After these three weeks...

[catsandlavender]

...what do you think will happen?

NOT with regards to schools, I think we all know those probably aren’t going back in three weeks and there’s too many threads speculating anyway.

I’m just interested if people think that the lockdown will be lifted or extended, or somewhere in between where some things open.

[Riv12345]

Sorry I meant to put this on another thread

[Lazypuppy]

@Girliefriendlikespuppies

I don't think it's reasonable to expect people not to see close family members for weeks on end. I honestly don't think the majority of people will keep complying with the rules indefinitely.

I agree, i can already see changes, people are getting bored/loosing patience with the restrictions. My neighbours are starting to have conversations with families from the end of the drive, same as we are. The government can't expect people to blundly comply when they won't discuss the exit strategy, life has to go back to some sort of normality soon

[SarahTancredi]

Tbh I think that is wishful thinking cherry

The one thing people with no money cant afford to care about is environmental impact when having to make food and clothing choices. Ethical sourcing will go out the window. They wont even be thinking of their own safety/well being let alone anyone elses when they take any job they can get. This thing will spread right back again because people will drag themselves to work or collapse on the way trying no matter how sick, desperately trying to claw back some money. They wont have a choice.

[CherryPavlova]

I think in part you are right, SarahTancredi but until more accurate data is available and made public, the true scale of risk remains unknown. It’s not only about treating people. It’s also about treating people at the right time, in the right place. The NHS and medical care is far wider than acute hospitals. Primary care is beyond earning their crust at the moment and their true value isn’t yet fully appreciated.

Money can be re-earned but life can’t be rekindled. We might need to change the way we live. We might need to review what is important. We might need to become more focused on the present and on relationships. I’m not sure all will be a bad thing. We might be more considerate of Mother Earth. We might have built better, more compassionate communities. We might not be so egocentric and hedonistic.
Working practices will undoubtedly change. Virtual meetings are definitely better for the environment and better for reducing staff travel time and therefore more efficient.

[catsandlavender]

I personally think it’ll be extended. For probably 3 weeks, maybe with some slight changes. After that, I think they might begin a very, very slow phasing back. I know I said I didn’t mean schools but I think they should try and get children back in SOME capacity before summer, even if it’s a rota of like ten kids per class a day, to do transition work and meet new teacher.
It will all be a total logistical nightmare but I don’t think we should judge by what other countries are doing.. for some reason I feel like we will be in this for a while longer.

[hammeringinmyhead]

I don't think it's reasonable to expect people not to see close family members for weeks on end. I honestly don't think the majority of people will keep complying with the rules indefinitely.

Totally agree. I'm already seeing threads where people are considering going to see elderly lone relatives at the end of this 3 weeks, or combining households, as their poor mental health is veering into dangerous.

Plus if they really are going to send furloughed staff back to work, family childcare is going to be the only option for some.

[MrsWhites]

I think lockdown will be extended but with a few restrictions lifted, I think the government will see this as a compromise to keep people happy. So I’m thinking garden centres, more DIY stores, hair salons.

I think places like hair salons and public transport will be encouraged to use masks, I think the only reason masks aren’t encouraged is because of the shit show they are making of bringing them in for the NHS.

I think garden centres have had a particularly short straw, why can places like the range open and sell plants but garden centres can’t!

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

I don't think it's reasonable to expect people not to see close family members for weeks on end. I honestly don't think the majority of people will keep complying with the rules indefinitely.

[Incrediblytired]

3 weeks is the maximum time they can lawfully tell us to stay in. So I think they they will extend and it will be the equivalent of shielding - 12 weeks.

[SarahTancredi]

if there is relaxation there will be a surge but lockdown maintains it as a trickle of its potential

There are over 66 million people in England. Maintain a slow trickle would take forever

[SarahTancredi]

our trajectory is worsening as out of hospital deaths numbers become more obvious in reporting

This is because no one is being admitted. "Dont overwhelm the NHS " somewhere along the line became " dont admit anyone to hospital at all unless they are literally dying "

If we arent treating people then they are dying necessarily and lockdown was basically for nothing.

And no you can't run trains without drivers. But you also cant run them without people buying tickets.

At 2.4 billion.pounds a day. Lockdown cant go on forever

[CherryPavlova]

I’m pretty sure it will be extended as it is because we haven’t peaked and our trajectory is worsening as out of hospital deaths numbers become more obvious in reporting.
It’s not just about everyone having it or protecting the vulnerable. It’s about staffing levels for the care industry, healthcare, emergency services and essential businesses. You can’t run trains without train drivers.
If there is relaxation there will be a surge but lockdown maintains it as a trickle of its potential.

[TheCountessatHotelCortez]

There is no way businesses will survive the uncertainty of lockdowns on and off and the government isn’t going to pay furlough on and off like that

[LilacTree1]

“Throwing everything at it” = Chuck out your £ future, your kids future, your civil rights.

[SophieB100]

Perhaps that is part of the 'throw everything I have at this' speech that Hancock made today about the need for a vaccine.
The second peak thing is one of their five tests that must be met. "Crucially, we must be absolutely certain, that there is no chance of a second peak". Said it again today.
It's such a worry, this uncertainty.

[covetingthepreciousthings]

But the government have repeated that they won't lift lockdown until there is no chance of a second peak, and that will take a long time. Said again by Hancock today. Agree it is good news about vaccine trials.

No chance of a second peak? How does that even work, surely it's certain there will be one unless we are all locked up until there's a vaccine

[SarahTancredi]

“No chance of a second peak” is an insane requirement

We haven't even cured the common cold yet. They shouldn't be making promises or statements they cant keep.

I mean even if we do somehow get to 0 cases for a sustained amount of time then surely 3 would be considered another peak then....

[Titsywoo]

How is year 9 a key year? Do you mean year 10?

[Mustbetimeforachange]

It was always going to be 12 weeks. They were just honest with the shielding group. And BJ said 12 weeks.
We are all going to get it anyway, or at least most of us. It's not going away.

[LilacTree1]

“No chance of a second peak” is an insane requirement.

[Opinewine]

Has everyone forgotten Boris saying we need 12 weeks to get on top of this? So that would take us to around 3rd week of June, so for people who can work from home I am not expecting us to go back until then.

In terms of what will happen in 3 weeks time, I would be interested to know what other countries have done.

[Whaddyathinkofthis]

So what do we think the social distancing rules will be if they start to lift the lockdown?

Especially if schools go back in June - kind of makes any social distancing null and void really!

So maybe remove social distancing requirements for all but the most vulnerable, and those who choose to continue for personal reasons. I don't mean the keeping two metres from strangers in shops, but being able to visit close friends and family. So might have used the wrong term!

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

I think it will be extended, but we will have an exit plan from the following Monday (after the bank holiday) of easing of restrictions. So some shops allowed to open (gardening centres etc). Maybe opticians etc.

Schools I think will be back in some form on 1 June, as long as in those 3 weeks there isn’t a big increase in infections.

[LilacTree1]

No chance of a second peak = lockdown for months or years.