Why are we in lockdown when no one is dying?

[SplunkPostGres]

I don’t understand why we’ve got local lockdown again. Cases are high but deaths are still low. Seems like a lot of cases are asymptomatic? So why are the lockdowns and restrictions needed?

Lockdown? What lockdown? I'm in an area where there is an extra restriction. It just means we can't mix households temporarily while others can follow the rule of 6.

Extra restrictions needed to stop the asymptomatic passing it on to someone else (who might also be asymptomatic) who then infects someone else who dies from it.

There's a 2-week lag effect because anyone contagious now is contagious for 14 days, so they have to nip these rates of infection in the bud. As you pointed out, a lot of cases are asymptomatic so a lot of people don't know they're spreading it, and 2 weeks is a long time to be spreading an infection around!

Preventing deaths by decreasing that invisible spread with a shorter lockdown is much better than waiting until people start dying. The whole point is to prevent deaths altogether is possible, surely?

People aren't dying because of the measures being taken to prevent people dying. I don't get what is so hard to understand.

So that people don't die.

We're not. Just because people aren't dying doesn't discount the fact that the virus is contagious and dangerous, particularly to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.
Restricting peoples movements in general is to try and reduce how quickly the virus is spread. It's not a difficult concept to grasp.

If people don't adhere to these restrictions, then I'd imagine that another lockdown will not be too far off.

Cases are increasing and we aee trying to prevent exponential growth which will lead to deaths and the nhs being overwhelmed. At this point it is additional restrictions, and while not ideal, easier than the initial lockdown. It will lead to a lockdown if these additional measures don't work.

We're not in lockdown. There are restrictions. So dramatic.

Because all of a sudden only case numbers matter and deaths are hardly mentioned. They’re nowhere near high enough to warrant all this continuous crap and so the media and government have shifted to reporting cases. Otherwise we might all start to question why our lives are being restricted for a virus with a 99.9% survival rate, causing less than 5% of all UK deaths and equally query why many more people are dying of other causes due to the National Covid Service’s lack of care for other illnesses.

13 deaths today and we’ve got most of South Wales on local lockdown. Can’t have anyone outside your household in your home and can’t leave your Local Authority area. Seems disproportionate.

This is without even looking at the students being thrown under the bus for this.

I supported the restrictions earlier this year, but this time, despite the huge increase in cases there doesn’t seem to be any impact from people contracting the virus.

I agree with you to an extent op - I guess the government are jumpy with the rates of infection shooting up - will this mean deaths will shoot up and if so to what level.

It’s a watching brief I guess, the masses have to be disrupted to see if the infection rates translate into deaths

I think it's because if cases get out of hand among younger people, it will inevitably end being spread to the elderly and more vulnerable.

1,600 die every day in the UK, but only covid deaths matter

@SplunkPostGres

13 deaths today and we’ve got most of South Wales on local lockdown. Can’t have anyone outside your household in your home and can’t leave your Local Authority area. Seems disproportionate.

This is without even looking at the students being thrown under the bus for this.

I supported the restrictions earlier this year, but this time, despite the huge increase in cases there doesn’t seem to be any impact from people contracting the virus.

Those 13 people would have tested positive 6-8 weeks ago, what they are trying to stop is deaths in 6-8 weeks of people testing positive today.

We haven't had long enough of increasing cases to know if the death rate will go up to the same levels as in March and April

Not being allowed to have friends over is not the same as lockdown, is it? You are free to go out to shops, work, restaurants, gyms, etc.

Because people are dying.

Those 13 people would have tested positive 6-8 weeks ago

Well no, they would have had to of tested positive within the last 28 days and since passed away to be included in the daily death total

@mxjones

Because people are dying.

People die every single day the majority of which at the moment aren't covid related not directly anyway

But people aren’t dying. That’s the point. Just 13. And whilst I’m sure it’s very sad for their families, we’ve got millions of people shut away with winter approaching. Students being told that they might not be able to go home for Christmas. Charities are warning about the victims of domestic abuse. People losing their incomes. It isn’t worth it.

@SplunkPostGres

I don’t understand why we’ve got local lockdown again. Cases are high but deaths are still low. Seems like a lot of cases are asymptomatic? So why are the lockdowns and restrictions needed?

Erm, so they don't die (or suffer the long-term disability of Long Covid)... Oh - and to protect the economy.

Btw. People are dying. And we don't have a proper lockdown anywhere in the UK.

Agree it seems to be a massive over reaction which is likely to end up with more non Covid deaths

The rate is high with young for and healthy people who are currently contracting and spreading it. That’s why the infection rate is high and the death rate low. The reason we have restrictions is because if the infection reinfiltrates hospitals, care homes and the vulnerable the death rate will rocket. So we are taking measures to protect our most vulnerable in society.

I agree op. And to those saying "its not lockdown, things are open" - well not being able to see my friends/family in my house or their house - that may as well be lockdown.

Totally disproportionate measures imo.

But as others have said - only covid matters.

OP: people aren't dying.
Mumsnet: that's because restrictions are in place to prevent people from dying.
OP: but people aren't dying.

Because by the time deaths start increasing, it is too late - as it will be hard to control. Isn’t that what we learned from the first round and Italy and China?

And why are we ok that our police force are spending their time breaking up 'gatherings'

What about the murderers, rapists, drug dealers, paedophiles.....who's tracking them if the police are stopping people from meeting up?!

Why do we think we can do the impossible - controlling an infection?

Please dont quote New Zealand.......it's not a huge travel hub with millions upon millions of people living in close proximity