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?

It is blatantly obvious from TV coverage/Social media and all aspects of reporting, that a great many individuals are not complying with government advice regarding lockdown rules. The people who flout the rules do not care or even give a thought to the danger they may be causing to others. I am a gentleman in my 80's, classed as vulnerable, and have basically been confined to my house since March 2020. I don't have any answers for this terrible situation that this country finds itself in, and indeed the rest of the world. I am almost relieved that I possibly wont be around to see the inevitable outcome to the selfishness of a small proportion of the human race. The situation is obviously out of control...figures prove this.

Yes, the figures do prove it Diggy. But some just have their own personal reasons for thinking they are exempt.

@Bathroom12345

Yes, the figures do prove it Diggy. But some just have their own personal reasons for thinking they are exempt.

No. Some people are exempt. We don't think it, we are, and the neurologists/consultants/HCPs who look after us agree. You saying otherwise, or trying to pile on the guilt when we feel bad enough already, won't change that.

Of course some people are exempt. But there's no way that all the people who aren't wearing face coverings in supermarkets are exempt.

At least 20-30% of adults aren't wearing them, by my observations.

Plus many of those who do wear them aren't covering their mouth and noses (see dick nose, chin bras and ear hangers) leaving maybe a third of people who are wearing a mask effectively.

I have a Costco membership and they have been stricter than many shops throughout. I've seen the door person tell people to put their mask on properly, which people do, to enter the store, but the second they pass them, they pull it back down under their chins.

@BarbaraofSeville

Of course some people are exempt. But there's no way that all the people who aren't wearing face coverings in supermarkets are exempt.

At least 20-30% of adults aren't wearing them, by my observations.

Plus many of those who do wear them aren't covering their mouth and noses (see dick nose, chin bras and ear hangers) leaving maybe a third of people who are wearing a mask effectively.

I have a Costco membership and they have been stricter than many shops throughout. I've seen the door person tell people to put their mask on properly, which people do, to enter the store, but the second they pass them, they pull it back down under their chins.

Costco's much lauded ban on anyone not wearing a face covering in-store is working well then.

I don't have the stats to hand but I believe the vast majority of the spread of new variant is through hospitals, care homes, schools (when open) and indoor workplaces.

Whilst it's cathartic to point out those not wearing face masks, they're unlikely to be a big cause of spread.

Most people are compliant, unfortunately this new strain appears to be super infectious. We just need to get our heads down and get on with it in terms of mixing as little as we can until we can get vaccine delivered to significant number of the vulnerable. Being locked in a cycle of hate and othering isn't going to change the situation.

The Guidance says you can travel for exercise (within your area) and even the government are travelling 7 miles for exercise.

Travelling for exercise (within your area) is allowed under the Guidance and is not an area where further restrictions are needed until there is any evidence that exercising in open spaces (as opposed to on narrow crowded pavements) causes increased virus transmission.

@rookiemere I agree.

Obviously it doesn't help when people (who could be more careful - not the genuine ones who can't) flout the mask or social distance/meeting rules.

But I do think you're right - there are bigger systemic problems with the places you outline. Plus many more people moving about/using schools as they are 'key workers' (now a much expanded category - for example university staff on campus are in work whereas we were all furloughed or WFH last March).

This means a hell of a lot of people are obliged NOT to 'stay at home', who otherwise would.

Following up on the comments regarding the wearing of masks. I have COPD, Asthma and a heart condition. On the odd occasion that it has been necessary to go out I have worn a mask, even though I am classed as exempt and am not required to do so. I don't do this for my benefit particularly, but because I would hate to be responsible for someone else becoming ill because of my action. Furthermore, it would be impossible to vet all those who claim to be exempt, they are hardly going to carry documents that would prove one way or the other if they have these conditions, I know I don't. The sad fact of the matter is, that the governments advice on what to do in a situation like this is so full of loopholes that it's no wonder the public are confused and angry.

@Diggydog

Following up on the comments regarding the wearing of masks. I have COPD, Asthma and a heart condition. On the odd occasion that it has been necessary to go out I have worn a mask, even though I am classed as exempt and am not required to do so. I don't do this for my benefit particularly, but because I would hate to be responsible for someone else becoming ill because of my action. Furthermore, it would be impossible to vet all those who claim to be exempt, they are hardly going to carry documents that would prove one way or the other if they have these conditions, I know I don't. The sad fact of the matter is, that the governments advice on what to do in a situation like this is so full of loopholes that it's no wonder the public are confused and angry.

Having X,Y or Z condition does not 'class' you as exempt. Exemption is determined by whether or not you are able to wear a mask, which you are, hence you are not exempt.

People saying 'I'm exempt but I wear one anyway' make those who are genuinely exempt look like they're not trying hard enough. Also, just because you can wear a mask with whatever conditions you have doesn't mean that someone with the same conditions can tolerate one - everybody's health is different and while one person with, say, asthma may be comfortable in a mask, another may not be.