Restrictions to be eased at Easter *MNHQ title edit to remind everyone not to get their hopes up.*

[sally067]

Not sure if it was mentioned in another thread but I saw tonight that it looks like the Government plans are that we will see this lockdown lifted at the beginning of April.

twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1351313981894483970

This thread of tweets seems to suggest that cities will likely only go back into Tier's 3 and 4 though so we'll still be in a lockdown of sorts until May regardless of the vaccine rollout due to the shear number of cases at present. I guess any hope of things opening in February or March were a bit of a long shot with the new variant.

All seems so endless. Easter is 12 weeks or 51 working days away. I've never wished my life away so much and really hope we get an early Spring.

There have been 1800 deaths today.
The infections are thankfully on the decline but people who think the schools will be back after Feb half term are deluded.
A lot of hospitals are still at absolute capacity.

Until all of that improves significantly then we are going nowhere.

To those who said if it goes on much longer they'll break the rules.. have a worr with yourselves. People with that way of thinking will just prolong it.

@whippettiger

* I think if we had another couple of years of lockdowns people would generally comply and follow the rules.*

This is truly idiotic

Good idea lockdown for two years but who is going to pay the bills if you decimate the economy further.

They cannot open schools after February half term because this is not enough time for enough people to develop enough immunity. Apart from that, they’ve admitted that schools are vectors of infection so it will all just start up again, with the added risk of new variants. I get that kids need to go back to school, I really do (we were struggling to balance homeschool and work after the first couple of days and it is really hard). But as well as the risk to unvaccinated teachers, what about the unvaccinated parents, especially those in their forties?

@randomer

How are peopl enot waiting their turn for a vaccine?

Not what you know but who you know.

Or fly somewhere like Dubai where you can easily buy vaccines (maybe combine it with a winter sun holiday so your your friends will just think you are a twat for taking a holiday in a pandemic, rather than thinking you are a twat for taking a holiday AND getting a private vaccine).

@wanderings

Sigh. So we're just starting "we can turn thith viruth around in twelve weekth" all over again. The pain, confusion, frustration and boredom we've suffered since March has all been for nothing. We are well and truly back to square one, and now with a massive recession and millions unemployed to look forward to, and absolutely decimated mental health. Thank you, Saint Boris. This is what you will be remembered for. I hope you enjoy your place in the history books.

As for those who are hoping for another 9 months of this lockdown hell: I hope you have found another magic money tree to fund your loooooooooooong lockdown, and the mental health services which will be needed. People are effectively being imprisoned for a crime which they didn't commit.

The end will be in sight.
The end will be in sight.
The end will be in sight.
The end will be in sight.
The end will be in sight.
The end will be in sight.
We've been hearing this since March LAST YEAR!!!!!!!!!

exactly this

What about business owners who can't run their business because they have to stay at home to look after their kids, or businesses whose staff can't work because of childcare, etc.

You can't look at anything in isolation, you have to look at the bigger picture.

I was responding to someone saying 'open schools'. I agree with you. It is about gradual opening balancing economic concerns with the needs of our children. You cannot just 'open schools' and leave everything else in lockdown or high tiers. It will be a huge balancing act.

@KatherineJaneway

What about business owners who can't run their business because they have to stay at home to look after their kids, or businesses whose staff can't work because of childcare, etc.

You can't look at anything in isolation, you have to look at the bigger picture.

I was responding to someone saying 'open schools'. I agree with you. It is about gradual opening balancing economic concerns with the needs of our children. You cannot just 'open schools' and leave everything else in lockdown or high tiers. It will be a huge balancing act.

Education absolutely must come first, provision of a state classroom education is a key service. Schools should never have closed. In a wealthy country, what kind of society doesn't prioritise educating it's youth.

It's a myth that it's schools that are the major driver of infection in the community, rather the infection rate in schools reflects the infection rate in the community as a whole. Reopening them will not be the cause of a huge delay in opening everything else.

My view, we have to trust the vaccination programme will make a difference and get on with life.

Carlisle, yes eduction is a service but staying healthy and well comes before that, you can't educate a child when their teacher is deceased or very ill.

Schools should open when they are safe to open.

Schools should never have closed

We would be in a far worse situation today had they not.

Hopefully the government are now working on a good plan to mitigate risks in schools so when they are able to open-be that after Easter or whenever it is, they can stay open safely.

Sebastian Payne @SebastianEPayne
NEW: Boris Johnson is set for a "battle royal" with Conservative MPs over his cautious approach of easing lockdown.

Covid Recovery Group is mobilising its members for renewal vote of coronavirus measures on March 31,

Latest with @GeorgeWParker

www.ft.com/content/a629f9cf-731a-4213-a8b1-b89700f44b98
Boris Johnson set for ‘battle royal’ with Tory MPs over easing lockdown

The UK prime minister does not intend to rush into easing the nationwide lockdown restrictions which are set for review on February 15, according to allies. The government estimates that 88 per cent of likely deaths associated with Covid-19 will be cut as a result of the initial wave of inoculations.

But the Covid Recovery Group of 50-plus Tory MPs who are sceptical of lockdowns has urged Mr Johnson to set out a road map for exiting the restrictions by March 8, three weeks after the most vulnerable are due to be vaccinated and some immunity has developed.

The large city where I live has announced a reduction in bus services from next week. That doesn't bode well

Does anyone think the elderly will be out and about once they are vaccinated?

Education absolutely must come first, provision of a state classroom education is a key service. Schools should never have closed. In a wealthy country, what kind of society doesn't prioritise educating it's youth.

It's a myth that it's schools that are the major driver of infection in the community, rather the infection rate in schools reflects the infection rate in the community as a whole. Reopening them will not be the cause of a huge delay in opening everything else.

I disagree. Schools were definitely a huge driver of cases and children are being educated, albeit temporarily in a poor substitute.

We cannot prioritise schools and say 'stuff' every other business and industry. There needs to be a balance.

@november90

My maternity leave started ag the same time as the March lockdown and I go back to work after Easter....... brilliant 🙃😭💔

Same

Over 1800 people added to the death toll today and people are clamouring for a lockdown end date? The "sceptic" (scientifically illiterate) Tories need to give their heads a wobble.

It's a myth that it's schools that are the major driver of infection in the community, rather the infection rate in schools reflects the infection rate in the community as a whole.

Hmmmm. Why would an airborne virus transmit quickly across large numbers of unmasked people crammed into small poorlyventilated spaces for long periods?! I just can’t think...

@Howshouldibehave Hopefully the government are now working on a good plan to mitigate risks in schools so when they are able to open-be that after Easter or whenever it is, they can stay open safely.

That's what I hope too but they have such a shambolic track record with schools over the pandemic that it's hard to have faith!

@november90

My maternity leave started ag the same time as the March lockdown and I go back to work after Easter....... brilliant 🙃😭💔

Same here 🙄

@minkfondant

Over 1800 people added to the death toll today and people are clamouring for a lockdown end date? The "sceptic" (scientifically illiterate) Tories need to give their heads a wobble.

Do you have any idea when the deaths occurred and what the infection rate now is? It's you who needs a wobble.

@KatherineJaneway

Education absolutely must come first, provision of a state classroom education is a key service. Schools should never have closed. In a wealthy country, what kind of society doesn't prioritise educating it's youth.

It's a myth that it's schools that are the major driver of infection in the community, rather the infection rate in schools reflects the infection rate in the community as a whole. Reopening them will not be the cause of a huge delay in opening everything else.

I disagree. Schools were definitely a huge driver of cases and children are being educated, albeit temporarily in a poor substitute.

We cannot prioritise schools and say 'stuff' every other business and industry. There needs to be a balance.

I said open businesses by Easter straight after schools? Not stuff them...

Schools are not a business however, again they're an essential public service like healthcare. So there's no balance to be struck, they reopen first.

Some of our local events and shows due to take place in May have been cancelled looks like another shit year ahead

Schools should definitely open first but the question is when? It's all made more complicated by the vaccines and b117. I am glad I am not in charge. My guess would be term 5 at the latest but maybe some time in term 4?

@Howshouldibehave

It's a myth that it's schools that are the major driver of infection in the community, rather the infection rate in schools reflects the infection rate in the community as a whole.

Hmmmm. Why would an airborne virus transmit quickly across large numbers of unmasked people crammed into small poorlyventilated spaces for long periods?! I just can’t think...

Hardly new information? I made my peace with the risk when I sent my children back last September.

It's the new variant that's been the driver here in Carlisle, not schools on their own. You could add many workplaces and leisure venues to the list. Households mixing in eachother's homes at the top.

As infections fall and the most vulnerable are vaccinated in the next few weeks, it's time for schools to reopen. If 'safe' means no risk of catching covid, that would take years and we'd have no semblance of the current state education system left.

@notevenat20

Schools should definitely open first but the question is when? It's all made more complicated by the vaccines and b117. I am glad I am not in charge. My guess would be term 5 at the latest but maybe some time in term 4?

I wish they could just somehow re-do the whole academic year. I know realistically they can't as it would really mess up Uni's etc.

@MarshaBradyo

Why did Mnhq edit title? Was Easter too hopeful for them or something else

All so depressing

You can blame me

I absolutely detest all the false hope being peddled and the original title read like fact.

Thank you MNHQ.