Birmingham on Lockdown

[FractionalGains]

Just been announced Birmingham going to be put on a local lockdown. Infection rates less than 100 per 100000. 7 in intensive care. Doesn’t seem like the nhs is on the brink of being overwhelmed?

78.2 cases per 100,000.

If you waited until the NHS was on the brink of being overwhelmed before doing anything then you would be acting far too late.

From what I've read, it's a piss poor lockdown. No visiting other households but pubs, bars, schools, etc. all open. It's also not coming into place until 15th Sept. All very strange.

It is strange. Haven’t published the guidance yet so I’m waiting to see if I can still meet my sister outside.

@CoffeeandCroissant No one can say with infection levels like that that this lockdown is to protect the NHS. It can cope with far greater numbers than that.

Its not really lockdown.......

There are just additional restrictions.

Hospital admissions are increasing in Birmingham.

A family member works in a Birmingham hospital. She said the covid wards have been filling up again over the last week or so.

Due to go back to work on Monday in Birmingham... mixing with thousands of students at a uni. Feeling very scared and stressed tbh

@Timeforanotherusername

Its not really lockdown.......

There are just additional restrictions.

Such as not being able to see anyone outside of your household which is a pretty bloody extreme restriction.

68 people in hospital with covid so it is increasing but well within capacity.

I don’t think I can cope at home alone all day with PND, a colicky non sleeping baby and a manic toddler without my mum coming to give me a hand.

Yeah my Birmingham NHS trust are starting to feel it again. I saw lots of covid patients the past 3/4 nights.

OP I really do feel for you
It is horrible being cooped up with small people at times.

But judging by what I have witnessed this week the cases are shooting up.
Every night there are more.
I'm nights tonight and dreading what I'm about to walk into. If they don't get a handle on it soon then we won't be in control.
Better that they give is more restrictions for a couple of weeks and avoid a full lockdown.

The issue isn't about the NHS coping with current numbers. It's what happens if cases are potentially doubling every week or so, a few hundred cases soon becomes thousands, 700 cases becomes 1400 a week later then 2800 a week later, then 5600, 11,200, 22,400...

The bigger the numbers get the more likely it is that infections spread from younger people to elderly and other vulnerable people.

Does anyone know what the new restrictions are?

@CoffeeandCroissant

The issue isn't about the NHS coping with current numbers. It's what happens if cases are potentially doubling every week or so, a few hundred cases soon becomes thousands, 700 cases becomes 1400 a week later then 2800 a week later, then 5600, 11,200, 22,400...

The bigger the numbers get the more likely it is that infections spread from younger people to elderly and other vulnerable people.

I understand exponential growth but we could reduce infections to 1 per 60,000,000 and it will still be exponential growth won’t it? So what is the long term strategy?

It will be like what we've had in Leicester for the whole time.

You can't meet any other household in any indoor settings or in your private garden. You can meet up with other households in public outdoor spaces but have to maintain 2 m distancing.

I agree that it's a shit situation though and a lot tougher for some like you than it may be for others who have more support from other people they live with for example.

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast

OP I really do feel for you It is horrible being cooped up with small people at times. But judging by what I have witnessed this week the cases are shooting up. Every night there are more. I'm nights tonight and dreading what I'm about to walk into. If they don't get a handle on it soon then we won't be in control. Better that they give is more restrictions for a couple of weeks and avoid a full lockdown.

Thank you

Do you honestly think it will be just a couple of weeks? Manchester has been for a month or so now. Leicester far longer. What will be the criteria for lifting because numbers will just go straight up again surely.

If it is couple of weeks that’s fair enough but I really am fearful it won’t be.

@SalterWatcher

Does anyone know what the new restrictions are?

Guidance not been published yet but hopefully outdoor distanced meets are ok (presumably only up to 6 still)

Places seem to go into local lockdown from about 50 cases per 100,000. Better to do it sooner than later.

@SalterWatcher

Does anyone know what the new restrictions are?

www.birmingham.gov.uk/news/article/709/new_restrictions_announced_to_drive_down_infection_rate

From Tuesday 15 September Birmingham residents will not be able to mix with any other households, indoors or in private gardens, except for those in a support bubble. This applies both inside and outside the city boundaries.

From the Brum City Council website.

Does anyone know how it works with children travelling between parents houses? One parent in Birmingham one based elsewhere?

So could I go to a restaurant with a friend from another household?

Or let's say with 3 friends from different households?

Will it be a couple of weeks? Well that depends on whether the restrictions work and infection rates fall.

The weather is still quite nice at the moment. Hopefully the restrictions will only be about meeting in indoor spaces and you'll be able meet your mum outside.

@SalterWatcher only if you were willing to sit at different tables and not interact with each other. You "shouldnt" go as one group and sit together. Obviously that relies on the venue policing and checking that you aren't all one household.

I live in inner city Birmingham. I've seen poor compliance with mask-wearing in shops, and my neighbours having obvious social gatherings throughout most of the supposed covid restrictions. So this doesn't remotely surprise me.

I hope it will be OP.
But looking at the Birmingham Updates Facebook page I'm not feeling too optimistic.
A lot saying the virus is false and they're not bothering with the new rules.

I honestly wish I could take some people around my trust. When we were at the peak last time I have never, ever experienced anything like it and it was awful. Nothing fake about it.

I hope you get a break.
Maybe meet your mum in a park just to get out of the house.
Let the toddler burn off some energy and make the baby sleepy.
I know it isn't ideal though. I have been there. It does get better.