A winter lockdown

[Hippofrog]

Do you this this is possible? Because although I love being at home my walk this morning was bracing enough god know how it will be in the winter months. And the darkness, not being in the garden etc..... fills me with dread but I honestly think there will be a resurgence in flu season.

I think probably some level of social distancing will be the norm for a while, but any attempt at a lockdown around the Christmas period would be a complete non-starter.

Christmas worries me the most, gatherings, school concerts, mixing households etc the way it spreads Doesn’t bear thinking about.

I think it's very unlikely to be a normal Christmas, but a lot can have changed before then and we might see something like big gatherings banned but still allowed to see family.
I can't see how the nation can afford another lockdown of this level, but we will understand more by then about how it is spread and it might be possible to keep it under control with more specific measures that preserve what's important (seeing family, keeping people in work) while having restrictions around them.
It's also possible that there will be a vaccine and while there's no way there would be time to produce and distribute enough for everyone, it's not inconceivable there will be enough for many of the vulnerable people.
Christmas is a long way away. It's too early to lose hope x

I have such a fear that it will be so so much worse during flu season. I’d happily cancel Christmas to keep people safe

Realistically the virus is not going to go away until we have an effective vaccine. The lockdown is only intended to stop everyone getting ill at once and overwhelming the NHS which might well become an issue again during flu season...

Personally I plan to live in a kind of self-imposed lockdown until I can get vaccinated. I realise I'm in a fortunate position to be able to do this though (work from home anyway and don't have kids).

I think this is why it needs to be made clear before this lockdown is lifted that if we don't comply with ongoing, changing social distancing regulations then we will find ourselves in another lockdown at a more unpleasant time. So, for example, if we get told we can have gatherings with no more than 10 people, then virus numbers creep up, that may drop to gatherings of no more than 5 people. We need to be prepared to listen and comply so that those in charge can walk a tightrope of keeping numbers under control. If we don't comply then numbers will spike and we'll find ourselves back in lockdown..... and yes, possibly over Christmas.

@viccat I'm going to do that too if I possibly can; but people can't comply now then if they are given leeway they'll just lose their shit and have even more contact/large gatherings than before. Any let up would be seen as a licence to go back to normal IMHO.

I was reading about Spain relaxing restrictions today, which there means that people who cannot work from home for example construction workers are allowed to go to work and use public transport - with police handing out face masks at stations. Can you imagine that happening here? For a start most builders etc do what they want when they want and if a few groups of people were told to use public transport then everyone would suddenly be in that those groups! Look at what happened on the tube when they said key workers only.

Maybe there'll be a vaccine by Christmas.

I will certainly be prepping for a winter lockdown.
Once things are a bit more normal I will be making sure that I have Christmas dinner plus treats stashed in my freezer along with a good stockpile. What if we don’t extend the Brexit transition period? It won’t be pretty.
I will be doing all my Christmas shopping once lockdown lifted too, certainly having DS sorted. He may want other stuff from Santa but as long as he has a few nice things to open and a stocking, that’s good.
I will also be buying the next size up in shoes and clothes for him once lockdown lifted. Fortunately I did this to an extent anyway to save money so have trainers, Crocs and summer/ next winter clothes in his next size along with presents for his June birthday.
I am mentally preparing for a year of disruption. Me not working so financially we are prepping into a contingency fund. Mentally preparing my parents for it to be a long haul before they are free again.
We

I think I’ll be prepping also.

Well I’m 100% sure that it’ll be complete lockdown throughout winter, and likely into spring.

Then again, I’m on the other side of the world, and it’s forecast 2º overnight tonight with months of same or colder ahead..

Just to remind the thread that not all of MN is gaily prancing into the positive promise of Spring right now. We here have all the normal winter weather flu strains, plus colds, plus this new thing to look forward to. Impossible to get a ‘normal’ flu shot now due to the pandemic.

I’ve pondered whether lockdown at home might actually be a bit mentally easier in cold rainy months, rather than trying to restrain kids (& adults) from traipsing forth in warm weather? The temptation might be worse and harder to manage?

Our vulnerable and homeless will be hard hit here though, no doubt. And the hospitals carry a heavier burden in winter, which will be a minus?

There will not be a vaccine by Christmas, scientist on the bbc just said one year at least and probably 18 months. So I and out of lockdown til then?

Look at what happened on the tube when they said key workers only

That was because they closed 40 tube stations and massively cut services.

I'm reanimating this thread because I was speaking to a teacher friend who said the local authority where she teaches are preparing for a winter lockdown. Of course no one knows if that will happen or not but it's good to plan ahead.

I wonder if we could use this thread to get a discussion going about what it good to do just in case? Obvs for those who share our winter season.

It's been ok for us (silly reason alert) because the weather has been good enough to dry washing outside. Having our airer up in winter will really get in the way. In a normal winter I spend my life wheeling the airer out of the way. That will not be possible in the same way if we are working and learning from home. It will always be in the way.

No space or inclination for a tumble dryer and the laundrette will likely close (it has now). I'm investigating less intrusive drying options.

So what else?

Someone mentioned doing Christmas shopping.

We're going to make sure we've got good winter clothing so we can still walk or cycle outside. (I've been putting of buying new winter boots for about 5 years. They leak now so can't put off anymore.

We've managed without a printer but it has been complicated so researching that buying one now.

Just wondered if anyone had any other thoughts?

Cant wait for the new COVID carols, Walking in a Lockdown Wonderland is going to be christmas number one for sure

@SciFiScream - a heated aired (drysoon) is £100 or so, some cheaper models, and drying hangers for radiators helps

There are v helpful threads on preppers topic for exactly this: I am also expecting a future lockdown/s

Check out the CV-19 prepping threads on the preppers boards for advice. There are some very experienced long term preppers there who are really helpful. I've got a lot of tips from them and I'm slowly preparing for winter. I agree with pp re another spike in infections over winter & as that is the flu season, there might be another partial lockdown.

I don't drive atm, was planning on learning this summer but that's gone up the spout. I am feeling nervous about getting on public transport but I can wfh so that's a blessing. Sadly dc schools are too far to walk so will need to take the bus.

My school has also mentioned being prepared for the winter spike in case/ lockdown.
I will be preparing.

Given the financial damage the exchequer has witnessed from this short lockdown, I would say there is zero chance of a winter lockdown.

Vulnerable will be shielded, possibly a stay home order for a couple of weeks over the holidays, if that.

If the country is bankrupt, there is no NHS. Keep that in mind.

I'm anticipation some kind of winter lockdown. Maybe slightly longer school holidays.

The thread started a couple of weeks ago on What are you doing to prepare for a second lockdown? (can't remember exact phrasing sorry) is full of interesting ideas.

What will you do to prepare for any future lockdown? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3887735-What-will-you-do-to-prepare-for-any-future-lockdown

Is this the one?

@NCforthisMarch thanks for the suggestion. I don't really have space

I think the only space that's "dead" is the height in the stairwell so I'm thinking about using that somehow. I'm also thinking about having some sort of cover put over the back door outside under which I'd be able to put my existing airer

I’m in the shielding group, do am just hoping that there might be a time between peaks when it isn’t outrageously risky for me to go out for the odd walk sometimes (ie the freedoms of the lockdown rules compared to my current lot)

And I’d really like to go and see my (also shielding) DMum

If we get a bit of a break late summer/early autumn then I think I can gird my loins and stag on through the winter

Need to get a bigger/better telly that talks to iPlayer, All4, Netflix etc

I’m wavering over booking a remote log cabin in Scotland for the week before Xmas.

Dont want to get excited for it to be cancelled but would love to get to see some nature and fresh air.

Yes @SciFiScream that's the one