Page 3 | Has the lockdown ended?

Dannn · 2021-02-26T16:26:34+00:00

Has the lockdown ended without me realising? Went for my daily walk today and many groups of up to 10 people having picnics and drinking on the green, must have been 200 people in total. Every bench was in use. Must be the nice weather!

Original poster

Dannn · 26/02/2021 18:01

I do find it concerning as we are still getting thousands of positives each day, critical care units are still full. We’re not out of the woods yet. I’m not judging any individual for their behaviour but it’s interesting that there has been a shift in behaviour of the public as a whole. If JVT is worried I’m worried!

OP posts:

OverTheRainbow88 · 26/02/2021 18:01

Took kids to local playground this avo as did 5 lots of friends and their kids. So we were a group of about 26. But we all stayed local and went to local park

Jourdain11 · 26/02/2021 18:02

It's terrible, isn't it? People out everywhere just wandering around! What part of STAY AT HOME don't they understand? Let's hope they're not expecting to get a ventilator when they catch it. These people have blood on their hands!

Obviously I was only out to see them because I had Essential Business.

User133847 · 26/02/2021 18:04

@ginsparkles

I definitely think that it's a worry. JVT was also saying that his being asked all the time if now that I have had the vaccine can I break the rules. It's clearly becoming and issue. There is growth again in some areas. It's likely to be a nice weekend, they were really quite united on they "it's going well, please don't blow it now" message. I don't think they would hammer this that hard if there wasn't some concern it was happening.

The rulebreaking adds up, but the risk is very low outdoors.

The issue is more people will be mixing households and meeting up in houses. These are the big areas of the transmission along with hospitals/care homes etc.

Shops, schools/colleges and hospitality are the other big transmission risks and while they're all shut it keeps a lid on it. If cases fire back up in a few weeks, for example, it'll be due to schools rather than parks.

Loopyloututu2 · 26/02/2021 18:06

I find it so funny how the narrative has done a complete u-turn on mumsnet now! OP would’ve had all the frothers out a mere few weeks back!

I’m loving seeing all the kids playing in the park/families “bumping into one another” - it’s as it should be! People have had enough and it’s time to get on with life.

User133847 · 26/02/2021 18:06

@Dannn

I do find it concerning as we are still getting thousands of positives each day, critical care units are still full. We’re not out of the woods yet. I’m not judging any individual for their behaviour but it’s interesting that there has been a shift in behaviour of the public as a whole. If JVT is worried I’m worried!

The public are very reactive to the weather.

People should follow the rules, but the parks and beaches aren't a problem transmission wise. It's when you start getting garden parties/barbecues with people going in and out the house.

ginsparkles · 26/02/2021 18:06

@User133847 I don't disagree but these rules are in place and we should be sticking to them. If the decline is stalling then the whole roadmap could be delayed.

Also outside is lower risk but still, social distancing tends to go out the window in larger groups. And it doesn't take long for meeting outside to, we'll meet in the garden, to can I just use your loo? To oh it's raining come inside.

User133847 · 26/02/2021 18:10

I find it so funny how the narrative has done a complete u-turn on mumsnet now! OP would’ve had all the frothers out a mere few weeks back!

I always said last year the public's attitude will change once it reaches that 12 month mark and British Summer Time kicks in. People/MN weren't going to be supporting lockdown forever.

It's March in a few days and BST officially starts in a few weeks and Boris has just announced the roadmap out of lockdown.

That doesn't mean people should break the law though. The rules aren't there to be broken.

User133847 · 26/02/2021 18:14

[quote ginsparkles]@User133847 I don't disagree but these rules are in place and we should be sticking to them. If the decline is stalling then the whole roadmap could be delayed.

Also outside is lower risk but still, social distancing tends to go out the window in larger groups. And it doesn't take long for meeting outside to, we'll meet in the garden, to can I just use your loo? To oh it's raining come inside. [/quote]
Yeah, I just posted above people should follow the rules. It's a really shitty thing to do to brazenly break them, whoever you are. Emergencies aside.

And that's also the issue. Parks and beaches are very low risk but the problem is once people start breaking the rules to meet in groups in parks, then they'll start doing it in houses. Not everyone, but many.

Then more people see others doing it and they think 'sod it, why should I not see my friends/family when everyone else is'. The rules are there for a good reason and people need to follow them. As we've seen once they stop following - and the enforcement disappears - it just becomes a free for all again.

ginsparkles · 26/02/2021 18:15

@User133847 100% agree

KettleWentBang · 26/02/2021 18:15

You know it's not ended

Our local parks have been heaving the whole of winter.
Yesterday even our small local one was rammed.
And parents sitting chatting on the green

So what?

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 26/02/2021 18:19

@Dannn

For those saying I was out as well, yes of course I was but there is a difference between going out for daily exercise which is permitted and meeting 10 friends in the park for a picnic. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone that has done that and each individual is entitled to make their own choices, but it’s still against the rules.

So you were being goady then?!

Pixxie7 · 26/02/2021 18:19

I really can’t see the harm, at the moment people have very little to look forward to, they are taking what they can. You were obviously out enjoying the sunshine live and let live.

pinkearedcow · 26/02/2021 18:20

When JVT was speaking earlier, his concern seemed to be mainly that people meeting indoors might be driving cases up in some parts of the UK. I don't think he mentioned people meeting outdoors, but I may have missed that.

IcedPurple · 26/02/2021 18:21

@Dannn

For those saying I was out as well, yes of course I was but there is a difference between going out for daily exercise which is permitted and meeting 10 friends in the park for a picnic. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone that has done that and each individual is entitled to make their own choices, but it’s still against the rules.

You're referring to 'rules' and things being 'allowed'.

In other words you know very well that lockdown has not ended.

So your post was goady, as we've said all along.

trappedsincesundaymorn · 26/02/2021 18:24

@Whywhywhy48

Lots of people havent followed the rules at all. People think they wont get it! Probably hasnt affected them. Selfish people

I sat and had a coffee on a bench with a friend today for the first time since March last year. During our conversation the up coming 1st anniversary of my mum's death from covid was discussed, as was my dad's death in November of cancer. So yes, some of us have been affected, some of us will forever be affected. Today I broke the rules and I don't care. Call me selfish if you wish, but I will no longer be told how I should just suck up everything 2020 threw at me for the sake of others.

itsgettingwierd · 26/02/2021 18:24

@User133847

I find it so funny how the narrative has done a complete u-turn on mumsnet now! OP would’ve had all the frothers out a mere few weeks back!

I always said last year the public's attitude will change once it reaches that 12 month mark and British Summer Time kicks in. People/MN weren't going to be supporting lockdown forever.

It's March in a few days and BST officially starts in a few weeks and Boris has just announced the roadmap out of lockdown.

That doesn't mean people should break the law though. The rules aren't there to be broken.

Yes I think this too.

Good solid and measured post.

Haffiana · 26/02/2021 18:26

I went to the park for my daily walk and FUCK ME SIDEWAYS!!! It was FULL of cheeky fuckers!!! Don't they know PANDEMIC??!!

ginsparkles · 26/02/2021 18:29

I didn't think that he said specified indoor or outdoor, just that he was concerned people thought it was over and people were taking their foot of the brake at exactly the wrong time. He did mention thinking one home visit was ok, but he's point seemed more general people need to stick to the rules, to me.

pinkearedcow · 26/02/2021 18:32

Thanks Gin I was only half listening as I was so deflated when they mentioned cases rising.

Motnight · 26/02/2021 18:33

Lots of people out in one of our local parks. Most looked like they were still obeying the rules.

rawalpindithelabrador · 26/02/2021 18:35

@IcedPurple

Yawn. These threads have been going on for almost a year now.

Why didn't you just enjoy your walk instead of counting how many people are sitting on benches? I'm glad they were relaxing and enjoying themselves. Shame you couldn't do th same.

This!

OverweightPidgeon · 26/02/2021 18:35

Nice bit of back peddling Op

herecomesthsun · 26/02/2021 18:36

I am actually still shielding.

I don't bother too much about what other people are doing, sitting on benches etc.

Let's hope the vaccines kick in soon enough to prevent too many more unnecessary deaths.

ginsparkles · 26/02/2021 18:36

He said he had an inbox full of people asking if now they had the vaccine they could see their grandchildren and break the rules. He was strongly urging everyone to stick to the rules. As was MH. I thought it was quite a stark presser for the first time in a while.