Do you think we will ever go back to normal?

[Mummypig2020]

I just can’t see how the government will turn around one day and say “that’s it, no masks needed, no social distancing”. I feel like everyone will going to live in fear forever!

Please phone your GP and chat about how you’re feeling so they can help

Unfortunately that's not an option. I can't even get the sleeping pills my psychiatrist asked her to prescribe because my GP who wanted me sectioned earlier in lockdown wants to see me in person first. I can't do that due to masks even if I wanted to see her. Besides if they knew how I actually feel I suspect even my psychiatrist might think I need an inpatient bed.

@Fieldofgreycorn

Why? Why would we possibly carry on with those things if a vaccine is found and rolled out?

Because many people are finding their life a lot more pleasant without the daily commute.

Because there is a much wider choice online.

But the poster was talking about bubbles, masks and social distancing!

Why would anyone want to do that in their non working lives? Or, most of us, in their work lives?

If everyone gets vaccinated (or equivalent) most people will be like the kids with access to the sweet shop! Good on 'em! Me too!

I begin to wonder if the entirety of Mumsnet is peopled with misanthropes and hermits!

@tobee

I begin to wonder if the entirety of Mumsnet is peopled with misanthropes and hermits!

Had you never read a wedding or birthday thread before 2020?

Yes we will return to something recognisably normal. Real normal.
Humans are social creatures and that won't change. The finer details like flexible working, more online consultation and individual businesses might change. Some changes were inevitable longer term and have been accelerated, but by 2022 there will be mass scale, busy events, festivals, night clubs, big weddings, marathons etc. But by and large a normal range of human interractions and activities.

Masks won't be around to stay because the human face is so important for communication. Maybe a bit more in busy cities in cough/ flu season, but not as a defauĺt for everyone all the time.

I said 2022, I hope it is much sooner after the winter of 2021 when the weather warms up again from the spring. Well, hopefully Aug 1st, but I know that's optomistic to the bounds of being totally ridiculous

Yes of course we will. But not for a while.

badbadbunny it a lot easier to miss something if you can't actually see your patient. And no my 93yo father doesn't use zoom. Of course doctors will always make some mistakes but if you want to maximise the risk not actually seeing your patients is the way to go. And he had been refused a face to face consultation so no you can't always get one if you need it.

BogRollBOGOF I certainly know about Mumsnetters and disgust at having someone ring their doorbell! Lockdown is a marvellous excuse for some to shout through the letterbox or have carte blanche to ignore it as Hermes etc will leave on the doorstep. Maybe contactless delivery will survive!

Yes I totally believe we will
And perhaps sooner than some people think

Well no, not if you mean exactly how life was before kid of normal.

There will be a new normal, with lasting societal changes as PP have stated. I don't think we will ever go back to shaking hands. People will be far more fastidious about hand washing. Far more people will work from home.

Probably loads more I haven't thought of.

Absolutely we will go back to normal. Not in the next 6 months, I shouldn't imagine but once we have a vaccine most people will be giddy with delight to get back out there. A few more will work from home, people might not travel so much for meetings and there will be some holes in the high street. But essentially it will feel normal.

And despite the reluctance of some, I think masks will help us find an nearly-normal in the meantime. In other countries it seems that the majority quickly get used to them and they will hopefully keep infection rates low enough that people's confidence will return. I would add though, that we need key communicators (retail/hospitality, transport and health workers) to wear transparent masks/visors and people who can't wear them to feel safe so everyone can be out and about.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. I went into a pub restaurant on Sunday for lunch. Quite well managed , but it seemed strange seeing the tables around us closed off. It made me feel pretty sad afterwards.
I don’t see how a pub or restaurant can survive with social distancing long term. How can a business survive with 50% capacity? Maybe for a few months but surely not forever?
If this was going to be permanent I really think people would rather return to normal and take a chance on it.
Who really wants to live like this forever and how practically could it happen. The schools go back in September.
Also, care homes and prisons can’t obviously allow visits, I’d imagine this is causing the prison service big problems with this alone.
I also feel sorry for young people, not experiencing football matches or festivals.

Please don’t say the new normal!
This really isn’t normal! Please don’t tell me I’m alone in thinking this?!!

**Because many people are finding their life a lot more pleasant without the daily commute.

Not everyone can work at home. And people may have enjoyed being furloughed but it can’t last forever and we can’t pay people to shield at home indefinitely.
Also, as said humans are social beings. I think some people will miss working in the office and seeing and meeting people. We’ll become a world of hermits otherwise.

Yes I do, once everyone realises they've been had.

once everyone realises they've been had

A plot by governments of practically the whole world?

No I think this is how it is now. I can't see an end to this for a very very long time.
20 years maybe.
I'm so depressed with what's happened to our lives I'm starting to accept my mortality. I'm not suicidal any more but if I died next week I thinkni be pretty relieved to be honest.

I wish you could buy a cyanide pill or something because if I go down with it I just want to die and not suffer.
I've had cancer. I'm not considered unwell.or vulnerable but I feel ravaged and every day is a.physical struggle.in myblif3 after cancer. I just don't have anuthingbleft in me to fight anything again. I would just want out straight away.

But how can we have social distancing forever? How can buses run with 20 % capacity? How can a pub run with half its tables empty? How will football and sports survive with no one watching it?
Surely people would rather live a normal life again and take a risk than live in this parallel universe, or am I completely wrong?

Wearing masks, opening pubs is a
political choice. Boris has to be seen to be doing something.
The government can’t tell everyone to go back to normal instantly, hence these changes we have every few weeks or months.
If millions of people including me lose our jobs and can’t find anything else to get, the government will have to fund us in benefits, sadly. So that’s their problem to find a solution. I’m getting depressed by bit all really.

But how can we have social distancing forever? How can buses run with 20 % capacity? How can a pub run with half its tables empty? How will football and sports survive with no one watching it?
Surely people would rather live a normal life again and take a risk than live in this parallel universe, or am I completely wrong?

Totally this how can you possibly social distance for ever ? And the Spanish flu pandemic they wore masks !!! I am happy to shake hands with someone and hug someone as people are not scared of the virus more scared about the economy /mental health /children so yes we will go back ti normal

Yes one day! Our normal will be changed, as is expected. However life will resume much in the same way it always has after pandemics.
I think 2020 is a total write off, but I'm hopeful for 2021 being better.

I don't think we will ever go back to shaking hands.

Ever?

I don't understand how people can say things will 'never' happen or will be changed 'forever' as a result of one of many pandemics - and by no means the most severe - the world has experienced over the centuries.

"Forever" is an awful long time.

@Hearwego

Please don’t say the new normal! This really isn’t normal! Please don’t tell me I’m alone in thinking this?!!

You are not alone @Hearwego !

That’s right DebLou..I’d rather shake a strangers hand or give someone a hug.Most people survive this illness.
The economy being fucked and my kids having no quality of life , no jobs, or industry to go into feels me with more anxiety!
Also whether I will have a job by the autumn and if I can put food on the table..
The virus doesn’t seem to make the news bulletins I’ve recently noticed, making me think this is now the new normal!...I hate that saying! I refuse to live like this forever, even if I have no choice !!

@Hearwego you're not alone. I'd happily take my chances with the virus to be honest, I'm only bothering with masks and distancing to protect other people but I'm just not willing to do it forever. Plenty of people can't wait to get back to normal. The OLD normal I mean.

People who are saying this is going to be how it is forever are being overly dramatic. The pandemic has clouded many people's judgement. We barely managed 3 months of lockdown, so no way will people accept this way of life forever.

Waxon nice to know others feel the same.
As for people who say just get on with it,it’s the new normal, I bet they wouldn’t say that when they get their redundancy notice..
Also you’re right, people most people struggled with the lockdown, some broke the rules, some bent them and some tried to look for loopholes.
I also don’t think people will accept millions more joining the dole queue, with fewer tax payers in the country.