So. Predictions for tomorrow? Boris's speech.

[BabyLlamaZen]

I'm pretty sure we're going to get told we can't see any other households for 2 weeks and a curfew on pubs.

Although a part of me thinks they'll just say no to seeing any other households and leave it at that with no limit. I'm hoping they'll keep the support bubbles though.

Just read that the childcare ban is now exempt. Finally they've seen sense!

"Health Secretary Matt Hancock tells MPs about some of the new measures which have come into force as part of local lockdowns in areas of England, including the North East.

The local lockdown rules ban people from socialising with others outside of their own household or support bubble.

Mr Hancock says he has heard concerns about the impact that has been having on childcare arrangements.

"Today I'm able to announce a new exemption," he says.

People looking after children under the age of 14 or vulnerable adults are exempt from that ban, when it's necessary for caring purposes.

He says it covers formal and informal arrangements for childcare - but not playdates or parties.

"A consistent childcare relationship is allowed," he said.

There had been calls for such an exemption last week - after families warned that people would have no other choice to break the rules."

Why do people need rules to know that socialising with a large mix of people is not a good idea during a pandemic. Surely after looking at the graphs etc this morning it's pretty obvious that people need to act responsibly, so even if you are allowed to do things it might be an idea to start scaling things down.

I'm really hoping they might go back to a limit on social contact rather than a blanket ban.

Bibidy - but there already is a limit on social contact. It's 6 people regardless of age and regardless of if indoor/outdoor.

I think it will be a blanket ban on socialising outside of your bubble.

They will not do anything with work or leisure - it would cost too much, but I would not be surprised if a curfew, or ban on driving long distances for no good reason came in.

@bizmum1

I predict ... more lies

And a bit of gas lighting for good measure? How are they managing to convince people that seeing your family isn’t safe but schools are? Fair play to the government, they are grade A sociopaths.

Bibidy - but there already is a limit on social contact. It's 6 people regardless of age and regardless of if indoor/outdoor.

Some of the local lockdowns have blanket bans

Obviously having schools open are a risk but imagine the outcry if they close them. Many parents wanted them open regardless of any measures, you just have to see the various facebook pages set up for that reason. They just need to reduce transmission risks in other areas to try and keep schools open

To stop the virus spreading they need to close. It is common sense.

For how long? And for how many times?

This isn't sustainable.
More and more businesses will go bust.
More and more people will become unemployed.

TBH though none of this is sustainable longer term. After 6 months people are struggling in much bigger numbers. I don't mean full blown breakdowns - but the general morale and outlook for many people is gradually becoming more and more negative. People can't cope with loss of social contact with loved ones for ever there as a threat and a reality on and off.

Something needs to happen. We can't realistically wait for a vaccine that may never come.

It may actually come to a point where we do have to learn to live with this virus in some way, but one which allows people to give their parents, grandparents, grandchild, best friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, etc a hug sometimes.

Boris doesn’t mind people having a quiet pint in their local, he doesn’t want crowds of people not socially distanced hanging around city centres on a pub crawl.

I don't think "Boris" gives the tiniest flying fuck what the plebs do, or indeed if they live or die.

Fuck knows. It'll be intrusive, unenforceable, impractical & almost certainly futile whatever it is.

Oh, and I forgot 'totally unsustainable in the long term', but that kind of goes with the territory.

He's going to say "And that is why, from Friday, I'm going to be asking you to...."

However, maybe the threat of closing schools might make some people sit up and listen

Some of the local lockdowns have blanket bans

Most only have bans within private homes and gardens. Many of the England local lockdowns permit households mixing, in up to 6 people, outside of the home - it is advised again, but not a rule.

@ineedaholidaynow

However, maybe the threat of closing schools might make some people sit up and listen

A responsible and competent government wouldn't have to resort to threats like 3rd rate gangsters would it ?

Any ideas as to whether separated children will be allowed to visit dads under these new regulations as only seem to mention no mixing of households, which to me means i will not be able to see my children for a while?

@TheNewLook

Because people are meeting people from other households in the pub!

So how does closing a bit earlier change that?

It doesn't. This was a response to an earlier post where I was trying to stay that stopping households mixing will have an effect on pubs.

I think they'll go for a 2 week circuit break starting on Friday. No household mixing apart from support bubbles and possibly closure of pubs and restaurants (takeaway or delivery only).

@TimG27

Any ideas as to whether separated children will be allowed to visit dads under these new regulations as only seem to mention no mixing of households, which to me means i will not be able to see my children for a while?

under local lockdown restrictions - divorced families with visitation rights are an exception.

ineedaholidaynow

They won't close schools again. They've said that many times.

I guess they could do yet another u turn, but to close schools means they have to admit that they weren't/aren't Covid secure in the first place, which is unlikely.

Schools will only close again on mass as the very last resort, so only if absolutely everything lock down once more such as in March, which I can't see happening.

Even then they'll stay open for key worker children and vulnerable children like before, so schools like mine will still be open with every classroom being used and pretty much every school staff working in them FT.

However, maybe the threat of closing schools might make some people sit up and listen

I think it would make people tell the Gov to get to fuck.

@Aragog

ineedaholidaynow

They won't close schools again. They've said that many times.

I guess they could do yet another u turn, but to close schools means they have to admit that they weren't/aren't Covid secure in the first place, which is unlikely.

Schools will only close again on mass as the very last resort, so only if absolutely everything lock down once more such as in March, which I can't see happening.

Even then they'll stay open for key worker children and vulnerable children like before, so schools like mine will still be open with every classroom being used and pretty much every school staff working in them FT.

I don't think this is true. Didn't they publish that four stage, localised plan? With different levels of schools being open and closed in different areas?

My son has to go to grandparents or I can't work. Same for thousands of others.

What about Childminder's?! Will they shut down?

The Stormont Executive has announced that Covid-19 restrictions will be extended to all of Northern Ireland from 18:00 BST on Tuesday.
There will be no mixing of households indoors with some exceptions, and no more than six people from two households can meet in a garden.

Coronavirus restrictions are extended across NI www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54228579

To be honest I’d be happy with every household having one other household they could bubble with. I only need to be able to see my parents.