Nationwide 'circuit break' (ie stricter rules) being 'considered'

[PennyDreadfuI]

From the BBC

Usually if they say they're considering a thing it's probably going to happen - they seem to let these bits of information out to soften us up so it won't be such a shock when it comes to pass.

Ugh.

If stricter rules keeps schools open and allows a bit of fun at Christmas then fine.

Seriously starting to wonder why areas like mine with virtually no infections (3 in the last week) should be treated in the same way as those with 100s. Perhaps they should look at what makes our rates so different.

@Firef1y72
Are you in a rural area?
I think it’s perfectly reasonable for built up areas where there just more people packed in, and more people getting the bus etc, are far more likely to see more cases per 100,000
I agree that in your case a national lockdown seems harsh. But I think a big issue with local lockdowns is that people think that it’s unfair that joe down the road can meet friends in a pub and he can’t. So what happens is joe down the road ends up travelling to the next area along to see his friends in the pub. At least if there are national rules everyone is in the same boat which I think is helpful.
Not saying it’s not shit generally though.

My much longed for UK holiday is due to start in a week's time. One household in a small self catering cottage. I have been pretty sanguine up till now but I will be absolutely gutted if I can't travel 200 miles.

Not sure how much of an effective 'circuit break' it'll be if schools and workplaces are kept open.

I'm not a fan of the idea of a second lockdown at all though. I'm in a local lockdown area and it's shit. I don't really see the point - once the rules are lifted we're back to square one. The virus isn't going anywhere - as someone said on another thread, lockdowns are just pause buttons.

I would prefer a more nuanced approach. Shut large pubs (yes spoons). Keep small indies open.

I'm in a rural county too but live in a highly populated town within that county and the rates have remained low compared to other parts of the country. I would not welcome a national lockdown.

@Newgirls

I would prefer a more nuanced approach. Shut large pubs (yes spoons). Keep small indies open.

but then they will be rammed

[quote Frazzled2207]@Firef1y72
Are you in a rural area?
I think it’s perfectly reasonable for built up areas where there just more people packed in, and more people getting the bus etc, are far more likely to see more cases per 100,000
I agree that in your case a national lockdown seems harsh. But I think a big issue with local lockdowns is that people think that it’s unfair that joe down the road can meet friends in a pub and he can’t. So what happens is joe down the road ends up travelling to the next area along to see his friends in the pub. At least if there are national rules everyone is in the same boat which I think is helpful.
Not saying it’s not shit generally though.[/quote]
Agreed.

Also a lot of people on here don't really understand exponential growth.

If they close businesses again they will have to pay for them. You can’t just say people aren’t allowed to make money anymore, how will people pay their bills?

@Bellamybells

I completely understand exponential growth, but the point is we simply aren't having any growth where I am. In fact its quite the opposite, we have had a reduction.

To the question are we rural, I would say semi rural. The district (and one of the neighbouring districts) is made up of a lot of interconnected villages, with a few large towns (4 within 10miles). If you consider the immediate area i live in, we have a small town with 2 villages literally adjacent. This town has a lot of commuters and our train station is the interchange between a port and the rest of the country.

So we're not isolated in the way many rural communities are.

We do have an elderly population, almost everyone has been very compliant..

And anecdotally the younger (under 50s) population was hit badly by a mystery respiratory virus at Christmas. As in at least 50% of us.

A national lock down is a terrible idea, it will cause discontentment and disillusion and encourage rule breaking anywhere that has limited virus.

People need to agree to the need, getting people to agree to the need in areas with lots of virus is difficult, it will be impossible in areas without any.

There is no point to any of this without an effective testing system.

@Newgirls

I would prefer a more nuanced approach. Shut large pubs (yes spoons). Keep small indies open.

Except the other way round is better in terms of both virus spreading and the economy....

It's all a mess. How long will we live like this !

@Bupkis

There is no point to any of this without an effective testing system.

This.

I don't really understand how it would make much difference. Schools and workplaces still open and the pub closing slightly earlier? So we can spend the entire afternoon and evening down the pub but it's safer because we'd be leaving at say, 9pm, rather than 11pm?

I have just read the NHSers thread and am ashamed of my post upthread. Of course I will be sad if I can't go on holiday. But what I am facing is nothing compared to health and care workers. I truly hope you get the support you need and deserve

[quote Frazzled2207]@Firef1y72
Are you in a rural area?
I think it’s perfectly reasonable for built up areas where there just more people packed in, and more people getting the bus etc, are far more likely to see more cases per 100,000
I agree that in your case a national lockdown seems harsh. But I think a big issue with local lockdowns is that people think that it’s unfair that joe down the road can meet friends in a pub and he can’t. So what happens is joe down the road ends up travelling to the next area along to see his friends in the pub. At least if there are national rules everyone is in the same boat which I think is helpful.
Not saying it’s not shit generally though.[/quote]
We're in a pretty urban area in the SE and we're very low, and have even decreased from the previous 7 days (both in single figures)

But my parents' area was like that until last week. They're now doubling every 3-4 days and getting quicker.

The difference is that we're surrounded by areas that, whereas they were a bit higher, were still pretty low. They were surrounded by high areas. That shows there is the issue with local lockdowns that people just come out of area to the lower ones.

Looks like it will happen next week. It needs to be done quickly I suppose to stop the rise in cases. I think schools will also have to close unfortunately.

We had zero cases for ages but in the last week have averaged 5 a day. Things can change very quickly. It seems to have been that people have been elsewhere and then it has been spread through socialising. People don't appear to have know which establishments they have been in and some of the pubs haven't keep records of who has been in. It is now starting to spread in the community.

Yesterday they were denying rumours of a two week lockdown, now this. Why can't they just be honest about things instead of treating us all like children?

@eufycurious

Yesterday they were denying rumours of a two week lockdown, now this. Why can't they just be honest about things instead of treating us all like children?

Because they're totally incompetent.

I’m in a city and we’ve had 15 positive cases in the last 7 days, no chance I’d support a lockdown/tightening of rules here.

If the govt actually pulled their fingers out of their arse and got the testing right, instead of handing out contracts to friends, we might have been ok.

Do we believe them when they say 2 weeks? Then it will become 4 and til Christmas.....