Social distancing to be the norm "until there is a vaccine"

[Frompcat]

So this is what Neil Ferguson has said today and seems to be being backed up by government distancing. But what does it actually mean, does anyone know? How can social distancing be maintained if schools open again? Will we be able to visit small groups of family? Or are they literally talking about things continuing as they are for 18 months.

I think people badly need some clarity about this. I don't believe the government don't have any ideas of what their options are.

If the government told me which day it was, I'd check a calendar. I don't think they have the faintest idea how to deal with things now and they're literally making it up as they go.

I don’t think the government can supervise behind closed doors

When I was queuing at the shop yesterday, a child was hugging his mum.

I don’t think schools can maintain social distancing so that’s a choice the government will make

We do badly need clarity but they are making decisions by public opinion so write to everyone to press for an exit plan. Otherwise they won’t think of it till Ramadan is over.

Neil Ferguson has to advise the correct thing in his view regarding the medical data. The chancellor has to advise the correct thing to do for the economy.
The government have to seek a solution taking BOTH of those points of view into account.

I mean, ideally we would all have PPE but that hasn’t happened has it?!
Full Lockdown cannot last 18 months. The huge GDPR deficit drop was calculated for only 3 months of lockdown and everyone was saying we are screwed. If it lasted 18 months the NHS would run out of money. As would all other public services like fire, police, etc
I would imagine we will be like Sweden is now- restrictions eased slowly but us still being asked to socially distance.

Oh god the thought of the shops being as they are now for the foreseeable makes me feel very depressed.

I’d rather he just made gas masks mandatory

I think they will have to learn by slowly lifting measures and see what happens. They still have no idea immunity will last in people who have had it so there are so many unknowns.

It could mean many more periods of lockdown and releases or it could be as simple as no large gatherings, no hand shaking, lots of hand washing and sanitising etc and more home working where possible.

“ Oh god the thought of the shops being as they are now for the foreseeable makes me feel very depressed.”

I hate shops but find them easier to cope with now.

*how long immunity will last

I can imagine there will still be rules about shopping etc and no big gatherings allowed, but I can't see how it would work in other situations. It will be near impossible in schools due to a lack of space. DH and I are both teachers in different schools with our DC in a third school and I'm already a bit anxious about all the different mixing that will go on.

Will they reopen things like sports centres and expect people to distance themselves there? Or restaurants/theatres?

A cultural move to no hand shaking would be great.

Why would a child hugging his mum be a problem? Nowhere in the guidance does it say that those not shielding/ without symptoms should social distance within their own household.

Its small gatherings that are an issue too

Wtaf could possibly be the matter with a child hugging his mother?? Omg it’s reaching new levels of ridiculousness.

@LilacTree1 please tell me you aren’t trying to keep 2m from any household members?

I doubt many people will still have homes or being paying taxes after another eighteen months of this, quite frankly.
I get the impression they're headless chickens. They should probably just copy France or Germany.

LilacTree1 are we not supposed to be hugging our children? Or people in our household? I’m confused.

Nin - oh I’m not criticising it! I’m just saying, there’s a limit to how much they can police social distancing.

I could go out with my older Indian neighbour, she could lean on me and people would just think she’s my mum.

So I’m saying they can’t police family get togethers forever. I will be seeing my mum ASAP.

Keeping distance from household members is recommended when there is a suspected case of Covid-19. Or perhaps if you were living with someone who is severely immune-compromised /shielding you might take that extra precaution. In a ‘normal’ situation there’s no need to distance within a household.

I would imagine we will be like Sweden is now- restrictions eased slowly but us still being asked to socially distance.

Yes but what does that even look like? Allowed to see small groups of family? Schools opening?

If there is no vaccine then the people at risk, ie those with health issues, low immunity, elderly and frail, will all have to stay home.
I think the gov just doesn't want to tell them.

It seems obvious to me that this is what they'll have to do because how can they go out and about if there is no vaccine and they have not had the CV so have built no immunity.
I am oldish, I am going to risk it but dH is older - I don't want to give it to him but I want to see my DGCs.

We are on the edge of tyranny here but people are so busy screaming “lock down the old folk” they can’t see that elderly have any rights.

Yes, and what about theatres? I have a good 4/5 family members who work in the theatre. Are they basically going to be out of a job for 2 years?

Oh ok fair enough. I thought we had reached new levels of batshittery (pardon the tenuous pun).

They actually need more people to catch it at some point, so I guess they’ll just slowly let people out again until another peak is created, and then ratchet up the panic again when they need people to stay at home.

We are on the edge of tyranny here but people are so busy screaming “lock down the old folk” they can’t see that elderly have any rights.

I haven't seen anyone saying that, but the fact remains that:

1. certain groups are more likely to get it badly than other groups
2. it is not feasible to remain locked down for 18 months until there is a vaccine

So bearing in mind 1 and 2, what is the solution?

Edwina “ I think the gov just doesn't want to tell them.”

They can’t lock them up. There would be a legal challenge. As well as mum, I have a shielding relative whose career will be in the toilet if he’s forced to stay at home.

He can’t stay at home, he’d never see daylight.