If there was another pandemic in 10 year...

[HforHavana]

What would you expect?

Knowing what we know now about a worldwide pandemic and how to handle one (or how not to handle one), what would you expect the government to do and would you personally do anything differently having already lived through one?

Probably shut the borders immediately given that we are an island, too late now but back then.. .

There should have been an effective track and trace in existence BEFORE the pandemic. As soon as the virus was discovered in china, all international travel should have stopped.

I think it's quite likely there will be more pandemics - SARS emerged in 2002, MERS in 2012, and SARS-COV2 in 2019 - so your scenario is, unfortunately, quite likely.

I think governments will be much more willing to clamp down hard and fast, and I think there will be considerably more public support for them to do so

Shut the borders immediately

This one will still be ongoing surely?!

Countries sharing hospital spikes of virus

Borders slamming shut

I agree borders shut. I'd like to be able to say 'just' mandatory quarantine for new arrivals but it's pretty clear people can't be trusted to comply with this enough.

I would expect:

1. Our pandemic planning to always be kept up-to-date now.

1. To have vast stocks of UK-made PPE. We will ensure it is in date by issuing any coming up to expiry to the healthcare system and re-stocking the pandemic supplies.

1. Councils to put together local track-and-trace systems which will come into force the minute a pandemic is declared.

4.The Govt to close the borders, except for freight.

1. The wearing of masks would immediately be made mandatory in all workplaces, retail and hospitality locations, schools etc save for the exempt.

I would expect a system for those who are exempt such as photo card ID issued by the NHS (with some kind of in-built security so it cannot be forged).

1. Depending on the time of year, I would expect all councils to seal off beaches and areas of natural beauty.

1. Border controls between UK countries.

1. Hospitality shut immediately.

1. Legal ban on holidays in the UK including travelling to stay at second homes.

10. All restrictions to be enshrined in law and enforced.

11. Teaching by Zoom or similar with routine as per school timetable.

12. Lots of moaning and whingeing with people looking for ways that restrictions don't apply to them.

@Calmandmeasured1

I would expect:

1. Our pandemic planning to always be kept up-to-date now.

1. To have vast stocks of UK-made PPE. We will ensure it is in date by issuing any coming up to expiry to the healthcare system and re-stocking the pandemic supplies.

1. Councils to put together local track-and-trace systems which will come into force the minute a pandemic is declared.

4.The Govt to close the borders, except for freight.

1. The wearing of masks would immediately be made mandatory in all workplaces, retail and hospitality locations, schools etc save for the exempt.

I would expect a system for those who are exempt such as photo card ID issued by the NHS (with some kind of in-built security so it cannot be forged).

1. Depending on the time of year, I would expect all councils to seal off beaches and areas of natural beauty.

1. Border controls between UK countries.

1. Hospitality shut immediately.

1. Legal ban on holidays in the UK including travelling to stay at second homes.

10. All restrictions to be enshrined in law and enforced.

11. Teaching by Zoom or similar with routine as per school timetable.

12. Lots of moaning and whingeing with people looking for ways that restrictions don't apply to them.

I agree with most but number 8 is just crazy... Nobody will ever start a hospitality business again with the worry it will be shut straight away if one is called... Insurance would be huge

6 I don't agree with either, restrict the numbers on beaches, beauty spots by all means but god people need to be able to get outdoors. Make a restriction on distance travelled from home of say 30 miles.

Shut the fucking border, cancel foreign holidays and quarantine returnees at government run facilities.

Stick to the pandemic preparedness plan.

Have someone half competent in charge.

I don't understand why the public health workers involved with the novichok poisonings weren't consulted re track and trace. They must have had a wealth of expertise to offer.

I thought we had a good track and trace system that we already used for salmonella outbreaks etc but the government gave contracts to private companies instead?

1. Stop flights from hotspots
2. Close borders if international spread continues.
3. Brief hard lockdown.
4. Test and trace mobilised.
5. Managed repatriation of citizens and permanent residents with quarantine (at home, prison terms for breaches).
6. Open (internally).
7. Vaccinate.
8. Open borders.

@Drogonssmile

This one will still be ongoing surely?!

Maybe thats the government plan, mess up this time. Get barred from all other countries. Next pandemic, no problem as no one visits or leaves the UK so next virus doesnt cross boarders to UK winner winner

🤔🤣🙄

Move to New Zealand?

Not just the government but I have told my children to get a pandemic fund going. Savings that you just never touch. Whether they will have the means to do so is another thing given the difficulties this country will be in.

We have too many exceptions to rules. Where is the scientific explanation for allowing so many reasons for exemptions here, when there are no exemptions in other countries --with significantly lower rates-?

I honestly dont think I could ever handle this again. My DC is hanging.by a thread

I don't understand why the public health workers involved with the novichok poisonings weren't consulted re track and trace. They must have had a wealth of expertise to offer.

Because it was much better for.Boris's mates to make money out of.it

Disclaimer: I am bitter

I read that they are more likely due to climate change, humans encroaching on wild spaces and encountering more animal species etc. We're lucky this one is easy on children.

It would be exactly the same if we still had a Tory government

Maybe worse ?

I’d expect there to be much less disruption and for the government to spend the next decade building capacity and flex within existing systems to handle a pandemic when it crops up. In the event the NHS survives the current pandemic (which is unlikely), the government should ensure it is properly and fully funded and staffed.

Maybe we’ll have adequate numbers of medical staff and funding so we can actually open and run specialist treatment hospitals rather than just building them and leaving them empty 🙄

For a lockdown to be eased gradually.

I knew we were screwed when we went from lockdown to people being able to travel anywhere without restrictions.

I live in a coastal area and it went from a couple of people on the prom exercising in lockdown, to not being able to safely walk the dog by the sea within days. It was dangerous, and not just from infection risk. The number of skaters, cyclists, walkers, swimmers, wheelchair users, dog walkers, all trying to use the same space was scary and unpleasant.

It should be a sliding scale:
lockdown
Stay in your local area
Stay within 10 miles
Stay within 25 miles
Roam free!

No international travel either