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Original poster

Next announcement from Boris

376 replies

whoamitojudge · 09/01/2021 16:11

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

OP posts:
Livinginanightmare · 09/01/2021 19:22

I’m horrified at people’s suggestions to remove support bubbles. Both me and my DH WFH, so does my mother who lives 1 mile away. Her DH (my father) died suddenly 4 months ago. We have no children, not seeing anyone else apart from food shop and exercise with one friend which as you can appreciate, is vital for her mental health.

If support bubbles are removed, she would be more risk to the NHS becoming suicidal so I am absolutely not going to comply and take the fine. Cannot believe the ignorance I am reading on this thread from people I’m sure live with families to support them at difficult times

fullofhope100 · 09/01/2021 19:23

@CovidCanDoOne

I’m 49 I’m single I’m losing my mind now Without my bubble there is no reason to wake up tomorrow It’s bleak with the bubble Without there is no point to life
Sending you a very big HUG @CovidCanDoOne Flowers xxx
CaughtInTheCovid · 09/01/2021 19:23

I understand the pressure on the NHS and the numbers but some people are so quick to give up any liberties and freedom it’s quite scary. If makes you realise how the Nazis took power (I don’t mean this as a criticism of anyone in particular but seeing how people are quick to hop on board with new very strict rules, dob in people they feel break them and push for harsher restrictions ‘for the greater good’ is very Hitler-esque).

Jenasaurus · 09/01/2021 19:24

@WombatChocolate

I see lots of groups of families on walks. It isn’t 2 individuals together. It is 4 adults and 5 kids. They go for a walk in a crowd and get a takeaway coffee and huddle together to chat at the playground.

People do a daily shop or go 4 times a week, rather than look to just do a big shop weekly and perhaps one quick top-up. It’s because they like the outing and don’t quite plan ahead for fewer visits (aprart from those without cars) ...but they could go less frequently. Our neighbour pops to the corner shop every evening for beers or a chocolate bar. It isn’t ‘stay at home’ and it’s not necessary, but it’s considered totally normal and acceptable....and then people wonder why it keeps spreading.

Just thinking about this, My DD and her colleagues took 30 children on a walk, it may have looked like it was against the guidelines but this was just a nursery outing.
Dadnotamum72 · 09/01/2021 19:27

I think people aren't suggesting removing support bubbles as such for the genuine but as with everything people have now started to take the piss and the not so genuine/ not legal bubbles do need reigning back in.

Wontdothisagain · 09/01/2021 19:27

@whoamIamIalright it's quite terrifying isn't it?

There is no empathy, no compassion. Little Hitlers.

It would be wicked to remove support bubbles now. For some that's all they feel they have to live for now.

WombatChocolate · 09/01/2021 19:28

The thing is, when government make rules clear and explicit, most people will follow them, especially if they understand it’s all very serious. It they need to be told and have it spelled out.

Yes, it will cause economic damage and mental health problems....but what’s the alternative if death rates are escalating at the rates they are and it really will be the case that hospitals have no scope to help those in road traffic accidents or who heart attacks or need cancer care, because the NHS is overwhelmed.

I do t think people understand what the NHS being overwhelmed means or that it will affect not just those over 80. It could mean the child who has a serious bike accident doesn’t get treated and loses a limb. It could mean the 40 year old with breast cancer doesn’t get diagnosed and dies. It could mean the person having a heart attack doesn’t get an ambulance in time to save them. This is what happens when the cases of Covid escalate and fill the beds and take over all the care the NHS can provide. It is the longer term consequence of going to the shops 7 days a week and creating more vectors for the disease which lead to hospitals filling up.

MummaBear4321 · 09/01/2021 19:28

@whoamIamIalright

Everyday on MN I read something that makes me wonder wtf is wrong with people. Stop support bubbles, no businesses should be allowed to open, you should have to apply for permission to open your own front door, how dare you have any fun don’t you know there’s a pandemic on! Some people won’t be happy until we are welded into our houses. Wuhan got it right didn’t they?!

The virus doesn’t worry me, I know it’s scary but all our ancestors must have survived all other pandemics or else we wouldn’t be here wasting our time would we?

It’s people’s attitudes that are really scaring me, not sure the vaccine is going to change the awful sanctimonious people who feel they have the right to pass comment on every aspect of someone’s else’s life. People have got to a right to live not just sit around waiting for impending death. But some people won’t be happy until we are as fucking anxious as they are.

I completely agree. The main thing I have taken from this pandemic is people are terrifying and vindictive, and completely lacking in empathy. It's really scary.
DarceyDashwood · 09/01/2021 19:28

Pretty sure almost people who suggest public parks and playgrounds close either have nice big gardens or live somewhere rural and pleasant to walk around.

User158340 · 09/01/2021 19:29

@whoamIamIalright

Everyday on MN I read something that makes me wonder wtf is wrong with people. Stop support bubbles, no businesses should be allowed to open, you should have to apply for permission to open your own front door, how dare you have any fun don’t you know there’s a pandemic on! Some people won’t be happy until we are welded into our houses. Wuhan got it right didn’t they?!

The virus doesn’t worry me, I know it’s scary but all our ancestors must have survived all other pandemics or else we wouldn’t be here wasting our time would we?

It’s people’s attitudes that are really scaring me, not sure the vaccine is going to change the awful sanctimonious people who feel they have the right to pass comment on every aspect of someone’s else’s life. People have got to a right to live not just sit around waiting for impending death. But some people won’t be happy until we are as fucking anxious as they are.

It's been clear since Boris announced plans for Christmas that January was going to be gruesome with Covid cases, NHS crisis etc. It's been even worse than expeted due to the variant and the weather is desperate.

Why can't people (if they're lucky enough to be able to) just stay home for a few weeks? We'll be out of this soon if the vaccine roll out goes to plan. January is always a quiet month anyway.

CakeRattleandRoll · 09/01/2021 19:29

I'm interested in the mixed opinions about mask wearing outdoors. In the Melbourne lockdown last July and the current Brisbane lockdown, masks have been compulsory everywhere for everyone over 12 unless in own home. I'd assumed this was also the case in the UK, but it seems not.

So does this mean that the health experts are giving governments different advice in different countries?

No-one here has suggested stopping coffee takeaways! It is keeping many small cafes going during lockdowns.

whoamIamIalright · 09/01/2021 19:30

You’ve hit the nail in the head there. Couldn’t agree more.

Angrymum22 · 09/01/2021 19:31

We don’t have a support bubble. Just me DH and DS. Because I am a critical worker and face to face with patients ( not wearing masks) then I can’t risk DH or DS having contact with anyone. If I pick up Covid at work I will take it home then DH and DS would potentially spread it if we were bubbling so we don’t.
We have had to refuse to bubble with MIL, fortunately she is bubbled with BIL. Even if she wasn’t I would still refuse.
It’s bubble chains that I just don’t get. I think we need public information films that explain bubbles simply to the hard of thinking.

whoamIamIalright · 09/01/2021 19:31

[quote Wontdothisagain]@whoamIamIalright it's quite terrifying isn't it?

There is no empathy, no compassion. Little Hitlers.

It would be wicked to remove support bubbles now. For some that's all they feel they have to live for now.[/quote]
Sorry it was you the nail on head comment was for!

Kindlethefourth · 09/01/2021 19:31

Maybe he will announce that the family over the road can't have their parents round to celebrate a birthday.........

WombatChocolate · 09/01/2021 19:33

There isn’t equality in terms of everyone having big gardens or big houses to spread out in or the ability to work at home. It’s absolutely true. But at what point does the disease have to be so widespread and the hospitals not able to cope, that the government says the playgrounds must close, even if it does hit those without gardens harder?

If I thought that closing the playgrounds (and the problems this would cause lots of families) would reduce the vectors and contacts and spread of the disease, so that hospitals still had capacity to treat the thousands diagnosed with breast or testicular cancer each year, I’d think it was worth it. To me, these are the kind of trade-offs we are talking about.

Viviennemary · 09/01/2021 19:34

My suggestions

Masks imperative in any public place
Shops open only for essentials
No bubbles
No test no school
No mask stay indoors
Exercise outdoors only with people from your household

Otherwise they might as well not bother

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 09/01/2021 19:34

They should make masks (not visors, they are useless) compulsory everywhere not just shops, that's ridiculous.
You'll never get a handle on it until almost everyone is wearing a mask at the very least indoors (schools, offices, everywhere).
And get more people working from home. So, probably reducing retail to essential only.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 09/01/2021 19:35

There is no way support bubbles will be removed.

I believe it is Matt Hancock on Monday probably giving a vaccine update.

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 09/01/2021 19:36

Personally I think masks should be compulsory everywhere in public, inside and out because it's the only way people will get into the habit of it.
And it needs to be enforced.

MissionaryMumtoOne · 09/01/2021 19:36

@StatisticalSense

Why do you think only elderly and under 25s should be able to have support bubbles?

Username198 · 09/01/2021 19:36

I assume those advocating for no bubbles are also suggesting households should isolate within their homes in different rooms?

Bagamoyo1 · 09/01/2021 19:36

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Ending support bubbles would be cruel. If I was single that's one change I would ignore.
Yes, I will ignore it if it happens, but I doubt it will. Depression is getting out of hand.
SingANewSongChickenTikka · 09/01/2021 19:37

I don’t think support bubbles should be removed, but I do think people should be limited to being part of one bubble only. I know many people who are part of several and the amount of mixing they are doing given the current situation is ridiculous, but perfectly within the rules. For example my mums friend who is a support bubble for one daughter, a childcare bubble for her son’s family and a support bubble for her other daughter who has a new born. She also have a friend she meets daily for exercise and does shopping and some care support for her elderly parents. I’m not saying none of those people doesn’t need the support, but for it all to come from one person is so risky.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 09/01/2021 19:38

They perhaps need to spell out a definition of 'local' for those struggling, say you can exercise locally that means a walk or jog around your residential area not a 20 minute drive to meet a pal.