Will you be going back to 'normal'?

[supersop60]

Since we don't know yet when lockdown will be eased or what that might mean, I was wondering what you all might do when things become more normal?
DP and I have both said that we shall not be attending any large gatherings of people, and still be observing social distancing for as long as possible. I do not want this disease. Ever.

Testing isn't going to mean that vulnerable people will be able to stop shielding.

I do obviously agree we should be testing and contact tracing though.

Until there is a universal testing programme, vulnerable people are in limbo - is s/he a safe contact? Do we dare go to the shops ?

No decision. My DH is high risk, although he's a farmer so pretty isolated anyway. Its just him and his dad on the farm. They wear masks and gloves at moment when vet visits. When I go back to work and kids return to school, we run the risk of getting it. My DH thinks kids need their education, and we will just have to take our chances.

Ask Boris Johnson why we aren't testing and contact tracing.
That's how we get our economy back.

Yes, absolutely. I would rather have my life back and run the risk of covid 19 than live in fear and this half life existence.

I will definitely be going back to normal, but the idea of normal is subjective. My normal is seeing my adult DC, seeing my mum, perhaps some shopping and a coffee, taking my primary age DD to play areas etc. It's certainly not big crowds and gigs and crowded pubs. So the idea of 'normal' is different for everyone.

I'll be going back to work in an infant school.
They'll be no social distancing possible once I'm back, especially if they all come back in one go.

As someone at increased risk, though not shielded, it is a worry though.

I will still be wanted to go on holiday and fly, and go to concerts, when it's all over too.

Back to normal as soon as I can. People are social animals, we can't live like this long term. I miss my family, my DD misses her friends and school

No. I wont be. If lockdown is lifted I'll still behave as if I'm in lockdown until we make more progress on the vaccine. The only exception will be medical appointments resuming.

The 'we have all got to die of something' brigade are idiots and are welcome to get it.

I think mass gatherings may well be off this year - given 2 probably helped root it in the U.K. population so fully!

But I will mix with friends when I can and go back to work. I was doing this until the week before lockdown started. So I’m assuming I may have had exposure - pretty sure my son had it.

Back to normal ASAP. I cannot bloody wait.

Getting back to my routine and having things to look forward to will be so nice. This is all driving me quite mental as I’m so lonely and anxious about going mental again!

I haven had a few gigs cancelled but a couple still possible I hope. And I can’t wait to go to the pub, for a nice meal and a holiday.

bellini even if someone tests negative but might be in contact with an infected person 10 minutes later so it will only have a limited impact. How often do you expect people to be tested?

What we need for testing is reliable antibody testing to check for exposure. Not the test currently available which simply shows whether you have the disease at that point in time.

Until there is a universal testing programme, vulnerable people are in limbo - is s/he a safe contact? Do we dare go to the shops ?

Testing won't change that. It's shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. Even with testing, there'll be people out and about spreading the virus to the vulnerable. Some people with symptoms will ignore them and carry on their normal lives (as they did before lockdown!). And track and trace, by design, works after the event. It tells you that you've been exposed, AFTER you've been exposed, so could be several days between exposure and you being told about it, during which time you're merrily spreading it around wherever you go.

Testing, tracking and tracing isn't the answer that people seem to think it is. It's obviously a helpful development, but it's not going to make vulnerable people safe!

I find these threads a bit mystifying. I can't be the only one who deals with forward planning and international bodies as part of my job - when we have those threads on what people do for a living, there's usually a fair proportion of people doing jobs which involve that.

We are not going back to normal.

Yes, the lockdown as it is now will end. But things are going to be very different. And slow.

Those talking about going abroad on holiday - think again for now. Domestic travel first. Then, slowly, regional travel. Then, much later, international travel. Mass tourism won't return for quite a while - it's not just the practical aspects of getting there, but an influx of people from abroad won't be wanted. Economies which rely on tourism are concentrating on domestic and, later, regional arrivals.

This is the area I have knowledge of - but there must be similar issues across so many other sectors that don't seem to be brought up here?

Yes. As soon as possible. I'm no more worried about Covid than I am about a myriad other illnesses and indeed world issues generally.
I will keep more of an eye on the news for the next pandemic though. As we appear to be learning nothing at all as a species about how our relationship with nature will keep raising the likelihood of further pandemics, I will be better prepared next time.

Yes at the moment we are working and shopping. Our only excitement out of the house is walking the dogs. I love dp to bits and we've had a lovely time in lock down but we're both very sociable and have missed quite a few parties, events, two holidays, one wedding. Meet our grown up kids. Plus we go for a drink or meal several times a week, go to our holiday cottage, ride our motorbikes, gym and swimming too.
So back to normal for us ASAP.
Only thing I won't do is go to a shopping centre. I've ordered a few items online and been very impressed. Local shops only in future.

Nope. When we eventually get back to the UK I won't be able to find a job in my old industry (which has totally collapsed and I did a very very niche jobs anyway). Probably won't be able to afford to stay in London. Strange strange times.

@Willyoujustbequiet we don't all have the option to carry on in lockdown mode. Besides, if everyone took that attitude things would completely grind to a halt.
Some of us are having to go out and about anyway due to the nature of our work.