Are you ready for another 6 months of restrictions ?

[Xtfc123]

Does anybody think that this will all be normal by March/April, no more masks or restrictions ?
Ready to 'do your bit' and not see family and friends and have restrictions on your lives until potentially summer ?

@wanderings

Great post, I agree with everything you are saying. The public are very "passive" at the moment. A grumbling and growing disquiet that could quite easily erupt.

The mass testing in schools next week seems almost like Christmas lockdown by stealth.

Most of the restrictions don't bother me as I am not massively sociable. I don't care about wearing masks in shops, either, doesn't bother me at all. I like working from home.

It would be nice to have parkrun back though.

I also don't think it's worth saying some countries handled it better than others. Germany appeared to have handled it very well but is struggling now, for example.

With the benefit of hindsight, we could have potentially "bubbled" with Ireland and locked everyone out in the same way that AUS/NZ, Guernsey and Isle of Man did, except that we couldn't because of all the freight that comes in by lorry.

@wanderings

The more we comply the longer this goes on for. Sadly, I think there is a certain truth to this. The government are making the most of the public so far remaining docile, and are squeeeeeeeeezing (as Boris would say) every bit of compliance that they can out of the public, before they finally wake up.

Although they won't admit it, the government probably are afraid of at best, mass public disobedience, and at worst, riots, possibly on the scale of 2011, if people get really angry. So far, they have managed to avert this, with a good dose of spin, scaremongering, terrifying figures, scientists told what to say, hushing up the protests which do happen, carrot and stick messages, and lies (no wait, this saintly government never tells lies). Because the public are largely remaining docile and compliant, and Boris is probably breathing a sigh of relief about that every day, I believe the government are stringing out the restrictions for as long as they believe they can get away with doing so, before the public decide that enough is enough; they're probably praying that they can get enough vaccinations done to make the figures look good before a big public revolt. They know that they are on borrowed time with public compliance, but so far they have managed to keep the majority of the public blissfully duped and docile. So far those who do challenge the government are being labelled (by their fellow citizens) as "Covidiots", "Covid Deniers", "Granny murderers", but the tide is turning.

They probably have a backup plan (or is that giving them too much credit?) for when it looks like a public revolt might happen; they've probably decided which restrictions they can quickly jettison if they need to calm the public down. "Oh look, Uncle Boris is allowing all the pubs to open this weekend only!"

To what end are the Government hoodwinking us all into compliance?

@wanderings

The more we comply the longer this goes on for. Sadly, I think there is a certain truth to this. The government are making the most of the public so far remaining docile, and are squeeeeeeeeezing (as Boris would say) every bit of compliance that they can out of the public, before they finally wake up.

Although they won't admit it, the government probably are afraid of at best, mass public disobedience, and at worst, riots, possibly on the scale of 2011, if people get really angry. So far, they have managed to avert this, with a good dose of spin, scaremongering, terrifying figures, scientists told what to say, hushing up the protests which do happen, carrot and stick messages, and lies (no wait, this saintly government never tells lies). Because the public are largely remaining docile and compliant, and Boris is probably breathing a sigh of relief about that every day, I believe the government are stringing out the restrictions for as long as they believe they can get away with doing so, before the public decide that enough is enough; they're probably praying that they can get enough vaccinations done to make the figures look good before a big public revolt. They know that they are on borrowed time with public compliance, but so far they have managed to keep the majority of the public blissfully duped and docile. So far those who do challenge the government are being labelled (by their fellow citizens) as "Covidiots", "Covid Deniers", "Granny murderers", but the tide is turning.

They probably have a backup plan (or is that giving them too much credit?) for when it looks like a public revolt might happen; they've probably decided which restrictions they can quickly jettison if they need to calm the public down. "Oh look, Uncle Boris is allowing all the pubs to open this weekend only!"

Do you always make stuff up like this?

@Wigisfashion83

Yes but the likes of JVT have hinted that we will still have restrictions even after vaccinations for some time. So people are just getting sick of it now, because they can't see an end to it. It was 'just 3 weeks' in March, then it was 'just a few months', now 'just a year' is questionable too.

'Just a few weeks' in March was for the relatively strict lockdown, although it turned out longer because of the decision to delay locking down in the first place, which made it longer to clear the first wave. Things eased from May and by July a lot of things were back open and millions were off jet setting abroad.

Restrictions were never going to be just a few weeks and this winter was always going to be tough. Asking people to comply next year once we get to Easter will be a tough sell.

Although they won't admit it, the government probably are afraid of at best, mass public disobedience, and at worst, riots, possibly on the scale of 2011, if people get really angry

These things if they happen happen in the summer (ordinarily).

The fall out from Brexit and the jobs catastrophe from Covid, restrictions and a No Deal Brexit will make the country a powder keg next summer if loads of restrictions are still in place. The government know the importance of a phased return to normality from March/April.

Different time yes, but horrendous hardships/losses that make WFH, not being able to head off to Corfu for 2 weeks, soft play being closed, etc etc pale into insignificance really.

You have no idea. Literally no fucking idea what life is like for millions of people at the moment. I pity you.

Different time yes, but horrendous hardships/losses that make WFH, not being able to head off to Corfu for 2 weeks, soft play being closed, etc etc pale into insignificance really

Yeah coz that’s exactly what I’m bothered about, not being able to go to soft play and Corfu.
Nothing to do with me having lost my job and livelihood, a close relative being on end of life care due to delayed cancer treatment, being unable to get any help for my developmentally delayed child as the services we need are just starting to deal with April’s referrals... just soft play and Corfu.

To what end are the Government hoodwinking us all into compliance?
Because they know very well that they can't force public compliance: they can only persuade the public to comply, even though they would never say so. They simply don't have the police numbers to force it (after they cut police to the bone); instead their propaganda has been all about persuading people as much as possible, and the easiest way for them to do it is to paint it all as big, scary, confusing, dangerous, deadly, so that the public believes that Uncle Boris knows best about what to do. I'm sure it was extremely strategic to have Boris say "we are bringing in the army": lots of people then thought of the army patrolling the streets, to keep people in their homes. Even though they won't ever admit it, lockdown and other restrictions can only happen if they keep the public on their side.

Just suppose that all the pubs in England decided to have an organised revolt, and that they would open on one day in lockdown, no matter what the roolz were: although the police might pounce on a few of them, and it would be splashed all over the papers the following day, there's no way they could catch them all. Yes, a few would lose their licences afterwards, but the government would not be able to stop the immediate problem; and they wouldn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs (booze tax revenue).

They really don't want to have to deal with a public riot, as well as everything else, so they are having to play their cards carefully: they're hoping they keep the public "restrained" just enough to prevent riots, so they can later say "we locked down, the public obeyed. We cured Covid, then we let them out, the public were grateful, and will thank us eternally when it's all over. We have a fantastic relationship with the public, they will vote us in next time." They're basically playing every card they can to keep the public believing in their cause; and the easiest way for them to do that is to keep lying, scaring, exaggerating, and pitting the public against each other. They decided to allow a certain movement over Christmas: not out of goodwill, but because they know that otherwise, people would break the rules on that anyway, so they decided to "appear" to be reasonable, they have a reason for dragging out restrictions after that, and they can blame the public later.

As for the poster who asked "do I always make stuff up?"
Why not ask the government the same question?

@wanderings

As for the poster who asked "do I always make stuff up?"
Why not ask the government the same question?

Typical deflection. I was asking you.

I'm not making anything up. I am observing (as best as I can, with their hiding everything) what the government appears to be doing, and speculating on their possible strategy, just like everyone else.

Do you always make stuff up like this?

@wanderings was presenting it as opinion, not fact, so that makes no sense. Opinions are always, to some extent, ‘made up’.

Nope and I won't it's that simple

Even though they won't ever admit it, lockdown and other restrictions can only happen if they keep the public on their side.

What are you talking about? They have 'admitted' it, in as much as there have, from the very beginning, been very public discussions by the scientists, media, advisers and politicians about how forcing the public is, or should be, less effective than ensuring the public have trust, and have faith that actions taken in the interest of public health are in the interests of everyone. Of course, this government have utterly fucked this up from the start - but that's not the point you are tryi g to make.

...and please stop calling him Uncle Boris, it's not working as the image you are trying desperately to portray (unless you want people to think of Uncle Bulgaria - in which case....well done)

[quote majesticallyawkward]@CoffeeCreamandSugar the tier is not based solely on cases per 100,000. It's a complex algorithm that takes into account hospital capacity among other things, so an area with more capacity in hospitals could in theory have more cases per 100k because the NHS trust could cope with more patients needing care (that is a very simplified explanation, I'm not an expert on the finer details, but you could find more info online I'm sure).

The main aim of lockdowns and restrictions is to try to stop hospitals becoming overwhelmed rather than actually stopping the spread, the infection rates don't tell the whole story and can be quite misleading.[/quote]
I’m not sure about that to be honest. We have two hospitals in the county and they are on black alert as there are no beds left apparently

@Userzzz That is what throwing already low socioeconomic people into greater despair does

Because naice middle class families never abuse their children ?

@wanderings

I'm not making anything up. I am observing (as best as I can, with their hiding everything) what the government appears to be doing, and speculating on their possible strategy, just like everyone else.

I definitely think the government need to pull out all the stops to get us back to normal as much as possible by Easter. As you say they can only impose any of these restrictions with compliance and once we get to a year of this crap and nothing being any better patience with that will have worn very, very thin.

@MadameBlobby Ive reached that stage im afraid.
Not helped by the fact that #oneruleforthem still persists and there are more and more examples of this happening every week
Kay Burley gets six months off on full pay for breaking tier 2 restrictions. Wigan man gets £200 fine for having cup of tea at friends during second lockdown.

Go back and watch old seasons of Hospital on BBC Iplayer, hospitals are frequently closed due to lack of beds. This is nothing new in winter. But rather than Flu or Noro causing it, its covid this time.

What is driving me mad is the people who seem to think we're all just moaning because we cant go to Primark and pubs. I mean seriously, are you so short sighted that you think those are the big reasons why folk dont want to continue to follow restrictions!!

From a personal point of view I'm okay in so far as mine and DHs jobs are secure, we were not big pub goers (more on account of having young kids), and not lovers of "retail therapy".

But, we had friends who we were banned from seeing. Family we havent seen since last year. I run a karate club for kids, we had to stop that, lost half our students upon the return and those kids were missing out! DH and DS went to jujitsu and DS had only just started and LOVED it, hes missed out.

They may seem trivial, but these kinds of social enrichment and healthy activities for kids are important!

School when there is no consistency, the ability of teachers to forward plan for in person and online classes can not be easy. Our kids deserve a consistent and FULL education!! They are this countryside future!

Those pubs and shops that close are other peoples ability to keep a roof over their families heads! That car salesman needs the commission to put food on the table!

We are shutting down society for a virus that over 95% of people will survive. Even the over 80s and vulnerable will in the vast VAST majority survive it. We can beat about long covid, but post viral illnesses arent new. I was bed bound for 5 months after glandular fever as a teen!!

Viruses kill, they always have and they always will.

I for one have mostly followed the rules, I wear the fucking masks and I distance and I WFH but i wont be following it as much come Spring.

Other countries like Spain, who had the hard lock down other MNetters cream themselves over didnt work, they are as bad as us. France who put their poor students in Chalk circles and masks up everyone permanently likewise have been in our position too. This just demonstrates that it isnt the answer!

Other countries like Spain, who had the hard lock down other MNetters cream themselves over didnt work, they are as bad as us. France who put their poor students in Chalk circles and masks up everyone permanently likewise have been in our position too. This just demonstrates that it isnt the answer!

It absolutely amazes me that at this point there are still posters on MN blathering on about we should have had a 'proper lockdown' like Spain... At this point it's so clear that it was pointless cruelty that endorsing it is just admitting that you hate people and want them to suffer.

@Hardbackwriter I think they want us to follow China and New Zealand with welding people in to their homes and having the covid concentration camps.

On the flipside what annoys me, is that if I think that we needed some sort of restrictions to curtail the spread of the virus over the last 9 months, and will continue to as we roll out the vaccine...and think that, unfortunately, due to the fuck ups of the government so far, that there has to be some sort of intermittent lockdowns...that must mean I am a smug mumsnetters, languishing in SAHM comfort, 'creaming' myself at the restrictions and with no clue of how hard this whole fucking awful year has been.