Two week circuit breaker - who's in favour?

[zafferana]

Keir Starmer is in favour - so are you?

If they did it over the next two weeks I actually wouldn't mind that much, as it's half term.

Lockdowns are a middle class indulgence for those that can wfh and are well off

No one can speak for a whole class. My DH works a WC job and is pro lockdown.

Working class and frontline workers will suffer more from the fact the virus is out of control.

Decent furlough/welfare is what is required.

Lockdowns are a middle class indulgence for those that can wfh and are well off. In the real world there is economic devastation happening around us.

I'm able to work from home (although I absolutely hate it and would be in the office tomorrow if they'd let me) and have been since March but I do know how lucky I am.

No! I would be very angry if that happens

@Revealall You live in a different universe from the people you are describing (:surely a solid lockdown every two weeks with paid time for those that have to be off is more doable than weeks of uncertainties?")

You do realise that we don't get paid if we have to have time off? I have said, already, that I work in hospitality. I am self employed. I haven't had a sick day in 20 years. I have done my job while vomiting into a plastic bag, and with a broken leg. If you run a business, you don't get time off. You have to be, literally, dead not to go to work.

I used to have a proper job (pre-DC). I remember having a week off with pleurisy ("Long Flu"). As a self-employed person, I have dragged myself to work with every ailment under the sun, because I will provide for my children come what may.

Covid can fuck off.

@MrsExpo There was 95% compliance in the first lockdown. If Corbyn had fucked up in as massive a way with hypocrisy, the gaslighting over ppl like Cummings and T and T ppl would be calling for his head on a stick.

I'd rather keep the economy going and throw money at making the NHS and care sector capable of coping with the volume of cases. Much better spent than spending all that money on some workers staying at home for a couple of weeks/months to avoid short term overload of the NHS.

In favour. I don't think it would necessarily reduce rates that much, but it might stop the increase. A half term with people moving all over the country, with children mixing in soft plays and on trampolines is not going to be great for transmission. I've told my children I don't think we should be doing indoor activities, but 11 year old DS argues that if it's not against the rules it must be OK. I wish I had such faith in the government's rules.

It won't work. It will destroy businesses and people's livelihoods, destroy families and mental health...all for what? Once we unlock, the virus will return.

Even countries who completely eradicated the disease are having some sort of second wave.....unless you lock down the whole world, it will creep back via imports, travel, visitors, goods transfer. And that's if you even manage to get rid of it completely from every part of the country, which is highly unlikely.

We need to learn to live with the virus, work much harder at measures that lessen the spread, look at developing treatments which work on those hospitalised and of course, the vaccine which may assist (probably in similar manner to flu' vaccines) in limiting the damage in the future.

Yes. For 3 weeks though.
Everything closed except non essentials (food, power, carers) including schools. Children of 2 key workers (or 1 if single parent) allowed to go to family member while key worker parents are working as an exception.

Keyworkers to mean keyworkers (E.g. not supermarket staff canteen workers- surely they can take a sandwich?!) and not a 30 page list of questionable claims.

@OhMyDarling

Yes. For 3 weeks though. Everything closed except non essentials (food, power, carers) including schools. Children of 2 key workers (or 1 if single parent) allowed to go to family member while key worker parents are working as an exception.

Keyworkers to mean keyworkers (E.g. not supermarket staff canteen workers- surely they can take a sandwich?!) and not a 30 page list of questionable claims.

I take it you or your OH have jobs (and income) which are protected in this event?

It will destroy businesses and people's livelihoods, destroy families and mental health

The virus remaining out of control will do all these things too, sadly

@WanderingMilly

It won't work. It will destroy businesses and people's livelihoods, destroy families and mental health...all for what? Once we unlock, the virus will return.

Even countries who completely eradicated the disease are having some sort of second wave.....unless you lock down the whole world, it will creep back via imports, travel, visitors, goods transfer. And that's if you even manage to get rid of it completely from every part of the country, which is highly unlikely.

We need to learn to live with the virus, work much harder at measures that lessen the spread, look at developing treatments which work on those hospitalised and of course, the vaccine which may assist (probably in similar manner to flu' vaccines) in limiting the damage in the future.

Well said.

Not in favour at all. Last time it was meant to be 3 wks whilst we flattened the curve to save the NHS.
We now seem not to know what we're doing or why - though we seem to be making a half hearted effort at suppression, which will clearly not work - and the NHS will have to be sold off as we won't be able to fund it. Whilst that no longer bothers me, I think it bothers us as a nation so we should be wary of ruining our economy even more.

@PracticingPerson

It will destroy businesses and people's livelihoods, destroy families and mental health

The virus remaining out of control will do all these things too, sadly

Actually, it won't, on the whole, as the average age of people who die with Covid (not "of" Covid) is 82.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

There are plenty of countries who have managed to keep it suppressed

Which countries would that be? Can you list three, with conditions similar to the UK.

North Korea doesn't count.

About 180 countries have had better results with their coronavirus strategy than we have, but I get you get the impression you'd like to dismiss them all.

But the facts remain the facts.

We could emulate the most successful countries with the best results.

Or we could have another couple of years like this one.

I vote not to have any more years like this one and to switch to methods that have worked in other countries.

Yep, but I would go for a month. I want to see the country and business starting to move by Christmas

I would rather let it run through us now. It is obvious it's going to happen eventually so let's get it over with.

Actually, it won't, on the whole, as the average age of people who die with Covid (not "of" Covid) is 82.

You misunderstood me @RonaLisa, I mean the virus out of control will fuck the economy, which will destroy livelihoods, families etc.

I'm not dismissing anyone or any country.

What I'm saying is that some comparisons are very naive.

No, no, no!
I'm work in the NHS in substance misuse. The amount of suicide, attempted suicides, domestic violence, child neglect etc, I've had to deal with is unreal. In some services there still aren't any face to face support.
Me and my colleagues aren't getting any extra support with our mental wellbeing. We're exhausted, we're mentally struggling and there is going to be a lot of people going off sick with stress if we can't get some more normality soon.
I have one lady who has attempted suicide
8 times since the beginning of September. This is due to the thought of isolation and lockdown again. All their support is taken away.

If they use the time to put a better test and trace system in place (i.e. give it to local authorities to run) then I would be in favour.

On a more personal level, if this significantly increased the chances of me being able to spend christmas with my family then I would be in favour.

If it's a poorly planned, unsupported, agony-prolonging hotchpotch of ineffective, timewasting measures then they can fuck right off.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I'm not dismissing anyone or any country.

What I'm saying is that some comparisons are very naive.

I think your reasons for dismissing countries are overly simplistic.

I don't think it is naive to consider what could be learnt.

@Varjakpaw

Yes and I will happily continue to work in school to support vulnerable and key worker children.

@Varjakpaw you are a wonderful person ❤️

It’s a yes from me too, and I’ll do what I can to help.

No, totally against it.
It wouldn’t work, we don’t live in a country that obeys by fear of repercussions from the government. We don’t live in a country that follows the rules.
So along with mental health issues, disruption of education we are adding to the financial problems our children will be paying for in the future. They will be the ones lumbered with paying off the massive debt covid has brought with lockdown.
Business can’t cope, there will be even more unemployment. If you think things are bad financially now, they will be considerably worse in the future if there is another lockdown.
Our track and trace system will not miraculously improve in two weeks and neither will our testing capacity.
I all honesty I believe we should financially compensate the old and vulnerable and set up a system to look after them. Have everyone wear masks outside of their homes and just try and get our country and lives back on track.

No

It should only be done if it's going to be enforced by the police and TTI is being improved behind the scenes.

Not all areas have high rates and the hospitals are far from overwhelmed in some areas.