit strategy that would make everyone happy? I don't think its possible is it?

[Bubblesbubblesmybubbles]

Just discussing this with dp and we couldnt see a solution....

So you have a few groups of people in the UK with entirely opposing needs, i can't see how there can be an 'out' which makes everyone happy but everyone does seem to agree we can't stay locked down until a vaccine comes along

They put health first and the economy is hit harder, people struggle to feed families, MH becomes a massive issue

They let people come out of lockdown gradually (hyperthetically say May) and make social distancing the norm but then what about those who are highly vulnerable?

Schools go back too soon and teachers feel vulnerable, schools don't go back and people have no ability to work

Is there an option everyone can even accept, not necessarily be happy with but accept?

It seems impossible...

I agree, I don't think there is a solution that will keep everyone happy. And I also think some people love a moan and an outrage at the government whatever they do.

I personally think schools first to 'free up' people so they can go to work. I think vulnerable people will need to isolate for much longer

I guess it will all come down to whats best for the greatest number of people?!

Well, I suppose they shouldn't be aiming to make everyone happy. They should be doing what's going to save the most amount of lives.

But yes, I think it will always be 'too soon' for some people and 'too much' for others.

I really don't know but I am very worried about how this will affect mental health. I already suffered with various mh isssues before and am struggling but I've noticed a few people I know have also started to suffer when they never have before. I think it'll only get worse the longer we are inside/the more money issues keep getting worse. Very worrying and scary

Sorry by making people happy thats what i meant, badly worded

I would hope when we are allowed out, advice will be given that the most vulnerable should stay in. Whether they choose to follow that advice is up to them

Agree. There are no easy choices. Lockdown buys time but it doesn’t make the virus disappear. When lockdown eases, there will be more cases again but we cannot hide forever.

I don’t think people have yet appreciated the damage this is doing the economy. Many of those furloughed will be made redundant and we - and our children - will be paying the costs of the lockdown for years in terms of higher taxes or reduced public services.

We cannot hide until there is zero risk but we can wait until the NHS is able to cope with the virus.

I don't think anyone anywhere is suggesting lockdown till a vaccine is available and I don't think it's helpful to suggest that it is a remote possibility for anyone

What other countries seem to be doing is

Squash the first peak right down so that the numbers going into hospital is in the tens rather than hundreds or thousands. That is a sustainable level for the NHS allowing it to resume normal activity
Restrict entry into the country, with mandatory 2 week quarantine
Use a mixture of testing and contact tracing to isolate any potential victims
With the option of localalized lockdowns if it gets out of control again.

Then the only question is ...how squashed do you make the sustainable level and how do you do contact tracing in a society that distrusts surveillance

It is not impossible that lockdown will be relaxed first for those prepare to use a contact tracing app on their phone. Or they may decide to hold us all for longer.

No real input but wanted to say how much I agree with @daffodil1224 - I entirely understand why this lockdown is necessary but am also extremely concerned about the impact on mental health, especially for young people.

Yes snap about mental health. I also think there is going to be wide spread acrophobia. On my daily walk I genuinely almost crap myself if I see another person. Everything and everyone seems dangerous.

You can guarantee what ever they implement many Mumsnet users will think it is wrong! Esp the 'I'll do anything to protect my kids' brigade who haven't realised their kids are the ones least at risk, and will shit themselves when schools reopen. I don't envy the strategists planning the exit strategy, it's hugely complex.

@twattergy that is definitely true!!

Its a hard job and i dont envy them one bit

I personally think schools first to 'free up' people so they can go to work. I think vulnerable people will need to isolate for much longer

There’s a huge problem with that due to the number of vulnerable people there are who teach in schools! If they still need to stay at home, who will be teaching the children?

@Letseatgrandma i think thats the issue isnt it, so many major conflicts of interedt

I don't think opening schools will make a difference if non essential shops / hairdressers / bars / restaurants etc are not open.

*Letseatgrandma
*
I work in a school and myself and several of my colleagues are in the vulnerable group.

It's something that keeps being missed that it's all well and good to reopen schools but you need the staff in order to do so. And if many are still self isolating or shielding then that can't happen

Schools open but on a rotation basis eg. Years 7-9 Mon Wed Fri Years 10-14 Tues Thurs.
Then open some of the less non-essential businesses. Eg. Garden centres, DIY stores.

There’s a huge problem with that due to the number of vulnerable people there are who teach in schools!

I’ve seen this said a lot - are there a disproportionate number of vulnerable people in teaching? Genuine question! Obviously there are some but not more than in the general population, one would assume?

They need to lift attendance fines so that people can make individual deciding based on their families' level of risk.

@Eyewhisker what makes you think those furloughed will be made redundant? DH is a structural engineer for agricultural buildings and they have loads of work needing doing but is furloughed at the moment, the office staff are still doing estimates and quotes and they currently won a big industrial contract. He did get an email stating they would make cuts if it goes on too long to save the company but I was overly worried as if DH isn’t there buildings don’t get started as he is the only one there who does what he does, now I’m worried again

Vulnerable is a much bigger group than shielded and seems to be around 1/3 of the population

I’ve seen this said a lot-are there a disproportionate number of vulnerable people in teaching? Genuine question! Obviously there are some but not more than in the general population, one would assume?

I don’t know?! We always seem to have a huge number of people pregnant at my school at any one time!

We have a lot on that list though and I guess if you need one teacher per 30 children, it’s pretty obvious when any of them are off as they have to be replaced with another teacher, whereas in an office, having a few work from home or in a separate area for his reason might be less noticeable?

There are also vulnerable schoolchildren eg with asthma. And children with vulnerable people in their family, so the child could go to school and come home with a very mild case of infection and then mum or dad could end up in ICU or die. Things are a lot less complicated at the moment in our family than they will be when the children go back to school.

There’s bound to be a lot of unhappy people because anything other than continuing the lockdown until there’s a vaccine leads to people dying. Anyone who loses a loved one between the end of lockdown and a vaccine (which could be several years), is going to be pretty unhappy.

I think this will carry on until the general population won’t put up with it any more. By that, I don’t mean people annoyed that they can’t go on holiday or to the pub but rather people who just plain need to be paid. I know of a few key workers who can’t work because their kids are off school.