Absolutely dreading another lockdown or restrictions

[Helenj1977]

Just that really. Really tearful today at the thought of not going to my parents house again.

I hate this. I wish he'd tell us the plans so we could prepare mentally. This is going to be the shittest winter.

@BillieEilish

Christ, in Spain we are just getting on with it and doing anything we can.

We wear masks without complaint. Everybody. No exceptions.
We lockdown locally without complaint
Schools shut without complaint if there is a dager of spread

We STFU and understand that governments are doing the best they can and there is a Pandemic. Nobody knows what to do except for trying to save lives.

Sorry you are in tears. None of us are ecstatic either, but the attitude in the UK is extraordinary.

Yes, because not one of the 40 million or so people who live in Spain has a single complaint about any of this. Every one of them is stoic and civic minded, 'no exceptions'. Just as they were when the govt locked children in their apartments for weeks on end, for no obvious benefit.

Been crying today too. Why?

DH and I are secondary teachers-feel very exposed to the virus.

DC is in a care home. Didn't see our beautiful child for 3 months last time. Could just about get through it as we were at home together (DH and I). Don't think I can do it if we have to be putting on game face for other people's kids while not seeing our own.

@ProperlyPdOff

Haven't seen my family (live 300 miles away) since last Christmas yes, not seen mine since Feb, looks like it will be over a year now since that last time. So desperate to keep them safe up to now, and now the gains of the last lockdown have been squandered and we are back to square one.

This is just how lockdown works. I assume it isn't common knowledge as otherwise people would be less likely to comply. Push numbers down, release, numbers go up, repeat. It's the entire point of the approach in Sweden - to avoid the yoyo effect, they went with a 'in the middle' approach - less strict than full lockdown but a long term approach that can last a number of years Lockdown will never ever result in anything but a temporary drop

@DownstairsMixUp

I don't think it's ever going away tbh and I do wonder how many lockdowns it's going to take for them to see that

Apparently, really a lot!

Sunk costs fallacy

@monkeytennis97

Been crying today too. Why?

DH and I are secondary teachers-feel very exposed to the virus.

DC is in a care home. Didn't see our beautiful child for 3 months last time. Could just about get through it as we were at home together (DH and I). Don't think I can do it if we have to be putting on game face for other people's kids while not seeing our own.

We really do need to look out for each other. This post is heartbreaking.

@BillieEilish

Christ, in Spain we are just getting on with it and doing anything we can.

We wear masks without complaint. Everybody. No exceptions.
We lockdown locally without complaint
Schools shut without complaint if there is a dager of spread

We STFU and understand that governments are doing the best they can and there is a Pandemic. Nobody knows what to do except for trying to save lives.

Sorry you are in tears. None of us are ecstatic either, but the attitude in the UK is extraordinary.

This is interesting @BillieEilish Do the Spanish feel the government are handling things well and generally trust their government? The pandemic has been badly handled here with twists, turns and numerous u-turns. People in government have broken the rules and it has led to mistrust. This is in my opinion, the reason why compliance has become quite low, after initially being high.

We can understand why the lockdowns happen and still be very sad not to have seen our families for months.
On a more trivial note, I am not v annoyed that I wasn't brave enough to get to the hairdressers before the cases started getting out of control again. When I do see my DM again she will not be impressed at how I have let myself go in the year since she last saw me!

@BillieEilish

Christ, in Spain we are just getting on with it and doing anything we can.

Sorry you are in tears. None of us are ecstatic either, but the attitude in the UK is extraordinary.
Is that just what you think or is that the general concensus from people in Spain about what we are like in the UK?

Spain was a fascist dictatorship for a very very long time. It shows.

Having said that, they also have anti mask protests and their extremely strict lockdown that confined children entirely indoors for months hasn't made any difference to resurgence, so it's not even like the happy compliant Spanish (if they existed) are reaping the rewards

An extra 'not' in there: I am not v annoyed

@PremierInn

Spain was a fascist dictatorship for a very very long time. It shows.

Having said that, they also have anti mask protests and their extremely strict lockdown that confined children entirely indoors for months hasn't made any difference to resurgence, so it's not even like the happy compliant Spanish (if they existed) are reaping the rewards

Yeah there was a protest by bar owners in Spain last week too. I highly doubt the Spanish people are as unthinkingly compliant as the poster is suggesting, not that it would neccessarily be a good thing if they were.

Thank you@JayDot500. I think it's why I get so upset at the 'keep schools open at all costs' brigade

@monkeytennis97 sending you some (admittedly pointless) your post illustrates just how awful the restrictions are.
I follow the rules and will continue to do so - but I recognise how great the cost is to many people.
I don't know what the answers are (aside from some sort of a rapid test which could prove you don't have CV and allow you to visit).
I don't know what to say other than I will be hoping for the very best for your family.

I'm feeling miserable too. Haven't seen my dad (early 80s) since Christmas. Was about to go and visit at the end of the school holidays when his area was put into a local lock-down. Thought "will go and see him at half term" - now ministers are talking about a national lock-down over half term.

He's early 80s. We were talking on the phone. He's seriously worried that he's going to spend the rest of his life effectively under house arrest, unable to see me or his DGSon.

It's fucking shit.

Nothing will change for me at all. Will carry on living my life as normal, lockdown or no lockdown.

@Notonthestairs thank you x

@Foobydoo lots of people hate the government here, most are pissed off at this situation, quite obviously, however, everyone is getting on with it (because we have to) to protect each other.

We hated (proper) lockdown, but it worked.

England are seen as a joke, not wearing masks and moaning claiming they are exempt for this and that reason, that their particular situation is special.

It is a terrible situation for everyone ALL OVER THE WORLD. Not just England! It is a pandemic.

(Not shouting at you!)

No single person knows what to do for the best. We just try. (Of course some people protest, people always want to protest)

I'm English, I did not grow up with a facist regime. I just want to do the best by everybody. It could be life or death. THAT is what OP should be thinking about.

Yes, it’s the not know what’s around the corner. I didn’t mind lockdown last time, I survived it and the dc’s survived it and I’m sure we will again if/when it happens. It’s the not knowing...not knowing if your child will be sent home for 14 days meaning you can’t work....not knowing if seeing your parents could be the last time for a while....not knowing if a test will be available if needed.

I’m not in one of the lockdown areas, I live rurally and other than work I manage to stay away from most people (other than my parents) so It doesn’t effect me hugely.

@BillieEilish

Christ, in Spain we are just getting on with it and doing anything we can.

We wear masks without complaint. Everybody. No exceptions.
We lockdown locally without complaint
Schools shut without complaint if there is a dager of spread

We STFU and understand that governments are doing the best they can and there is a Pandemic. Nobody knows what to do except for trying to save lives.

Sorry you are in tears. None of us are ecstatic either, but the attitude in the UK is extraordinary.

Absolutely agree.

@DownstairsMixUp

I don't think it's ever going away tbh and I do wonder how many lockdowns it's going to take for them to see that

They do see it, lockdown is to surprise the virus not to make it go away. Of the government keep this strategy this is it unfortunately until there is a vaccine or cure

[quote BillieEilish]@Foobydoo lots of people hate the government here, most are pissed off at this situation, quite obviously, however, everyone is getting on with it (because we have to) to protect each other.

We hated (proper) lockdown, but it worked.

England are seen as a joke, not wearing masks and moaning claiming they are exempt for this and that reason, that their particular situation is special.

It is a terrible situation for everyone ALL OVER THE WORLD. Not just England! It is a pandemic.

(Not shouting at you!)

No single person knows what to do for the best. We just try. (Of course some people protest, people always want to protest)

I'm English, I did not grow up with a facist regime. I just want to do the best by everybody. It could be life or death. THAT is what OP should be thinking about.[/quote]
How exactly did the Spanish lockdown work?
Their rates are currently the second highest in Europe
If that is what the results of an effective lockdown look like, it's not very promising for lockdown round 2 is it?
Are they happy they locked their kids up 24/7 for months to achieve that accolade?

And how come there are anti mask protests if everyone is really so happy?

The virus doesn't spread itself, people spread the virus. If the people don't want another lockdown then they need to socialize less, wear masks, keep distancing et cetera. The stuff that worked last time. The choice is yours, if everybody keeps having bbq's, not wearing masks, keep seeing people indoors, keep hugging family members, keep having birthday parties then yes, you will have another lockdown. It is a choice that the people make. You can't let Covid just run through the country thinking it won't be harmful, look at the US and Brazil. So if the general public makes selfish choices then the government will have to act.

I honestly think they'd be better off just saying:

'This is what's going to happen - we're going to ease up for approx this long, until numbers hit X, then we'll lock down again until numbers hit Y - we think approx that long. Then we'll ease up again until X, then lockdown till Y.... in patterns, until we get a vaccine and have most of the population jabbed OR until we've spread it enough that it doesn't get out of control. Whichever comes first.

In the meantime, here is the list of priorities for avoiding restrictions....'

That way, everyone knows where they stand. This is effectively what is and has to happen, but they need to spell that out, and frankly, they need to stop faffing with these regional lock-downs and just set a blanket position. There's not, actually, a huge issue with a 10pm close. Things will just start earlier, if they need to. There is a problem with long-term trying to restrict people from seeing family and friends, because it's ultimately unrealistic.

From a personal perspective, I'm getting excessively tired of pubs and sport being given such importance. If we only have a certain amount of tolerance for things being open, then it astounds me that we've prioritised people going out to get drunk rather than allowing celebrations for one-off life events. Our schools are a mess, and we can't see family - but 'Spoons is open.

I wouldn't really mind a wave approach to lockdown. At least it makes sense . The problem is that people can't face it. They want to think that lockdown is a cure, and they're encouraged to think that way.