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?

@Bathroom12345

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.

No, we don't need to start asking for proof because there is none.

The government should perhaps have a scheme in place whereby there's a discreet card shoppers can show staff with no mention of condition, just that they're exempt. But until such a thing happens 'proof' isn't a thing. And there are those who will just assume that everyone shopping with someone else or not wearing a mask is a pisstaker.

I am against the mandatory measures although I follow them so I have a different view from a lot of people on here. Sweden took a different and better path.

@Xenia

I am against the mandatory measures although I follow them so I have a different view from a lot of people on here. Sweden took a different and better path.

Sweden have recently introduced restrictions because their 'different and better path' wasn't working.

Yet the Financial Times which today had an article on Swedish changes makes it clear it is things like recommended to wear a mask and for children 13 - 16 - the school decides if it closes - so still a much better way.

eg But as of Thursday, face masks are necessary in rush hour on public transport even if there will be no sanctions for not wearing them. www.ft.com/content/b376ae27-4889-4f54-803d-8507de9dcb7e

My friend is mask exempt because it makes her hot apparently!
She's also one that would pop to local corner shop 3 or 4 times a day. Loaf of bread, snickers bar, fancy something savoury. Or just because she's allowed!

She's disgusted that soft play is closed because now she can only take her dc to the park or shop and their bored!

She would hate if they introduced a once a week to leave the house.

All this stuff about proof, registering bubbles, exemption cards, permits - who is going to administer this? Especially if people also want key worker childcare and school places restricted in terms of category and number of parents with those jobs and who can wfh. There just isn’t the capacity for this kind of workload.

If someone really cannot wear a mask then they shouldn't be in enclosed public spaces eg shops. Similarly if people cannot shop without another adult to help them then they shouldn't shop. Other arrangements should be put in place to ensure such people get essential supplies.

I know that is harsh but we all have to accept some restrictions along with some responsibility to protect ourselves and others. I would much rather a very hard lockdown for a few weeks than this dragging on for months more.

@HoppingOnSteppingStones

My friend is mask exempt because it makes her hot apparently! She's also one that would pop to local corner shop 3 or 4 times a day. Loaf of bread, snickers bar, fancy something savoury. Or just because she's allowed!

She's disgusted that soft play is closed because now she can only take her dc to the park or shop and their bored!

She would hate if they introduced a once a week to leave the house.

I’m not “one of those” and I would also hate the introduction of once a week to leave the house. You want to keep me at home unable to go out with a baby and toddler for days in end? Well it’s your taxes that will have to pay for my care when my PND gets out of control.

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

Isnt it better to drive to somwhere less busy? Better view and less likely to spread the virus.

Sorry you are feeling that way... you need to think about things that can help you and if it means planning to head out everyday to grab a bottle of milk and have a good walk in nature... you do it. Don’t let people’s opinions create ill health inside you... get yourself well and get your strength and self esteem back as a priority.... it’s called extreme self care.... Cheryl Richardson has written and amazing book you should read as a stage one xxx

Thank you - I am fine - but I wouldn’t be with increased restrictions to my already restricted life

She would hate if they introduced a once a week to leave the house

I think most sane people would.

Regarding mask wearing, I always wear one where I legally have to. I was in the shopping centre a while back and suddenly felt faint. My lips were tingling and I could see black spots. Rather than passing out I took off my mask and stood out of the way for a few minutes. Anyone looking at me wouldn't have known I didn't feel well but I was worried in case someone had a go at me. People choosing not to wear one cause problems for those with genuine reasons.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

If someone really cannot wear a mask then they shouldn't be in enclosed public spaces eg shops. Similarly if people cannot shop without another adult to help them then they shouldn't shop. Other arrangements should be put in place to ensure such people get essential supplies.

I know that is harsh but we all have to accept some restrictions along with some responsibility to protect ourselves and others. I would much rather a very hard lockdown for a few weeks than this dragging on for months more.

But there isn't anything else in place, that's the point. Just saying 'people should stay at home' isn't good enough.

Incidentally lots of people who can't wear masks still have to go to work, use public transport to get there, attend medical appointments and so on - what do you suggest they do? You can't take your own bloods or walk four miles to work or do that work from home necessarily.

If everyone who was able to follow the restrictions did so then it would be perfectly possible to have support bubbles working well, very few people not wearing masks (only those who cannot), etc. Unfortunately many people are too selfish to think of others and it makes it very hard for those who legitimately need support and understanding.

@MerciSeat that's why I said other arrangements need to be in place. So people who can't wear masks should be like people who are shielding. Allowed to wfh or furloughed if they can't. Shopping organised for them if needed. I suspect such measures would weed out those who claim they can't wear a mask but really can from those who have a genuine rea

sorry, phone froze mid-post

....genuine reason for not doing so.

It doesn’t make it hard for me if people use support bubbles incorrectly. What makes it hard is people suggesting that means that bubbles shouldn’t be allowed. It’s the ones who want extra restrictions and the “this isnt even a proper lockdown” types who make things harder for me. I think most people are doing their best to just get through. It must be very stressful wanting to police others all the time

Emma - you put it better than I did!

I am in London, I see people wearing masks, shopping alone, streets are dead, park empty the hour we go in the morning. Traffic noise from the main road is minimal, neighbors never have guests and pre tier 4 they had people in the garden lots. Our school has two kids in the class going in, the rest are on zoom. I don't see all these people not following the rules that others do. We have been in lock down a week, let's see if this works before new restrictions.

@Pastanred

The issue with this - and I’ve said this throughout - is the legal mixing

The bubbles
The advice that ‘you can work if you absolutely can’t work from home’
Every business is milking that statement now they’re covid secure in theory

I worked from home 7 months from March but suddenly I’m full time and I’ve been given a key worker letter to use if stopped by police!

I’m not key worker but boss says I am now

I’m not alone

I don’t know a single person working from home

This creates false sense security

I work with 40+ people in an office building

All these people forced into work this time now need childcare etc

This is the problem in a nutshell. Every business finds a way that it doesn’t apply to them.

[quote EmmaGrundyForPM]@MerciSeat that's why I said other arrangements need to be in place. So people who can't wear masks should be like people who are shielding. Allowed to wfh or furloughed if they can't. Shopping organised for them if needed. I suspect such measures would weed out those who claim they can't wear a mask but really can from those who have a genuine rea[/quote]
The problem is there's nothing like that in place. And people just insist that those who are exempt should just stay at home and if we don't we're (as a pp so delightfully put it) 'cunts'.

Until such a scheme is in place people need to understand that we have no choice but to carry on as we are and perhaps direct their ire elsewhere - at a government who hasn't made such support available, perhaps. It's not our fault and no amount of abuse, threats or disdain can change that.

Going to work or buying essential food or having blood tests is not behaving selfishly or recklessly. We are not the same as people who host illegal raves or drive 150 miles to walk up a mountain.

Sorry, the poster calling disabled people cunts was on another thread, not this one (I haven't had my second coffee of the morning yet!).

i drive to somewhere less busy, less chance of meeting others. i also drive to work in that area 4 times a week

"Driving miles to take exercise is not essential."

It is for some ( a very small number yes) but even the government guidance accepts that so all this absolutely no one needs to drive anywhere is incorrect.