So on 15th June are things back to normal(ish)?

[HelloGoodbyeStay]

I mean I know it won’t be normal but if the shops are open does that mean we are free to go out and about as we please (with the 2m restriction).

If I can go to the shops, why can’t I go to Barnard Castle my friends' houses (2 m apart) etc?
Why don't I have to wear face coverings in shops?
Can I now go to the beach without fear of vilification?
When can I stay overnight somewhere (my parents live hundreds of miles away)?

Which questions would you like to know the answer to?

When is Boris going to answer the ordinary questions?

From what I can make out, any situation you are in for a prolonged period of time, 15 minutes, talking, is a risk. Hence to no indoor/overnight stays.

Playgrounds and toilets tend to have the surfaces that the virus survives on for a longer period, they think.

Apparently chlorine does kill the virus it's the rest of the pool that is the problem. I have heard locally pools might open but with limited numbers and at first just adults no kids.

Don't get me wrong god we miss swimming, kids missing their clubs, one back at school but it's very different and I don't think anywhere near the standard of education before lockdown.

And regarding school if our child shows symptoms of Covid which of course has similar symptoms to other conditions, we have to start at home, the whole family, get tested and only return if test is negative. So we could be isolating as a family 2 weeks out of every 4 come winter bug season, how I'd that going to play out with DH's job?

It's all very complicated.

I think they've opened shops/travel to exercise KNOWING the vast majority of sensible people won't go unless there's somewhere to pee

So the government can say they HAVE opened them - FFS!

My question would be

Why is it legal for me to work with people 39 hours a week (2 meters apart, passing boxes down a production line), in a factory,with limited ventilation, but illegal for me to sit in my daughters house 2 metres apart from her using my own cup in a well ventilated flat?

It won't be normal for me. My teenagers will still be receiving a sub-standard education and that will be the case for who knows how long! My DD who is supposed to be sitting GCSEs next year will be able to go to school for 3 hours a week. Since I need to be at home helping them (DS is autistic and needs supervision) I will have to keep working from home. My DS will still have a brace that is half hanging out of his mouth as his orthodonist has no plans to open yet.

Well feck it. Dd2 is coming here overnight next weekend. The following weekend I am going to my mum's overnight. We have all been doing the right thing. Unlike others, we simply cannot get to each other there and back in a day. Not seen either of them in 6 months, daughter and 5 months, mum. So as there is no sign of any actual sensible guidance im using my common sense. I may, you never know, be called back to work soon (more likely be made redundant) so it is sensible to do this sooner rather than later.

I don’t think the government are bothered about swimming pools, parks and sitting in people’s houses as they don’t generate £££.

The only reason everything else is opening is £££.

Economy first, peoples mental wellbeing 2nd.

spnbaby absolutely well said. I am absolutely devastated for our children and young people. I have got teenagers and uni student aged DC and their lives have been totally hatled with absolutely no sign of when they may get started again. I am also an NHS clinician working in mental health. We are already starting to see the fall out from this it is horrendous, and it is only going to get worse and worse. We were stretched to breaking point before lockdown, christ knows how we will cope going forwards. But it's all OK, apparently the NHS has been saved and all is well.....

@HelloGoodbyeStay

I mean I know it won’t be normal but if the shops are open does that mean we are free to go out and about as we please (with the 2m restriction).

If I can go to the shops, why can’t I go to Barnard Castle my friends' houses (2 m apart) etc?
Why don't I have to wear face coverings in shops?
Can I now go to the beach without fear of vilification?
When can I stay overnight somewhere (my parents live hundreds of miles away)?

Which questions would you like to know the answer to?

When is Boris going to answer the ordinary questions?

This is a completely new situation, no one has the answers yet, each "easing" of lockdown has to be monitored for at least 2 weeks to see if it affects the R value ...

I live on my own, I'm not allowed have any physical contact with anyone under current guidelines or even step inside anyones home. I've had no hugs (or even handshakes) for over 3 months now but I accept that the economy needs to be supported, and thats more important than going having fun (eg. the beach) and opening shops and workplaces (safely) has to be the priority as long as it doesn't put others at risk.

I don't expect any answers - there isn't enough data to answer anything at the moment.

@AJPTaylor what do you want?- a well done you going against the advice? Many others including myself cannot visit family and return home in a day so we are not seeing them as per the advice. Do you actually understand how a virus spreads? Or do you just not actually care?

@1swede so what’s the alternative until we can have everything open? Open the play parks so the children can play but not the workplaces so people can’t work or earn money? What will have the biggest affect on mental health?

Why can't zoos open when social distancing would be incredibly easy?

When will play parks, swimming pools and toddler groups reopen?

When will kids be able to return to proper schooling?

Why are children so low on the agenda?

Open the lot for me. I’m sick to death of this shit. If you are scared stay in. If not do what you want. Im all for back to normal. We can’t live like this forever. It’s absolutely ridiculous that adults can’t make their own decisions. I’ve no problem with the back to work but it needs to be back to normal ASAP for everyone and if people choose not to then that’s fine.

@1swede oh ok then, let’s run with that approach and see where that leads.......

I want to know how to help children return to normal. My teenage son has adjusted to lockdown and it's not good, I can't encourage him out to exercise or to meet any friends, he says none of his friends are going out socialising. We have only seen teenage girls out with friends, teenage boys seem to have all but disappeared.
He's working on his school stuff indoors and is looking pale, he's only eating one meal a day as he says he's not hungry because he's not doing anything, I can't make him eat. I buy fruit for him and it gets wasted.

pollyskettles - yes, I have a teenage son too. He is being really uncomplaining, attending all his online lessons, getting on with his homework, etc. But he is eating less and becoming more insular and apathetic about his social life. He'll quite happily stay inside for several days at a time. Now that we are allowed to meet up with others, I am making him really encouraging him to arrange to see his friends and his girlfriend so that he can lift his spirits a bit. When he comes back from these meet ups, the change in his spirits is really evident so do keep encouraging your DS to get out.

The focus on the risk the virus poses over every other consideration makes me so angry. I swear that some people would be perfectly happy to continue to live in total lockdown until it's been eradicated: there seems to be no appreciation of the massive damage this is doing to young people especially.

The trouble is none of his friends are either so where would he go? It's all very well going for a walk with me but that's not what he needs.
I wish they would.

Self-catering accommodation can be booked from 4th July, and I just made an Airbnb booking yesterday for a short break .

Ragged .Article in Independent yesterday .Pools may re open (no dates given) with some changes .Children not allowed in outside of lessons .And Adults will have to arrive /leave in their cossies! (No idea about going home wet though!) presumably to limit contact .Lane space cut in half to allow for S/D!

I've submitted this question for pm news conference

Many working parents are not furloughed and are working from home and looking after young children in non returning year groups, This is unsustainable long term and many will need to resign if this continues. What support or employment protection do you propose?

Great question @gapp

Yes great question. Let us know if you get picked

Spnbaby I agree with you your questions but I would like to add to “When will children become priority...”

This I think is a huge issue, definitely not a new one but highlighted more due to the current situation and because families that wouldn’t normally be affected are.

For a start the education system is geared up to support the economy by providing childcare rather than what children actually need. For example there is scientific evidence highlighting the fact teenagers sleep patterns are different to adults/younger children but school is set up for a 8:30ish start 3:30ish finish. Children (and many do) spend more than 10hours a day in an education/childcare facility due to the need of parents working to provide a roof over their heads. Is this right? Is this prioritising the child? Probably not but what choice do parents have. In a developed country we have high rates of children living in poverty-is this prioritising children, to allow this to happen? Sending children to school at 4, the constraints and expectation of the curriculum, cutting of child services, meaning long waits for support all examples of not prioritising children. I could go on but will get off my soap box now!

Wales have extended shielding until August, will England do the same?