A practical discussion: life after lockdown

[TheDailyCarbuncle]

I think the government should start preparing people now for coming out of lockdown, so that when it finally happens (whenever that is) people are ready to engage in behaviours that allow them to function while still feeling safe.

One thing I was thinking about was clothes shopping.

Lots of people shop online but going to shops is still popular, largely because people like to feel and try on clothes before buying.

If lockdown ended in two weeks, would you be happy to go back to a shop and look at/try on clothes? Or would you just order online? Or would you expect a different set up in the shop post-lockdown?

That's great @LoveLongLife. I had heard of that treatment for MS but I didn't know how effective it was. Fingers crossed for you for continued improvement.

I agree with Unescorted. Doing things like milling around clothes shops is going to be a bit in bad taste in several months as others will be getting repossessed or struggle to buy food

So, in a recession, the people who do still have money should stay at home and not spend it out of a sense of solidarity with those who don't have money?

But..... won't that make the recession worse?

Yes, if people stop shopping then the economy will never recover. It's necessary for people to try to start engaging with 'normal' life as soon as possible (safely) or the impact of the virus will extend even further and have an even greater negative effect.

Assuming viral overload is a thing I think it would be prudent to still avoid crowded places and keep on with the hand washing / other hygiene practices. If it is likely that many will catch the virus a mild version is preferable and would actually be beneficial in terms of immunity. So I think going out but avoiding places and situations that would mean viral overload.

I'm hoping that people will shop more out of necessity than great and that society won't be as materialistic. But I think I Hope in vain.

Viral load refers to the amount of virus in a person's system @veryvery - not how much they are exposed to. The viral load depends on the extent to which your immune system is able to combat the virus - a good immune response means lower viral load. I think you're referring to infection dose, which is how much you're exposed to. The evidence on that is mixed. What they have found is that it's likely to be possible to get infected with covid even with a small exposure. It's not clear whether higher exposure leads to greater infection though - that's usually not the case with most viruses so it's likely not to be the case with covid (though hard to say yet).

I think it’s going to be gradual. As others have said, more shops will open but there may be a queuing system - only a certain amount of people inside at one time. I think when restaurants, cafes and bars reopen then at first they will have to have less people in and all sitting 2 metres apart, so less tables.

I’m not sure what will happen with airlines and the holiday industry as that will depend on the restrictions on the country that you would like to fly to. My guess is that mass gatherings like gigs and football matches will be the last to return to normal. Hairdressers and Beaty salons could also be in the last group to reopen as it’s impossible to do social distancing.

I’ve seen a few articles recently saying that as children are low risk then schools and nurseries should reopen - I don’t think we can go back to any normality until nurseries and primaries have reopened as parents rely on them for childcare.

I think offices will be the first to go back - easier to enforce social distancing, but it depends on schools and nurseries reopening to provide childcare.

I think we will have to gradually lift lock down restrictions, starting in May due to the cost to the economy and the hardship that will follow - including extra deaths due to poverty, mental health etc. We could end up with a 2 tier system of vulnerable staying in lockdown and low risk returning to normal but with social distancing.

Thanks for that info OP.

I've had to order some Summer clothes online, not for frivolous reasons but literally because I need something to wear. I normally buy from charity shops so hope they reopen. I just can't afford to buy new clothes.

Lockdown is proving very expensive for me in general- I can't get a supermarket slot so have to go to small local shops for food.

It isn't shops which concern me.
It's public transport and pubs.
I'm not a fan of crowded places.
I think lots of people will cram into pubs and I worry about hygiene and such.
I won't be going into any crowded place.
I'd like to see people respecting personal space. Lots of people don't do this. It's been a welcome factor for me, I can't stand people standing close to me at any time. It might also stop perverts trying to get close to my teenage dd when she is on public transport. I'm hoping we can call more people out on this in a get the fuck away from me way.
As for clothes shopping I have been using eBay quite a lot for some time now.
I'd rather buy recycled clothes than add to the waste which fast fashion causes. Also I find I can buy better quality clothes for less this way and it saves in those clothes being thrown away.

@emilybrontescorsett

It might also stop perverts trying to get close to my teenage dd when she is on public transport. I'm hoping we can call more people out on this in a get the fuck away from me way.

This could indeed be something good to come out of the whole thing.

I personally will avoid shops, cafes and other highly peopled places until we have a decent vaccine or treatment or have eradicated the virus.

I'll shop online or not shop.

I do worry that this may contribute to the death of high street shops, cafes and restaurants though.

Where possible (butchers, veg, beer etc) I'll use local retailers.

I might push myself (even when feeling uncomfortable) to use independent cafes and restaurants to help them survive.

It's hard to say for certain until we're at that stage.

I'm also hoping there will be less use of cars. This has proved that meetings can be held on line and more people can work from home.
I'm also hoping my workplace will still insist on greater protection for staff, what ever this entails. The general public will have to get used to not being so entitled. If you can't get into a building because it is busy then so be it. Whether that is a doctor's surgery, hospital waiting room, bank or pub and anyone who kicks off should not be allowed in.

I will still meet friends in our favourite cafe. I will however be taking my hand sanitiser and wipes. It's an independent cafe which only ever seems to attract like minded people. It's within another building so lots of people don't know it's there.

I would always be at shops for them opening as I don't like it being too busy so yes I will be happy to get back to normal. Don't and won't order online unless I have to. Can't wait to go out to dinner and back to the office! Will be one income down by the time that happens but we have a small house and minimal fuel so I would sacrifice new clothes for dinner out!

I’m one of the fortunate one who can work at home (although differently) and whose income is secure for the foreseeable. I do feel a certain obligation to carry on spending.

While clothes shopping is my idea of hell, I would normally be spending time and money in bookshops, charity shops, cafes, theatres and concert venues. Lots of arts organisations have been offering content for free on line. That makes me look more kindly on the emails I’m getting from time asking whether I want a refund or whether I will donate the cost of my ticket....

In the longer term - in the post-vaccine world - I hope we will be able to retain some of the silver linings, such as less car use and greater engagement with our neighbours.

I only ever buy clothes on line or buy stuff from Sainsbury’s or Asda while I m shopping so my habits won’t change. DD12 loves going to the actual shops with her friends I ll still be happy for her to do this when they reopen.
Regarding coming out of lockdown I think it will be gradual, open spaces etc opened again first (National trust, forestry commissioners) but probably not the houses or cafes at these places, limited children in the play areas. I think schools have to be high on the list to enable people especially with primary aged children to return to work. Pubs and restaurants I think will reopen with limited numbers and more space between the tables.

When it comes to coming out of lock down the thing we are keenest on is the theme parks, we go every weekend in the season and have 4 European trips booked (two now moved to next year) so I am interested in what they will do as social distancing is difficult on rides where you sit in a row and impossible where the staff have to check restraints. I m geared up for no theme parks opening at all this year sadly as if they are going to run rides etc one person per row they will probably deem it not to be financially viable.

I don't buy many clothes anyway but will go back to my normal way of life when we are allowed to following whatever the current restrictions are. If I lose my job we obviously won't be able to spend so much but at the moment I will go back to work as soon as the schools reopen/able to see family and friends and I have childcare again.

I intend to visit the theatre, pubs, theme parks and go on holiday again when they reopen.

My income hasn’t been affected so I do feel an obligation to spend to preserve other people’s jobs (obviously only what I would have spent anyway!).

Prior to all this (having worked in healthcare all my life) I gave no thought whatsoever to the possibility of catching a disease and potentially being very ill (to the extent that I even forgot to have my flu jab this year ).

I’m following the lockdown quite strictly because I feel that is a way I can help in a situation where I feel quite powerless to do anything useful, and I don’t want to make the situation worse for people working on the frontline. I do however hope that I can get my old attitude back when things start easing, though I feel sorry for people now described as vulnerable for whom life may never be the same again.

We've only been locked down for 3 weeks,, plus a week where we were encouraged to socially distance. Most people (those with fast growing younger children excepted) will not have needed to buy new clothes in that time.

Personally, I'm an odd size so hate buying online so will continue to go to shops infrequently but try to stay away from others (which tbh is what I do anyway).

Prior to lockdown a large part of my teenage daughter's social life was mooching round clothes shops with her friends (and only very occasionally buying something). That's the main thing she is desperate to do post lockdown, although it had crossed my mind I would try to encourage her to meet her friends away from shopping centres!

My plan is to spend as little as possible the rest of this year and see how things are in 2021. I’d rather have money to eat etc if the economy totally tanks so I’m “stockpiling” money like I did food a month ago