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.

I do find it odd that Boris seemed to not go far enough last year, doing the eat out stuff, schools opening straight away in September even after the eat out scheme and people going on holiday, schools not closing before Christmas, the whole Christmas saga crap... And now we have the vaccines it seems like he is trying to go full force lockdown for as long as possible. Something with him has changed, I wonder if someone has given him a good talking to and made him tighten things up.

I was all up for the kids going back ASAP as I do think the kids will get it in schools regardless, but I'm feeling a bit uneasy about them going back before all the parents are vaccinated so I'm actually feeling like we can do one last push at home schooling till the vaccines get going fully. Atleast come spring we will have brighter sunnier days to enjoy a bit of sun in our gardens and hopefully be allowed to mix 2 households again in our gardens. I remember when it all kicked off there was talk of this going on for 2 years, I've had that in the back of my mind for how long it will take for most restrictions to disappear

@Anonanon12 And for those who don't have gardens?

Then go and enjoy the sun in a park, field, wherever.... It will be easier to get through the restrictions in nicer weather is what I'm saying, Jan and Feb is going to be crap yes but I think even if we have restrictions over Spring and Summer, it will be better than how it is right now

@Anonanon12 you think schools shouldn't go back until all parents are vaccinated? Under 50's aren't even in the priority groups...your 18-40's aren't going to be done for ages.
We are sacrificing our children's education and long term prospects, and the longer this goes on the worse it's getting.

No I'm saying that I was all up for Feb openings etc. But I just have this feeling recently, probably by the news on deaths etc. Atm, that perhaps waiting till Easter isn't too bad after all. Ideally I think parents and teachers should be vaccinated first but I don't think this is going to be possible so I would send mine back in April, but I would feel uneasy doing that.

Despite my general current gloomy outlook, I know if I could go for a walk in the countryside at the weekend I'd feel a lot better. It would hurt no-one, cause no virus transmission, but I will likely get turned back by the police if they stop me on the way or fined if they stop me on the way back. I think the government need to reassess the restrictions that are really required to stop virus transmission and focus their efforts and the police's efforts there. If people's mental health improved a little, it would doubtless give more hope and positivity.
Stopping people doing good and healthy things with no evidence that it actually helps the virus levels is just making this situation so much worse.

@supercatpowers

Despite my general current gloomy outlook, I know if I could go for a walk in the countryside at the weekend I'd feel a lot better. It would hurt no-one, cause no virus transmission, but I will likely get turned back by the police if they stop me on the way or fined if they stop me on the way back. I think the government need to reassess the restrictions that are really required to stop virus transmission and focus their efforts and the police's efforts there. If people's mental health improved a little, it would doubtless give more hope and positivity. Stopping people doing good and healthy things with no evidence that it actually helps the virus levels is just making this situation so much worse.

I think the issue is less people going for a walk.

And more lots of cars on the road = higher chance of accidents.
More people in winter walking who dont understand how to dress or prepare for winter conditions (and therefore need rescuing)
And people who are bored doing stupid shit (loads more coastguard call outs over the summer for example).
All risk hospital space.

How do you stop that? Simple way is to keep people to areas they know well. In the process it screws things up for everyone else.

@Anonanon12

Then go and enjoy the sun in a park, field, wherever.... It will be easier to get through the restrictions in nicer weather is what I'm saying, Jan and Feb is going to be crap yes but I think even if we have restrictions over Spring and Summer, it will be better than how it is right now

I agree.

January is always a bit gloomy - obviously more so this year. However better things are ahead.

@Anonanon12

Then go and enjoy the sun in a park, field, wherever.... It will be easier to get through the restrictions in nicer weather is what I'm saying, Jan and Feb is going to be crap yes but I think even if we have restrictions over Spring and Summer, it will be better than how it is right now

I will try. But I don't know if the police will repeat their behaviour last year - circling with megaphones to remind us that we are only allowed out for exercise. Big signs up by the lilac trees telling us not to loiter, benches taped off so yes, i can walk or jog but god forbid I sit and read a book.

In the end, I stayed in the flat because it was such a nasty experience going to the park. One new mum was crying at she exited the park with baby in pram (we had a probably illegal chat further up the road).

Some children are at extremely critical ages in terms of schooling and they absolutely need to be given whatever we can to support them but my year 8 isn't.

She's getting a decent on line provision (now) from her state secondary, she's learning and moving forward and safe.
Her education is absolutely fine, she reckons they do more because there arnt class clowns distracting the teacher.
Other dc is also at a non critical point, at the moment the most important thing we can do with her is support English, maths and reading.

Even with sen and being slightly behind her peers and... Without live teaching I don't believe her eduction is being lost.
She's young enough to catch up.

Practical subjects will suffer, drama, dance, chemistry... But for those who are not in a critical age they will get through.... For primary up to year 4 and 5 they only need to concentrate on the basics, everything else will come far more quickly with those in place

Acorn, it's awful isn't it, there are balances to be struck. We had people doing to same from flats over looking our local park, photographing then shaming mums with toddlers in the park.. By themselves with no one else around.

It's a glorious time for the 📣 mega phone lovers.

Super cat I agree!!

We've been out once since the 3rd January, my dc have been cooped up and we have been all working flat out.
I'm really looking forward to going to a nt place this weekend and praying we don't get stopped for a chat about our actions, a chat that might of course give me covid.

I'm planning on printing out an explanation of our movements (not far by the way) and as normal responsible adults we will wear safe clothing for this sojourn 😂

I want it over and done with and if that means another 9 months of lockdown, so be it

By the end of last May my hair was getting to me so badly i had fantasies about shaving it all off and sending it in an envelope to 10 Downing Street.

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast

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.

And this spoken like a person who isn’t home schooling kids who don’t want to work. I don’t think many of us care about lockdown anymore. It’s rhe home schooling that’s killing us.