Social distancing until a vaccine

[Lemonnhoney]

Does this mean we won't be able to see family and friends until a vaccine?

I think obviously large gatherings are probably unwise going forward but struggling with the impact of not seeing loved ones for such a long period of time.

I know that no one here is part of govt and not forming policy but what are opinions of what will happen going forward?

I struggle to get my head around it but until we know what immunity is conveyed by having had it, or until we’ve got a good vaccine...how can we move forward from the current situation, logically?

I find it really upsetting to think of this being a long term scenario but I can’t see another option. Very much not an expert but am watching them to see and I don’t think they know, either 😫

I think this is the result of Neil Ferguson's latest comments?

Perhaps it's worth remembering this is the guy who forecast that 500,000 may die, and that even with precautions it could be 200,000?

This can't happen. even if they were told not to see family n friends until late next year when vaccine is available they wouldn't listen. Jobs money, peoples sanity we just wouldn't survive. Unless they weld us in our houses. I think mass testing is only answer til then but of course of gov can't even do that 😡

Well I won’t be doing it!

Everyone has the right to socially isolate from me but I’ll be going to back to as normal as possible as quickly as possible.

The purpose of this was to save the NHS, we appear to be at or near the peak now & the NHS has capacity (thanks to refusing to treat people!). We’ve been utterly compliant (dh moved to home working in February for example), we’ve done our bit & we’ve suffered as a result ... we won’t be waiting for a vaccine - the costs far out way any benefit.

I doubt it will be between family and friends.
I'm guessing it will relate to large gatherings and the likes of cafes and restaurants will have to have less tables. Supermarket distancing may stay. That type of thing.

I think ofwarren is right. Although, with my parents in their late 80s, I will probably keep my distance as much as practical. At the moment, I drop their shopping, have a quick chat from the garden and leave. I hope by June, the weather will be good enough that we can sit either end of their garden to chat (I'll take my own drink!). After the summer, I'll have to have a rethink.

I realise I am lucky to be able to be able to see them at all at the moment.

I think they cannot reasonably expect families to stay apart for that length of time. We have been vigilant about staying home and so have my parents buy my childrens MH is suffering and if we can't officially see family before the end of the summer at least I fear we will just say 'fuck it' and do it anyway as it is so hard on all of us.

I can deal with no school, no shops, no parks, no big events or gatherings. I cannot deal with being apart from my parents for much longer.

I hope selfishly that we can go back to normal shopping soon. It’s absolutely horrid having to queue for 1 or 2 hours to do a good shop 😩

I'm hugely missing physical human contact, hugs, especially from one particular person... who's been taking social physical distancing very seriously and not eg. chatted over the garden wall 2m away from friends or anything. So even an end to lockdown but still recommending distancing means I wouldn't see him. I'm worried about his mental health, and miss his hugs so much!

I can see there being a limit to all gatherings eg no more than 10 people.

Nice to see people on a similar opinion. And I'm not just being selfish when people are sadly dying!

@dollface19 I agree, people are complying now but for months and months longer I don't see people doing it. I do fear they bring in stricter restrictions.

Me too @BriefDisaster.. I just wanna go see family and maybe drive to the river 20 mins from my house 😂

@Mummypig2020 have you tried other times? I haven't had to que to get in a shop yet. Have been going about 5/6ish on a weekday x

@VirtualHugsAllRound I was discussing this with my DH. Even if they end lockdown a lot of people will be warey and vunerable are still shielding for 12 weeks anyway so I too would miss certain people close to me

Sorry to hear about your situation x

Doe this mean that people won't be able to go back to work? We are both self employed and can't work atm. Are we expected to live of UC for 18 months? (not actually claiming that yet. There is no way the government can afford to pay 80% of wages for the forseable future. Even if we both claim UC it wouldn't even cover our bills.
Will schools be shut until they find a vaccine? So children are to go without a proper education for however long?
It just won't work. Unless they plan to find a vaccine within the next couple of months, it's not possible. We can't keep things like this long term

Sadly I can only go when Dh is home from work 😩

If social distancing carries on then I reckon I wont see my family until we have vaccine. They all live in a different country so I would need to fly to see them.

I think they're talking about relaxing regulations until serious ill/death rates go up again, then putting restrictions back on so NHS isn't overwhelmed etc. So you will be able to see family and friends, it'll just be that there's periods when you can't. And it'll be extremely difficult to organise any event in advance.

What I'm concerned about is how they reverse the restrictions - what comes first? For economic and social reasons I expect they would be keen to allow people back to work/open non-essential businesses, and allow children back to school. But with that amount of people mixing again, they'd presumably want to cut down on any other social contact - ie. advising people to avoid "unnecessary" socialising, as they did before lockdown started. So not seeing friends.

I'm scared that we will alternate between lockdown and lesser measures as I've mentioned, meaning many people get a bit of a breather between lockdown periods, but those of us who live alone are still isolated. And those who don't have family living nearby. 6 weeks without a hug is long enough; I can't think about it really because I start to panic.