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Original poster

Anyone in the North East?

934 replies

PennyDreadfuI · 10/09/2020 19:12

Gateshead has just been added to the govt watchlist and Newcastle is on amber alert. Sunderland have had over 200 cases in the past seven days.

Are we next for a local lockdown? What do you think it will entail? Given Newcastle's reputation as a party city I'm guessing restricted hours for bars maybe - they were packed to the rafters over the August bank holiday weekend, which may account for lots of the new cases.

OP posts:
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Someaddedsugar · 16/09/2020 22:11

BBC have just said part of the request is for better testing control

nildesparandum · 16/09/2020 22:14

I am in Newcastle and have just found this thread.I in the age group for shielding and also have COPD and am honestly dreading having to self isolate again.I know it is necessary and if I get this virus it is curtains for me.Last time I was like a caged animal.
I am not at least surprised this is happening again.Last week I was in Boots in the metro centre and there were three healthy looking young adults strolling through and not one of them was wearing a face covering.I mentioned this to a staff member and she told me they cannot force customers to wear one.The same thing happened in Fenwicks two weeks ago.
The universities are opening for the new term and students are swarming around all over the place.This is to be expected I was young once, they are all eager to party and get to know each other.
I hate this virus and can't see it going away

SchnitzelVonCrummsTum · 16/09/2020 22:18

At the moment it's only a partial lockdown, and I do hope that this will help us avert having to take more drastic measures. It still is a hard pill to swallow though and the testing / track and trace systems aren't as good as they need to be. Maybe this will buy us more time to get them up to speed? It's largely up to the govt (we're shafted then ;))

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 22:22

Pp's asking how long it will be. I think no one knows but in other areas they seem to be monitoring cases and making a decision based on that. So it will likely depend on how quickly it is under control. But obviously with testing as it is I'm not sure how easily that will happen.

Another pp said something about having stuff to look forward to. I felt in lockdown there was nothing like that and everything just felt monotonous. So I feel going back to that is going to be very hard.

HarrietOh · 16/09/2020 22:25

I’m assuming you can still go on holiday with your household, it says not to go on holiday with other households.

AnxiousAlpaca · 16/09/2020 22:25

Are we still allowed to travel as I had planned a trip this weekend. On my own luckily but outside of the region so what are the rules in cases like that generally? It’s all very confusing.

Someaddedsugar · 16/09/2020 22:26

I wonder if it'll be a blanket across all seven areas or if they'll consider each area as cases rise and fall... Hopefully all will be answered in the morning!

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 22:26

I've got what I'm sure is a sinus infection but have had loss of taste. I've tried to get a test for days. Cumbria came up as my closest testing site (I'm in Gateshead) and they had nothing up to the 28th. Which was as far as it would go. So I'm not feeling optimistic about getting up to speed. Sorry to be so doom and gloom.

Alwaystired99 · 16/09/2020 22:27

Newcastle here. I'm 7 months pregnant with a young son in primary school. He's SEN and adores school so if they close, which they eventually will as it's already in his school, he can't cope. I can't cope with the thought of giving birth alone and no family support and my partner and I trying to work from home while entertaining our son. It's a mess and the fact the testing situation is so shambolic makes me livid. It was so nice having some normality back in our lives and now it's gone again. Plus, we haven't stocked up on loo roll and I'm scared of running out if the shelves start being stripped again!

nildesparandum · 16/09/2020 22:33

Potential lockdown aside I am saying hello to all of you on here, it is good to have people in Newcastle to talk to on MN! even if it is about this awful situation.

Shitfuckoh · 16/09/2020 22:35

@Alwaystired99
My eldest is also SEN in primary school. He also adores school. If they close he'll cope but I am worried about the constant change in routine and how that will affect him (and his siblings).

It's all the change & the in and outs that may be ahead that is going to test us.
I've noticed things have been a bit difficult to in regards Pasta, tinned stuff, cereal & of course loo roll - this is online shopping though as I've avoided supermarkets so far (I don't drive so online is something I've used for years)

GwendolineMarysLaces · 16/09/2020 22:41

Hexhamite here. Rates are pretty low in this area so will be slightly hacked off if we have to lock down. Looks like the whole of N'land is involved though.

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 22:42

Just watched BBC news at 10 on I player. There's a short report at 10.10 on North East. Correspondent said councils had asked for curfews on pubs and restaurants, restrictions on visiting others homes and public transport to be essential only. No mention of schools closing. But I know personally its not being able to see my family which is hardest.

Frazzled2207 · 16/09/2020 22:43

Not in NE but sending solidarity from greater manchester. Is totally shit here and although numbers stabilised initially in the last couple of weeks they have gone through the roof so I reckon it could last months.
Hope you guys do better.

sweetheartyparty · 16/09/2020 22:45

I'm in County Durham, work in Teesside and going on holiday to Northumberland on Monday. Hoping we can move around the region as a whole

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 22:45

@GwendolineMarysLaces

Hexhamite here. Rates are pretty low in this area so will be slightly hacked off if we have to lock down. Looks like the whole of N'land is involved though.
Yes Northumberland is very large with big differences in terms of health and social inequalities across the county. I do some work there. Do I understand what might be the case in South East Northumberland might not apply to Hexham. But I suppose it hasn't got as specific as that yet in terms of lockdown.
Alwaystired99 · 16/09/2020 22:49

[quote Shitfuckoh]@Alwaystired99
My eldest is also SEN in primary school. He also adores school. If they close he'll cope but I am worried about the constant change in routine and how that will affect him (and his siblings).

It's all the change & the in and outs that may be ahead that is going to test us.
I've noticed things have been a bit difficult to in regards Pasta, tinned stuff, cereal & of course loo roll - this is online shopping though as I've avoided supermarkets so far (I don't drive so online is something I've used for years)[/quote]
It's the disruption to their routine (and then yours) which is so hard. He'll be fine at home but his behaviour will start to deteriorate and it can't be good for them long term which this is now becoming.

The last time I was in a supermarket before full March lockdown I ended up in tears at the empty shelves and the thought of going back to that is scary.

SierraHotel · 16/09/2020 22:52

I'm in a small village in county durham..feeling very unsure about this local lockdown that's apparently coming. In March/April covid seemed as if it was away from us here, geographically I mean, we just didn't hear of anyone we knew getting it or knowing someone that did. That's not the case now, there have been two positive cases in my dds school year, it feels closer to home and having had a test myself this week (negative) it's given me a bit of a reality check.

Ranunculi · 16/09/2020 23:02

Does anyone know if this means no travel into or out of the NE for holiday?
In other areas with local lockdowns people have been permitted to go on holiday, but they have to isolate themselves as a household and not mix with others. So that means no staying with family, no sharing a cottage with another household, no eating in a restaurant with friends, etc.

grool · 16/09/2020 23:07

Newcastle based here, just heard the news and I'm not surprised. Lots of the local schools around me have had bubbles sent home due to Covid cases, the local college has closed twice for deep cleaning due to 2 seperate confirmed cases.

I am willing to follow all rules and restrictions in the hope that our schools will remain open, DD has really suffered educationally and I'm desperate for schools to stay open if they can.

OutComeTheWolves · 16/09/2020 23:08

@Plussizejumpsuit

I've got what I'm sure is a sinus infection but have had loss of taste. I've tried to get a test for days. Cumbria came up as my closest testing site (I'm in Gateshead) and they had nothing up to the 28th. Which was as far as it would go. So I'm not feeling optimistic about getting up to speed. Sorry to be so doom and gloom.
Plussize just book the test for Cumbria then turn up at your nearest test site. They won't turn you away once you have a booking.
SabrinaTheTeenageBitch · 16/09/2020 23:08

My eldest attends a sen school for autistic children. Lockdown has been awful for her. I can't begin to imagine how she will cope if schools close again

nildesparandum · 16/09/2020 23:13

Alwaystired99
I am dreading the supermarket situation again as well. Had enough of not being able to get a delivery online, then when I had had enough of being kept in, going out to long queues outside the shops and waiting in the cold. Where I live fights and arguments were starting as people tried queue jumping and insults were shouted at security staff on the doors
I have a friend who has been shielding since the first time. She is 78 and has asthma.We were just about succeeding in getting her to leave her front garden now this will set her right back again.
I have school age grandchildren and great grandchildren who have all had their education affected

Plussizejumpsuit · 16/09/2020 23:14

@OutComeTheWolves the site shows ilup as my closest but with no availability! So can't even do that hack. Tbh I would have driven to Carlisle!

HugeAckmansWife · 16/09/2020 23:31

Can I join the Durham posse?