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.

Flies and Pies yes they are, like they should be, when responding to a global pandemic.

I think what they have done in Spain to children has been awful. Not allowing them outside for 6 weeks. Has that been based on any science? Just cruel and and so bad for them.

Versus Switzerland who have actually let children play in groups of 5 as long as the adults social distance. For the last month and cases have gone down.

I don’t think this virus is spreading outside between people who are 1m apart rather than 2...

Has that been based on any science?

Nope. It was based on the same logic that led airports after 9/11 to engage in elaborate "security theater" where heavy handed staff make people wait in long queues having weird things done to them. It achieves nothing in terms of safety, but makes a frightened and panicking population feel that "Well, at least something forceful is being done!"

I think a lot of confusion is because what the government wants us to think the law is, and what the law actually is, are somewhat different.

The law allows us to leave our home with a "reasonable excuse". There's a list of examples but that list is not exhaustive.

The law allows you to travel to work when it is not reasonably possible to work from home, regardless of whether or not that work is "essential".

Someone from SAGE has admitted “social distancing came from nowhere”

metro.co.uk/2020/04/25/two-metre-social-distancing-rule-conjured-nowhere-professor-claims-12609448/

A dose of common sense would add greatly to this whole thing

Daffodil all the rules disregard common sense

The shutting down of NHS services barring Covid was not common sense.

I don’t have any hope for it emerging soon.

Yes I heard that a while back LilacTree. Thing is, outside it's probably far more space than necessary and inside not enough - I keep seeing graphics of the spread of a cough or sneeze in, for instance, a supermarket or aeroplane cabin and the spread is far greater than 2m.

My US state has much stricter rules than the UK and has had them in place for longer.
Other US states have barely had any restrictions.

A lot of this appears to be guesswork.

It’s coming from a good place but the enquiry will make interesting reading.

It is one of the most relaxed. Sweden is more relaxed though and other countries have various different caveats if what they can do.

But we aren't actually in lockdown. Our government never to my knowledge described this as such. We are on a "stay at home".
It's the media and communities calling it lockdown because that's what China called it. And they actually "locked" down some places.

We've been reasonably relaxed in Iceland. Only colleges (for over 16s) and universities actually closed (just physically, online learning instead). Compulsory schools and preschools have always been open but every other day or similar solution to reduce numbers. They are going fully back to normal on Monday.

Some things are closed like gyms, pools, cinemas, hairdressers. But most shops are open with some restrictions on numbers of people, including a lot of restaurants and bars.

We can gather with others as long as not more than 20 people are together, though you are supposed to keep 2 metres apart from each other in public (people really aren't, though, most people are behaving very normally).

We can go out as much as we like, for as long as we like and for any reason at all. Even people in quarantine are allowed to go out for walks if they keep away from other people.

We've been working from home and the kids have been home from preschool every other day, so it has been very different from normal life and a bit challenging combining work and childcare. But mostly OK. I'm still fed up with it. By Monday I can get a haircut and the kids can go back to preschool properly and start their gymnastics again.

I'd much rather be here than the UK but I agree with the OP that the UK is preferable to many.

Speaking to my German friend this morning, her 92 year old mother is still having her weekly massages!

Bah - that’s good for her health.

I think our lockdown has struck the right balance.

that’s good for her health.

Exactly. Massages (for health reasons) and physiotherapy still happening here as well.

It's good that some countries are taking the health benefits of this sort of thing seriously.

I'd much rather be here than the UK but I agree with the OP that the UK is preferable to many.

Iceland is about the size of England with a population about the same as that of Leicester. Not really comparable to any major European country.

Im in South Aus. Each state been a little different

We have still had takeaway open. Our local bottle shop increased hours to combat no pubs. Some places moved to takeaway where they had none before.

Groups of 10 people allowed, 1.5 social distancing

Most bigger shops open, like not just food but target or kmart type stores with toys, clothes, homewares
Havent even seen lines and limits on numbers in store enforced

No cops out fineing in our state really, no letter for travel, can go out as many times as we like. Just encouraged to stay home as much as possible

Can travel city to country but cross the border and your in mandatory quarantene.

School never closed here, just prepped for and we could choose to keep home if we wanted.
Attendance at DD school is about normal apart from one aboriginal community which in total locked down, school seeking permission for them kids to return to school

Our state has pretty much the small rules, but we have had them longer (since March 6) but with more common sense being applied. We can only go out for “essential shopping, medical purposes, exercise and helping others”. How many times you go shopping and for how long is up to the individual. Many shops are closed but supermarkets, DIY stores, liquor stores and marijuana stores are all open. You can buy anything that those places sell, as often as you like. Likewise where you get your fresh air and exercise and how long is also up to the individual. We have mandatory masks at all times out of the home until June 30. Some beach access points are closed and all hotels, campgrounds, etc are closed.We live in a sparsely populated area. Our county is half the size of Northern Ireland but with less than 70,000 people. 12 virus cases and no deaths. I’m 23 miles from the nearest shop. No neighbors in sight. It makes no sense on this kind of area to ban people from going out for walks, bike rides, jogs, etc. in fact we have been encouraged to make as much use of our free time in the open air as possible - there has been a lot of talk here about mental health becoming a concern otherwise, and that’s understandable.

The guidelines - not rules - here are presented on a way that treats people like adults. The UK has been too draconian and treating people like animals will cause problems. I much prefer the approach of “present the facts, make recommendations and let adults decide” than “you’re not allowed to do this” which has encouraged an obsession in the UK with “reporting” people for sunbathing and sitting on benches. Ridiculous.

Japan? From what I read it’s very similar to Sweden, but schools and kindergartens/nurseries are closed. Plenty of people out and about. Although most wear masks even though it’s not compulsary.

"I much prefer the approach of “present the facts, make recommendations and let adults decide” than “you’re not allowed to do this” which has encouraged an obsession in the UK with “reporting” people for sunbathing and sitting on benches. Ridiculous."

Yes, but there are worse infractions that really should be reported like large groups congregating and people having parties so there do need to be some rules.

"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."

Yes, but those countries have widespread testing though don't they? If you have that you can have just the people with the illness and their families staying in. We can't test many people so we're all stuck in. We will have to increase our testing capacity before they raise lockdown.

Also everyday local boroughs play varying alert via public speakers (which are everywhere), our local one is done in 3 languages. It goes something like this “emergency-urgent issue-please stay home-in the absence of this-everyone of you-you will die”

"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 didn't know that. I wouldn't do it anyway as I have plenty of shops near me.

"can only go to pharmacies and supermarkets within our 'town' between certain hours"

We also have to shop in our local pharmacies and supermarkets. Unnecessary travel is not allowed.

This says Hong Kong has had lots of stay at home, ordered by govt.

"Hong Kong government banned gatherings of more than four people in public spaces on March 29."

they have loads of measures.