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Original poster

How long can we carry on like this for?

999 replies

Pseudosudocrem · 18/04/2020 09:35

Anyone else starting to wonder just how long we can carry on like this before everything irrevocably falls apart?

How will we ever recover as a country?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
woodchuck99 · 19/04/2020 09:26

We are doomed if it isn’t over by then and I don’t think people will be willing to cooperate much more. If people face the prospect of losing their home, they will take the view they have little else to lose.

How will not cooperating avoid loss of income and jobs though? The only thing people have a choice about is whether they mix households. That won't prevent loss of income though. If anything it will just increase the chance of work places and schools not opening. People need to stop thinking that they are doing others a favour by cooperating and understand that they will harm themselves if they don't as lock down will carry on for longer if hosptialisations and deaths do not greatly decrease.

midgebabe · 19/04/2020 09:27

Herd immunity hopefully from vaccine as to develop it through people catching it at. Controlled rate would mean this crisis lasting over 10 years.

Thisisitisit · 19/04/2020 09:28

For people worried (understandably) about mortgage or rent holidays ending - of course they will be extended if the lockdown has to continue.

I wouldn't be so sure, and furlough etc isn't going to go on forever either, very naieve to think it will.

Sunshine1239 · 19/04/2020 09:28

Agree
I think that’s going to happen anyway to be honest and in 3-4 weeks time many of the public will favour coming out of lockdown

Companies currently keeping their staff on are likely only doing so because they don’t think it’ll go on long term. I’m working from home but it can only go on so long. The economy/death balance is already starting to be questioned

BlindTwitcher · 19/04/2020 09:31

Stupid question.

Surely the answer is "until we can stop people dying"

middleager · 19/04/2020 09:38

I desperately want lockdown to end, but then I read this:

'Are you daunted by the prospect of three more weeks in lockdown? Read this week's searing diary of a doctor working on the coronavirus front line – and then count your blessings…'

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8233047/Diary-NHS-doctor.html

newwnamme · 19/04/2020 10:04

You talk as if you have a choice but actually if the lockdown goes on for longer than you want you don't with regard to most things. It doesn't really rely on an individual's goodwill. For example, you can't work if your place of employment is shut. You can't go to the cinema or restaurants or leisure centres if they are shut. All you can do really is go to a friends/family house so your statement is not so much "unpopular" as a bit naïve.

I have a choice about how many hours of the day I spend within my four walls. I have a degree of choice about where and how and how often I spend my money. My industry affords me a choice about where and how I continue to earn a living. I have a choice about who I decide to spend my time with, subject to their own right to decision making.

You are mistaken if you think I am naive in thinking I can somehow will cinemas and restaurants back into being open. I am well aware of what is within my control and what is not. I disagree with your implication that the maintenance of lockdown does not require the cooperation and goodwill of the populace. If it did not matter whether people left their homes or gathered together, why would it be such a concern that people are sunbathing in parks, why are there so many threads telling people they can't see their partner for a walk, etc etc?

Whu020 · 19/04/2020 10:13

I agree did you see my posts

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 19/04/2020 10:18

I think after the next 3 weeks some things may start to loosen. We are in Scotland, DH is an agricultural structural engineer building farm buildings, the company had to stop when Nicola sturgeon demanded building sites stop, they didn’t have much choice though as couldn’t get materials, now some quarries are back open and the company he works for are looking at getting the workshop open again with distancing in place, I think it won’t be long until DH is back as he works alone all over the country putting foundations in and sorting plans. I honestly do not think that lockdowns where loads of companies have to close will continue happening on and off as there is no way a lot of companies can survive the uncertainty of it and the government isn’t going to pay furlough on and off for 2 years

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 19/04/2020 10:35

@MarieIVanArkleStinks but you have some people saying we will still be in this situation of lockdowns in 2 years! Which I very much doubt

woodchuck99 · 19/04/2020 10:45

I have a choice about how many hours of the day I spend within my four walls. I have a degree of choice about where and how and how often I spend my money.

Yes but you don't have much choice about where you spend your time outside of the four walls. You can't go to shops that aren't open or cinema theatres pubs restaurant cafés.

My industry affords me a choice about where and how I continue to earn a living.

Without knowing your industry I can't really comment on that. However, if your industry affords you a choice about where and how you continue to earn a living, then I presume you are still working anyway so I how is your cooperation is required to maintain the lockdown?

If it did not matter whether people left their homes or gathered together, why would it be such a concern that people are sunbathing in parks, why are there so many threads telling people they can't see their partner for a walk, etc etc?

I don't think there is much concern from those who understand about infection control about whether people are sunbathing in parks. That is mainly from the media and the police and other people who don't really know what talking about. Obviously it would be a problem if the parks became so crowded that people were sitting closely together but otherwise it won't make much difference. There are no guidelines telling people they can't see their partner for walk.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 19/04/2020 10:47

but you have some people saying we will still be in this situation of lockdowns in 2 years! Which I very much doubt. [....] I think after the next 3 weeks some things may start to loosen.

In answer to your first point I too, although there are obvious problems for those poor people in the shielded group. As far as the second comment's concerned, have you heard the speculation that dear ole Boris might be about to make his big reveal about releasing us from Covid-Jail on VE day? If he does, it would be about the worst-judged political manoeuvre imaginable, not least because it would reveal him to have a Churchill complex the size of Blair's Messiah one.

MigginsMs · 19/04/2020 10:51

Surely the answer is "until we can stop people dying"

So that will be never then.

thatgingergirl · 19/04/2020 10:56

woodchuck99 - There are no guidelines telling people they can't see their partner for walk.

Gov.UK Do not meet others, even friends or family.

Jourdain11 · 19/04/2020 10:57

@Tonemeth

*I don't think theres an easy option to it. I was in treatment during swine flu and it wasnt halted - I remember a colleague of my parents having it and thinking that was it, I would inevitably die.

I cant imagine how horrendous it must be to know there is a potential cure you cant have because something else might kill you. I wonder what's happening with kids and young people- they tend to have the fastest growing cancers.*

I was diagnosed with AML about 2 and a half weeks into the shutdown. I started chemo just over a week later (currently on round 1). There was never any suggestion about withholding or delaying treatment - the consultant haematologist basically told me that if I didn't have chemo I would get very sick very quickly, so delaying for Covid wasn't an option.

user1497207191 · 19/04/2020 11:06

The easing of the lockdown will mean more people having to return to work in shops/manufacturing/trades, etc.

There's no way recreational and "fun" activities will re start any time soon. Cafes, pubs, restaurants, sports, pop festivals, cinemas, etc won't be re-opening for a long time. Workers in those industries need to think about changing jobs.

When people are dying and there are millions of the "most vulnerable" effectively under house arrest, people aren't going to be allowed to go around having fun.

We've had a decade of financial austerity. Now we're going to have many months, if not years, of lifestyle austerity. People will be going back to work, but it will be very strictly controlled, social distancing remaining in place, etc. For most it will be all work and no play.

woodchuck99 · 19/04/2020 11:09

Do not meet others, even friends or family.

The guidance states that If you meet others when you are outdoors (for example, on a walk) ensure that you stay at least 2 metres away. That means that you can go for a walk with a partner if you stay 2 meters apart (if you don't live with them).

thatgingergirl · 19/04/2020 11:35

woodchuck99 See, as someone who never drives the wrong way round a car park, no matter how empty it is, I'd see what you say as "loopholing". I think the 2 metre guidance is about other people in queues for the shops, etc. The actual regulations www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made (Section 6 para 2 (b)) says people can leave their home to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household.

Having given up a weekly walk with a friend, I'll mull over what you've said and how I feel about it.

EffieIsATrinket · 19/04/2020 11:42

People walking around in sprawling family groups or spread out couples with dogs in the mix are an irritation. They don't tend to cross the road for incoming walkers as presumably they feel it is easier for a single walker to do so. Then if a car is coming and you can't cross they just keep on coming when really everyone should stop at least 2 m apart until the road is clear. Makes walking stressful.

Namechangedforthis11 · 19/04/2020 11:45

"We've had a decade of financial austerity. Now we're going to have many months, if not years, of lifestyle austerity. People will be going back to work, but it will be very strictly controlled, social distancing remaining in place, etc. For most it will be all work and no play."

  • For me at least, this sounds like no way to live.
Namechangedforthis11 · 19/04/2020 11:46

It's the quantity over quality thing again, with regards to life. I don't understand it.

woodchuck99 · 19/04/2020 11:49

See, as someone who never drives the wrong way round a car park, no matter how empty it is, I'd see what you say as "loopholing". I think the 2 metre guidance is about other people in queues for the shops, etc. The actual regulations

The legislation states that "If you meet others when you are outdoors (for example, on a walk) ensure that you stay at least 2 metres away". Regardless it's not a major issue with regards to infection control. The reason we have such a high rate of deaths is because schools, restaurants, pubs, cinema and major events such as the Cheltenham Festival etc were not shut down until it was too late.

MaxNormal · 19/04/2020 11:50

Workers in those industries need to think about changing jobs.

Just like that? My DH has worked 25 years in the live events industry, how is he meant to change careers in the middle of a pandemic/massive recession?

SpokeTooSoon · 19/04/2020 11:51

People walking around in sprawling family groups or spread out couples with dogs in the mix are an irritation. They don't tend to cross the road for incoming walkers as presumably they feel it is easier for a single walker to do so

It is.