How long do you think the public majority (IRL) will put up with this for?

[Quit4me]

How long do you think public opinion and action will continue to support not seeing friends and family?
I’m asking based on your real life experiences (not mumsnet views)
I’m not after ‘I’m giving up my life for as long as it takes’ views here, or ‘I’m happy watching tv and hugging my yoga mat for years.
I’m asking for realistic views of 2021 and public opinion as the year goes on.

I think so many are complying now because the government have said so many times since autumn we just need to get through the winter, it’s only 6 more months, get through this and we will be back to normal in spring, once the most vulnerable are vaccinated we can get back to normal etc. etc. So everyone has spring as the end point. If they aren’t going to stick to that then it’s hey are going to see so many more not complying. I got one won’t be complying past spring and I’ve been very compliant up so far.

Everyone I know are following the rules and intend to do so....obviously they wouldn't if the rules were stupid but they are reasonable given where we are.

The rules themselves will start to loosen up around Easter (IMO and according to leaks).

Personally I suspect that once PILs (live around the corner from us) have had their vaccination plus 3 weeks for the immunity to build we may meet them inside with social distancing and ventilation.

I also suspect once people have had both doses we will perhaps social distance less from each other but obviously will still social distance from everyone else who hasn't had it in case we transmit it to them.

I know my PILs will want a big group hug as soon as they've had both doses!

So yeah...I expect the majority to be similar.

Following the rules but with some rule breaking between vaccinated people and those unworried and not vulnerable (like my DH)

@SavannahMiasMum

The ignorance of government thinking vaccines will stop this is bizarre. We need to get in with lives now it’s that simple

WTF are you talking about here?

@Chatterbox1987 I can see my neighbours have people visiting because I sit at a desk, facing a window for 9hrs a day! I'm not curtain twitching, I look because I hear a car pull up and then see them go inside 🤷🏽‍♀️

[quote QueenPawPaws]@Chatterbox1987 I can see my neighbours have people visiting because I sit at a desk, facing a window for 9hrs a day! I'm not curtain twitching, I look because I hear a car pull up and then see them go inside 🤷🏽‍♀️[/quote]
My neighbours are the same. I wish I had their attitude. I feel sick doing things I am allowed to do. I have become scared of my own shadow.

I think what people do need to consider is that this year we all need to be mindful of other people.

Some may feel that once the vulnerable are vaccinated they will no longer social distance from friends and go in their houses but all of my friends (I'm the only one who is vulnerable) are as cautious, and often more cautious, than I am. No way will they be happy to stop social distancing or have people inside.

I guess I'm saying be aware that some of your friends will still want to follow the rules, and that is their choice.

@AlexaShutUp

A genuine question though for those who say 'as long as it takes'- would you cope with another year, two years, until you lose your job, your home?

Some of us have already lost our jobs. I have, but I still think the lockdown is necessary. I am hoping that the vaccines will provide a longer term solution, but time will tell.

Ditto.

Both myself and husband lost our jobs, we are losing our cars soon and the house hangs in the balance.

I have gone from a six figure job to working as a temp production worker packing COVID test kits which is back breaking and mind numbing.

I still follow the rules while they make sense, as they clearly do at the moment.

When I say 'I will follow the rules as long as necessary' I don't mean 'I will live in full lockdown for eternity even when it doesn't make sense any longer'.

What I mean is 'The Govt have been, according to polls and not just my own opinion, more relaxed than the average person has wanted them to be and so I know they will start opening things back up as soon as if not a bit before it is reasonable to do so balancing public health, economic and other factors and so the rules will start to loosen then (around Easter IMO) and so I will continue to follow the progressively loosening rules'

@Sadsiblingatsea

I think lockdowns will last forever and most people will go along with it as they have been terrorised.

@Sadsiblingatsea I'm interested in what makes you think this?

We weren't locked down over the summer last year and most people (after a couple of weeks of adjustment) were out and about, eating at restaurants and meeting with friends.

I am reasonably cautious about the virus and comply with lockdown rules but I was happy to be out and about.

What makes you think lockdowns will last forever?

The Govt don't want to put lockdowns in place. They don't want all this economic impact. The very fact that a Tory Govt who are generally least likely to want to shut down the economy are doing this is a pointer to how necessary it is at the moment. As soon as it isn't necessary they'll be wanting us all out spending!

So much paranoia here. I'm following the rules because there are thousands of people dying a week, 30k in hospital, I'll stop following the rules when case numbers have settled, hospitals can run as usual and I am less likely to contract or infect others with covid. Fortunately I believe that this will be about the same time as restrictions are relaxed anyhow. Yes there might still be some social distancing and masks etc to keep case numbers small for while but am not bothered about that, will just be happy when a good chunk have been vaccinated, I dont believe there is some master plan to keep us locked up forever for no good reason, were under a tory government, they want businesses running and people spending asap.

This

Chatter "The point being that those not breaking any rules do so because of the need or want to contain the virus.. If they really are doing this for the greater good then there should be no difference between them breaking a rule or not follow guidance."

I thought the OP meant how long people would follow law though, maybe she will return and let us know.

@umpteennamechanges

I think what people do need to consider is that this year we all need to be mindful of other people.

Some may feel that once the vulnerable are vaccinated they will no longer social distance from friends and go in their houses but all of my friends (I'm the only one who is vulnerable) are as cautious, and often more cautious, than I am. No way will they be happy to stop social distancing or have people inside.

I guess I'm saying be aware that some of your friends will still want to follow the rules, and that is their choice.

Yes and choices apply all round. I'm not talking about breaking the law here, just talking about respecting choices.

So when restrictions were lifted a little last year, the friends who were happy to meet - not many - mostly wanted to go to pubs and restaurants. I am not prepared to give over details for an expensive drink. So I would say please respect that choice too.

When my parents are 3 weeks + from second vaccine then I’ll be seeing them, whatever “rules” are in place. I’ve not hugged them for a year and seen them once, socially distanced outside. It’s inhumane. The whole point of this appalling, ongoing lockdown was to protect the most vulnerable. Once they’re protected, I’m done.

That's the point about goal posts changing. We went from protect the NHS by protecting to vulnerable to where we are now with no thought or discussion as far as I can tell. And where we are now seems to be prevent covid from spreading at all costs, even when the vulnerable are vaccinated. Well I'm not happy with that at all.

No, neither am I. It’s a common view.

@ElectraBlue

Spring. You only have to see the protests around Europe to see that compliance is breaking down...

I want to see a clear roadmap out of this and opinions that go beyond the narrow circle of lockdown-obsessed SAGE and a couple of scared ministers.

Once the vaccine roll out has covered the most vulnerable/elderly, things need to open again.

'As long as it takes' is not a realistic option. Will you stay indoors for the rest of your life? I don't think so.

Plus with that approach we would soon have no jobs, businesses and money for the NHS/benefits left. At some point we will have to accept a level of risk/deaths.

Agree with every word of this.

"As long as it takes" is a meaningless phrase. As long as it takes for what - to vaccinate everyone? to eradicate covid? What these people mean is "I will do exactly what the government say, for as long as they keep saying it".

I've already been stretching the stupid rules about not leaving your local authority area in Scotland and have been going for walks in other areas. I met a friend and had a coffee this morning (takeaway) and we definitely weren't 2 metres apart the whole time.

I was on a thread - might have been this one - where someone was saying that we should not be rushing to get DCs back to school because of risk of them getting Diabetes Type 1 from Covid.

Whilst I agree there may be a risk, it feels like we have lost all sense
of proportionality. So there's probably an infinitesimal fractional chance of my DS getting Diabetes type 1, on the other hand the risk of him getting Diabetes type 2 through ongoing inactivity and comfort eating in lockdown is higher. This is a blunt example by the way and clearly as DP it's my responsibility to make sure he gets some exercise and monitor his diet, but as a teen he's missing out on school sports and other activities like walking from bus stop into school

We don't want bodies lying on the streets, but fully empty hospitals may argue that we're doing the job too well.

@CountessFrog - when you say 'vaccinated', do you mean one jab?

Scrolled back and can’t find the context to my comment because can’t find the comment? For me, I am due my second jab on a month from now, it will give me a bit more confidence but I’m pretty confident after one (pfeizer).

And so are the government. I felt able to see patients face to face three weeks after my first jab - in a clinical mask. After my second, the mask is for their benefit, not mine, but the vast majority of our friends are also nhs, also vaccinated. I’m happy mixing with them. I’m not currently, but I will be soon

@StealthPolarBear

That's the point about goal posts changing. We went from protect the NHS by protecting to vulnerable to where we are now with no thought or discussion as far as I can tell. And where we are now seems to be prevent covid from spreading at all costs, even when the vulnerable are vaccinated. Well I'm not happy with that at all.

This. The constantly moving goalposts are really pissing me off now. Enough.

What is an acceptable level of hospital occupation at this time of year? Anyone know?

I think that after 8 March, if there isn't a reduction in restrictions of some kind, a lot of people are going to be breaking rules. Maybe just small ones, but still rules that they followed before. And as we go into spring/summer, compliance will drop - provided that cases, hospitalisations and deaths continue to drop. People respond to the hospitalisation and death numbers in particular - if they can see levels are low, but restrictions are continuing, they are less likely to comply.

Personally, my limit will be around the beginning of May. If, at that point, cases, hospitalisations and deaths are low, my parents are vaccinated and they still want to keep everything closed and police us in our own homes, I will start seeing friends/family who feel the same as me. If however the expected improvement doesn't materialise, or if there is some lifting of restrictions, I will probably toe the line longer, though I'll still grumble.

Bumble zero from an infectious disease as far as I can tell. No one must get ill.

Quick google to answer my own question - apparently the target is 85% but hospitals in England are often running at around 90% occupancy and 95% in the winter which is considered unsafe. That’s based on having ~140,000 general/acute beds.

The ignorance of government thinking vaccines will stop this is bizarre

FWIW I'm not convinced they do believe vaccines will stop it - not with the many mutations and the ever present threat of vaccine escape

However it may be a useful delaying tactic while they try to work out, among the panic they've encouraged, just how to tell folk that there may be no alternative to learning to live with it

The government know it won’t stop it. What mages you think they think it will?

Most people I know do see friends and family already. And I think it is made worse, but not having anywhere to go and nothing to do.