Anyone in the North East?

[PennyDreadfuI]

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.

Because until everyone started shouting about it, they had no idea how half the voting public live, and that it might cause even the slightest bit of inconvenience.

THANK GOD FOR THAT!

It’s such a big relief. Now begs the question why people had to be put through 4/5 days of massive stress and worry in the first place. The cynical part of me thinks maybe with restrictions coming in in London they’ve started to care about people’s concerns more.

@RedCatBlueCat

Because until everyone started shouting about it, they had no idea how half the voting public live, and that it might cause even the slightest bit of inconvenience.

It beggars belief doesn't it, all those ministers, aides, teams, think tanks working on this but childcare didn't seem to appear as a concern to address quickly.

All the local council leaders did challenge it but they shouldn’t have needed to. However the cynic in me thinks this is to prevent an outcry now they are planning to roll it out, and the country could not run without informal childcare.

I wonder why the exception for childcare in north east but not Manchester. Obviously it's common sense that people have to use family for childcare but in Manchester this was brought up and the only legal way for family to child in was in the park keeping 2 metres distance and still us the case that you can't use family for childcare .

Don't know how to link but copied and pasted this from local council site

You can continue to use early years and childcare settingss, including childminders and providers offering before- or after-school clubs or other out-of-school settingss for children. You can also continue to employ nannies – see guidance on working safely in other people’s homess_.
Friends or family who you do not live with should not visit your home to help with childcare unless they are part of your support bubble. The only people who should help you with childcare in your home are people you live with, people in your support bubble or registered childcare providers, including nannies.
Children of parents who are separated can continue to move between households.

Yes! On the gov not having any idea how loads of the population live. Glad there's been confirmation on this for everyone.

So pleased this has changed - amazingly feel a lot less panicky now. And the very selfish part of me is relieved that DS will continue to be able to see his grandparents as it took a while for him to get used to being alone with them after lockdown in July.

I just wish they would introduce similar exemptions for people with elderly parents who may live either together or separately so can't all form a bubble. It's so hard for people as it is and even more so with worrying about others.

If anyone needs any supplies dropping off in the Durham area please do just shout. I'll be heading to Sainsbury's at the Arnison on our weekly shop and can pick up bits for others if needed.

That should say I'll be doing our shop every Friday! Just realised the day might be helpful. Especially if you're having to isolate - I can drop on the doorstep.

Jeez. What a rollercoaster we are on. And so much more to come. When I picked DD(8) up earlier from school, I asked if they had discussed anything - they do daily news and have followed the 'new' virus from the start. She just looked at me and said "all I can say, Mummy is that I don't feel safe going into school over the winter"

Fuck.

According to The Daily Fail, Darlington and Hartlepool are on the increase upwards and it seems to be heading down the NE Coast, let's see what Boris has to say, I say that's DC for being a twit coming up here and this the fallout from it

Well teesside was really bad a couple of weeks ago so I'm not surprised if their figures are on the up, again.

I reckon Bojo, as skint as he claims to be, needs granda to watch the bairn so ordered Hancock to change the rules before it became a national thing.

@FrolickingLemon

Am finding this thread so helpful.
Northumberland here; on my own after leaving abusive STBX last year. Really really dreading another lockdown - the isolation is awful.
Hearing others in the same area helps so much.

@FrolickingLemon we’ve had similar here. Email from head yesterday to say there was a confirmed case in DD’s school and to remind the pupils of the need to hand sanitize etc. DD was really quiet for hours, then came and sat next to me on sofa (she’s normally permanently in her bedroom) and eventually asked in a really quiet voice, “so you think we’ll ever get back to normal?”

It really upset me as since the beginning of lockdown she has been really pragmatic and seemed to be coping well. I think she may have reached her limit now though

@Walkingwounded similar circumstances here, if it dies happen then we can support each other

Yes my 6YO has been coming home from school telling me what they've been doing/saying.
Friday he came home saying they'd been learning about the Hands, Face, Space thing

Today was about 'germs' apparently and he said they did an 'experiment' where the teacher had paint & a straw thing (his words) and 'coughed' paint all over them so they could see how germs spread. He said it got all over him & his friends so they had to go wash it until it was all gone.

I hate it, he's 6 years old and they've got him so worried about germs after I'd tried so hard to keep him up to date on what was happening but in a way where he wasn't worried

Same here. My five year old asked me if the germs would be gone before Santa came earlier. My teen DD seems quiet when she comes home from school. I think seeing my kids slowly becoming more aware of what a shitstorm we are in is making it far more difficult. Part of me wishes they hadn't opened the schools at all because now I feel like every time they leave the house its on me if anything happens

I was in Newcastle city centre today and some of the big stores were dead.Staff in John Lewis were actually falling over themselves to serve customers.I went in to buy a cheap pair of earphones.I mentioned to the man who served me, who had literally ran to my aid when he saw me looking at them, that it was very quiet.He did not answer but gave me a look like I had given him a death sentence.
It was the same in the cafe.Normally at that time, midday, you have to look for a seat. Not today though. Plenty of empty tables and table service only.
There were plenty people outside though.I went by bus and got off at the Exhibition Park on the North Road. Lots of people jogging or cycling.

@SabrinaTheTeenageBitch
Part of me is thinking the same at the moment. Whilst the schools were closed I knew I was doing all I could to keep them safe & keep them 'mentally' secure. Now a lot of it is out of my hands & even though I can try to reassure them, it only seems to work until the following day in school.
It's really hard for the DC to understand it all, especially as the rules keep changing too.

@Someaddedsugar

That's a lovely offer Please do forgive me though if I say I'm hoping I don't need to take you up on it! I know it's likely we will need to isolate but with 3DC, I really can't face the thought of 14 days in the house!

to you all with worried children. That must be so tough. The saving grace of having a toddler through this is she’s too young to understand it. During lockdown she knew things were different but not really what or why.

@BikeTyson
Same with my youngest, knew things were different (siblings were at home learning instead of school for a start!) but no idea why really.

@Shitfuckoh absolutely no offence taken as I am also hoping the same!! Although I can't decide whether it'll be harder being at home for 14 days with DS or DP

My phone had a newsflash notification this morning saying possible announcement from BJ will be all pubs closing at 10pm from Thursday (as the virus knows it's not allowed out until 10pm of course )

Morning everyone, I was in a Sainsbury’s first thing yesterday morning, everyone wearing masks and social distancing, but many ignoring the hand sanitizer. I do sometimes think when masks were brought in the washing hands was forgotten. There is someone to count you in to Sainsbury’s but they don’t direct you to the hand station.

Anyway on a brighter note if anyone is interested the thank you NHS spitfire plane will be flying over our hospitals today. I need something to look forward to, however small. This is the timetable.

Well my fb over the weekend was jam packed with people in pubs & bars with friends (who they don't live with) taking selfies, so no distance etc.
They said they'd just gone out earlier so they didn't lose any time out.
If that's repeated throughout, then it won't make any difference at all!