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Original poster

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

305 replies

GrumpiestOldWoman · 15/04/2020 20:01

...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 Confused

I don't get it?

OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 15/04/2020 23:07

For all those screaming for schools to open, are you prepared to take your child to the funeral of their teacher or ta

If you’re going down that route, are you prepared to go without income because there’s no money in the kitty to pay you if we lockdown for months on end and cripple the economy?

Everyone going back to work will be exposing themselves to risk to some degree. I’ll have to do it though, because I don’t want to lose my home.

LastTrainEast · 15/04/2020 23:10

LilacTree1 "allowing people to sit on grass, groups of 5 instead of 2" we don't have a limit of 2 for families at all. It's not how many it's if they already live together. The idea was not to mix with strangers because you could pass it on ( since you stopped any news intake you might not know that)

"Am I right in thinking Germany allows visitors to individual homes?" well that would be stupid wouldn't it. Are you seeing these precautions as some kind of punishment and looking for leniency?

They are about allowing a steady and manageable stream of people to get infected since we have no treatment for it yet.

StatisticallyChallenged · 15/04/2020 23:12

I'd actually expect things like purely social visits to be the last thing loosened as they have minimal economic benefit and they're relatively high risk for spreading.

Student133 · 15/04/2020 23:15

@StatisticallyChallenged
Yeah I'd assume that socialising, along with self isolating for vulnerable groups will be the last thing relaxed, there is only so much use in quarantining otherwise healthy young people from working.

LilacTree1 · 15/04/2020 23:18

Last - it’s for households, not families. 2 is draconian in my view.

I stopped news intake from TV but not completely.

If you think Germany are stupid, take it up with them, not me. Some states are allowing second home visits.

www.thelocal.de/20200408/coronavirus-what-travel-is-and-isnt-allowed-over-easter-weekend-in-germany

Statistically - so you think social visits to homes would happen after pubs opening?

Rosehip10 · 15/04/2020 23:19

If schools are open, people are back at work and using public transport to get there, then there will be little point (or compliance with) in saying "don't see friends/family you don't live with£

LilacTree1 · 15/04/2020 23:20

self isolating for vulnerable groups is an advisory, not an order. So that’s not something that officially changes much.

StatisticallyChallenged · 15/04/2020 23:25

I suspect pubs, cinemas etc will be late - where it falls vs having a few mates round I don't know. Italy has said places like cafes and bars where you can't distance will be the last to open I believe. The issue isn't just distance but how long you spend there too.

I'd also expect WFH if possible to remain an advisory. Which is what it is now really, except they've also closed certain businesses. I would certainly expect my employer to stay WFH - they started before it was even announced officially.

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 15/04/2020 23:25

Because the economy will be so fucked, it will kill more people in the next decade through poverty alone

And no, I wasn’t wanting a lockdown to begin with. Swift and prompt action like NZ would have been just fine

Pieceofpurplesky · 15/04/2020 23:28

To the PP who mentioned opening schools first and banning large social gatherings for a long time ... the school i work in has 1300 pupils. Class sizes are
30+ - my largest is 34 but I only have 15 desks. Corridors are cramped and filled with pupils 6 times a day. The pupils get to school on trains and overcrowded school buses. The canteen involves queuing for ages to be fed and then squashing on to a bench to eat. Outside space is minimal.

Lots of schools are equal to social gatherings and I know someone will come along and spout facts about pupils being safe - we have at least 7 children who have had it (with relatives who have been in hospital). The pupils range from mildly ill to being rushed in to hospital. These are the pupils I know of - there may be many more. Imagine those 1300 pupils spreading corona around.

I do not know when school open. I am classes as vulnerable so who knows what happens to me. I just think a lot of thought needs to go In to the idea.

Rosehip10 · 15/04/2020 23:28

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow NZ are also wrestling with what the best way will be to get out of their lockdown - with their added restrictions of restrictions on flights to NZ etc

LilacTree1 · 15/04/2020 23:29

Pubs, cinema, theatre will be last but it will be hard to justify plane travel before or after those, so same time?

Things like festivals and big events - next spring?

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 15/04/2020 23:32

I’m amazed at the PP arguing to keep the lockdown to make the virus disappear. It’s a lovely thought isn’t it? But this virus is here to stay. It’s not going away. This is why a longer lockdown will actually make it worse as the second wave will hit just in time for flu season

Student133 · 15/04/2020 23:32

I think unfortunately in the case of the UK we probably wouldn't have been able to pull a self quarantine like NZ. Principly this is probably down to London being one of the most influential centres of trade in the world, which given their internal nature are going to be worst hit with something like this. Indeed, it may be that NZ simply gets what we are having now in 6 months or so, as they'd have to keep up suppressing community transmission until a vaccine is provided.

Student133 · 15/04/2020 23:33

International *

StatisticallyChallenged · 15/04/2020 23:35

I wouldn't be surprised to see high schools go back later (I'm assuming that's a high school given the size) as those children being at home doens't have the same impact on parent's ability to work.

But nobody is pretending this is perfect. None of it is. But note that they banned large gatherings before schools closed. It's about reducing contacts, reducing spread - and getting the maximum economic benefit from the contacts which do occur. 300 primary age children being at school so their parents can work is more beneficial than 300 attending a sporting event. And it reduces the risk as many would do both if they were able to.

Cherrycee · 15/04/2020 23:36

I’m amazed at the PP arguing to keep the lockdown to make the virus disappear.

Literally nobody has said this. The virus has to be managed until a vaccine (or at least an antiviral) can be found. Lockdown was about preventing the health service from collapsing.

StatisticallyChallenged · 15/04/2020 23:37

but it will be hard to justify plane travel before or after those

I think I read about an airline starting to test pre flights - possibly emirates?

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 15/04/2020 23:42

Yes the virus needs managing. But the economy isn’t just some horrible notion relating to capitalism. It funds everything. The NHS for starters. There isn’t proper medical care being provided for non virus related reasons. Children aren’t being educated. This has got to stop. We are sacrificing our very future. The vulnerable will have to stay protected and safe until a vaccine is available and the rest of us will have to take our changes and get things moving again. It’s the only way.

Allmyfavouritepeople · 15/04/2020 23:47

My concern (as school staff) is that is was public feeling rather than science that got us into a lockdown and it'll be the same coming out of it.

There would have been absolutely no point in the lockdown if on one random day schools are suddenly back at full capacity.

I would be happy to go back but only if the school day looked drastically different to adhere to social distancing for example smaller classes or a shorter day. The emphasis would be on providing educational and recreational activities rather than the national curriculum. The last thing anyone needs is to hot house the rest of the academic year when we're collectively full of anxiety.

Mincepies76 · 15/04/2020 23:50

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow completely agree!

Student133 · 15/04/2020 23:56

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow
I reckon that's what the government will be working from. There is a real danger the medicine may end up worse that the disease. We should count our blessings though, in India it's quite possible more may die from starvation than virus, even more difficult as around 90% of their economy is informal.

LilacTree1 · 16/04/2020 00:23

I’d really appreciate figures for who died of Covid, not with Covid.

chickenyhead · 16/04/2020 00:30

People are dying of secondary pneumonia.

The UK aren't testing enough to give any meaningful figures.