I'm calling it - people aren't complying.

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Local lockdowns aren't working. The North has proven that. Why would it be different in London or anywhere else for that matter? People have stopped complying. They did it in March when it was implied by Bojo that it was going to be a 3 month thing, but as it has become abundantly clear that that this is going to be a way of living until there is a vaccine, and there is no guarantee on a vaccine, people have just said sod it then, I'm not living that way.

I won't be complying. I'll be continuing to see my mum and my sisters. I'd obey it to the letter if it was a 2 week circuit breaker, but as it's clear we're going to have to live this way until at least next Spring, no, I won't be complying.

And for those who say "oh well that's why cases are going up" - until this government kicks itself up the arse and gets a functioning test and trace system in place, they always would anyway. Either it's lockdown or it's cases rising. And most of us aren't prepared to live without seeing family or friends (yes, indoors!) until Spring.

And BTW I always wear a mask and keep the 2m distance from anyone I don't know. Rarely go into shops. I WFH.

Well it's a good job that a lot of the population do actually comply then isn't it as if we all had this attitude we will get absolutely nowhere.

It's about keeping as many people out of hospital as possible so that the NHS does not collapse. So perhaps think about if your Mum or sister had an accident - not Covid related - but the local hospitals are full of covid patients and then your Mum / Sister cannot be treated. Then you might decide it worth while in complying if the NHS becomes overwhelmed. But you carry on doing exactly what you want hey because you are obviously special and rules don't apply to you.

the time should have been used to sort out a testing system and put proper measures in place for schools. I strongly believe the damage to the economy - which funds public services - is so extreme as to make further restrictions unethical.

Completely agree.

I agree OP this whole situation is nonsensical at this point. The rules aren’t ‘confusing‘, they’re just illogical.

Well it's a good job that a lot of the population do actually comply then isn't it as if we all had this attitude we will get absolutely nowhere.

Clearly they don't though as cases in local lockdown areas are rising, that is literally my point.

FFS. Idiot.

^^The thing is that yes, if I passed covid onto my father (or whoever) and he died, yes I would feel bad.

But I would also feel bad if I'd passed flu, norovirus or chickenpox (he hasn't had it) on to him and he'd died.

Someone please tell me what the difference is, on a personal level.^^

This! I would also feel bad if my 80 year old grandparents miss anymore of their only great grandchild’s growing up for them to then die of natural causes.

Great, good for you.

And if everyone followed your lead there would even more rises in cases

It’s a balancing act between opening the schools and the economy and protecting everyone, young or old

And if people are not prepared to follow rules then it just means this continues on and on

But crack on , don’t do your bit, but then dont come moaning when actually there is no nhs bed for a family member, or someone in your family ends up with long Covid

Because can you actually guarantee that whilst you take care when seeing your mum or sister they do the same? Or are they meeting friends , working out of the home, using public transport, shopping, have kids at a different school or in a different bubble to yours so the chance of contact gets bigger

@roarfeckingroarr did you not see the documents shared earlier in the year for prioritising healthcare in the event the NHS would become overrun? Aside from that large swathes of the U.K. have hospitals that are reaching high occupancy. Another thread quoted that NI had 12 ICU beds available - it doesn’t take more than a couple of large motorway accidents and a couple more Covid admissions to fill that capacity at which point there would be no more ICU beds available and alternatives or prioritisation would be applied. I would not want to be the 13th person. If health services become overwhelmed, it will not “just” be the elderly and vulnerable suffering, it will be our pregnant friends unable to get appropriate post emergency c section care, young men injured in RTCs unable to get care. We need to work as a country and make sacrifices now for the benefit of those we don’t know, in the hope that others are also making those sacrifices for our loved ones.

I agree OP.

I also don't feel the restrictions work well which is why people are catching it again, the messages have been lost - people don't understand covid, its all about washing hands and nothing about the fact it lives in the throat and emits into the air!
There is nothing about room ventilation, Germany has handled this so well and they have a big push on room ventilation, dc take blankets in....air the rooms...restaurants are not opening windows! BUt have hand gel on the table ! Many schools that could thin out their student populations are not doing it. They are not getting on line...

Also people like to say "if it were ebola you wouldn't mind locking down" and "if it killed children you wouldn't mind locking down"

Utterly irrelevant. It isn't ebola and, by and large, it doesn't affect children.

And presumably that was in spite of local lockdown, yes? So how has it helped?

No it is because people are not following the rules. People like you

March lockdown was different. People were told it was for 3 months.

No they did not say it would be for 3 months. Why do people keep saying this?

They told us there would be rolling lockdowns, that they could last at least 18 months, and they have told us this over and over again

Obviously those of us with any sense knew it wouldn't be, but the general public as a rule did not expect it to be. It's clear, as a long term strategy, lockdowns will not work.

Lockdown did work, obviously

They need to get test and trace sorted and why people aren't up in arms about this I really cannot fathom.

Not enough people are getting involved with T&T. Just like too many people are not following the rules

If we had a proper system in place we could be back to a semblance of normality by now. This government is utterly shambolic.

The Gov't have put things in places, but people are not complying and now you say you won't either
But it's all the Gov't fault? Really?

I dont actually think the rise in cases is down to compliance. I think its down to where the transmissions are occurring. Sky news had figures on transmission on their site about a week ago which clearly showed over 60% of recent transmissions were from school, university and workplaces. Only maximum 11% were from household transmission, and that was bunged in with international travel and unknown sources of transmission. I dont think people not complying is the reason cases are rising. I think its because the main sources of transmission are still open.

I am about to give birth to my second child. I wont be complying if they tell me not to see anyone. I need support when my DH goes back to work after 2 weeks. I am not losing my mind with a 1 year old and a newborn, stuck in a house day in day out, sore and stitched and utterly exhausted. I will have my mother over.

I am not advocating we shut schools and workplaces by the way. I think we just need to be realistic about where cases are coming from.

@lurker101

I hope all those deciding not to comply realise that’s they are increasing the risk of transmission to those they are choosing to see and are happy to live with potential consequences. I will not be breaking the rules as I couldn’t live with the consequences. In my view it’s many people deciding they are exempt from the rules that is elongating this (alongside the obvious issues with test track and trace).

Yep, quite happy thanks.

I agree. I’m in the north under tougher restrictions and people have had enough.

Back in March people were scared of this new unknown illness but now it’s been around a while, it’s not as deadly as initially thought, many people are asymptomatic despite testing positive. We can’t live this way forever, we can’t shut every thing down and let people lose their homes, destroy peoples mental health and businesses go under all for a mild illness!

BTW I am all for decreasing transmission and each family will be different, some are massive - in those cases maybe I wouldn't see them, but in small families i do not believe visiting a parent or sister will massively have an impact.

Because can you actually guarantee that whilst you take care when seeing your mum or sister they do the same? Or are they meeting friends , working out of the home, using public transport, shopping, have kids at a different school or in a different bubble to yours so the chance of contact gets bigger

Well in their case no, as both WFH, order shopping online and don't have any friends nor any school aged children.

My area has been in local lockdown for months. I've complied with the rules and I haven't been in another house. I lost a family member recently and still didn't go into another house, even to help plan the funeral or to comfort relatives and receive comfort myself whilst we are all grieving.
People in newly locked down areas declaring that they are not going to comply make an absolute mockery of the sacrifices I and many others have made.

The pandemic has really highlighted to me how incredibly selfish many people can be. I have really changed my opinion of a few people who I previously respected.

Comply or don't comply, OP. I doubt there will be any consequences for you personally, and it would appear that you don't give a toss about anyone else, so what have you got to lose?

My mum goes out to walk the dog, wearing a mask, and that's pretty much it.

Everyone I know (well enough to know the ins and outs of their lives) is complying, with the odd small exception of having 7 people in their house with the visitors are all from the same household. I'm more than complying - I have mostly met up with people outside even if we could have met up inside. However, I don't worry too much about social distancing outside, as the risks are much lower outside. But I don't know anyone who is breaking the rules majorly, like having big groups of people to visit.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't invite thirty people round for a party. But I will still see small groups of family.

I will comply as it’s the right thing to do by others.
I don’t want to be responsible for someone else’s illness or worse.

that’s the crux of it, I know my risks but I don’t know yours. Whilst our children all share ludicrously large bubbles we are all responsible for each other.

I am not smug in that conclusion, complying for me is fairly easy. But I know for others it’s utter torture and heartbreak.

I will wear a mask and social distance when I need to. I will even keep my social contacts to a minimum. But I will be seeing my family and they agree. My DP works long hours and I have a 7yo, 5yo and 5 month old. I need the support and company of other adults during the week. My nanna died last week of old age after having missed out spending her final months with her family and great grandchildren. I had a baby in lockdown and thankfully she got to meet her once.