No point in lockdown anymore

[LifeMatters]

All my neighbours seem to think that we are in a paid staycation by the government and social distancing are out the door.
Everyone around where I live has friends and family over, are having picnics together on the grass in front of their flats, the roads are busier than ever.
It's crazy! There's no point in making this country suffer any more so better all let's just go to work and what happens happens.

People are taking advantage of the paid time off and not staying indoors. What is the point of this lockdown if people are not following it anymore?

My next door neighbors had friends and family over all this week...it's crazy.

Not adhering to social distancing either obviously 🙄

I mean my neighbours are having a barbecue lol I'm jealous I'll admit. I miss my friends and my family

The delays in reporting have been pointed out many times in the briefings, and there are different delays from different sources.
Even fluctuations in weekend reporting figures have been mentioned many times as have the changes in what we are reporting (which has changed)

Also, some of the numbers are a matter of conjecture as many deaths are not strictly confirmed Covid-19 deaths, but are deemed that Covid-19 was a likely cause, or significant factor.

It's also not possible to be certain you're past a peak unless you offer a timeframe for which you're going to measure. A single low figure on any given day doesn't not represent 'past the peak'. In fact, even a downward trend for a few weeks does not guarantee we are passed the peak, merely passed A peak... we don't know if another is to come. We hope not, but cannot be certain.

As a six week old baby has now died of it in England, I think it's more imperative than ever to continue.

When was that?! I’m due to give birth soon and that news is terrifying!

@VerticalHorizon

Whatever the actual position, we have some very high numbers.
A better comparison would be with significant lower per capita deaths? what did they do that we didn't?

Johnson talked up the relaxation of measures at the daily briefing, it was then left to others to play it down, there was zero need to say anything at all, the relaxation measures will be tiny BUT he has enabled an air of anticipation that we are all suddenly going to FREEEEEEEE!

The announced daily death total plus the 7 day rolling average which does show a steady decline, however, taken together, the numbers are far too high to allow any significant lifting of restrictions.

@Rebelwithallthecause while this doesn’t make it better in any way, from what the Sky news report says I believe that the baby had underlying conditions of some kind. Also, whenever I read stories like this I always try and remind myself that nothing has changed. We’ve never been told that babies and children NEVER get it and NEVER die from it, just that it is extremely rare. We know there will be the odd case involving babies and children. But we’ve always known that so there is no point worrying more than you were before if that makes sense.

I agree, it's too early (in my opinion), but I also accept there are other factors at play too - mental health, physical health, and yes 'the economy'.

Damage to the economy also results in deaths, albeit in more subtle ways.

I don't envy any government trying to reconcile the nation's immediate needs with those of the future too.

I think a lot of guidance is ambiguous, and deliberately so. I also suspect the government has been let down by the media second guessing and exaggerating potential lifting of restrictions.

But they could avoid a lot of speculation by being explicit... so they need to help themselves too

MintyMabel I don't think what is happening in my 'tiny' neighbourhood (Leith is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe) is happening everywhere, which you should have been able to understand. The poster I responded to was suggesting that Scotland is different because things are quiet where she is. It isn't different - we have various types of behaviour just as in England.

And Princes Street is a poor example - nobody lives near there, it's all closed shops. It would be odd if anyone was hanging about on Princes Street. Have a look at the Kirkgate.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/ten-reasons-to-end-the-lockdown-now?fbclid=IwAR0useJ-PzpoLUtfuRR7bD5-tic7QAdiY9v-B0aq_VjrRs8hbsxYBuK3bqQ

People are pretty much following lockdown where I live.

We had a street party this afternoon, and it's still going on for some, but everyone started on their own drives but now people are mixing but still keeping social distancing. Apart from someone who caught it abroad and died before reaching home we have a single case.

For goodness sake from seeing all the street parties on Facebook and watching them on sky news, it’s obvious there’s going to be an uptake in cases in the next two weeks... All for the sake of one day.

It didn’t look like much social distancing was happening on sky news when they kept panning to different streets.

I really do feel like a grouch. It’s really pissed me off today and made me feel like lockdowns been for nothing.

If they can have street parties like that in lockdown then I’m certainly going to distance visit my parents in their garden

What is the point in all this if street parties are fine but no other social distancing socialising is allowed

I agree rebel what is the point?

Two doors away from me they have confirmed the family has the virus as one member was admitted to hospital... their family are colleagues are still visiting them daily. Going in and out of the house.

People up the road are still having a street party dancing to absolutely shit music in the road. Apparently 20 people live in that house and they are all about the same age

Just watching the BBC news. Look at all those street parties!!! What is the bloody point of us all staying at home when it’s clear families in the same street are mixing freely.

All that will happen is we will look at this and think if it’s ok for them.....

Can England, Scotland and Wales get together fgs and get a single message out. Sturgeon point scoring and making it all about her.

There were no street parties visible or audible near me, but some relatives have been at them. However, they were much more than two metres apart, all in roads with houses quite spread out and no one left their own drives.

I don't know why people are having them when they can't or won't distance, I guess they must just love lockdown so much they want to make sure it can't be eased even in three weeks.

Scotland’s R number is higher than England’s why wouldn’t she continue it 🤷‍♀️.

I said to DH at dinner time to give all those 'socially distanced' parties a couple of hours and a bucket full of alcohol and see what happens.

He just came upstairs to say one of his mates has just messaged to tell him he's just called police on the street party which has strangely descended to hugging. (Think the police involvement is a little ott tbh)

It is so entirely predictable. And such a bad idea, but it's been actively encouraged by the media and nationalistic government messages and yes the sainting of Captain Tom.

We had a couple of hours of distance street party. No shared food just people out with a cup of tea or glass of wine talking at a distance. Was really lovely and I don’t think it would have happened if it weren’t for the lockdown and the clapping for carers. Hope it’s something positive to take forward.

I ranted on another thread earlier, so will try and keep this rational.

I’m mid-wales ish. Have seen a considerable increase in people out and about over the past 3 weeks. Not for petrol or essential food shopping, but for a few bars of chocolate, an ice cream, one soft drink etc.

These aren’t key workers out on their jobs, getting food as they happen to be passing and need lunch.

These are people literally coming out because they fancy a treat and/or are bored. Sometimes treating it as a family outing.

There might be little increased risk to them, but I’m here on minimum wage seeing maybe 250 people a day, when perhaps 50 to 100 have an essential reason to come out.

Customers distance from each other like they’re all plague carriers, yet our staff are treated as invisible- leant over, walked into, you name it. Yelled at for asking people to step back, or for our non-essential services not being open (we don’t have the staff atm, we’re running skeleton shifts as it is)

It’s really good to feel that you’re risking your and your family’s health everyday when you would be better off on furlough so that people can treat you as utterly expendable.

Oh shit, sorry, 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have up on the nonsense spectator article at his first 'point'. He's keen to show off his ignorance isn't he. With a very hefty dose of unpleasant Othering.

Apparently the huge number of deaths aren't a Biggie. Because 90% had underlying conditions.

Nevermind that's a large proportion of the population given they're common conditions. No matter these people are as valuable as anyone else.

Oh and according to him people with underlying conditions are on their way out anyway. Apparently. He really doesn't live in the real world does he.

Much of the article is wordy waffle. He's using a lot of long words in an attempt to make himself sound knowledgeable. Which he clearly isn't

He lacks basic common sense. He asks if lockdown reduces the number of infections. He doesn't seem to have grasped the simple concept of contagion. An infectious disease spreads more amongst more people.

He not only sees the over 50s as expendable (he doesn't look so young himself) but he also seems unaware that there is a group of under 50s being badly affected. Two in fact. The BAME community and our HCPs.

He doesn't seem aware of the impact losing a parent would have on a child either. Apparently if you're under 50 you're not impacted by Covid. Because no one has loved ones over 50. He's also forgotten you might not die but you could be very ill for weeks and weeks.

Oh and he throws in a Sweden mention. Doesn't mention the very different demographics. A tiny population compared to ours that is much more spaced out. 50% of Swedes live in single person households. They've had more deaths too than their locked down Scandinavian neighbours.

He bizarrely thinks we'd have a normal fully functioning NHS if we suddenly ended lockdown early (before the infection rate was reduced). Quite how he thinks that's possible when our HCP are bearing the brunt. Dying because of the high viral load and lack of PPE. I'm not sure either how he thinks services could run as normal with Covid spreading through a hospital.

You clearly don't need much of a brain to write for the spectator, nor common sense. Just a propensity for eugenics.

Most folks over 60 have some underlying condition... it is a consequence of ageing.
The Spectator article us worth printing out... it might come in handy should we see a second wave of loo roll shortage.