Seems like a lot of people have ended the lockdown themselves this weekend....

[Smithtylater]

I went to work today (am on maternity but returning on Monday) to meet my manager (NHS, working an on call weekend shift). I drove past Hampton court for the first time since i have been on maternity leave. You would have thought it was a normal sunny weekend day? Ice cream vans, hoards of people all close, hundreds of people on bikes, people sitting with their feet in the river, kids running around.
There is loads more traffic, more people around and even my own brother has gone 3 hour drive up North for a 40th birthday party?! I was angry at him and he said that the host said that the lockdown is 'ending tommorow so what is an extra day'?

I have seen on twitter about London Fields today (literally 1000s of people sitting there) and lots of people are under the impression its all ending on Monday ?!

But can you really blame people when you look at the headlines of all the papers? Boris should have adressed the nation before the weekend imo.

[catpoooffender]

*in the absence of a vaccine

[butterpuffed]

Maybe older people and people who need to shield because of underline health problems should just stay in and let the rest of the people make there own decision!!

Thanks , we don't really count obviously , you younger ones just crack on and leave us to it

[thatgingergirl]

I'm surprised to see that Germany with even their success at dealing with this pandemic, and the consequent low loss of lives, were having exactly these debates a week or so ago -
Spiegel (and still are I imagine).

Some people will flout regulations, others will follow them to the letter and add some of their own (or what their neighbour, family or MN thinks they should be doing).

Most people will follow the regulations sensibly.

[feelingverylazytoday]

1forall74 It's not a 'notion' that the virus doesn't spread easily in the open air, it's a well established fact, from scientists working in countries with effective contract tracing. Nearly all transmission occurs in enclosed spaces.

People still seem to be following lockdown rules where I live. Everyone moves over to allow people to pass, not much traffic on the roads, people still queuing for shops etc. There was a street party round the corner but everyone was standing in seperate little groups , so presumably still observing social distancing.

[ChrissieKeller61]

4 people I know in Germany say the protests didn’t happen. It’s not back to normal at all

[Sostenueto]

The Nightingale hospitals could not be used because there was not enough critical care nurses to staff them. The death toll of those not with Covid has risen due to the fact those Nightingale hospitals could not be used for Covid patients thus freeing hospitals to treat other people with life threatening diseases. Every resource including operating theatres were being used for ICU units for Covid patients. This government will have a lot to answer for in the future.

[tartanbow]

I'm not necessarily talking about being in massive groups and being at bbqs and parties but why would it not be sensible to allow people to sit in someones garden at an acceptable distance? to sit on a beach nowhere near anyone? to return to work if you can?
I think if you allow people to do things like this then less will be tempted to break the "rules"
dont underestimate or scoff at the impact this is having on some peoples mental health - I went and sat in my mums garden well away from her down the other end and her near her house because I was starting to get worsening anxiety attacks. no transmission risk there whatsoever - why would this be an issue?

[mathanxiety]

www.vice.com/en_us/article/z3bpgx/anti-vaxxers-gun-nuts-and-q-anon-germanys-bizarre-anti-lockdown-protests-are-uniting-the-fringe-right-and-left

This is happening weekly. I am not sure my cousins sat down and thought it all through. I sincerely hope they didn't and that they will change their tune when they realise what they have got involved in..

"Nein zu Zwangsimpfungen in Deutschland"
A change . org petition.
(To prevent mandatory vaccinations in Germany).

[catpoooffender]

@tartanbow again, these things will be allowed in due course. But they need to be brought in gradually so as to avoid a massive second spike. Also, let's not forget that a lot of people are clearly doing those things already. And you can expect the same idiots to take it to the next level every time the rules are eased. So the people who are socialising in their gardens now will probably bring those parties inside as soon as we're actually allowed to socialise outdoors. Because they're special and can make their own decisions.

[2010Aussie]

It would be really nice if we could have a vigilante-free week on social media. My local Facebook page is full of "my neighbour is having a bbq" comments or "my neighbour is spying on me having a bbq" plus the "why weren't people clapping the nhs/standing outside for the 2 min VE Day silence?" brigade.

If you are concerned about an inappropriate social gathering, RING THE POLICE. They have come out round here and broken up parties. Otherwise shut up.

[Cantata]

Good posts from @LilacTree1 and @yogz1976

[rookiemere]

tartanbow I agree with you - there is some easing of the lockdown measures that could be done that should - if social distancing theory is correct - make no difference to the numbers, but every difference to people's mental state and I sincerely hope these will be amongst the measures being announced - although as I live in Scotland I'll doubtless be getting something different.

Being able to see a friend but remain 2 metres away, exercising more than once ( I've started to do that anyway) and there was another one but I've forgotten what it was. These would all make huge differences to people.

In Scotland my DM has told me that friends of theirs were fined £60 for driving 10 miles to park somewhere and go for a walk in a different place, although that technically meets the guidelines of being allowed to drive to exercise. Police have been out when I've been walking, though they weren't around when I stopped on a bench to drink my flask of coffee.

[Forgone90]

There is no chance in hell there will be a second lockdown... We are being plunged into the worst recession in a century and you think while we're in it they will just say oh you know what we're already screwed let's lockdown again.... As sad as it sounds there is a price the government are willing to pay to try and fight this and once that figure is past they will just let it run its course....

[rawlikesushi]

"I'm not necessarily talking about being in massive groups and being at bbqs and parties but why would it not be sensible to allow people to sit in someones garden at an acceptable distance? to sit on a beach nowhere near anyone? to return to work if you can?"

I agree that we're probably ready for that now. Maybe some of the things you suggest will be allowed after today.

[CatteStreet]

'We have friends in Germany and the lock down isn’t as strict as here. Households can visit each other provided they are the same family. You can still go house hunting too.'

Not entirely true. The rules have allowed for two people from different households to meet in public (there was never an official ban on people visiting one another in private homes, although 'groups' in private homes were banned - but most people stopped doing it anyway, at least for a while). Some states are now allowing up to five, and I think from tomorrow that will be Germany-wide.

I'm in Germany and have been very glad to be here thus far, but I am concerned at the speed and succession of recent relaxing of restrictions. The protests did happen, and horrify me, frankly. Most states still have a ban on protests above 20 or 50 people, I think, but even during the complete ban, some courts overturned it on application. I understand a real, historically founded reluctance in German legal and governmental culture to be too 'dictatorial', but things seem to be sliding too far IMO. Part of the problem is the federal structure of the country. Many heads of federal states have been pushing for more relaxing of restrictions. Even the head of Bavaria, where they have the worst problem with infections and who until recently was a relative lockdown hardliner, has started the competitive relaxing. There are also too many different restrictions being eased at any one time, which makes it very difficult to gauge effects. And a lot of parents are getting very bitter about the fact that childcare provision (except for essential/critical workers) and schools (for most year groups) remain closed.

I do think Germany has a better chance than most of managing relatively successful social distancing, however. Masks are obligatory in shops and on public transport. And there's just - relatively speaking - a lot of space here, even in cities.

The German anti-vax scene is something else. There's a sizeable contingent of affluent parents who go in for Steiner education and the like and reject all vaccinations.

[Forgone90]

I also agree with PP.. I am far more likely to catch it at the supermarket than if I visited a friend and sat in the garden..

[TildaKauskumholm]

I've said this from the beginning, if you think you're special and the rules don't apply to you, sign a binding document that states neither you nor your family will get NHS treatment for CV, seeing as you 'dont mind' getting it.

[CatteStreet]

Yy mathanxiety. A sizeable force behind the anti-lockdown protests is groups associated with the far right.

[obviouslymarvellous]

@rawlikesushi I totally agree! I have a neighbour who is a teacher and has people round a lot, and a policewoman who does the same. We certainly aren't in any of this together and the media shitstorm and the lack of consistency from the government are to blame. The teacher actually staggers me. She is so blasé about it all. So she may not get it or could be asymptomatic but could pass it on to a child who then takes it home to a key worker at the nhs etc etc I could scream at them. What is the point of us staying home following the guidelines when this is going on. I'm getting bitter with it now because one of my dcs is autistic and having a really shit time. Her sleep is poor anyway and she is asking why she can't play out when she she's her friends outside all together ffs or having fucking street parties where they are all drinking together sitting next to each other and I wonder why I'm bothering. My dd is very sensory so touches her face constantly and sucks her thumb. The thought of school scares me as it would be very difficult for her not to keep her fingers out of her mouth. She also spent a lot of time in our hosp with bronchiolitis and gets very bad coughs etc which last 6-7 weeks as does her twin sister. I had pneumonia before Christmas so could do with not getting it (at least for a good while longer) No we haven't had a shielding letter but I don't want to risk them unnecessarily.

[Stopmenow123]

One Nightingale hospital couldn't be used due to lack of staffing.

Several haven't been used and are now closed/unused and there was more than enough staffing available. They just weren't needed.

[rawlikesushi]

"The Nightingale hospitals could not be used because there was not enough critical care nurses to staff them."

I think that the staff have made it clear why they haven't been used, and it's rather more complex than you suggest here

[thatgingergirl]

ChrissieKeller671 - it is reported here dw.com

From what I can find, that's a trustworthy source. It's also in the Mail and the Sun, but I won't link those.

Browsing through, I was shocked to see this. I have a relative in Zurich, managing fine with their regulations, but not everyone is in the same situation are they?

The Guardian

[rawlikesushi]

"We certainly aren't in any of this together and the media shitstorm and the lack of consistency from the government are to blame. "

I don't agree actually. I'm not that clever and, if I can understand it, anyone can. I think the message has been clear but people think they know better or want to push the boundaries. Your neighbour, the teacher, should certainly understand what she's required to do.

[rookiemere]

Sorry I remembered my last point. They should definitely allow people to sunbathe in parks and on beaches provided they are maintaining social distancing. I get so mad with the misrepresentation in the papers and the calling of people covidiots ( and I'd like to ban that word forever) showing them in parks deliberately angling the photo so that people look closer than they are.

It was very important to have strict guidelines in the beginning, now it's important to get rid of the ones that don't make sense. I've always abided by laws, but I'm breaking lockdown albeit reluctantly as my normally fine mental health was deteriorating and going for a run as well as walking the dog has really helped. I'm sure it's down to my poor moral fibre and god knows how I'd have coped in the war before someone points that out to me.

[Nb89]

Our local health authority have just recruited 300 support workers for working in our NHS hospital wards across the board.
My friend is one of them. She had her training with 20 others last week. They were told they were being taken on for the next wave which they believe could be bigger than the first wave. My friend said that through out the week they had various different people teach them different elements (training was in different hospitals)and they were repeatedly told this is the lull before the storm. The next wave will be huge.
Not shocking really we always knew it was about trying to get as prepared as we could but shit to think that with already 30000 dead we could have more than that again in the next few weeks.
I supposed initially I'd hoped this would be the largest and worst phase and that subsequent waves wouldn't be as severe. It's sad to think we need to brace ourselves for a second bigger wave, a third and possibly a 4th.