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.

Non essential aisles in Switzerland are closed off because other shops selling similar items (such as pots and pans, children's clothes, toys, electrical goods) that aren't allowed to open protested that it was unfair on them.

Children also not allowed out in Italy, though remember, flats here almost always have an outside balcony and many buildings are within their own "yard" so that's undoubtedly made it easier to deal with the rules. DD hasn't been out of the house since 9/3 and me since 12/3 but I've been outside if that makes sense.

"No limits on how many times to go out"
We dont really have limits on that in the UK though. In theory, you could go to work, then go shopping (several times), then go for a walk.

Children not being able to leave the house at all is just a recipe for plethora of issues, I am glad that's not the case here.

I think it must be dreadfully hard with younger children- I keep saying to DD thank goodness she's a teenager and not 4. They're also "at school" online all morning so seeing (even if across a screen) all their class for 4 ish hours a day which psychologically has helped.

Our behaviour hasn’t changed that much. We are in our home a lot as retirees.
We’ve gone out every day we wanted to. Visited all our local beaches, parks, country parks. Found interesting little nooks and crannies to poke around in.
It honestly did not make sense to me that you could go to our closed in shopping centre quite freely, although not much in there was open yet you couldn’t drive to an almost deserted Beach or park.
I rarely go to supermarkets. I hate them. So dh did what he usually did, I drove him to aldi and I waited in the car. Our local butcher delivered meat and we visited stand alone fruiterers.
As, I’ve said before we survived the evacuation of Tenerife and the mayhem at the airport and the overcrowded plane in March. So going for a walk in the park wasn’t going to worry us.
We need fresh air, exercise and sunlight..like the health experts have drummed in us for decades.

I’ve still seen most of my family now and then.
I have missed the cinema but then the weather has been fantastic so we wouldn’t have gone anyway.

Nope. Relatives in Australia can meet with 1 other person from a different household for a walk. That person can vary. Also more open.

I'm not convinced we can't. Our legislation says no gathering of more than two in public unless they are members of our household.
We are asked to and on the whole people are choosing not to.

"Restrictions on gatherings

1. During the emergency period, no person may participate in a gathering in a public place of

more than two people except— (a) where all the persons in the gathering are members of the same household, "

USA rules vary by state & some have much looser rules than UK (or no rules at all).

This. That would be a huge change here. Everyone could go visit their mothers afterall....

Dowser “ I’ve still seen most of my family now and then.”

How did you do that?

""No limits on how many times to go out"
We dont really have limits on that in the UK though. In theory,"

In theory is the problem

Some UK government ministers gave their non-binding advice
about e.g. 30 mins cycling, 60 mins walk, no sunbathing, limits on sitting down or driving,
which the police and some neighbours chose to regard as "the rules"

Fortunately Merkel and the German govt didn't do that
And as the land where the Nazis and Stasi actually happened, informing on neighbours for invented offences isn't popular here

Disagree. In France and Belgium people can take public transport even if not key workers. I think that in Belgium this might start next week with masks. French people have to sign a form to go out, but anyone can sign a form authorising themselves to go out!
Those people citing Sweden - not sure I'd include Sweden at all as it's not on lockdown, just restriction on mass events.

Gwen “ In France and Belgium people can take public transport even if not key workers”

Thank you, that’s interesting. What are the reasons for being “allowed” to use it?

"In theory is the problem

Some UK government ministers gave their non-binding advice
about e.g. 30 mins cycling, 60 mins walk, no sunbathing, limits on sitting down or driving,
which the police and some neighbours chose to regard as "the rules""

In Wales it's official now - exercise only once a day.
The Police have always had discretion though. Sunbathing has never been explicitly illegal, but police have had the right to stop it because it's not one of the few things you are allowed to do.

Lilac - I don't know the reasons. I know that my friend in France takes the bus to the supermarket, friends in Belgium were saying masks on buses from next week and I know another friend took the tram a while ago. You'd have to ask the government why it's allowed.

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

In the big Boots in town, the makeup counters are closed, but you can still buy lots of non-essentials like hair dye. You can buy clothes in my nearest big Tescos and all Wilkos are open. It's not too difficult to get non-essential but useful things.

Gwen thank you.

I’m lucky I can walk to Aldi, but many shoppers there need to use the bus otherwise they’re forced to use a Waitrose or something more expensive.

How do they monitor it though? Unless you live in a tiny town where the police know everyone, as we don't have ID cards like France, and no tracking app like China- how is it enforced?

Star sorry, is your question for me?

It’s really not. Probably about in the middle.

You can take public transport in the UK if you’re not a keyworker. For lots of people it’s the only way to get to a shop.

I'm in the ME where the rules are taken very seriously. We are under curfew and can only go to pharmacies and supermarkets within our 'town' between certain hours. Police will stop and check you, fine/imprison if you break these rules. You need a permit to travel to hospital if you feel unwell etc.

I think my family and friends have a good deal in UK tbh!

Feel free to speak for us all

I'm in the ME where the rules are taken very seriously

I'll bet they are

No particular evidence that severity of social distancing measures has much to do with success in controlling or limiting COVID19. Countries like Hong Kong have never even had a full lockdown---rather, citizens started social distancing very early, and other measures like closing schools followed. Actual "shelter-in-place" orders (ordering people to stay in their home and fining them etc. if they are out other than for limited purposes) have never happened. Hong Kong has done just fine with lighter SDing plus masks, quarantine and tracing. Taiwan ditto.

Outdoor transmission of COVID19 appears to be rare. Outdoor transmission when people are outdoors but physically staying away from each other, probably has a transmission risk of close to zero.