Will we have to socially distance until there’s a vaccination?

[sunshineanddaffodils]

This horrible thought suddenly occurred to me last night. What do you think?

If there is no vaccine people will not tolerate this lifestyle for much more thana few months more

We should have nothing in our lives but work?? No friends no eating out, no pubs or cinema
No parties for anything any more
Not even full time schooling

People and businesses will ignore such draconian measures till the govt bow to public pressure.

My understanding is that, for vulnerable groups and those shielding, it's advice and not 'law'.

So I guess people will still make decisions based on a balance of risk, fear, probability and their own mental health needs.

Some people will be happy isolate almost indefinitely if it keeps them safe and well, others would rather enjoy their life. Different priorities. Neither right or wrong.

I think the government might like us to continue social distancing.

I think in reality, while people recognise that there need to be some changes - the ridiculous overcrowding on public transport, for example - they will also quietly decide to do their own risk assessments and begin to make autonomous choices.

One of the strangest things about this whole situation for me has been the huge number of people who are happy to be absolutely compliant with whatever they are told to do, even when the scientific basis for that is not sound. It does make me understand dystopian literature far more easily, and how those regimes come into being with so little opposition.

One of the strangest things about this whole situation for me has been the huge number of people who are happy to be absolutely compliant with whatever they are told to do, even when the scientific basis for that is not sound. It does make me understand dystopian literature far more easily, and how those regimes come into being with so little opposition.

Oh absolutely! This in absolute bucket loads!

People look to historical atrocities and ask how it could happen?

And then there are people on here asking if they should report their friends and neighbours to the police for having their boyfriend over or walking down the road with their daughter.

This, people. This is how it happens.

There are a fair few people on here who'd have been at the front of the queue for reporting their neighbour for hiding a Jew!

frasersmummy

“People and businesses will ignore such draconian measures till the govt bow to public pressure.”

Not sure about public pressure. Atm, which is obviously purely anecdotal, the vast majority of people I know believe the Government is easing restrictions too soon.

One of the strangest things about this whole situation for me has been the huge number of people who are happy to be absolutely compliant with whatever they are told to do, even when the scientific basis for that is not sound. It does make me understand dystopian literature far more easily, and how those regimes come into being with so little opposition

This totally. What's next? Chipping us all. Clearly this virus has been bad but I do think it's very telling how we are being scared into being compliant, and not really questioning too much. We just presume the government has our best interests at heart but do they.... maybe this is a dry run for the next time.

@chillipeanuts

I didn't mean right now. I meant going forward if there is no vaccine

But people won't just not see their family for possibly ever. That is a pretty stupid assumption on which to operate. I haven't seen DD2 who is 22 since Christmas due to a ridiculous set of illnesses/commitments in Jan and Feb. She is 100 or so miles away. I will see her in the next few weeks. She is working from home, so are we. Common sense dictates that we meet up before either of us needs to go back to work. The overriding intention of the rules is to minimise spread, not avoid it all costs. My mum is 180 miles in the opposite direction, is 80 And hasn't been outside since lockdown began. She is dependent on deliveries from the local spar, stuff I post and the kindness of others in getting her prescriptions. If there is no vaccine when do I see her again? Never? I don't actually expect the govt.to find a solution but I will apply my own risk assessment as will increasing numbers.

Chillipeanuts

Tbh, my experience is that people are irked that the easing only applies to returning to work. Especially when you're going to be at a higher risk at work with no/limited social distancing in place and mixing with far greater number of people (whether it be in a school, garden centre or factory) or by having a cleaner in your home, than you would if you elected to meet up with your parents.

It's almost like they've got it the wrong way round...

Social distancing is the middle ground.

Just have a read around MN and there are lots of extreme people.

The worried well who are cooped up at home acting like they are shielding, some not even letting the children in the garden and bleaching the food deliveries.

Others want to have parties and go on holiday ASAP and get rid of all restrictions now.

IMHO the middle ground is occupied by those who are still working outside of home and have been forced to find compromises that they can live with.

There is definitely not a consensus.

I have seen and know of a lot of people who have broken the rules simply because the government failed to provide a goal date for meeting family. People cant be told to work work work, but forget you have family. The government have completely misjudged peoples needs to see the ones they love. They have treated the population like a mindless workforce whose sole purpose is to pay taxes.

They did this knowing people would break social distancing rules to meet their family, and when the jngevtjon rates go up, the government doesnt have to take the blame for it. It will be the fault of the population who 'didnt listen'. The government come out with money from workers, and no responsibly for the deaths of people. Win win for them.

vastly compliant with whatever they are told to do

I disagree with this narrative. People complied because they understood the situation and the risk to their health, not because they were told to do it. They saw what was happening in Italy and wished to avoid it. In Sweden, people often did the same regardless of whether they were told or not to do it. There's something about the "you're so like sheep" comments when people are thinking very hard about things (as anyone who reads on here or in the comments section of any paper will know) that seems like gas lighting.

People will start to just take their chances with the virus in exchange for a life, as opposed to an existence.

Agreed. If people are happy to live like this until a vaccine is found then that’s their choice but let those of who aren’t take our chances

The virus could also mutate into milder strains that are easier to live with. The WHO said yesterday that it might just die out on its own.

for hiding a Jew

Interesting that you're the heroic one in that scenario and everyone else on lockdown are the villains. Most people are doing this to protect vulnerable family members, not eliminate Jews, (and consider reporting neighbors who are having house parties because they could put the whole community at risk, not because they want an ethnic minority eradicated) but hey, see the glass as half empty if it floats your boat.

They have treated the population like a mindless workforce whose sole purpose is to pay taxes.

I think this is exactly how they regard us.

SunshineSmellsLikeSummer

It’s the economy, stupid

Sorry, couldn’t resist. Oh, I agree with you but policy is clearly being driven by economic imperative now. A great deal of it certainly does appear to be nonsensical.

Personally, we will have to maintain social distancing ad infinitum because of family vulnerabilities, I’m trying not to even go to the possibility of no vaccine.
Totally understand and sympathise with the frustrations of a completely healthy person with no vulnerabilities who needs to earn a living and wants to live a life.

I do think that an awful lot of people are expecting too much too soon, though. A nasty disease doesn’t just go away because people are fed up with it. It’s only been 8 weeks and erring on the side of caution for a while longer is sensible, I think anyway.

0v9c99f9g9d939d9f9g9h8h

It was more a comment on how easily people are influenced and accept what they are told to do unquestioningly and police themselves and each other, even imposing greater restrictions than the 'authority' demanded, rather than a direct comparison.

I suspect most people understood that

Chillipeanuts

I agree with you but I think that there was an opportunity to say something along the lines of choosing a single other household to.ix with rather than the implicit message that the economy is the only thing that matters. Because people's mental health matters too.

All this government rhetoric about getting children back into schools to protect the vulnerable, for example. Some of those vulnerable would be marginally less so if they were able to access at least some of their support network. Be that a non cohabiting partner, a friend or a family member.

I would think so. Quite a number of people are getting the virus yet not producing antibodies ( me) so that would indicate we do.

@Casino218 - I'm intrigued by this comment. Have you had the new - supposedly reliable - antibody test?

Squidge we are v pleased with how it’s going. 😄

Not till a vaccine necessarily because that’s an uncertain timescale.

In the medium term, maybe some form of social distancing eg no big gatherings, queueing for supermarkets so they’re not too busy etc. But the not meeting up with family even in small groups has a very limited shelf life. There’s not a chance that will carry on into the long term even if the govt want it to.

SunshineSmellsLikeSummer

Get them back to school to protect the vulnerable rings a little hollow in our house: youngest has asthma so even if he makes it through the days there unscathed, I’m wondering if I need to take a leaf from The Trump’s book and hose him down with Jeyes Fluid on the doorstep if I decide to send him. This might protect my husband who falls into 4 vulnerable groups, awkward sod. Chuck in our eldest daughter, happily expecting our grandchild and it’s almost a full set.

Me? I’m fine. Now, where did I put that breakfast gin 🤪

realistically most people are not going to stay away from their families for an indefinite amount of time.

agree with the poster who said about living rather than existing. humans are social beings, certainly not designed to live like this. I agree that it was necessary to ease the pressure on the NHS but cant see how this could be implemented until a vaccine is in place. even the strongest minded people would eventually crack in my opinion.

I also had this conversation with a friend about how scary it is to get majority to comply. dont even want to entertain what a previous poster said about a practice run - quite chilling lol!

weepingwillow22**
Do you have a link for that? I have had a feeling that it might mutate into a milder, more manageable virus