Let’s be honest - UK lockdown is the most relaxed worldwide

[Millicent10]

Although a lot of people on here are at home 24/7 and never go out I have been working throughout this crisis (in a LA office). I have a relatively large family and my DH also works as he is a key worker (food factory). Basically, through necessity, we are out a lot. DCs also go out for a walk. Not once have we been stopped by the police, tbh the only police I have seen have been in the supermarket ( before Covid they were also scarce and only saw them occasionally queuing for a Macdonalds). From everything that I have read, the UK must have the most relaxed lockdown in the world, we are very lucky.

@Reginabambina I understand, but you can't say 'in Australia' as though this is what the entire country is doing. Brits may not understand that States and Territories get to make their own decisions, not like in the UK where it is nationwide.

But I will admit I was a bit prickly in my reply

In the U.K. there are differences between the four nation states. Us thickie Brits could probably manage to understand the idea of differences between Australian states...

I am really glad ours is more relaxed. If we couldn't leave the house I'd be bedside myself. I think this kind of lockdown ensures greater compliance. And you are vanishing lily unlikely to catch covid by walking past someone in a park.

Germany is more relaxed in some ways. In our state it is okay to meet with one person outside your household as long as you meet outside. I’ve been able to have nice walks with friends.

Germany is more relaxed in some ways. In our state it is okay to meet with one person outside your household as long as you meet outside

You can do that in England as well, section 7 of the Coronavirus, Regulations 2020 states:
During the emergency period, no person may participate in a gathering in a public place of more than two people

@DroppedBoxxedRuth yes, of course you’re right, but I thought giving an example one of the more lenient states gave a good comparison although it would have been more correct to give a fuller picture. Don’t worry about being prickly, if I were under tougher restrictions I’d be prickly too. I’m already a bit stressed out from home schooling etc but at least we’re allowed to go out, get help from grandparents etc. Even so, I really hope restrictions are eased up soon.

@eurochick I’m not saying it’s unimaginable, just not well known or understood (judging by your comment). I didn’t want to go into a lengthy explanation so I just generalised. But yes, in many ways it’s similar to having Scotland, England & Wales and, NI. Except here the federal government have made their law about lockdown and issued recommendations. The State legislatures are obliged to accept federal laws but some have added extra measures as appropriate (infection rates are carrying quite a bit, and there are also regional needs to consider). If I were to launch into a description of all lockdowns the average Brits might struggle to understand why the only territory to have no active cases has stricter measures but open borders while a state with active cases has closed its borders but has very light restrictions. Subsequent explanations would then just derail the thread.

I’m glad and tbh it’s worked.

@regina the PM advised against gatherings of more than 2 people. I don't know anyone who has still been visiting grandparents, we've been warned not to. My kids school shut 5 weeks ago.

There was a very interesting article ( need to find ref) by an Italian medic a couple of weeks ago saying that one of the big problems in Lombardy was that throughout they kept the factories open so public transport was packed etc

Flies and pies. Also Dad got sent home ,as only one parent allowed out at a time with DC! Secret Police there (can you believe?!) First time any of them had been out as a family in 6 weeks! (BBC Breakfast News Tuesday 28th April ) .

OP - if your opinion is based on what you have read you should consider widening your sources. Both the Guardian and Daily Mail online have had plenty of stories about Sweden. The BBC and CNN have also had significant coverage.

It may not be the biggest country but there over 10 million people here.

I really don’t understand the point of ...grocery shops have some of the 'non-essential' aisles cordoned off in Switzerland @99victoria Did your son explain why?

I mean, if the shop’s open, what does it matter what you buy

Non-essential aisles in the UK are also cordoned off - our M&S, Boots and local chemist do this. No knickers or lipstick!

I don’t see the point in social distancing,you wait in a line outside but it’s a free for all inside,I was quite shocked when I went to the shops for the first time last week

The Netherlands was way more relaxed. Playgrounds stayed open, garden centres, most shops. People far less hysterical there than here.

Interesting at the briefing yesterday and what Chris Witty said about different countries and how they each measure death rates differently.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/30/uk-nowhere-near-end-coronavirus-epidemic-chief-medical-officer/

Peaseblossom- only essential labour has been open anywhere in Italy. Food production, medicine, logistics. Since 9/3 nationally in Italy. So it must be an old article, as virtually nothing has been open beyond the above for almost two months.

Netherlands was very similar to UK lockdown but slightly more relaxed. They have relaxed it further now.
There have been tension between them and their neighbours over how the leniency of their lockdown.

But although I have many concerns over how the UK government handled things (especially back in March) I think the Spanish government's rules on children leaving the house was way too strict and will cause it's own (very serious) health problems especially for those children in flats. Essentially sacrificing the health of poor and urban children to protect the health of older adults.

The lockdown we have is probably just about right and I hope it eases up soon. I absolutely cannot believe how heavy handed they were in Spain. It's cruelty to not allow children outside of the home for the length of time that they did. With many of those children having no outside space, if I were living in Spain I would be asking serious questions after all of this.

I think that some countries that began introducing measures (not necessarily full lockdown) earlier into their curve have been able to avoid a long, strict lockdown.

Whereas we ignored it until it could not be ignored any more: one week we were told that massive gatherings of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people, converging on a single location from a wide geographic area (including Covid hotspots) was "safe". Barely a week later schools were closed, we were told we could not go within 2m of anyone else, and 10 people at a BBQ = murder!

I think many in the UK suffered a sort of whiplash it was so fast.

Some lighter restrictions sooner might have reduced the UK deaths, and may also have psychologically helped when lockdown was introduced.

As many, including A&E consultants, have pointed out: we don’t have an actual lockdown, just some restrictions which were introduced late. But we are certainly not “lucky” with our infection and death rates. These two facts appear to be connected.

I'm not sure what your point is op? But I agree with this.

The lockdown we have is probably just about right and I hope it eases up soon. I absolutely cannot believe how heavy handed they were in Spain. It's cruelty to not allow children outside of the home for the length of time that they did. With many of those children having no outside space, if I were living in Spain I would be asking serious questions after all of this.

Also despite what the maniacs on here would have you believe. The UK has been extremely compliant.

Non-essential aisles in the UK are also cordoned off - our M&S, Boots and local chemist do this. No knickers or lipstick!

If knickers are not essential, let’s hope the UK lock down doesn’t last too long

I’m assuming that ‘non essential’ items are being prohibited because they don’t want people browsing in shops, but rather an in / out quick shop?

I’m in South Africa, our lockdown rules are the toughest in the world, we have a complete ban on the sale of alcohol, nothing for 5 weeks. Today we have moved to phase 4 and we are allowed out from 6am - 9am for the first time in over a month. My estate was packed.
Alcohol will only go on sale in phase 3 but only on Mondays to Wednesday’s from 9-12pm. Cigarette sales also banned until phase 3.