So we are staying lockdown until June at the earliest?

[Mummypig2020]

Just seen on daily fail (sorry!) that Boris is going to announce that we will be lockdown until June at least.

Not sure if I can cope that long. 😩

[majesticallyawkward]

The daily fail are clutching at straws for click bait. Like when that ridiculous traffic light 'plan' was touted at truth... it's all crap.

If we lift the lockdown too soon then everything so far will be cancelled out. Th UK is already failing miserably at managing this but fortunately now at least Boris and his team seem to be doing the right thing (if too late and too soft).

There is a very self centred culture in general where so many only see their own needs, it's not a lot of time really and the end result is surely worth a small sacrifice.

[Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe]

I have found a way of protecting my menta lhealth through the lock down process.Now I am a person who has never suffered from mental health issues and I am considered amongst family and friends to really stong,yet laid back and sensible but during this time especially the first 3 weeks of this I fell to bits.My anxiety was through the roof and it was frightening to me that I couldnt get a grip on my emotions.Terribly scary time.Anyway I had to have a talk with myself and I came up with this solution...I turned the tv off! I turned the social media off and I stopped buying the newspapers.I needed to keep abreast of things so I tuned in daily to the Governments press conference at 5pm and that was it. The press and media coverage were so damaging to me I couldnt stand it.Pleased to report this practice has worked or is working so far.I know as much as anyone can and process that but thats it.The constant questions,coverage and speculation is causing more damage than anything else.I am sure lock down will be gradually lifted when it is safe and reasonable to do so until then if we care. we wait.. we have to.

[LilacTree1]

“ There frankly isn't another option”

There’s ALWAYS the other option.

[Flyinggeese]

Gwenhwyfar the OP has no clue - simply relaying a DM headline. The PM is back doing the briefing tonight and may say.

[dreamingbohemian]

It also makes sense for the UK to see how other countries do in May after relaxing lockdown, to get a sense of the best way forward. Other European countries are following different exit plans which may bring different results, which won't really start to show until early June.

People keep saying Germany is headed back to lockdown but this is not really true. Lockdown has not really been lifted, we are still told to only leave the house for essential purposes, maintain social distancing, wear masks in public, schools are opening for only a few classes next week. The main thing is that smaller shops can open and they will try to open museums and playgrounds soon. So it is a very gradual easing.

There is enormous pressure in Germany to keep gradually lifting restrictions because this week's numbers show the incredible economic damage going on. Yesterday they said the reproduction rate is still less than 1 so it is likely that gradual lifting will continue.

The main thing is testing. That is the key to getting even halfway back to normal and the UK has a long way to go still.

[Flyinggeese]

I'm not sure what's worse; the Daily Mail or those that read it, quote it and then post it as 'news' online.

[Smoggles]

Single parent trying to work from home with 2 small children. She needs an extra pair of hands. She's really struggling, and with each chat we have she seems even more upset at how she isn't coping. She isn't in the most difficult position, but she's my friend and I want to help, but can't.

@GrimmsFairytales I was only asking as there is support out there for some things, has she asked her employer whether they can furlough her? Obviously not one to answer on here, but does the dad have any part in their lives? Moving between households between parents is permitted. Plus it does say for caring responsibility, if someone is really struggling I would personally argue that struggling with their MH is just as important as physically. The hubs locally here of HV and rise centres are still offering support on the phone, I know it won't work wonders, but perhaps they can be of some use? You sound like an amazing friend, and I am sure that you being at the end of the phone means the world to her right now.

[PixelatedLunchbox]

I think the hardest thing for people to get their heads around, is the fact that life is probably never going to go back to "how it was before". Our world has changed. And this coronavirus? It's bad, but it's nothing compared to what is ahead. Many epidemiologists believe it is just the trial run and that the next flu coming is going to be an avian flu and it will spread further faster and be deadlier. So buckle up kids, and learn to cope. We're not in Kansas anymore.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

It isn't helpful to say oh you'll just have to cope, it certainly isn't kind

It isn't realistic either, since there's little hope of the "5 targets" being met through government action. They've loused up PPE provision, missed just about every target on testing and generally behaved in such an untrustworthy manner that many won't allow themselves to be tracked

Sooner or later therefore, unless we're prepared to trash absolutely everything on the altar of CV, we'll just have to go on shielding the very vulnerable and take our chances with the rest

[Kazzyhoward]

Surely, we first need to get businesses re-open that never needed to close in the first place - garages, food shops, takeaways, DIY shops, etc. We need to examine why they closed when they weren't told to.

Is it because of lack of staff, owners being shielded, lack of customers, difficulty in social distancing, etc etc? We need to tackle those issues first.

Not much use allowing more different types of businesses to open if lots that already can, aren't open.

[cantory]

I will not be happy if the current lock down has all been for nothing. And if it ends too soon that will be the case.

[Kazzyhoward]

I'm not sure what's worse; the Daily Mail or those that read it, quote it and then post it as 'news' online.

Not sure how that is different from the BBC who also make their own news, and report it as news on the TV and radio??

[cantory]

@Kazzyhoward You can't make businesses open.

[Redolent]

@PixelatedLunchbox

On a thread where people are sharing their mental health vulnerabilities and struggles. Jesus could you be any more fucking tone deaf?

[TriangleBingoBongo]

I just wish they’d give us some indication so we felt we really were all in it together. I am struggling now, I think if it was likely to be another 4 weeks I could atleast focus my mind on that. Or even another 4 months, Id know what I was working with.

The majority of us are sensible enough to hear it isn’t definite but this is what the projections are. We have the benefit of experience from other countries so it’s not a complete unknown entity.

I also think keeping us in the dark is more likely to lead to non compliance. If becomes us vs them.

[JustStayHome]

Did people really think that restrictions were going to be lifted so soon.

Not enough people are listening in this country.
To many people thinking this is a holiday

Have you not seen Spain and Italy. They have had it weeks longer than us and only now is Spain letting children out for 1 hour a day...
This is going to go on for awhile yet.

Schools wont be back to 100% till January

We will never recover from this

[TriangleBingoBongo]

The five criteria are total crap. They are so loose, they could be interpreted so widely to fit whatever supports any statement on any given day.

[cantory]

I think it is natural to complain, it is part of coming to terms with something negative. Most of us do it.

[GrimmsFairytales]

@Smoggles

has she asked her employer whether they can furlough her?

Employer has said they appreciate her situation but can't furlough her. They don't expect her to be as productive as she would be, and are allowing work be completed outside of normal working hours. However friend is, like many, worried about not getting things done and making more work for others to complete.

Obviously not one to answer on here, but does the dad have any part in their lives?

No.

You sound like an amazing friend, and I am sure that you being at the end of the phone means the world to her right now.

Thanks. Unforunately I don't feel like an amazing friend, I feel like a useless bystander.

[AmelieTaylor]

@GrimmsFairytales

Is your friend working for herself? If not has she properly looked into furlough? Essential childcare? She should qualify for one or the other. Maybe you can help her by looking into that? I guess you've exhausted other options such as someone moving in with her for the remainder of lock down? It's SO hard when you can't help friends how you'd like to...but there might still be a way🌷

@LittleLeaps 🌷I'm sorry you're in such a bad place & are finding this so awful. Sadly though, if you look at the actual transmission/death rates (and not the much filtered ones we are getting daily) there really isn't a good alternative. It would kill a huge percentage of the population including many in their 30's &40's and quite possibly children. Is there anything that would help you right now? Personally I'm all for the lockdown (I don't see we have a viable alternative) but I can't think about 'being locked inside' OR 'the weeks ahead' because it makes me feel panicky. I just deal with 'right here, right now' It probably helps though, that I have underlying conditions and I'm scared of getting it, so I don't actually want to go out and take that risk. Is there anything that would help you right now? 🌸

[BabyTeacherBear]

This whole 3 weeks business is to keep people at bay. We can't leave lockdown realistically until we have a way of tracking the virus, and we don't. We have to stay longer in lockdown because the Government didn't lock us down early enough - wasted too much time talking about herd immunity, then lying about it.

[Chloemol]

We won’t know for another two weeks, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Our lockdown hasn’t been as drastic and say Italy’s or Spain’s. Had it been we might not need such a long extension to June as everyone who has been ignoring rules as they can’t possibly apply to them would have had to follow them

[DominaShantotto]

We will be locked down until June 2025 with all stores closed and army delivered packages of gruel on a monthly basis. Any stepping outdoors will be met with an electric shock and the old Cones Hotline has been replaced by a Grass Up A Neighbour Who Smiled More Than Once A Day line.
Home school provision will be assessed by Ofsted and any house without an acre of garden and room for a pony will be automatically failed.
Clapping for the NHS will be compulsory at :33 minutes past every hour.

It's seriously some MNers wet dream.

[MargotB7]

PixelatedLunchbox

Well aren't you a barrel of laughs?

I do think we will have at least another 3 weeks lockdown after this. I know it's hard though.

[cantory]

I find it is best to think of one day at a time. Dont think ahead, even to next week. No further forward than tomorrow.