Thoughts on UK lockdown - what will happen on 7th may?

[Bumpandus]

Obviously no one can predict anything

But what are your opinions of what will happen and why?

For example:

Lockdown still for a few more weeks?
Or Ease restrictions but how?

Just interested in people’s thoughts.

[gingercat02]

I think we will extend what we call lockdown for another 3 weeks but with places gradually reopening as they are now! We have necerhad actual lockdown like Spain and Italy. Their releases are still more strict than we are currently. Spanish children haven't been outside for weeks!

[countrygirl99]

I hope they start allowing marriages even if only with the minimum legally required attendees.

[MarshaBradyo]

Shops that can slowly reopening, eg Timpsons the other day and B&Q

And I’d like to see garden centres re open

Rest still restrictions and wfh

[Helenluvsrob]

I don’t see how lockdown can properly lift until after the late may bh.
We need people not to travel then and also it’ll be eid about then. Utter carnage will ensue if we allow the usual huge gatherings , though it breaks my heart for my Muslim friends as it’s so important.

[YgritteSnow]

I’m expecting primary schools to reopen 11th May

So you expect them to roll back all the current measures in place, prepare the buildings and systems needed for reintegration while socially distancing within four days? That's just optimistic in the extreme!

[Letseatgrandma]

That's just optimistic in the extreme!

I’m not sure optimistic is the right word!

[YgritteSnow]

Spanish children haven't been outside for weeks!

They were allowed out over the weekend I believe.

[disorganisedsecretsquirrel]

I’m expecting primary schools to reopen 11th May

No not optimistic .. barking mad.
Yes kids are bored. (No one died of boredom. ) Yes the economy will be taking a massive hit. (Yet who cares about an economy if you are dead ?)

I really think a lot of people have an 'it won't happen to me attitude' because they know nobody effected . Therefore to them the 'risk' is an imaginary concept. They are also quite prepared to risk their own lives and others because they really can't see it happening to them. I have to say I had a similar attitude despite being in the shielding group.

I live in a rural part of the south east. We have had to date - 500 cases across my county with 500200 . population. Across the region 2154 people have died. That is a TINY percentage

• then a neighbour died. No known health conditions. 41 years old. Not a frontline worker. A part time lawyer. Has always worked from home. Has left a 10, 8 and 6 yr old and a husband who is paralysed with grief not even allowed to be with his wife as she died.

There was NO reason for her to get this above anyone else. She took kids out of school a week before necessary. Both her and DH wfh. She died 3 weeks after lock down having been on a ventilator for 10 days.

Therefore contracted it before lockdown somewhere in the community.

Yes I am fed up. Yes I am sure it's annoying having the kids at home. Yes having to resort to living on benefits is hard work. But if this is what it takes so that no more little children lose their parents. I will happily do it until it doesn't need to be done anymore.

Poverty, lack of education, boredom can all be recovered from. Death cannot.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

SAGE aren't publishing their 'science' though, thats a big part of the problem for me. That's the nature of the beast in times like these. The government has decided that, for the safety of the individuals, to reduce the chances of the media hounding them, to keep the analysis process as clean as possible from outside influence. Chris Whitty did say that, quite clearly, the government had made that decision.

Add to that the armchair scientists who would, with the equally ill eqiupped media in full cry, make chpices based on the many hypothetical questions, pick to pieces the many and varied responses and have a field day with all sorts of weird ideas... don't say it wouldn't happen, think of the 5G conspiracy!

Never in my life have I seen quite such a suspension of critical thinking, to the extent that we've seemingly abandoned the scientific method too. Yet you posted the NSW paper as some sort of 'proof'.

[gingercat02]

Yes @Ygrittesnow they have no allowed childrem outside for an hours each day with 1 adult, what I was trying to say is the other lockdowns have been much more extreme

[MaddeningtheUnhelpful]

I think it will be extended. Unfortunatly where I am (South East) people have decided that theyve had enough since the weekend. Roads are packed again as are beaches and beauty spots and shopping is ridiculous

[Blackbear19]

I hope they start allowing marriages even if only with the minimum legally required attendees.

I thought that was already the case, and part of the reason religious leaders are in the keyworker list.

[Hugglespuffed]

I would prefer lockdown to last a bit longer and then be allowed to visit friends and family in small groups rather than choosing a bubble. I think the bubble recommendation wouldn't be great for some people's mental health because their only few friends may choose other friends or family etc.. so we will just have people posting on social media while others remain lonely.

[YogaLite]

It might be extended in theory but it's already ambiguous enough that traffic and shops have reopened with some social distancing measures.

It's all recomendations and guidelines so to large extent discretionary and not really policed apart from obvious beauty spots.

Schools might be back restricted by age groups but it wouldn't surprise me if private schools were independent enough to set their own rules.

[disorganisedsecretsquirrel]

The just released figures from care homes say it all.

This needs to go on for a good while yet and the government needs to get tougher with those flouting the rules.

[Blackbear19]

The bubble at least gets some company for those who live on their own. I deeply worry about those not seeing anyone or getting a face to face conversation.

[Hugglespuffed]

Yes true blackbear I'm single and no kids..life is pretty lonely right now but my family all live a few hours drive away so with a bubble situation I would probably prefer local friends but then a lot of my good friends here also have family here too. I'm just not sure how the bubble thing would work.

[longtermillness]

Agree re the bubble . Both my grandmothers - one 80, one 90 - are totally alone . 90 yo has cancer and Alzheimer’s ... we know the lockdown will take her faster than the other two .

80 yo has always been grand but lost my grandfather two years ago . Now this ... very tearful on the phone, confused at times, desperate for somebody to come and see her, to go to mass, take communion etc . She’s never been entirely alone before . Also saying concerning things eg that she will never go out again, she’s too scared, doesn’t want us ever leaving the house, that everyone around her might kill her etc.. it’s awful .

She has admitted she’s going to visit grandad’s grave ... Can’t condemn her for that . It’s a very rural cemetery, she drives down at 6am alone (two miles) and spends five minutes tidying his flowers etc . I think even if we told her not to she’d still go .

I think after a while you have to consider quality of life versus quantity. Neither of my grandmothers have more than ten years really . It’s enormously difficult , and very sad.

[bigchris]

@Blackbear19 nope all wedding services cancelled

[Itisasecret]

I think it will be a stick. Germany has recently started to make small steps and it is now being widely reported their R has gone back up and they are being told to stay at home if possible.

[RigaBalsam]

Have you a link for the Germany R value please?

[LilacTree1]

Blackbear I live alone. I cba talking to anyone on the phone anymore.

soon that will stretch to email.

it's probably a protection mechanism. I drink a few every day. I didn't drink much at all before - something at Xmas an on birthdays.

[Blackbear19]

Longterillness I think somebody (ideally the same person) should be visiting the 90yo with cancer and alzheimer's. People are allowed to help vulnerable people and she sounds particularly vulnerable. The 80 yo I'd offer someone who is able to isolate with her to stay with her.

My mum is in a similar boat and my brother has been visiting, too worried about her mental health not to.

[OldLace]

I think the Govt will announce 3 more weeks lockdown on 7th May.
I had wondered if Schools would go back 1st week of June, but i think that depends on this new info re complications in children.
I also think the figures coming out about care home deaths might influence general Govt direction.
I spoke to my neighbour yesterday (works for the NHS co ordinating moves out into care) and what she told me about deaths and lack of PPE was genuinely frightening.

[BenjiB]

I’m praying they start to lift restrictions especially the schools.