What’s going to happen to ‘the North’?

[Napqueen1234]

I say ‘the north’ as I’m well aware it’s hugely varied (Am a northerner myself) but for arguments sake we will bung it all together.

In ‘local lockdown’ for weeks now but numbers still climbing. Other areas going into lockdown/increased restrictions whatever you prefer at a fast rate. The north on the whole seems much more affected than the south.

What will they do next? Surely they can’t enforce a ‘proper’ lockdown for just the north? Or just close northern schools? FWIW none of this has been mentioned but if numbers continue to rise surely more action is needed. I completely understand if you’re in a v low case area the idea of a national lockdown would be infuriating but can you ‘lockdown’ a huge part of the country?

Will it create a further divide and stigmatise the north generally? Will house prices plummet even in nice areas as no one wants to move if theyre likely to be severely restricted?

I know I sound a bit hysterical and I’m not trying to scare monger I just genuinely don’t know what the next steps are going to be for us up here (NW, rates >200/100,000 and rising). Not only that but the idea of us having all bars and restaurants closed and not allowed to see any other families/households when other parts of the country now makes me feel very envious and depressed.

Ah OP I see you've stated you care " more about your own family than a random persons vulnerable relatives". Well of course most people care more about their own nearest and dearest, but it's that attitude that has sent rates soaring.

Doing whatever suits you without seeing the wider picture has pushed infection rates up and up- and now we face the consequences.

I've no idea where this is headed but I do know we would be headed somewhere different of a larger proportion of people saw them wider picture and have a shit about others.

I agree this has now gone on too long- but it would g have done so if people were less selfie and entitled.

So I have zero sympathy for your plight, after reading about your attitude towards others. But I've every sympathy with those affected by the selfish actions of others and who are facing lockdown despite limiting contacts etc.

I don’t think the North was as hard hit so maybe this is their first wave so to speak.

I'm never convinced by this.
Birmingham was hit hard first time and it's hit hard now.

During the first wave s family member had moved from Birmingham to Bristol and said the contrast was clear.
My relatives in Bristol couldn't comprehend the supermarket queues and bare shelves at my local big Tesco (which made national news) and pretty much carried on as normal due to so few cases down South, where Birmingham's cases (now surpassed 1,000 deaths) were rocketing.

Tbh I was saying to a friend this week , in lockdown I heard of nobody who had covid but now I know of a few who have been tested positive none ill though thankfully and a few who've gone into isolation as possible contact .
It's worrying times and I honestly don't have the answer but I worry for a full lockdown as last time was far too long with far too many places closing .

I'm in greater Manchester btw

Northern England. Current number is around 120 per 100,000, the average is apparently 28? Seems pretty shocking but we don't personally know (haven't even heard of) anyone with it. People locally are, & have been, adhering to mask & SD guidelines really well on the whole. Maybe it really is just a matter of time before everyone / a certain percentage catches it.

I don't think another national lockdown would be a sensible idea. Local lockdowns much better to target individual hotspots. It's not about targeting The North, it's about reducing the number in areas of high infection.

I'm in the NE local lockdown area. There is a rumour that schools will have a 2 week half term and that will be the circuit breaker. All non essential business closed. Pubs and restaurants take away only etc

Birmingham is not in the North. Not as far as Northerners are concerned.

@Chaotic45 I don’t think this is true that people don’t care but not sure what we, outside of your area, could possibly do to help your lockdown?

I’m in a commuter town for Manchester and we are badly hit by it. The problem is that everyone took it seriously at first when we weren’t really seeing any cases but not we are actually getting hit by it everyone’s bored of isolating and is going about normal life.
We are meant to have local restrictions but it’s a joke- teens are back hanging round in groups causing trouble in the evenings. Parents are chatting on the street near the school. People get so close they bump into me in the supermarkets and hardly anyone wears a mask.
I am working from home and live with my partner and since lockdown have seen family on about 3 occasions. The feeling of isolation is awful, especially when it feels like I’m in a minority of people following the rules.

Birmingham is not in the North. Not as far as Northerners are concerned
Not as far as anyone who has seen a map is concerned . I think some people think of anything north of London as The North

@Chaotic45 that’s so sad I’m sorry it’s been so hard. I don’t mean I don’t care about other people and clearly I would never do anything to cause anyone to become ill. I’ve followed all the rules to the letter. What I mean is- I was happy to lock down full in March for the greater good. More than happy we did it it was hard but I get the reasons. Again whenever the rules changes we kept within them. My concern is that mine and my partners businesses are very precarious and if there’s a further lockdown in the north where we are one or both of us are likely to lose our jobs. Without our jobs we can’t afford our mortgage (don’t have savings like many people) and I honestly don’t know what we would do. So yes the anxiety about that for me is currently at the forefront of my mind.

@Napqueen1234 my sincere apologies. I misunderstood and my post was harsh regardless. I'm sorry to hear that your jobs and financial position is precarious. We are in a similar position, and I'm finding it hard to see and hear of people carrying on regardless....

to everyone struggling.

I'm in Greater Manchester. The Borough I live in currently has 13 cases per 100,000 population. I'm in the south of Gtr Mcr. Boroughs in the North of the area have many more cases. They are now saying that the North West and West Yorkshire were 3 weeks behind London at the height of the first wave. That meant that we should have come out of lock down 3 weeks later than London. But we didn't, it happened at the same time. So the blame is laid on that.

@Chaotic45 no problem. Things will get better for us all soon I hope

I don’t think the North was as hard hit so maybe this is their first wave so to speak

Sheffield always had very high numbers back in March and April, often overtaking London and Birmingham. I dont think there was much difference in urban parts of England

The numbers are really rising though in the north ATM. Especially Grt, Manc and West, Yorks