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.

[AhGoGo]

A furlough bashing.
Vast amounts of people on furlough are on minimum or close to minimum wage (hospitality/retail etc). They are receiving 80% of minimum wage (which is still subject to tax/ni/pension contributions).
They have also probably only received one of these payments to date and by and large are worried about having a job at the end of this.

There are no jobs. So they would just be forced on universal credits, no doubt for you still no call them scroungers even though they are in this situation through absolutely no fault of there own. Including the decision to be furloughed.

I work in hospitality. There is no industry, there are no jobs, that’s it. There won’t be until we are allowed to open again. A few have decided to open as takeaway only (therefore not being furlough scroungers) but you scream them down as well. Damned if you do damned if don’t.

[Windmillwhirl]

I.e. how is it ok for you to stand 6ft apart in the b and q queue but not 6ft apart in your garden. Either it’s a risk or it’s not. If it is a risk why is the government allowing businesses like b & q to reopen

Because I'm less likely to hug, handle something an infected customer two metres from me in B&Q than I would a friend in my backyard.

[Inkpaperstars]

Be delayed and put at risk

[VerticalHorizon]

Let us also remember that social distancing isn't and never has been a panacea.

It is still possible to leave the virus on a surface, for the next person to pick it up - whilst still maintaining social distancing.

Social distancing is only one reduction technique.

[MilkTrayLimeBarrel]

I'm in the South West where it seems we have the lowest incidence of cases. People here (on the South Coast) are mostly strictly adhering to the rules. Everyone walks miles apart from anyone else, crossing the roads to avoid others, etc. I know we are lucky that we are less densely populated but it is perverse that we seem to be better at conforming anyway!

[Redwinestillfine]

I live north west. Everyone still very much following it here

[Inkpaperstars]

Maybe we need a sense of regional competition here. They could ditch the idea of proceeding nationally, as Jenrick indicated they might.


Areas that comply and have a lower R will be opening up more and quicker, areas that don't will be held back.

Looks like London may have lowest R righ now, go London! Well done!

[MulticolourMophead]

Lockdown has been pretty much adhered to in my town. Few people gonig out, only a handful of reported deaths. I know a couple of people who went to hospital with it, and they will be coming home soon.

[GrumpyMug2]

I don't really understand people. The UK had a much relaxed lockdown to other countries and they have done it for longer. But we can't? I agree that it needs.to be lifted when sensible but we didn't have lockdown anywhere near other countries!

[hopsalong]

An exchange earlier in the thread:

A: when deaths of under 45’s are analysed, the % of deaths is staggeringly low"

B: That's because of lockdown

Er.... no... the absolute number of deaths of under 45 might be lower because of lockdown, but why would the PERCENTAGE be lower?

[Godzillasonice]

I am in Surrey and haven't seen anyone doing this. I live in an area where people are usually very anti establishment but they seem to all he following the rules religiously.

[VerticalHorizon]

It is also socio-economic reasons why some areas will be more likely to adhere to social distancing.

In some regions dense populations combined with financial hardship can drive some people to work when they'd rather not, or travel further to a less expensive supermarket, or simply not have the same level of education to comprehend exponential transmission rates etc.

Personally I feel rather proud of how we've behaved as a nation. The vast majority of people I've observed are behaving with a social conscience.

[TinRoofRusty]

I know people who have seen their family. All well and good to call them thick, morons, deserve to die, shouldn't get NHS treatment, etc, but they're adults who have decided this is not a reasonable way to live. It's not, and decided this is a risk worth taking.

[LEELULUMPKIN]

I think the Ferguson scandal has played a big part in it tbh.

One rule for them etc.

[MayDayFightsBack]

Getting totally fed up of reading these threads now. Where the fuck do you all live because where I live we are all abiding by the lockdown rules because we actually care about those who are vulnerable to this virus. I have relatives that have worked non-stop on the frontline in the NHS and have been frightened to go into work every day because they had insufficient PPE. My friend's son who is a policeman in his early twenties caught COVID-19 when working and was dangerously ill for many days. Another friend of mine has lost their dad. This virus is real and I'm beginning to think people are trying to imply lockdown isn't working because they want it to stop for completely selfish purposes.

I agree furlough payments should stop for anyone taking the piss though.

[Redwinestillfine]

Percentage of deaths under 45 may be lower but everyone can spread it, irrespective of age so they may be on but what about the people they infect?

[lynsey91]

Me and DH are still abiding by lockdown. I haven't been out of the house or garden for coming up for 7 weeks. DH has been out a couple of times to get food shopping.

Some of my neighbours though have not really abided by it at all. Next door neighbours were supposedly on 2 week self isolation because their 2 year old had a bad cough and a high temperature. The guy definitely went out at least twice to go food shopping (possibly more times that I didn't see). His family live within walking distance and have been out and about so one of them could have got his shopping.

Also his brother has been round a couple of times a week since the start and I have seen them in the garden standing pretty close together. At the weekend it was their daughter's 5th birthday and his mum and dad came round.

Another neighbour's parents visited at the weekend and they live 160 miles away! How on earth did they think that was ok?

[catfeets]

My neighbours have always ignored lockdown for the most part. They're currently at a bbq with some randomer they met during lockdown . They've had pool parties, people over every day and people sleeping over. It's a joke.

Furlough irritates me as for a lot of people it's just a paid holiday. My DP's work have just taken on a load of furloughed workers who are now being paid twice!
We've been trying to get a surveyor for our empty property (per the guidelines, house moves to empty properties are fine to go ahead) but it's impossible as none are working, they're all grabbing furlough for as long as they can.
We're in the shitty situation of paying for a house we can't complete on plus storage as we try to merge two households into one. I'm on maternity pay and my DP is working so can't apply for a mortgage holiday. If things carry on like this for much longer we'll be bankrupt.

[AhGoGo]

I agree furlough payments should stop for anyone taking the piss though.

What happens to the people who break it who aren’t on furlough? Those WFH on full pay? Those working in Tesco but nipping to see their mum on the way home? Nurse having a cheeky beer in the garden with her friend? Those already on benefits?
Sanctions? Homelessness? Make them work for free?

Why we just decided it’s those on furlough are the ones in gardens and should be blamed for all societies ills?

[calpolatdawn]

my biggest concern round my neck of the woods is the surge in crime, if the army had been deployed it might have stopped opportunistic criminals. on topic i think people are stir crazy and yes a bit selfish.

[Snorkelface]

Local park full of sunbathers and football matches this afternoon, local market street full of people chatting to each other, queues but no distancing at all. Worried we're going to mess this up big time!

[Riv12345]

People are sticking to it round where I live I'm glad to say.

I'm in Suffolk, hopefully people will continue to keep it up

[VerticalHorizon]

The percentage of deaths of under 45s would be reduced by virtue of at least two factors:

1. Because the percentage of all deaths (regardless of age) will be reduced
   
   
2. Because under 45's are probably more likely to be more socially active and likely to reduce the number of interactions by a higher percentage. So, if an average 70 year old goes into lockdown, they might reduce from 50 social interactions to 5. Whilst someone under 45 might reduce from 250 social interactions to 15. So whilst under 45s might have proportionally less deaths, the reduction in those deaths may be or a higher percentage. e.g. 10% of over 45s die, but with social distancing we get that to 2% (5 times less). 1% of under 45s die, but with social distancing, we get that 0.1% (10 times less).

[RedToothBrush]

Lockdown was fine until about 2 weeks ago.

Since then its been progressively more stressful going out.

We've had an influx of dickheads (who aren't local and don't respect social distancing) to our local area due to a nearby walking area.

An ice cream van has taken up residence and now its just horrendous.

I got to the point yesterday after DH was tactically 'coughing' so people would give us space on our daily walk, that I didn't want to leave the house today.

It wouldn't be so bad if people were being considerate and socially distancing but they aren't. Instead there are more people than on a bank holiday in the area and despite police efforts to move people on, its making no difference.

Yes there is still a point in lockdown. It would be even worse if it wasn't still in force. I can not be the only person feeling more trapped inside than I was by the selfish inconsiderate twats out there.

[BamboozledandBefuddled]

Why we just decided it’s those on furlough are the ones in gardens and should be blamed for all societies ills?

Look on the positive side. It's giving benefit claimants a break from all the abuse they usually take. If we have lousy weather all summer, I expect that will be the fault of furloughed employees