Further Restrictions 'Stricter than March' Needed

[Bewareoftheblob]

From the Telegraph today:

Sage advisers are calling for a lockdown tougher than the one seen in March as they argue the current restrictions do not go far enough.

Professor Susan Michie, a health psychology professor at University College London who sits on a Sage subcommittee, said more stringent action was needed.

While around 90 per cent of Britons are sticking to the rules there are also "more people out and about”, Prof Michie told the Today programme.

"It should definitely be tightened,” she said. "This is quite a lax lockdown because we’ve still got a lot of household contact, people go in and out of other’s houses. We should have stricter rather than a less strict lockdown than we had in March.

“You have this wide definition of critical workers and therefore you’ve got really busy public transport. There's also this new variant, and we have the winter season and the virus survives for longer in the cold.”

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Do you think they'll follow through with this? Reduce the amount of children in schools, ban support bubbles, heavier policing of people going about their daily lives?

Once a week wouldn't work because the majority of the population would see it as ridiculous. There aren't enough police to police it ( or army and that isn't their role anyway). It would have to rely on other's reporting which a large proportion of the population wouldn't do or mobile phone data being used to track people's whereabouts ( which is what is done in some other countries) but I can't see that being popular here.

I was going to say how on earth will they track how often people are leaving their houses. We have hardly any police left, and there is no way to force people to have some sort of tracking device. What about people with no gardens? That's actually cruel.

You shouldn't be anywhere that's busy at the moment. If it is busy turnaround and go home.

The guidance states I'm only supposed to go out once a day so if I go for a walk and turn around because it's busy does that mean I shouldn't go again?

(I'm aware this is currently only guidance and not law)

@Sockwomble I don't think mobile phone tracking would work (thankkfully). A lot of people don't have a smart phone and, even if they do, they don't always have it with them. I rarely take mine if I'm going to the corner shop or for a walk.

They should concentrate on where infection can happen, so strict control on numbers in shops, no families out together. You could go out 10 times a day and not meet anyone, it's when people are in close proximity inside that's the problem.
People less likely to go for a trip out to B&M if there's a 20 minute wait to get inside and you have to go on your own. Likewise if there's a long wait to get into the supermarket people will naturally restrict their shopping frequency because it's a pain to queue.

I think they should stop so many people sending kids to school - but they have to compensate companies whose workers have to take time off to care for them, and compensate freelancers directly.

They should also close all the takeaways or make them delivery only - no takeaway or click and collect. People are popping to Starbucks as an outing.

A couple of easy measures would be

• 1 person in shops (where possible). It would stop the family outings, couples browsing etc. It's more or less how it was in the first lockdown.
• takeaways for delivery only. In the first lockdown my local Costa wasn't open at all. Now there are big queues outside and people are arranging to meet.
• exercise from home. I know it's not popular on Mumsnet, and there are some for whom it's difficult but it must be possible for most. For me it would mean walking on suburban streets, nowhere near as nice as driving to parks, but doable rather than not be able to go out.

Anyone can see that this lockdown isn’t as strict as last March. Numbers of cars on the roads, kids needing school places, people going in to work etc. The NHS where I live (not London) is already overwhelmed in the opinion of ICU staff that I know.

Everyone remembers the worst parts of March lockdown & wants to avoid that again, be it stress, financial, loneliness or helplessness.

The question is, will this half-arsed lockdown be enough to get the r-number down. At the moment it doesn’t seem likely - meaning it will drag on and on until enough people have been vaccinated.

I blame Dominic Cummings for so publicly showing people that it’s ok to put yourself before the general good of the population.

non essential shopping You can't break the rules by shopping, unless you are going to a shop which is open illegally.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/10/tighter-restrictions-cards-concerns-grow-public-compliance-coronavirus/

Ministers considering tougher lockdown restrictions on exercise and face masks

Unfortunately we have been sold a pup by the government. They are 'trying to look tough' whilst not putting their hands in their pockets to pay for it.

It's all very well Chris Whitty talking about you staying at home if you should and 'minimise contact with other people' .. with what seems to be - absolutely no acknowledgement that a huge amount of people CANT AFFORD to follow this 'advice' as it's not 'Law'.

If he really does want this then he has to stop pandering to the politicians and come out and say ' coffee shops' need to close (that desperate for coffee then make a flask) . Takeaways should close (cook your own food for 4 weeks) or at least make delivery ONLY.
Last but not least. CLOSE ALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL. And REQUIRE them to furlough their staff. At the very least restrict the sales to that which is deemed 'essential'. For example Garden Centres. If they are allowed open because they sell pet food then limit them to that. The one in my village , walked past yesterday to see car park rammed. Very few people out buying pet food. They were out for a Sunday wander round the garden centre looking at plants ! With all the other Covidiots.

@Graciebobcat

non essential shopping You can't break the rules by shopping, unless you are going to a shop which is open illegally.

No you can't 'break the law' .

But you can exercise some common sense and social responsibility.

We don't need a law to tell us that going shopping when not essential is idiotic. Getting to the stage when I am beginning to think that when these people end up in hospital taking up an icu bed that they get what they deserve. They really can't say they haven't been warned.

... but then they will probably recover eventually . But the person at home who has had a catastrophic but curable health event . Brain haemorrhage, stroke, heart attack dies because the ambulance was stuck in a queue delivering Covidiots to hospital.

@Trickyboy
If Coronavirus has taught us anything it is that there is a large section of our society that does not have common sense and doesn't give a damn about social responsibility.

I blame Dominic Cummings for so publicly showing people that it’s ok to put yourself before the general good of the population.
Exactly, and Saint Boris giving him his blessing, waving the issue aside with "can we pleeeeeeeeeeeease mooooooooooooov on?"

With the discussion on "which celebrities should front the PEOPLE WILL DIE campaign": for a laugh (as Boris loves a laugh), he could get Dominic Cummings to say "people will die". People will quiver in fear before his severe spectacles.

No you can't 'break the law' .

But you can exercise some common sense and social responsibility.

We don't need a law to tell us that going shopping when not essential is idiotic. Getting to the stage when I am beginning to think that when these people end up in hospital taking up an icu bed that they get what they deserve. They really can't say they haven't been warned.

I understand that people shouldn't be popping out for the odd thing but the problem is some people don't want us buying 'non essentials' when we're shopping. What's the harm in buying wine, chocolate, flowers etc when you're shopping?

... but then they will probably recover eventually . But the person at home who has had a catastrophic but curable health event . Brain haemorrhage, stroke, heart attack dies because the ambulance was stuck in a queue delivering Covidiots to hospital.

I'm sure it's comforting to people who lose their business, home etc to know that they 'will probably recover eventually'.

I absolutely agree with Pastanred.
I was furloughed in March, then started working from home, then back on office.
Boss has now given us letters in case we’re stopped by police & wants us to continue working in the office. It’s madness. I’m having to ask elderly parents to keep checking on my children because I’m leaving them at home, or gave loosing my job. Every morning I’m crying in the shower. Organisations need to be told what is essential & what isn’t.

Thank you for that information, concerning Susan Mitchie. I'm feeling like a prisoner, as someone who would normally be out and about everyday. Due to depression and not getting on with the other person in the house. This lock down is making me feel physically ill as well as mentally.

Stop saying well Cummings did it so why not me! Its history and looking at this thread its clear that people have their own excuses as to why xxx is essential for THEM! Someone claiming that they need to buy BIG knickers and PREFER to go and look at them as opposed to buying online. People bleating they really do need a coffee and to drive miles to walk because its a beauty spot.

Firstly big knickers are not essential! Buy online.... You might prefer not to but tough!

Driving miles to take exercise is not essential. Walk outside your front door - I know the view is not so good but come on - its not essential to have a good view.

A take way coffee is not essential. Clogging up cafes, not SD, fussing around wanting sugar, less milk etc. Take a flask. My DS works in one such place. The fuss people are making hanging around, asking for napkins, very hot coffee, bringing in the whole family. Although he will lose his job if they close people have become obsessed with them.

Masks are essential though in supermarkets and stop the couple and family shopping. Too many people are spoiling it for others. Asthma is claimed - if they are challenged but they rarely are. Husband is too dense to do the shopping on his own, get a slot, maybe not tomorrow (because they arent any!) but think ahead. Stop trying to make excuses for YOUR situation. if you really must go supermarket shopping the just one person go in. Why does it need to be both of you, or worse the whole family!

You might prefer to do something a certain way but we are in very uncertain dangerous times.

@Bathroom12345

Stop saying well Cummings did it so why not me! Its history and looking at this thread its clear that people have their own excuses as to why xxx is essential for THEM! Someone claiming that they need to buy BIG knickers and PREFER to go and look at them as opposed to buying online. People bleating they really do need a coffee and to drive miles to walk because its a beauty spot.

Firstly big knickers are not essential! Buy online.... You might prefer not to but tough!

Driving miles to take exercise is not essential. Walk outside your front door - I know the view is not so good but come on - its not essential to have a good view.

A take way coffee is not essential. Clogging up cafes, not SD, fussing around wanting sugar, less milk etc. Take a flask. My DS works in one such place. The fuss people are making hanging around, asking for napkins, very hot coffee, bringing in the whole family. Although he will lose his job if they close people have become obsessed with them.

Masks are essential though in supermarkets and stop the couple and family shopping. Too many people are spoiling it for others. Asthma is claimed - if they are challenged but they rarely are. Husband is too dense to do the shopping on his own, get a slot, maybe not tomorrow (because they arent any!) but think ahead. Stop trying to make excuses for YOUR situation. if you really must go supermarket shopping the just one person go in. Why does it need to be both of you, or worse the whole family!

You might prefer to do something a certain way but we are in very uncertain dangerous times.

Some people cannot shop alone, some people cannot wear masks, some people cannot get delivery slots for weeks (rather than days). It's not always about what people 'prefer'.

All very well for people on here to talk about tighter restrictions. But nobody has mentioned the thousands of people who suffer from depression, who had a routine to get them through. Which has been wipes out almost a year ago, suicide rates are up. There is more than covid in the world. Also what about household where children are mis treated only sanctuary they had was school. Now having to stay at home. Violent, drinking, abusive households.
To the people who say "just stay at home " there's nothing "just or home" about it!!!!

But most people can shop alone, most people can wear a mask. Those who can’t are having life made harder by those who won’t.

Too many people are looking for ways around the restrictions. Too many people are bending things to suit them and that is going to lead to things being made tougher for everyone.

I think those who talk about this being a “half-arsed” lockdown must be having a very different experience to me. It feels as restrictive as March did to me. Perhaps it’s because actually the restrictions aren’t equally spread across different groups of people, so some people are suffering quite badly. It’s a shame those who find it easier and want more restrictions can’t see that.

Driving miles to take exercise is not essential. Walk outside your front door - I know the view is not so good but come on - its not essential to have a good view.

It's not always about a good view. I live near the river and even walking around the streets is busy so I could drive somewhere a lot quieter. I'm just not bothering to go for a walk though which isn't ideal

I agree some people really cannot wear a mask but they are a tiny minority.

Most people can shop alone. They prefer not to...

And a lot of people are stating MH issues for everything they choose to do. Everyone is fed up, bored, wishing it was over.

What has happened now is that there are no checks on people not wearing masks, not shopping alone, everyone who is not doing this has xx reason. Some are not genuine and the rates are going up. So for a short length of time we are going to have to do things differently.

Sirzy. - yes the people who wont are spoiling it for the ones who really cant. That doesnt mean that the people who really cant are people who not spreading the virus. We need to start asking people for proof of something not just allowing them to self assess.

@Sirzy

But most people can shop alone, most people can wear a mask. Those who can’t are having life made harder by those who won’t.

Too many people are looking for ways around the restrictions. Too many people are bending things to suit them and that is going to lead to things being made tougher for everyone.

I agree that most people can. But many can't and those who call for blanket enforcement of people shopping alone, no mask no entry and so on don't seem to understand that.

The ones who just choose to shop in groups, not wear masks etc make life so, so much harder for everyone though, I agree. They need to take a long hard look at themselves.

I completely agree. But that would involve having a system whereby people could be registered properly as being mask exempt and until that happens we have to trust people sadly.