So it doesn’t look like the lockdown is going to be extended does it?

[HighlandSpring101]

Just caught the daily news briefing. Despite a lot of people on here last week thinking there’s no way they’ll be easing the lockdown before the end of May (and I admit, I too thought this!) it looks like BoJo may announce relaxations of the lockdown Sunday, possibly taking effect as of Monday?

I am a bit confused though as though the majority of the criteria for relaxation looks like it’s being met, there are still 4000 new infections each day, which is the pretty much the same amount as at the start of this pandemic so surely that’s still too high?

@mgby1 - hope you get better soon

I think they will announce another 3 weeks lockdown on Thurs.
On Sunday, Boris will announce how we will then come out of lockdown in stages, IF we stick to it for 3 more weeks and the R number reduces.

I think Boris knew that all along.

I don't think Johnson knows anything, he's a shyster and a liar who makes up bullshit on the spot to keep himself out of trouble. He is deeply unimpressive and flying by the sea of his pants.

If you go on the corona virus updates of the worldometer website and click on the UK and then Germany you would clearly see why the UK lockdown should be extended. Germany is on the downward part of a curve for infections and deaths and are very slowly easing their lockdown.

There is no sign of any downward curve in the UK figures. It would be foolhardy to loosen the restrictions until they can see a reduction in new infections and deaths over a good week or 10 days

@DuchessUke yeah I’m totally judgemental 🙄
Seriously, is asking a question not allowed any more?

All the models show a worse second peak later on if we don't lock down for a second time. So we'll come out of lockdown pretty soon but then be back in lockdown later in the year to prevent the second peak. Repeat another once or twice until the vaccine arrives next year.

I worked at the weekend. Previously it's been very quiet and dead boring. I found Sunday morning quite stressful with lots of customers, almost like Xmas. Social distancing wasn't great. I had to ask more people than normal to give me space to help on self serve, help locate something and two staff requested manager to let them access how many to have in store as they felt uncomfortable with numbers. When it was quieter, I noticed a few more people on the buses and more in the High Street. I dread to think how we'll get numbers down if we don't extend, given more people are out.

I think it’ll be extended because of today’s figures

@isittheholidaysyet

I agree it’s not nice but it’s not forever. We will eventually be able to see our families again. We will eventually be able to go out and do things again. This isn’t going to be life forever.

Imagine how many more of our family members may have died if these measures were in place. In my opinion I’d rather not see my mum for 2 months than never see her again

i think everyone has ended lockdown anyway (i think it should be continued IMO).
Lots of the shops in my high road are re-opening.
i had to drive (first time in my car in over 6 weeks) to the vet about a 15min drive away, and i actually couldn't believe how busy the roads were, not hugely different to any other tuesday at 3pm...

“ i think everyone has ended lockdown anyway”

Not in London. Tube use still at 95% normal levels, nurse friend says it’s really scary coming back late from shifts.

Why “ In my opinion I’d rather not see my mum for 2 months than never see her again”

The chances of my mum being dead in two months are pretty high

Sadly she’s now terrified of Covid so I fully expect I’ll never see her again, or it will be in her coffin.

Which I might not do actually....saw dad but not sure there’s much point to it really.

Businesses have (hopefully) been preparing but they can't exactly say, right this is what's happening on Monday folks and you have 12 hours to figure it out overnight - GO! Surely...

Thought I heard transport is expected to be ramped up by 18 May so my bet is Sunday will see another 2 weeks lockdown but we'll hear the plans for how we handle restrictions being lifted. Schools not informed of anything yet either so again it will take time to plan and implement whatever is coming

Another 2 weeks is my bet.

Sorry, Tube use 95% LESS than normal levels

The news about Professor Lockdown has made me google so many things, my eyes need a rest!

I watch the briefing every night and I'm not getting the vibes they are planning to undo anything just yet.

If it is extended for another three weeks (just about understandable), they'd better say something about when some restrictions will be eased. I hope they're planning for the civil unrest and riots if it's still the same old "in spite of the huge sacrifices you've made, we're telling you nothing".

Theyve extended the furlough scheme till the end of June. So following that one could assume they don't expect everyone to be back to work and on their feet till then.

The issue is people running out and about straight away I guess
My local KFC reopened today and was shortly after closed by the police due to the queues and safety issues

Isn’t the new hospital in Birmingham on standby now due to a lack of patients? Things like this likely affect it too as it allows us to mitigate potential setbacks to an extent.

That said, I’m not sure I want furlough to end before all my customers are open again as there’d be no work for me. Many are in retail/hospitality/etc and they need to be producing recyclable waste to need my company’s services (as opposed to being open but quiet).

It would be madness to relax it now. We've only just begun to flatten the curve, we need it to drop considerably. Italy's only just started to relax their (far tighter) lockdown, and we're already topping their death figures, despite being two weeks behind them.

Wanderings “ I hope they're planning for the civil unrest and riots if it's still the same old "in spite of the huge sacrifices you've made, we're telling you nothing".

The last SAGE paper I saw said they considered this low risk. Given the fear, I think that’s probably true.

Considering the first minister is famous for releasing the UK plans before they have a chance I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the UK will follow Scotland in lockdown till the 28th May. Setting out clear plans what businesses need to do in the next three weeks to be able to open .

@LilacTree1 sorry to hear you think that :(

What I meant by my comment was surely it’s better that we’re being told to stay away and stay safe to stop the spread of infection?
If we have to stay in lockdown for 2/3 months, we’re all still safe, we’re able to get food and talk to each other on the phone, we can go for a walk if we want to and we can find things to entertain ourselves at home.

It’s not ideal and I’m not denying it’s taking it’s toll on many aspects of our lives but the alternative is that we carry on as normal, spread the infection, death rates rocket, hospitals can’t cope and don’t have the resources. Loved ones die.. all because we didn’t want to stay home for a while?

It wont be eased until the app is up and running nationwide. Sunday will be a road map of next steps, but i doubt dates will be quoted. I expect furlough workers will return at some point in june expect for service industry and entertainment workers. I do think the "bubble" of people might happen 1st

Why I’m not explaining my anti lockdown stance again, you can Advanced Search if you want to know.

Lockdown has increasingly made me lose feeling so if mum dies, I’ll be fine. It was her choice not to see me.