Next announcement from Boris

[whoamitojudge]

Does anyone know when it is?
With all this new talk of this current lockdown not being enough I just wondered if maybe he’d step up and say something

I was out for a walk today (London) and it didn’t feel like lockdown at all. Massive queue for Starbucks and costa. Large family groups and couples going supermarket shopping together. No social distancing in the check out queue. Play parks were rammed full and a lot of big groups on walks. For the first time since March I actually felt uneasy and scared.

It needs to get tougher, there are currently too many loopholes and allowances that have been put in place since the initial lockdown.

I have can't believe peoples really think that children playing in a playground or people going to a garden centre area driving this.

These are the things you see and pick on. What about the large gatherings that take place in the dark in parks when no police around?

All sorts of people who live under the radar do exactly what they want. You don't see them otherwise realise they are there. Let do because where I live there is a huge transient community.

Then public transport and mixing in school still, the underground, buses.... Shops... Supermarket.

@statisticalsense Why just under 25 and elderly? I am 40.
You have absolutely no idea. Are you living with a partner /family yourself?

@yawnsvillex

What can change out of interest?

They've apparently just said no plans to increase restrictions.

So I reckon that means expect it to happen on Monday

Our church is very definitely closed, so I don't understand why others are still open.

I think support bubbles should be allowed but I think travel should be given a specific target such as 'next town' for rural areas or so many miles for more built up areas. Local area is just too vague for most people.

I agree schools should be 2 critical worker parents only. Parents whose jobs are not critical to the running of the country should try and change shifts where possible so they are not relying on schools as childcare. Plenty of people who say they work in a supermarket could change shifts so they work earlier/later while their partner is home. Employers can be surprisingly reasonable when presented with a problem and solution. Mine has allowed me to finish early so I can collect the children from school. I go in earlier when I have childcare to make up the time.

If they were to make masks compulsory in all outdoor areas I would ignore that one. I will continue to wear them in shops and enclosed areas but I really struggle with them so when I am outside it is coming off.

@FitnessFad
Or maybe we recognise that the eligibility rules for support bubbles are a total mess that have led to some (such as those in shared accommodation) having to essentially stay alone for months on end whilst allowing others to mix with several households. If they could be limited to where they could be properly closed between 2 households the risk would be much lower but too many single parents cannot understand that the combination of a childcare bubble, support bubble and contact with the other parent is far too risky when combined and that their contacts should be limited to their child's other parent.

@yawnsvillex - they could introduce a national curfew... to avoid people gathering in evenings when there is less monitoring.

As long as support bubbles are done properly but then you could say that about most of the rules that we have to follow. There are always the idiots that strut about thinking that they are above all this which really pisses me off.
I work in a supermarket and that’s where I think a lot of the rules need to be tightened as people still don’t give a toss

[quote StatisticalSense]@BrigitsBigKnickers
If society would accept support bubbles being limited to the elderly and under 25s who are living totally alone and have no reason to mix with other households they could probably continue. The problem occurs when single parents whose children are already mixing with their other parents household want to be able to mix with further households.[/quote]
Don't be ridiculous. My neighbour is in her 50s, no children and lives alone. Why shouldn't she have a support bubble? What's so special about the under 25s?

The plans are for mask wearing in outdoor busy places, supermarket ques etc. it’s already been leaked. There will not be any other changes so all those hoping and praying that costa will close and support bubbles cancelled will be very disappointed. Those areas are not where it’s spreading. The one thing they could look at and should look at before anything else is taken is places of worship this is the only place now where “mass” gatherings are happening and I’m sure social distancing isn’t being adhered to at all venues. The updates on Monday are not for any announcements or changes (btw any changes would have to go back through parliament for approval) it is to provide updates on the vaccine roll out this was explained last week.

@whoamitojudge - are your supermarket staff still wearing masks? Very few checkout staff are wearing them in ours, even though I thought they had been introduced for staff too, regardless of any screens etc.

Keep support bubbles! They are a lifeline to many people.
But end to professional sports mixing, Yes to closure of garden centres and DIY stores (or have them open for emergency trade only).
Yes to re assessing the schools situation, both parents should be Critical Workers.
Home in on the furlough scheme, I don't think it's been mentioned enough.
More financial support for families with school age DC - so parents can stay at home and do the set work with their DC.
Close public parks and playgrounds to stop people flogging to beauty spots.

And support bubbles need to be curbed I think.

So many people have an exercise bubble, support bubble and childcare bubble. They are seeing more people whilst not working than I am at work.

My partners child mixes with his ex and her family but my ex would be alone in that case. He deserves support and there is nothing wrong with our family being his support bubble even if his child is mixing in another household by virtue of being a child of separated parents.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Ending support bubbles would be cruel. If I was single that's one change I would ignore.

I’m single, I’ve always had my mum around.

Just the elderly and u25.... What about people like my single friend, age 37 who lives alone... Do you propose she should have seen nobody at all for months on end (she only leaves home to shop as follows the rules to the letter). Some people clearly have no clue what it's like to be alone for long periods!!

Support bubbles should just be one bubble not lots of different ones!
I think bubbles should be made official. If you had to apply and got a letter confirming your bubbles are valid then this would stop lots of people being able to have them here there and everywhere.

StatisticalSense

I'm neither elderly or under 25 but I do live alone. I work from home too. The first month's of lockdown, before support bubbles were allowed, weren't easy. My support bubble is closed with another single adult who works alone, I think both of us would find it hard if that was taken away.

@statisticalsense please answer my question, do you live alone?
If you don't, then you have no idea and are not in a position to comment.

@Meredithgrey1 I was discussing this with DH, and we agreed that it's got to the point where some employers seem to be getting away with making decisions about whether people can break lockdown, even if they could work from home.

Shut the garden centres and the likes of b and m and the range.
A lot of the staff working In these places will have children having to go into the schools.

Less shops open like in March means less children needing school
Places.
Les teachers having to be in school meaning their dc have to be in school.

That would reduce the mixing a huge amount

Pandemic i dont think those things are the drivers mainly but takeway is often surely collected inside including drinks. As are garden centres inside. but mainly it has to be something gov can enforce, too hard realistically to enforce outside park gatherings.
Could close nursery to all but key workers.

The fact that my DC can continue to see their DF does not mean he should be my support bubble. I escaped that man and his abuse, why on earth would he now be the only other adult I'm allowed contact with? I couldn't rely on him to support me when we were married and I certainly wouldn't want to give him that kind of power over me again by making him my 'bubble'.

Having to apply for an official support bubble and receiving a letter?! That will seriously be the beginning of the end for any freedoms in this country. Do you not understand that people's personal situations change regardless of the pandemic?

@StatisticalSense

End of support bubbles and closure of garden centres and places of worship and hopefully play areas. Maybe limiting take-aways to places that offer substantial meals (as in no popping in for a coffee but allowed for meals). Limiting key worker school places to households in which all adults are keyworkers. Masks outdoors make no sense and it sends completely the wrong message to have any rule for outdoor areas other than avoid busy ones completely.

If they end support bubbles, my 95-year-old relative is fucked then.