If you're calling for schools to go back, restrictions to be relaxed...

[GrumpiestOldWoman]

...were you also in the group shouting for a lockdown a month ago?

People seem to be as desperate to open things back up now as they were to lockdown a month ago, yet we're still not over the peak.

It's hard not to conclude that the novelty has worn off.

Why are the press giving more airtime to 'relax restrictions' messages rather than 'UK worst in Europe' which we clearly are when care home deaths are added to the hospital deaths numbers? When other countries were reporting the death numbers we have today the UK was screaming for lockdown, but now it doesn't seem to be newsworthy

I don't get it?

[LaurieMarlow]

Without lockdown we would have an NHS utterly swamped and unable to care for patients with Covid-19 or other life threatening conditions, not least because of massive staff incapacitation and death

I am pro a period of lockdown, so I agree.

However, extended lockdown will absolutely cripple the country financially and that will impact hugely on our ability to pay for the NHS (as well as hundreds of thousands losing their homes, struggling for food, essential services shot to pieces, etc).

It’s an appalling balancing act ahead of us here.

[noblegiraffe]

Saw something on twitter about how the wealthy are keen for folks to get back to work because that is how they (the wealthy people) earn their money.

Think about whose interests they have in mind when you read yet another Times or Telegraph story trying to make ‘schools go back in May’ a thing.

[MyDcAreMarvel]

No I wanted lockdown two weeks before it happened. My dc will not go back before September, with the exemption possibly of my year 10 who would have to stay with family as I am shielding.
I have six school age dc so it’s pretty full especially as 4 have SEN. I do enjoy home schooling them though and was something I had previously considered.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

Those people are now at risk. Dying from poverty, lack of healthcare, lack of food, domestic violence, suicide and child abuse isnt somehow “better” than dying of covid.

Sadly all of those have been the lived reality for parts of the population for decades, it’s not just happening all of a sudden because of covid. The current situation may tip people who were previously coping into not coping any longer, may mean services don’t have usual levels of supervision of at risk children, may leave people in abusive situations without relief but all of this has been an issue for very many years. Like all extremes, it’s highlighted in current times but let’s not pretend it’s anything new - people have been ignoring the plight of vulnerable for a very long time.

[LaurieMarlow]

the wealthy are keen for folks to get back to work because that is how they (the wealthy people) earn their money.

I’m not wealthy.

However I’m keen to get back to work because that’s how I earn my money.

Otherwise I can’t pay my mortgage, buy food.

It’s not that difficult to understand.

[GrumpiestOldWoman]

Dying from poverty, lack of healthcare

Lifting restrictions won't restore healthcare unfortunately.

[ListeningQuietly]

A Vaccine will not be available for years

We have to learn to live WITH Covid - as we have with other human Coronaviruses

The death rate is a fraction of other major worldwide diseases.

[LaurieMarlow]

Lifting restrictions won't restore healthcare unfortunately.

It’ll give us a better chance of being able to fund it in the medium to longer term.

[LilacTree1]

OP, what are your thoughts?

Btw I’m not a poster who will attack you for your views, happy to listen to all.

[noblegiraffe]

However I’m keen to get back to work because that’s how I earn my money.

Then why aren’t the headlines agitating for people to go back to work? A lot of people can go back to work without schools opening. Why is it schools that is the focus of the headlines and not getting workers back in?

I think it’s because having rich people saying ‘we want people back in our offices’ would be too obvious.

[midgebabe]

We do have to learn to live with that
We do need people to get back to work
We do need a stable health service

In a few weeks we will be in a much better position to achieve all those things
And the details of how will become clearer with more data, watching what happens in other countries, and preparation for the new normal

[ShesGotBetteDavisEyes]

Because schools have to open first noblegiraffe - without schools open most people cannot go back to work.

[LilacTree1]

I shall brave watching the paper review thing tonight

This is all very interesting.

[LaurieMarlow]

A lot of people can go back to work without schools opening.

I can’t. Not properly. I can’t take my children with me to do 75% of my job.

[sossujunmash]

I think that I can answer your questions:

...were you also in the group shouting for a lockdown a month ago?...People seem to be as desperate to open things back up now as they were to lockdown a month ago, yet we're still not over the peak....It's hard not to conclude that the novelty has worn off....I don't get it? the same people who called for lockdown a month ago are indeed talking about return to school in a matter of weeks, phased, after the peak, because they are informed about what the scientists/doctors have been advising. Not to do with novelty wearing off. The same thing has been said about lockdown/phased return to normal after matter of weeks intended and prep for second wave fairly consistently by the scientists and medics I think.

Why are the press giving more airtime to 'relax restrictions'.... I am in France and I reckon that coverage by the likes of Figaro, "20 mins", La Monde etc has been far superior, more helpful and informative than in UK on the whole. I suspect that some UK papers are more agenda driven.

[noblegiraffe]

without schools open most people cannot go back to work.

That’s not true though, is it? Only people with roughly primary aged kids who cannot work from home and have no one else who could look after the kids would not be able to go back.

The low take-up of keyworker places at schools just demonstrates that schools really aren’t that necessary as childcare.

[Barbie222]

Yes @noblegiraffe we are in a bit of an echo chamber here.

Germany is adhering to social distancing until the 3 May, then schools and workers back presumably without the need for strict social distancing.

[LaurieMarlow]

The low take-up of keyworker places at schools just demonstrates that schools really aren’t that necessary as childcare.

It doesn't demonstrate that at all.

Lots of non key workers have been furloughed or doing their job at much reduced capacity while looking after children at home.

That can’t continue or economy will tank totally.

[ListeningQuietly]

Lots of parents are "working from home" or hoping they are "on furlough"
but within weeks their employers will start going bust
so they will not be able to act as home educators

• they will need to go back to work

in retail and hospitality and offices and cleaning
at which stage they will NOT be able to look after their children
so schools will be needed

[noblegiraffe]

doing their job at much reduced capacity while looking after children at home.

So they don’t need schools to be opened to be able to work. Gotcha.

[PoppliosBubble]

I’d like the schools and other businesses to open in a couple of weeks. I think a lot of people are underestimating just how catastrophic the effect is that this is having on the economy now and will continue to for years to come. There comes a point when the lives saved need to be balanced with the lives that will be lost due to poverty or mental health issues that will arise if lockdown continues for much longer.

[noblegiraffe]

Anyone got any figures? How many parents of children under the age of let’s say 13 who haven’t got anyone else living in the household who can look after them during school hours who are currently furloughed would only be able to go back to work if schools reopened?

[LaurieMarlow]

So they don’t need schools to be opened to be able to work. Gotcha.

Good god, are you nine or something?

My business is operating at about 5% of normal revenue right now. It will have to lay off about 90% of the workforce if this doesn’t change quickly.

[noblegiraffe]

Laurie If the economy is the priority, then shouldn’t the priority be allowing people back to work who can get back to work?

Not get the schools back first, then think about opening up some other stuff later once we see how that’s gone?

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I never wanted lockdown in the first place or schools to be closed. I understand the necessity of course but I was dreading it because I knew what it would mean for my job. And yep, I've been furloughed. I'm a single parent and if I lose this job I'm fucked. So the minute lockdown ends DS will be back in school so I can get back to work.

@noblegiraffe I'm one of the non key workers who can't work from home. My town is very industrial and most people work in factories which have all had to close.