Further Restrictions 'Stricter than March' Needed

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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?

southeastdweller There's a massive difference between this lockdown and the first. Far more shops and other services open, offices full of staff that could wfh, supermarkets here not restricting numbers entering and shopping baskets not being cleaned, There is so much more traffic now and people wandering around shopping centres, and places like the The Range.

Surely you must have noticed the difference?

The health service is on it's knees:

• Stop religious services
• Stop allowing people to meet for exercise
• Stop non-essential work being carried out in people's houses i.e. cleaners, new carpets, etc
• Close places offering takeaway food
• Close off the non essential aisle's in B and M and the like.
• Click and collect only in garden centres and the like - no browsing

Support bubbles will stay. It may be hard to stop misuse but they are necessary to those who need them.

I don't know. I work in a hotel and we are open. We've had several doctors/nurses staying, one 'nurse' stayed for quite a while, told us she was working with covid patients but proceeded to walk around the hotel barefoot and no mask in sight. Weve had people make bookings claiming to be for certain reasons but you know its not legit and we can't do anything because we've been told by management we aren't actually allowed to ask so why have the rules in place then?

People are hypocrites. On the one hand they agree with tougher restrictions to curb the virus. But what they really mean is tougher restrictions for other people to follow whilst they crack on doing whatever they want. Even on mumsnet. Multiple threads about needing tougher lockdowns and how worried people are about the hospitals, contrasted with multiple threads about how Derbyshire Police are too heavy handed and it’s fine to drive a child 8 miles for a walk with a mate.

The public can’t have it both ways. Either tough lockdown and the rates will drop but it will involve curbs on everyday freedoms. Or we agree that it’s better people can still meet a friend at the local beauty spot one day and someone else at another the next day but risk higher rates of infection spread.

[quote bluebellscorner]@WouldBeGood insane that people are taking walks in the park, or insane that the poster wants to ban this?[/quote]
Insane that they want to ban them.

What a bunch of entitled horrible people screeching for this stuff.

No not noticed at all.
I'm complying, plus self isolating this week.

I noticed Ireland has closed construction sites not deemed as essential, am praying it doesn't come to that here. But I do think more businesses will have to close sadly. Garden centres, B and Q only open to click and collect etc same with Dunelm. Or even close them except for deliveries. But you would need to keep B and Q open for essential repairs.

And tbh, Id close coffee shops and cafes, even for takeaways because its encouraging people to be out and about. And congregate outside shops and have either drive through or deliveries only. Will be harsh but it's heading that way I think.

I thought you were only talking about the restrictions but yeah, I see your point.

I don't think support bubbles should be stopped but remind people to use only if necessary and maybe register who support bubble is. And reiterate rules fully.
As my friend in a chidcare bubble with her mum but seems to interpret that as they are all a bubble so in and out if each others houses at all times , and sharing car journeys etc, 7 people mixing in effect with 3 of those working out of the home .

Tbf to our garden centre they have chosen to close given critical situation in London

@Tenyearsgone

Every workplace and every bus

What do expect those of us who have to use public transport to get to work do? Give up work?

MN land is full of people who can WFH.

My DP works out of the home. I said those places were part of the problem - I did not say every one of them could shut.

But every day at his work, there is transmission risk.

This is not controversial, just factual.

Getting rid of support bubbles entirely would, I think, be inhumane. I wonder if they might do something to make it stricter though...like maybe you have to support bubble with your childcare bubble, not both or something.

I am quite worried about the state of hospitals though. This is a bad time of year for them to have all this extra pressure.

I don’t want to sound “down on the kids” but each time I go out, I’m getting more and more anxious about groups of teens not wearing masks and not distancing.

I don’t understand why not. They’re not babies and toddlers. Are they a bit thick? Parents don’t care?

Genuine question. Don’t flame me, please.

@BooksAreNotEssentialInWales

@Funkypolar

Bagamoyo1 - M&S allows couples. It’s not illegal.

Whether M&S tolerates it is irrelevant. The guidance quite clearly asks us to shop solo. Bloody couples and family outings to the supermarket are completely unnecessary.

You think I wouldn't like to be all cosy working from home? I can't ,so I wish people who can would shut up telling the rest of us we are doing covid wrong.

To those who want to close takeaways are you including restaurants who deliver food in that? There won't be any businesses left if you do. My local Indian restaurant was kept going during lockdown one because they were allowed to offer takeaway

I think a March style lockdown is needed until the Feb 15th? (not sure of date) forecast for the more vulnerable groups being vaccinated.
Atm I really can't see the problem with individuals driving less than 5 miles to walk a dog or meet one friend for a socially distanced walk in large outdoor areas. The Derbyshire police response was ridiculous. By far the biggest problem now is schools/ nurseries. Plus, unlike March, the many people who cannot work from home are still working.
The only thing about the March lockdown which I strongly disagreed with not being able to drive short distances, on your own, to an open space for a walk. Maybe I misunderstood the advice? First thing I did when things eased was drive 3 miles for a walk in the country. Much better than wandering around a housing estate.
It's only 6 weeks now until most vulnerable groups will have been jabbed versus over 1000 deaths a day 3 days running. Surely we can lock down for that long.

@EleanorRigbyWasReal got to look at parents as why are they out ok a group . I have a 17 and 15 yr old they wear masks properly and are not out in groups as I know where they are and what they are doing . My 15 year old is a very social child and is finding this tough , he does sometimes meet a friend for a run but just one , and mostly they are on.
They are very sporty kids , so missing all that but just trying their best to comply , meanwhile there is a select group walking around , who's parents don't care , maybe they should fine the groups and the parents pay. Warning first to disperse and go home , if caught again parental fine.

Being allowed to leave home is a privilege. Too many people have been abusing that by going for multiple walks per day, buying non-essential goods from shops and meeting up with others.

You can go for more than one walk a day and always could.

@Skipsurvey This might be possible. But I love pigeons, so I hope not.

my friend has covid19, she did everything correctly. Told work and isolated, filled out the questionnaires as to where she was working - no essential business but they are all made to go to the office. The questionnaire asks who she has been near - she had to name 6 out of 8 people in the office. Work are now hassling her constantly as 6 people are now having to self isolate and work from home... They want her to retract the names she gave

If this is happening in one workplace - then its happening in many other non essential workplaces

It not about keeping business going, its about some business actually making changes and allowing their workers to go home and work - this company never stopped throughout the first lockdown and they are certainly not vital or essential