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Original poster

Should we have a full lockdown briefly now to slow down rises

314 replies

Worriedmum999 · 14/09/2020 15:30

Just musing really. Would it be better to have a few weeks of full lockdown now while furlough is still ongoing rather than needing to do one in a month or so as an emergency when 1000 people are dying every day, having to extend furlough etc.

If it’s planned then people can prep for it. Make it a really strict one. Have minimum shops open for emergencies with strict distancing. School well prepared to teach online for 2 weeks.

Might this give us the time to sort the testing backlog and increase them as promised? Give everyone the short sharp shock they need to take distancing/masks seriously again then reopen with clearer rules

OP posts:
Original poster
Worriedmum999 · 14/09/2020 17:30

Ok, even if the death rate is 0.5% then we are still up to 1000 deaths a day a week later Hmm

OP posts:
Ethelfleda · 14/09/2020 17:37

@lughnasadh

Don't be ridiculous.

People are not dying on that kind of scale, and are unlikely to ever again.

The measures in place are working. It's as good as it's going to get. You will never stop people dying of things caused by viruses, bacteria, poisoning etc.

There is an 'acceptable' death rate.

Most people dying of/with covid have underlying conditions, nothing will ever make it entirely safe for them, and if it wasn't covid it might be flu the succumbed to - vaccines or not. There is no chance of 100% erradication.

Agree with all of this
Ethelfleda · 14/09/2020 17:46

No because we had a lockdown not only to reduce deaths, but also to give businesses and workplaces a chance to become ‘Covid secure’
We have much better measures in place now than we did in Feb.
And don’t forget, this virus was apparently circulating undetected around Europe at the end of last year. It took until March to get to the levels we saw - with no SD, handwashing, mask wearing etc. Don’t make business close down again now.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 14/09/2020 17:53

@Ethelfleda

No because we had a lockdown not only to reduce deaths, but also to give businesses and workplaces a chance to become ‘Covid secure’ We have much better measures in place now than we did in Feb. And don’t forget, this virus was apparently circulating undetected around Europe at the end of last year. It took until March to get to the levels we saw - with no SD, handwashing, mask wearing etc. Don’t make business close down again now.
Doesn’t seem to be much SD, mask wearing etc now. Look how many on MN alone won’t stick to groups of six or are looking for loopholes etc. Children having parties and play dates with no distancing etc.

I’d support harsher measures and another lockdown if needed. I don’t see why the vulnerable shouldn’t be protected as much as possible by keeping case numbers down. Low case numbers also means less long term Covid.

Kaktus · 14/09/2020 17:56

Doesn’t seem to be much SD, mask wearing etc now. Look how many on MN alone won’t stick to groups of six or are looking for loopholes etc. Children having parties and play dates with no distancing etc

Plenty of social distancing and mask wearing going on in my area. Since masks were introduced I’ve only seen 3 people in shops not wearing one.

Itsabeautifuldayheyhey · 14/09/2020 17:59

No. People aren't able to cope with the current restrictions. They won't possibly cope with a strict lockdown.

Some areas have very low infection rates and I don't think it fair to put them into strict lockdown. (Unfortunately I am in an area with stricter measures as the rate is high where I live).

Jaxhog · 14/09/2020 18:10

I have diabetes & hypertension. My diabetes is well controlled (through diet & exercise). Without Covid I'm not expected to die anytime soon. On the Alama Scale I'm highly likely to die of Covid if I get Covid & whilst I'm not in the first flush of youth, I am only 51 & I'd appreciate a few more years on the clock if that's ok with you!

Me too, although I'm a bit older. The idea that I'm near the end of my life is ridiculous, and I'm deeply offended at any suggestion that my life is worth less than someone going to the pub or a party.

But I don't think another Lockdown would help right now. We need to keep this option for the worst-case situation when it might be our only option. Whether this happens is up to us. If we follow the rules then hopefully, it won't be needed.

HoratiotheHorsefly · 14/09/2020 18:12

No and I fully supported the first and hopefully last lockdown.

I don't need to work for the money, I go to work for the mental health benefits and because I like my own money. Mentally lots of peo0le just wouldn't cope with a repeat. I was an anxious mess last time after three months of being at home.

I say this as someone who's high risk and would be advised to shield.

I'm not doing it again...

Pertella · 14/09/2020 18:12

do people not understand what exponential growth means?

BINGO!!!

Newgirls · 14/09/2020 18:18

I don’t think we will have the same exponential growth will we? We have testing (flawed), know the symptoms now, are taking fewer journeys, going out less. Huge difference from Feb and March.

TimeForLunch · 14/09/2020 18:26

Absolutely not! There is no way the economy could take it and it wouldn't help anyway in the longer term. We just need to be careful, considerate to others and accept some element of risk. We are in a very different place now to where we were back in March. People are aware.

PennyDreadfuI · 14/09/2020 18:27

No. People won't be so complaint next time around, particularly when they've seen how low the death rate is currently.

If we do nothing (and the rule of 6 is practically nothing) we will end up having a long hard lockdown yet again

But we're not 'doing nothing'. Were social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, quarantining after travel... And those in local lockdown are doing more.

Imo those who need/want to shield should be able to if things get significantly worse nationally (and they should get the financial/practical support they need to do so), local lockdowns as and when, testing sorted out so everyone can get one locally when they need one and Track & Trace to be for for purpose is the way forward. A 'long hard lockdown' over the winter - particularly over Christmas - will be ignored wholesale apart from the lockdown lovers of Mumsnet

PennyDreadfuI · 14/09/2020 18:29

Also, treatment has improved loads since March/April - fewer people need ventilating and those who do are less likely to die. And it's improving more all the time.

Chloemol · 14/09/2020 18:43

Whilst I get where you are coming from people won’t follow SD rules now, lots of posts on her about using common sense to flout rules, lots saying they won’t stay in if track and trace come calling

I doubt very much people will follow any lockdown rules, however strict they are, as, it appears, lots think they know best when it comes to staying away from the virus

So cases will just continue to rise, let’s hope that as winter comes upon us they don’t get a worse strain of it than know where it seems mild

SheepandCow · 14/09/2020 18:48

It's always better to tackle things as early as possible, and before they get worse. New Zealand and Australia knew that from the start. So yes we should - and this time we should do it properly, so that it actually achieves what we need it to. We could then finally be ready to slowly open up to a return to normality, and begin our economic recovery.

Will we? Probably not. In which case we'll be back here in December, still in the same (or worse) position with the economy further buggered, agonising and arguing over what to do.

Mindymomo · 14/09/2020 18:51

If the rule of 6 is still here at Christmas, we may as well have lockdown then as we cannot see family.

PablosHoney · 14/09/2020 19:08

Not, get lost 😂

Haplap · 14/09/2020 19:24

Yes, of course we should. Preventative and ultimately a faster economic recovery. But, people are ill informed and we've not got a functioning government. Ah well, here comes pantomime season.

Pixxie7 · 14/09/2020 19:39

I don’t think it would work again, people are tired. We have to make the best things as they are until a vaccine is approved.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 14/09/2020 19:41

OP, you mentioned "make it a strict (lockdown)", but could you explain how that might be achieved in areas such as Leicester and the NW hotspots, where there's already been widespread flouting of the requirements?

CrunchyNutNC · 14/09/2020 19:46

The problem would be, were it planned, there would be carnage until it came into effect. Just before the lockdown was announced in March it was chaos in shops, everywhere mobbed.

HermioneWeasley · 14/09/2020 19:47

No. The vulnerable can choose to shield and the rest of us need to get on with it

Aragog · 14/09/2020 19:49

I definitely not.

And definitely not over October half term!! I don't want to spend my week off not being able to do anything. I doubt most parents would want to have to spend another week off school holidays without being able to go anywhere either, and I doubt schools would be having to provide childcare and home learning over that time too - so not even any other work for them to do whilst stuck home either.

redgin · 14/09/2020 19:50

How rude to dismiss someone's suggestions as 'stupid' or 'ridiculous'. I happen to see a lot of logic in it.

And I don't pretend to know all the answers, as no one can. No one alive has experienced this, not the government, not the 'experts'.

Seems lots of Mumsnetters fancy themselves as experts though.

Forgone90 · 14/09/2020 19:59

Not at all because once again as soon as we open back up cases will rise again.