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

183 replies

Generalconfusion · 05/11/2020 21:50

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.

OP posts:
Hayeahnobut · 06/11/2020 10:12

Some people don't even know that we are in lockdown. Looking at local FB groups, "What night are the public fireworks on?", "Where's good for Sunday lunch?".

The messaging has been poor all along, but now it's non existent.

BiddyPop · 06/11/2020 10:19

Near me, yes the school run is busier than ever (well, it has been since September) - lots more walking and cycling than before, and also a lot more cars on the roads as people are not using public transport or sharing lifts like they used to.

However, beyond that, it is very quiet.

I needed to go to the main street to get something on my way back home and apart from a queue outside 2 coffee shops and the artisan bakery (also does really good coffee), it was extremely quiet.

The bookshop/newsagents I was in had 1 person for a newspaper, 1 for a magazine and I (magazine while I was in getting clipboards). The bookshop upstairs is closed to the public, but you can order a book to be collected downstairs.

No clothes or other shops open on the main street. And very very few people out and about, except those clearly going into an office, and construction workers on a site.

Public transport operating at 25% capacity, masks mandatory.

And everyone is wearing masks in shops, and mostly when out walking etc.

I don't know what it's like beyond our own area - but I know we are in lockdown for a good few weeks (were level 3 for about a month, and went up to level 5 a fortnight ago). And I know that it is working in our local area as case numbers have dropped from 290 per 100,000 population to just 110 per 100,000 population.

And it is slowly dropping elsewhere as well (mostly - some parts of the city we're on the outskirts of are not seeing reductions yet).

annabel85 · 06/11/2020 10:22

What's the problem with fireworks? We were going to have some tonight with our bubble but they've all sold out

Oh great, so another night of rockets and bangers and a terrified pet.

Ignoringequally · 06/11/2020 10:24

@annabel85

What's the problem with fireworks? We were going to have some tonight with our bubble but they've all sold out

Oh great, so another night of rockets and bangers and a terrified pet.

Do you enjoy anything in life, @annabel85? You are so very very negative.
feelingverylazytoday · 06/11/2020 10:29

The messaging has been poor all along, but now it's non existant
No, it isn't. It's been spelt out very clearly. There have been two press conferences, social media, and the government's own website. Anyone who hasn't got the message by now must be deliberately ignoring the news, or just a bit thick.

Ignoringequally · 06/11/2020 10:30

The messaging has been poor all along, but now it's non existent

They can’t make people watch the news, read the newspapers, look at the government website or watch the press conferences I guess. The information is freely available through all of those channels.

WhentheDealGoesDown · 06/11/2020 10:35

5 million people don’t have access to any internet, so they cannot access websites to read the regulations,

JoeBidenIsGreat · 06/11/2020 10:40

OP went to the shops, drove on the roads & then complained about other people in the shops & driving on the roads...

It's very noticeable that people are out here walking, neighbours I rarely see are out walking. I haven't been to shops so can't comment.

sherryshelidan · 06/11/2020 10:47

@Underhisi

"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.

Thank you
3littlewords · 06/11/2020 10:52

Oh the irony! OP you were obviously out and about yourself to see everyone else supposedly breaking the rules. What makes you so special that you can go out and they cant?
You've seen secondary and uni students sat outside eating lunch, where do you suggest they eat lunch? Inside a crowded canteen? Confused

Aragog · 06/11/2020 10:57

I teach so my working day will stay much the same, when I return - currently recovering from covid. I'll go to work, teach in the same way, possibly grab a sandwich from the local shop, go home, maybe have a supermarket delivery at some point, etc. Instead of walking to the local pub for tea once a week we will pick up a take away version to eat at home.
Dh is still going into the office 3 days a week. Similar system since he went back after last lockdown. On the non office day he will either work from home or go out and see clients in their gardens, etc.

It will only really be weekends that will be different. nothing like last lockdown for us.

PaperMonster · 06/11/2020 10:58

Yesterday seemed pretty normal. This morning it has seemed quieter on the main road through the village I live in; sadly though we seem to have returned to Lockdown 1 standards of driving, ie lots of speeding and failing to even slow down at the mini-roundabout in the centre of the village.

dollychopss · 06/11/2020 11:02

@Remmy123

Oh ffs - you really want/expect people to stay in doors shit scared like March?

People arnt scared now. People want to live thier life. There was no need to lockdown.

Well said
Aragog · 06/11/2020 11:15

Why shouldn’t the roads be busy, as long as people are not car sharing?

Even car sharing is allowed apparently, for work purposes at least.
Not for driving lessons and tests though, despite that being their work.

NorbertMeubles · 06/11/2020 11:18

If the shops are open, people can go in. Lockdown isn't going to be anything like March as it is not the same lockdown. Basically, it's life as normal without restaurants and pubs open for us to sit in. It's a farce and we all know it.

Topseyt · 06/11/2020 11:19

@Aragog

Why shouldn’t the roads be busy, as long as people are not car sharing?

Even car sharing is allowed apparently, for work purposes at least.
Not for driving lessons and tests though, despite that being their work.

Driving lessons are allowed. My DD has one later today. Mask needed, temperature taken each time. Driving schools haven't been told to stop this time. Nor should they.
Frostedlantern · 06/11/2020 11:20

Bless you op, you must be really upset that everyone isn't cowering in their homes like last time, scared to go for a walk longer than an hour. How disappointing for you.

I really don't think you understand just how many people are in jobs that keep the country going.

Topseyt · 06/11/2020 12:26

Sorry, I stand corrected. DD had a call this morning saying that lessons are suspended.

bathsh3ba · 06/11/2020 13:02

We haven't been out (kids still on half term till next week) but I live near a main A road and it sounded as busy as usual.

monkeymess · 06/11/2020 14:24

The roads have been quieter around here yesterday and today, but still busier than they were in March (as you'd expect, with school runs and deliveries still happening). But it was very quiet in the evening last night. We have lots of bars/restaurants in the area which are usually busy but of course they're all quiet. The buses I see going past are virtually empty outside of rush hour. If you live somewhere more residential and mostly with essential type shops then it's not going to be much different.

Tumbleweed101 · 06/11/2020 17:34

I have only been to work and back so no idea what it’s been like in town. Our area is fairly quiet anyway. I’ll be sticking to lockdown rules but the impact is less this time while the children can still go to school

Aragog · 06/11/2020 17:41

Topseyt

Not allowed in England.

Aragog · 06/11/2020 17:43

@Topseyt

Sorry, I stand corrected. DD had a call this morning saying that lessons are suspended.
Ah, missed this.

Yes, all suspended along with driving tests too.

But car sharing for work purposes is allowed apparently, but for some reason driving lessons/tests aren't included in that.

Any sign of a lockdown round your way? Cos there isn’t one here.
TheGreatWave · 06/11/2020 20:25

But car sharing for work purposes is allowed apparently, but for some reason driving lessons/tests aren't included in that.

I'd imagine that it is because car sharing is a limited number of people, but lessons/tests would be multiple people over the day.

TheGreatWave · 06/11/2020 20:30

I have just been out (to go to do MIL'S medication and an essential shop) The shop is on a main road into town, and also has a lot of restaurants and pubs so is used as the first stop. It was unbelievably quiet, so that is when the most difference is.

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