All restrictions to be gone by May?

[LemonSherbetFancies]

Anyone else see this?
I would be really pleased if this happened and we could return to normal life.

I don't think all restrictions will be gone by May, but I do think there will be significant easing. I don't think the four UK governments will risk opening things up all at once because of the variants, it will be gradual.

I'm really holding out for my UK holiday in May! I'm not even overly bothered if we can go out for meals as long as we can get takeaways.

Yes, OP, of course all the restrictions will be gone by May
But perhaps they won't
It depends

Whatever happens with the virus, we'll run out of money at some point, and return to a small fraction of the lives we led before.

*I’m sorry to say this but your belief is very naive OP. We will be back in lockdown around 2/3 months after they lift this one. The transmissibility of the new variants mean our numbers will go back up much quicker than they did after last years first lockdown.

People are going to be very disappointed once they realise this.*

@thewiseincognito

Wow, talk about doom mongering. The variant could make transmission quicker than last years but we have vaccines now with high efficiency rates which we didn't have last year.
They're already working on booster jabs.

The country couldn't survive another lockdown and to be honest, people wouldn't allow it anyway. There would be massive civil disobedience.
People are at their last tether and the consensis I get from colleagues, friends and family is that they would take their chances against Covid 19 and its variants rather than exist like this any longer.

whatever happens with the virus,we’ll run out of money at some point,and return to a small fraction of the lives we led before

There’s cheery, exactly what we need to hear at the moment. Thanks and welcome to the dementors club.

Cases and hospital admissions are dropping like a penguin through a trapdoor. Should this continue a couple of weeks after schools reopen then there is little justification for keeping us in lockdown.

hollow laugh

I'd love for that to be the case but since the press is already going on about the possibility of having to wait until August for pubs and restaurants, I rather doubt it. Still, we can live in hope.

Oh. We can but dream.

I think masks and other restriction in medical settings will likely remain around longer as the rates and risks of transmission are higher.

It might be possible and nice to think social restrictions to be significantly lower (like some areas had last summer) or gone, but I'm not getting my hopes up yet.

@DuchessofHastings1

*I’m sorry to say this but your belief is very naive OP. We will be back in lockdown around 2/3 months after they lift this one. The transmissibility of the new variants mean our numbers will go back up much quicker than they did after last years first lockdown.

People are going to be very disappointed once they realise this.*

@thewiseincognito

Wow, talk about doom mongering. The variant could make transmission quicker than last years but we have vaccines now with high efficiency rates which we didn't have last year.
They're already working on booster jabs.

The country couldn't survive another lockdown and to be honest, people wouldn't allow it anyway. There would be massive civil disobedience.
People are at their last tether and the consensis I get from colleagues, friends and family is that they would take their chances against Covid 19 and its variants rather than exist like this any longer.

Is a dash or realism really doom mongering? The way I see it is there’s hope and then there’s blind faith. Also I disagree with you about the consensus of people not complying with lockdown. Give the public their due, most are following the rules and would continue doing so if the science called for it, I’m sure of it.

Ok well I think the efficacy will be good enough to allow a near normal life to resume. Yes we will have to wait and see but looks promising so far.

^I agree, it looks very promising and I'm allowing myself to feel optimistic about there being an end to the need for lockdowns.

Thewiseoneincognito
To be fair, your posts always do follow the same pattern. You repeatedly post your pessimistic views and opinions as though they are facts. The OP’s thoughts of things being almost back to normal by May, are just as valid as yours are because the truth is that neither of you can be certain.

I happen to think May will see a large return to something resembling normal. If not the whole way there.

Cases and hospital admissions are dropping like a penguin through a trapdoor.
Love this phrase, I'll be using that more often
And yes, you're right the cases side dropping like a stone. People will be very reticent to follow restrictions when cases are as low as they were in Summer - especially those who are vaccinated.

I also think it depends on how you define normal, at the moment I'd define it as being able to eat out, go to places, see another household for socialising indoors, everything open.

However for me at the moment 'normal' doesn't include overseas travel, or large crowded events or bars - they're just not in my mind. So when I think 'May will be 'normal'' I don't actually mean 'normal'!

If reports are to be believed in the DM we are seeing an efficacy after one dose of the vaccine of around 65%. Israel states they are seeing 94% after two doses (presumably not the kent variant). You could conclude from this that some restrictions might need to remain in place until gps 1-9 have had two doses of vaccine and two weeks post the second dose. This is probably around July?

@JS87

If reports are to be believed in the DM we are seeing an efficacy after one dose of the vaccine of around 65%. Israel states they are seeing 94% after two doses (presumably not the kent variant). You could conclude from this that some restrictions might need to remain in place until gps 1-9 have had two doses of vaccine and two weeks post the second dose. This is probably around July?

The news from Israel is really promising but it’s important to note they’ve primarily being using the Pfizer one. All vaccines are not equal.

We haven’t heard much about Russia and china’s vaccination programmes; mostly because of unreliable regimes but there should be indicators we can judge which would be of interest because I believe their vaccines are the most similar to the AZ one.

So true, and also makes you feel like other people want it to be over- rather than people seeming happy with the fact of indefinite lockdown which I think is scarier than actual lockdown

TheWiseOne has been doommongering on here for months. It’s her favourite pastime.

Meanwhile the rest of us allow a little cautious optimism

I find myself ridiculously nervous about this. I think the cycle of restrictions, lifting and high cases has had an effect on me. I don't want to be around people in a cinema, a sports match or even a school assembly hall now. The thought of it makes me feel uncomfortable and nervous.

I hope this feeling can change.

@namesnamesnamesnames sorry to hear, when restrictions ease take it step by step and don’t do anything you don’t want to, the feelings will definitely change

Well, it seems like the government's tone on this has really changed over the last couple of weeks and they are planning for SD to continue for the foreseeable future, perhaps until the rest of the world has made good progress with vaccines- news.sky.com/story/covid-19-government-scientists-want-to-keep-social-distancing-measures-in-place-for-foreseeable-future-12219223

I think those who were worried that restrictions would be dropped too quickly putting younger people at risk of long Covid will be relieved.

Cornettoninja the majority of the UK vaccinations dome so far have been Pfizer too.

@namesnamesnamesnames

I find myself ridiculously nervous about this. I think the cycle of restrictions, lifting and high cases has had an effect on me. I don't want to be around people in a cinema, a sports match or even a school assembly hall now. The thought of it makes me feel uncomfortable and nervous.

I hope this feeling can change.

Was talking about this with one of the kids earlier today, when will it feel normal to e.g. sit next to a stranger on the train?

I can't face another fuck up like last year, I really want them to get this unlocking right.

I would love for things to be normal again but with no fear involved... We have had a new baby during lockdown and all people keep saying is that they can't wait for lockdown to be lifted so they can have the first cuddle... But I keep feeling anxious about how the grandparents will be protected by the vaccine but we, and our children/babies won't be protected... And I can't bring myself to tell people that they won't be playing pass the parcel with my baby.
It's going to take a while to feel at ease for me, so perhaps a gradual easing of restrictions will help people like me