Any sign of a lockdown round your way? Cos there isn’t one here.

[Generalconfusion]

I’m in England. This morning the school run was the usual massive slog through traffic. Not just other school run parents, lots of people who looked like they were driving to work. Taxis. Full buses. Not one tiny bit quieter. At lunchtime I went for a prescription and town was bustling. People chatting in groups. Town has lots of shops like Poundland, the Range, B&M - all packed. No cafes but groups of teens from the secondary schools and uni sat on walls and steps in the square having lunch. Tonight - fireworks at the neighbours where a group are having a bonfire gathering - maybe 8? My kids were in school today in large so-called bubbles of several hundred each.

This isn’t going to work.

Normal around here, I am glad to say.

Most of the shops in our village (supermarkets, pharmacy, newsagent and pet supplies/medication) are allowed to open anyway.

I don't want a repeat of March / April, thank you very much. I began by being on board with that lockdown but very quickly changed my mind after seeing first hand what damage it would wreak on people's livelihoods. Absolutely do not want a repeat performance and I accept that my original opinion on lockdowns was poorly informed.

"A local massive country park is open but a ten minute drive away. We were unsure if we were allowed to travel to it."

You are allowed to travel short distances to exercise. We will be going to our regular exercise/ outdoor recreation places all of which involve driving up to about 45 mins but won't be travelling to ones we rarely visit which are further afield.

I would probably drive twenty minutes or cycle a bit longer to a place of outdoor recreation. I might not drive several hours. In the first lockdown I didn’t even get takeaway or drive anywhere even though it was allowed at points, but once they opened up shops, pubs and restaurants I wondered why I had bothered! I will stick to the letter of the law now rather than being stricter as they have obviously decided that will be enough. It will even take into account a certain level of non-compliance.

I am in London too.

I was surprised that lots of 'regular' shops were open, like newsagents, flower shops, cafes (places like Pret) for takeaways and there was a fair number of people on public transport. I could see/hear fireworks display in the local park too in the evening. Roads as busy as usual.

Most shops are trying to rebrand themselves as essential and find some way around the rules.

That was predictable though....

The government did the worst thing it could do by having the scientist show data on their slides on Saturday that has since been discredited as being widely over-cooked. Johnson seems to have lost control. Testing/track and trace is daily mess. No wonder many people are just fed up with it and stop believing politicians know what they are doing.

I am working from home, I wear a mask and use hand sanitisers but I am not locking myself in all day for the next month...I will continue to shop when needed and spend as much time as I can in my local park.

[quote Remmy123]@StealthPolarBear it says exercise. Going to a national trust for a walk would be classed as exercise. They cannot list every place because people have common sense!

Go for the walk 😂[/quote]
I probably will thanks. Just surprised the only mention of exercise in the list of reasons we're allowed to leave the house is under the heading of meeting others. No mention of exercise as a single household.

I am not waiting for guidelines to tell me what to do. I don't want or need an instruction manual.

If it is open then I can and will go if I want to.

I went across town to get petrol this morning after doing the school run. Normally I wouldn’t consider that because the traffic would be horrendous.

YAWN

I love it when people go out and about and then complain about people going out and about.

'The shop I am in is SO busy'
'The traffic I am in is SO busy'

It's very quiet here, in my house, by myself.

@Vargas

I love it when people go out and about and then complain about people going out and about.

'The shop I am in is SO busy'
'The traffic I am in is SO busy'

It's very quiet here, in my house, by myself.

So do I, and that is exactly what OP and others like her are doing.

I am going to do my shopping later. Shall I come back afterwards and complain about how many people have the nerve to be using the supermarket at the same time as me?

Yes I live near the metrocentre a big mall in Gateshead. I drove past yesterday and the car park was dead. Even though some shops are open. The retail park with b&m etc was ver quiet as was Starbucks drive thru.

Traffic is definitely reduced but I did head out a traditional rush hour time yesterday and it was slightly busiernthan earlier in the day.

The lockdown we had was a one time thing. All this lockdown is doing is killing businesses.

During spring lockdown I could walk in the road. Went out for a walk yesterday it took me 5 minutes to cross the same road. Lockdown! What lockdown?

It was definitely quieter here, people seem more cautioue about social distancing again, like at the beginning of lockdown.

@annabel85

During spring lockdown I could walk in the road. Went out for a walk yesterday it took me 5 minutes to cross the same road. Lockdown! What lockdown?

That’s because the rules are different this time. People are still going to school, university and college. People can still go to shops and to click and collect. People can go to work if they can’t work from home. People can travel for exercise. There isn’t one clear definition of ‘lockdown’, and the March version isn’t the one accepted version of lockdown. In fact even then people were saying it wasn’t a ‘proper’ lockdown. There is bound to be more people out and about this time as the rules are different. I don’t know why people are surprised by that.

Quiet here, live in city centre, in the SW. People in the park sitting on benches, mainly in twos. Mums with babies. Botanical gardens still open thankfully (Shh maybe they haven't ad the memo) but quiet in there as well.

I live in the south west, and it is definitely lockdown what lockdown here, I am pleased to say. Normal levels of traffic, everyone working, most shops open because they have found a way to be essential (in order to survive) All NT open and everything looks as normal!

I am not worried, the measures taken should be enough to hold down the infection rate as much as we need to. I am keen to avoid an NHS meltdown, so I support some restrictions, but we must carry on as much as possible - as safely as we can.

I am country town based, I expect it is quieter in cities, but here we are all getting on with life.

It's like a ghost town here. I drove DS to the bus stop this morning and barely met another car. Plenty of School buses but very few cars.

(apart from the one lodged in the shrubs on a nearby roundabout mirror, signal, manoe..... Oh bugger )

It’s still just as busy here, roads into town busier than the rest of the week, buses full, lots of people about exactly as you describe where you are OP. Nothing like in March but then kids are still in school and midd sad t people I know who were furloughed or working from home last time are back to working out of the home. It certainly looks no different here and I agree it’s not going to do anything to bring cases down.

100% preferring this lockdown :)

It isn't lockdown. Apart from the fact that SOME shops are closed, this is nothing like any kind of restriction.

Several sets of neighbours were outside in my street for a firework party, in one of their front gardens. About 20 people. No social distancing. Just like any other day. Groups of teenagers milling about locally in the evenings too, as normal.

I live in sight of a busy road. First lockdown it was empty. Today, it's exactly the same as it was at the start of the week, traffic queues etc.

@VelvetSpoon

It isn't lockdown. Apart from the fact that SOME shops are closed, this is nothing like any kind of restriction.

Several sets of neighbours were outside in my street for a firework party, in one of their front gardens. About 20 people. No social distancing. Just like any other day. Groups of teenagers milling about locally in the evenings too, as normal.

I live in sight of a busy road. First lockdown it was empty. Today, it's exactly the same as it was at the start of the week, traffic queues etc.

It's very much just business as usual but with a few more businesses destroyed.

What difference it'll make to Covid numbers/hospital admissions is anyone's guess.

@33goingon64

OP, I'd give up if I were you. The other current thread, about The Range, has demonstrated that your concerns aren't welcome here today. I agree with you that people seem to be not complying as much this time, possibly demonstrating a lack of care for others and potentially (ironically) extending the lockdown, but I think you're pissing in the wind. Try again next week maybe!

Pissing in the wind is what these half arsed measures are.

National Trust place we are going to is about 30 miles away, there is no limit to travel in the regulations, if there was we would adhere to it but I am damned if I am going to stay in so some other peoples children can go to school and to satisfy Mumsnet

This is a different lockdown to the first one but still lots of businesses and activities are now closed which will reduce potential for the virus to spread. Pubs, gyms, etc etc.
I'm sure the analysts have a good idea of the rate of compliance and have spent a long time deciding just how much lockdown is needed to prevent the NHS being in the invidious position of having to decide who to treat.
Yes, the data that was presented may not have been the most likely projection. But the NHS is still saying that capacity is at critical levels.