people, please, stay home if you can

[Lua]

Most places that have eased lockdown measures, are seeing an increase in the number of cases. So there is no way around it (at least in the short-term), live a "normal life" and increase the risk for everyone (there are no "personal risk" in a pandemic).

I see a lot of people in mumsnet saying that we suffer too much to save the lives of 80 year olds. While I find this cold assessment horrible on its own, there are so many case of under 60s suffering badly. This is a harrowing picture of 63 year old woman:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/25/from-cold-to-coma-to-homecoming-one-womans-100-days-of-coronavirus

Sure, the risk is low. Sure, we deal with risks all the time. But we also try to mitigate risks all the time. We use seat belts, and we look before we cross the road, we use helmets, etc There are many reasons why someone needs to go into work, and those are understandable. But do people "need" to go to raves, beaches, cinemas? do we really need to go into shops and buy a new summer outfit?

Life needs to be different, and we need to find new ways to make our economy tick. Lots of opportunities in new fields. Lets support each other and look for new ways to make the world go around.

I think they must all have a couple of times their annual salary in savings. Surely? Otherwise how could anyone afford to just stay at home indefinitely?

To be fair I think people that are saying stay home as much as possible are not saying people shouldn’t go to work if they have no alternative. It’s the day trips to the beach and things like that that some people have an issue with. I know people who have done day trips to very busy places and they’ve said social distancing wasn’t adhered to. Most didn’t seem to care and I do struggle with that attitude. They seem to think that if they’re going to work, they may as well do anything else they fancy doing. That makes no actual sense, but they pretend it’s a valid argument because they want to do things. It used to really annoy me but I’ve realised it’s not worth it.
We’re staying home as much as we can but now we have family wanting to see us and they aren’t happy that so far we have refused. They’ve been out and about, mixing with neighbours, going shopping where they’ve said social distancing hasn’t always happened, that’s not a risk I want to take. I’ll accept people are living their life and they’d rather die than stay home anymore as long as long as they accept my choice to stay home as much as possible.

Nope.

You do you, OP. Stay in if you want to. I'm going to have a life.

We use seat belts, and we look before we cross the road, we use helmets, etc
Er yes, but all of those measures are for helping us get out and about and get on with our lives; the opposite of what you’re proposing. We only need to do those things if we are actually out.
New measures such as distancing, masks, staying in if ill etc. are advisable in this new climate, but just not going out at all? Sod that.
As an overweight 50+ I’m a little more at risk than others, but my children need educating, my husband wants to go back to work, and my 11 year old is getting very down at not having seen her friends for a few months. People are losing their livelihoods.

I’m prepared to take the slight risk of (a little more careful than before) normality.

I understand people in sea side places don’t want an influx of tourists- but we can’t all be lucky enough to live and places like that and are all entitled to come for the day and visit

Of course
But this....

The public have been slammed for blocking roads, boozing and dumping rubbish at the beauty spots.

Bournemouth Council has now confirmed a major incident has been declared to tackle the problem.

Council Leader Vikki Slade said: “We are absolutely appalled at the scenes witnessed on our beaches, particularly at Bournemouth and Sandbanks, in the last 24-48 hours.

"The irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people is just shocking and our services are stretched to the absolute hilt trying to keep everyone safe. We have had no choice now but to declare a major incident and initiate an emergency response.”

The council say large numbers of visitors descended on beaches as the mercury soared to 34C - causing "illegal parking, excessive waste, anti-social behaviour, gridlock on roads and prohibited overnight camping".

They were forced to hand out 558 parking fines - the highest on record.

Emergency crews were also abused as they attempted to clean overflowing bins on the seafront - with eight tonnes of waste collected yesterday.

Today, a further 33 tonnes of rubbish was dumped on the beaches.

I think they will make their own minds up, we'll soon see if there's any damage in a couple of weeks, Bournemouth will be the test. Considering lots of old people retire there I hope the local people will be ok.

You stay in if you want OP.

I agree there are people acting like pigs in places, but that's a whole new issue altogether ...

I'm not locking up my 6year old any longer

People are so nutty on here about beaches. I've been to the beach multiple times a week for the last couple of months to walk and there has barely been anyone there every time. You'd struggle to walk within 20 meters of someone else. It seems to me that everyone is judging every beach as if it's Bournemouth and that every one who goes to one is scum who doesn't give a shit about people's lives.

Chungus I agree there are deserted beaches, or as near as... it's just the mentality of people to flock together at certain beaches.

I wouldn't dream of judging every beach like those ones

@shieldedsally

I think this is one of the most short-sighted threads I've ever seen, and I'm dismayed that so many people can't see what is going to happen in just the next few weeks. And this isn't one of those "We all decide for ourselves" situations, because the effects of individual behaviour are felt socially in the case of infectious disease.

I have been shielded since the week before the official lockdown, and I haven't been anywhere or seen anyone. It's not the best time I've ever had in my life but it's not that hard either. One thing I have learned, though, is that the majority of people are incredibly bad at dealing with any kind of adversity. Especially the middle classes. So perhaps I should not be surprised at the lack of patience, resilience, strength, and self-reliance on display here.

I couldn't agree with you more. This thread is a sad indictment of our society that there is such a widespread lack of character that people are incapable of sitting in their own homes for a few weeks without moaning that their mental health has suffered. It's pathetic. Previous generations sat in air raid shelters with bombs dropping on their heads for years without disintegrating. All this lot have been asked to do is lounge around at home in safety, with all their toys, smartphones, smart tvs, tablets, playstations and xboxes - and they can't cope with it.

Thank God for our medics, care workers and key workers, who have shown that not all Brits are weak and lacking in character. God help this country if it has to face something that demands real strength of character and courage from every citizen.

@Roussette
Totally and utterly reckless, selfish madness. We aren't even past the first peak, and they do this? I see these pictures and am ashamed to be British.

I think the reality is that a lot more people are going to catch this virus over the next couple of years, until we reach herd immunity or get a vaccine it’s not going to go away.

By easing lockdown now and letting more people out and about then a certain amount will catch it over the summer, but the warmer weather and outdoors lifestyle mean that they will hopefully not be in quantities high enough or of sufficient severity to overwhelm hospitals. Allowing people to catch it over the next 3-4 months when there is no seasonal flu around will reduce the numbers that eventually form the second peak in the winter and so spread the load for hospitals.

There is no perfect way to manage this. Every method will have pros and cons. The reality is that this is an unprecedented international emergency. Protecting people’s physical health is undoubtedly having an adverse effect on mental health but the alternative is to let the virus rage unchecked. That would lead to the NHS becoming overwhelmed and many more deaths which would in itself have a detrimental on people’s mental health. There’s no point in looking for a win-win situation because a deadly virus doesn’t have an upside.

I'm not locking up my 6year old any longer

How dramatic! 🤣

It’s the day trips to the beach and things like that that some people have an issue with.

No need to take issue with my trip to the beach, sat apart, threw away our rubbish and even picked up a couple of other bits. Just a shame there was such a breeze.

Oh bore off will you?

It's funny how MN changes. I was told off on here for having a picnic, alone with family (no risk to anyone) told I should die from the virus because of it. Thankfully, things have changed but it is interesting to see by how much. Would have thought would have been some chat about nurses etc and impact on them perhaps. Glad to see in general things have moved on from those times.

Ds has been self harming due to the changes of lockdown. So nice of you to dismiss the difficulties of some of the most vulnerable in society as a lack of character.

No need to take issue with my trip to the beach, sat apart, threw away our rubbish and even picked up a couple of other bits. Just a shame there was such a breeze.

🙄 I’ll be more specific then if you won’t read my first post properly. The people that go on day trips or outings where social distancing can not be followed as it’s so busy.

There’s often a sea breeze by the sea, in case you wasn’t aware.

‘Previous generations sat in air raid shelters with bombs dropping on their heads for years without disintegrating‘

You think everyone coped just fine? What an utterly ignorant post.

Bloody hell, I wish I hadn't dared take a day off work today to do something nice. No fun allowed, work, work, work only.

And I did say it used to bother me but now I can’t get worked up over it. We all deal with things in different ways after all.

@Jaxhog

I know
I actually find it quite depressing. We're barely out of any form of lockdown and this is what people do. The local MP is pleading on Twitter for people to stay away. The roads are gridlocked and emergency vehicles can't get through. They've actually declared the beaches 'full'. Unheard of. And latest pics are , packed together like sardines.
And then these people will be off to A&E for severe sunburn and dehydration.

No fun allowed, work, work, work only.

Nor at all. Just keep social distance. 🤷🏻‍♀️

*Not

Surely if the risk is mainly for over 60s they need to stay at home and the rest if us can get in with it? Just a thought. BTW I and staying at home, but that's my personal choice for my own selfish reasons.

No thanks OP. Would rather die free than live as a prisoner

be careful what you wish for. Let's hope all the other selfish fuckers think the same, we could do with a cull, too many people in the world anyhow. Knock yourselves out