Next week's announcement won't be the good news we think it'll be

[likeamillpond]

Listening to the news and reading between the lines regarding the latest variant that's supposed to be resistant to the vaccine, I don't think it's going to be brilliant news next week.
I dont think it'll be a case of, We've got this. You can all go out now.
Im hoping theyll say for certain that schools can go back. At least.
I think we are still in the shit. They just haven't told us.
I'm prepared to be told I'm worrying over nothing.

We were never going to be told we could all go out. It was always going to be a very gradual easing of restrictions.

Schools first, maybe all back, might be phased.
Non-essential shops will be a while after that.
Hospitality I don't think will be announced on 22nd.

We just don't know. I hope you're wrong ! I think they'll announce a cautious ending of the lockdown. Very cautious and slow.

Try and think positive. I would be grateful for just the schools going back at this point anyway!

As for socialising the Twitter leak I read was we will be able to meet 1 person outside.

I don’t need them to say that. I just want schools to reopen again. The rest I don’t care about.

I don't think it'll be a case of, We've got this. You can all go out now

I don't think that was ever going to be the case TBF.

Boris said he wants this to be the last lockdown so we will be coming out of it very slowly.

Were they ever going to tell us we could all go out? I thought it was reopening of schools, maybe phased, and the rest of us adults are allowed to sit on a bench!

@justanotherneighinparadise

I don’t need them to say that. I just want schools to reopen again. The rest I don’t care about.

This

I would also be grateful if it was just schools going back, my children are suffering more than me right now and I need to be able to concentrate on work again as my employer is getting low on patience! I have moments of feeling like you do, then on other days I feel positive, it all depends on the media spin on the day!

I know things are going to be eased gradually but I suspect it will be more gradual than people are expecting!
Because of the new new variant.

To listen to people around me they seem to think it'll be all holidays, hugging and parties before long..
They seem to think the vaccine means that's the end of it.

They are in for a shock.

I think they are worried. I would expect more positivity from them as the news does seem to be positive. But they do sound worried. I hope this could just be because they want to get this right, rewrite history and gloss over all the mistakes in 2020.

I am also worried about the newest variant and the possibility of vaccine escape. I don't think we are anywhere near the end of this, personally.

But I will be beyond happy if my 16 and 18yos can go back to college. I can wait, for the rest.

I would also be very grateful if schools go back and happy for the rest of it to be slow.

From what I’m seeing locally people are giving less and less of a shit anyway - I think a lot of people are reaching the point where they will just see people regardless of what the government say.

I think the moment they announce school are reopening, then unless they also have a clear and timely plan for reopening everything else then it’ll be a floodgate for people socialising in each other’s homes regardless of whether it’s “allowed.” I have no intention of spending further months locked away indoors if it’s apparently safe enough for hundred of different families to intermingle every day through education settings, and don’t know anyone else who would.

They are obviously very worried about the new variant and this is just going to continue I’m afraid. Hopefully some years will be back in school from the 8th.

He needs to say what's happening with universities too

It's all very well being cautious , but once schools go back fully people will go out again. They can say ' one person on a bench' or whatever the new slogan will be, but if children can mix at school then people won't see any reason to not mix or see family or do what they want. People are sick of it all now and controlling the masses is going to be harder than it was first lockdown..

Yup makes me so happy that I’ll be back teaching 150 pupils face to face yet I haven’t seen my mum who is in a nursing home since March 2020.

I don't think they are hugely worried about the new variants. The issue is the number of people in ICU, that number is falling but only very slowly. Half of the people in ICU aren't in groups 1-4, so a doubling of infection could double the number in ICU, a quarter aren't in groups 1-9, so two doubling of infection would impact the numbers in ICU significantly even with the initial roll out complete. Lots of these people would survive, but be very unwell.

Having said that there is no way of knowing how many would be in group 6.

I don't think we'll be able to really significantly relax distancing until the summer when all adults are vaccinated.

I think there will be serious unrest if they move the goalposts now - even if there is a reason for it like the new variant.

Since December we have been given the message that this is one last push while we roll out the vaccine. If they turn round and say “sorry despite the vaccine we’ve still got to stay at home because of variants...” I don’t think people will take it especially the under 35s.

There isn’t any strategy to rule out new variants is there? There is no reason to think they are a short term problem or that a longer lockdown will mean we defeat the risk from variants. IMO we’re going to have to live with them and have tailored annual vaccines as best we can (like with flu).

If the new variant is resistant to the vaccine then I hope the relaxing of the rules isn’t schools but maybe meeting one or two others outdoors so children can socially meet with SD in place.

@motherrunner

Yup makes me so happy that I’ll be back teaching 150 pupils face to face yet I haven’t seen my mum who is in a nursing home since March 2020.

I can imagine! Sadly my dad died last year but I hadn't seen him for two months prior to that and that was bad enough ( care home) It was awful. I'm sorry you can't see your one :( As I said earlier, once schools return people will not keep this up. It stands to reason I think. If they keep saying ' caution ' the more people will push against it. I hope you can see her soon .. x

Clearly your friends are not in mumsnet, which is full of doom muppets.

It was always going to be a phased end for lockdown. If your friends think that means everyone going mad immediately point them to numbers in hospital still similar to the peak of the first wave. Numbers are dropping nicely now but they need to be quite a lot lower before the street parties.

What the hell do you think they are doing about the variants? Sitting around moaning about insurrection because an ever moving situation keeps on moving?

Have you even thought about the global efforts, studies, reports taking place? Even if you only count the ones we are told about from a podium it's obvious what is being done. From genome sequencing to further specific research here and South Africa and elsewhere.

Currently the 'Kent variant' is the most prolific across the world. They know this because of the monitoring being done.

Thank you @the80sweregreat.

I’m sorry to hear of your circumstances too 💐

I can’t even speak to my mum as her condition means she can’t hold a phone or iPad etc. The nursing home offers window visits but she’s on the second floor and got distressed when she was tried to be moved from her bed.

How can it be safe for me to teach 150 + pupils a day (in some classrooms that don’t even have a window) but I can’t see my mum?