Everything is so normal! Well in my city it seems to be

[Christmaspud20]

I've nc for this. Because I'm going to say where I am.
I live in Southampton and honeslty apart from masks, odd shops starting to squirt sanitiser on our hands it all feels normal.
Fair amount of traffic. (expected school run times etc)
Parks are rammed.
Shops are busy, no distancing

I went to home bargains today and it was packed, Literally couldn't move.
And yes I was doing the same as everyone else. I'm not complaining I'm just saying how it felt normal.

Apart from one person on my fb who shares covid info everyday and is very by the rule. Everyone else seems to be still seeing people in groups, in and outdoors. Photos in pubs when they were open in huggy groups. Etc

I'm not perfect, I've gone out for non essentials for Xmas because I don't want to be I that manic rush in Dec.

I just feel its pretty normal if it wasn't for following the news I could actually belive there wasn't a pandemic.

Is this the same elsewhere?

@User158340

Even worse if idiot Rishi brings back the eat out scheme for December! I can't believe it's even being considered.

He should at least rename it to 'Eat out to get the virus'.

Yes or 'Eat out to spread the virus'

What a plank.

@Parker231

I’m envisaging a really strict lockdown, (limited supermarkets open, all over shops totally closed) between the end of this lockdown and Christmas with the threat that if people don’t stay at home, restrictions will remain in place over Christmas and NY.

If smaller (non food) shops aren't allowed to open in December, they'll never open again. Christmas trade is the only thing that will save them after they've already suffered months of lockdown and low sales (due to low demand and supply chain problems) throughout the year.

Same applies to self employed/freelancers who rely on the festive season, such as DJ's, kid's party organisers, events planners, photographers, etc etc. Many are hanging by a thread and many have already lost their businesses, savings and homes etc.

I do think a lot aren't seeing this as a lockdown

Has anyone in govt ever actually used the word 'lockdown' to describe these restrictions? I don't believe they have.

It's a meaningless word really. This time last year, most of us had never uttered it in our lives.

@Badbadbunny - I totally agree about the disastrous impact onto businesses. Going to be very difficult to get the balance right when hospitals are cancelling routine surgeries due to being full of Covid patients.

I'm in Exeter, very close to the main shopping area and it is very different to normal. Just been to M&S, the foodhall is open but very quiet, the clothing part upstairs is also open and completely dead, there looked like about 5 people in the entire store. Lots of retail, book stores etc closed, Superdrug open but again only half a dozen people there. The square in front of the cathedral has plenty of people sitting around eating Greggs and Mcdonalds but just in their little huddle and then moving on, everything is closed on the square.

It's a shame to see everyone just give up. We'll pay for it over the next few months.

Its really hard.
In terms of the virus spreading it would probably make more sense to keep smaller shops open but to close schools and universities.
But there are so many disadvantages to children and young people missing education.
And agree with PP a lot of shops will rely on pre Christmas trade to get them through winter. January and february are usually pretty lean months, if they can't open in December I think that will be the final nail in the coffin for many businesses.
BUT with figures like yesterday its clear we need to do something to try and stop the spread....

@loobyloo1234

'normal'

Honestly, in the kindest possible way, what a load of shite. There is nothing normal about shops/bars/restaurants being closed. And nothing normal about having to wear masks everywhere in everywhere that is open

This absolutely!

@User158340

I can't see how it's going to bring the numbers down anywhere near enough. Should have done it earlier & harder.

The half arsed measures won't do anything and ensure we go into Christmas with figures either similar to now, or worse.

Then when everyone meets up with all their families over Christmas and new year, it'll go through the roof in Jan-Feb.

I think the same.

The message only leave home for essential reasons doesn’t appear to be followed by many and the amount that will do as they please at Christmas will make for an awful January.

@MadridSun

I think the stay at home message had definitely not been emphasised enough this time around.

Too many people are feeling like they can go out and about as much as they want while not visiting closed locations.

The legislation actually makes clear that it is a criminal offence to leave he without reasonable excuse (this has not been made clear).

In France, you have to carry a form explaining exactly why you are out.

Imo the message should be clear "stay at home unless you are a key worker, essential exercise once a day for 1 hour absolute maximum or essential shopping once a week (not the Range ).

Why do you want us to be like France? An hour per day is not long enough for exercise. We need a population that's as fit and healthy as possible for facing all the winter illnesses..

@User158340

It's a shame to see everyone just give up. We'll pay for it over the next few months.

Completely agree with you. We shouldn't be giving up on living and the things that bring is joy. We should be living the fullest lives possible.

In the NW and feels like normal here despite being in a hot spot. Everyone I know is still going to work. Dog is still going to day care.

Makes me realise how boring our lives are because work and dog walking sums it up. I miss the cinema but otherwise I'm used to mask wearing and hand sanitizing. It has become my new normal.

I haven't left the house since lockdown began, as sure as I can be that all of my friends are following the lockdown rules.

Neighbours all seem to be following them to.

That's probably why are numbers are pretty low here and have been since the previous lockdown was finished.

(South East)

My DM is in Stoke where numbers are still rising quite a lot and says a massive garden centre (that's about 10% plants, 90% gifts and home ware) is rammed.

Madrid sun. That's truly horrific. I wonder how those children's vitamin d levels are? Their fitness levels, their mental health. What an awful thing to do to children. How can that be ok! Poor kids.

Not being under house arrest is not a privalege. It's the default for humans.

I applaud my friends, family and neighbors for leaving their homes. Why would anyone want to see them incarcerated? They need exercise, fresh air, daylight and human interaction. These things are essential to physical and mental well-being.

Brighton here, everyone crowding up in each others faces as normal, beach, lanes and shops packed. Was in Sheffield for work last week, apocalytically deserted by comparison

Liverpool totally normal here.No one I know works from home so by default are therefore rekaxed as they and kids put mixing all day.Went to a diff office in work yesterday - 15 people huddled in tiny room and some play fighting. No one cares under 50 generally. People still mixing. Garden bbqs popular round here

I'm in Liverpool and this is such total bullshit. It's actually really annoying to see such shit being peddled. I wfh as do a lot of people I know, but some colleagues are still based in the office and there is strict social distancing in place and it is adhered to. People are not still mixing. None of my large family or friends group have seen each other. It's my mum's birthday today and she is sat in the house on her own because we can't be with her. And garden bbqs? In the middle of November? yeah course theres loads of them, that's really happening, just so popular .

Xici just because it’s not happening in your social circle doesn’t mean others aren’t! My nephews a 2nd yr Liverpool uni student - he said it’s party central in student houses - every night - not halls as they’re monitored but private homes yes

Most my mates are nhs and worst culprits for mixing- all still running on groups, yes to bbqs and kids house parties

My workplace has about 45 close contacts but it’s bigger and no one I know has been tested, no one is distancing and yes everyone is meeting who they want and when

I’m 44 so most my contacts similar age

And no one I know would miss their mums birthday

DC in Spain weren't allowed to leave home at all for 2 months during the first lockdown in order to keep people safe. No exercise, no nothing.

The Spanish govt should be ashamed of themselves for inflicting such cruelty upon their nation's children. And given that Spain has had one of the worst resurgences in Europe, they haven't done such a great job of 'keeping people safe'.

If you usually do nothing your life feels like normal i guess.
If you normally see friends go to theatres and live music events.
Play sport go to the gym
Eat out meet friends ....then no

My mum has an underlying illness Ginogineli that means covid could be fatal so if you and your friends would risk your mums life for a birthday party you are fucking fools

For those who have mentioned Liverpool, have you been for a Covid test?

I'm part of the ONS survey Parker231 so am having them weekly at the moment