Why do so many countries have lighter restrictions

[IrishMamaMia]

This thread and question has come up in many different threads over the past few months. I'd describe myself as well-informed, as in I regularly digest a lot of news from all outlets. I have friends across Europe and US, what I would describe as similarly affected countries? Except from Ireland (I'm Irish and am well aware of how strict the measures are there), why are our measures so long-term and so much worse than elsewhere? Why cant we meet one person indoors outside of bubbling? Why can't I book to go to a Covid secure museum like my friends in Germany? Why can't I access simple grooming at a hairdresser for a month? Why can't my children learn healthy life-saving skills like swimming?Why can't I go into a book shop? America are just getting on with it. I keep seeing media reports that countries are about to be overwhelmed and they never are.
And this week we see subtle hints in the media that relaxation of lockdown might not proceed.
The media seem obsessive about travelling abroad? I couldn't care less I want the freedom to live a bit of a life daily.
Is anyone feeling this? I basically support lockdown in an emergency situation but I can't support this anymore. Was reading Steve Baker's comments on Question Time this morning and think he's right.
I feel like we've gone through the point of no return now and this is getting permanent :(

@thewiseoneincognito that's a really good point at looking at it like each wave of variant is almost a new virus in itself. I am very concerned about what's happening in Brazil in terms of their variant. Selfishly because I feel we'll be in further restrictions again due to that.

@Figgyboa good point about CA. I had forgotten. I'm envious that you guys have good weather and you are also opening up now. It feels like a lifetime here.

I have to admit, the way England has managed covid makes me want to leave. I have family in America, Australia and NZ and all of there life's are more normal. I feel trapped in the UK. It's made me think twice about living here long term.

@annabellacomestotea I've had these thoughts too. I'm staying as I like my life for now but I can't live without culture and greater family and friends long-term. I figure I might as well be in France or Germany. And if my kids continue to have no groups and classes they'd at least benefit from being in another culture. I'll give it a year.

Half of Europe is about to start a new lockdown and many countries are living under curfews.

I'd happily take a curfew over some of our restrictions.

We're still in a lockdown anyway with the proviso that things MIGHT unlock. Possibly. So no different really.

@IrishMamaMia

This thread and question has come up in many different threads over the past few months. I'd describe myself as well-informed, as in I regularly digest a lot of news from all outlets. I have friends across Europe and US, what I would describe as similarly affected countries? Except from Ireland (I'm Irish and am well aware of how strict the measures are there), why are our measures so long-term and so much worse than elsewhere? Why cant we meet one person indoors outside of bubbling? Why can't I book to go to a Covid secure museum like my friends in Germany? Why can't I access simple grooming at a hairdresser for a month? Why can't my children learn healthy life-saving skills like swimming?Why can't I go into a book shop? America are just getting on with it. I keep seeing media reports that countries are about to be overwhelmed and they never are. And this week we see subtle hints in the media that relaxation of lockdown might not proceed. The media seem obsessive about travelling abroad? I couldn't care less I want the freedom to live a bit of a life daily. Is anyone feeling this? I basically support lockdown in an emergency situation but I can't support this anymore. Was reading Steve Baker's comments on Question Time this morning and think he's right. I feel like we've gone through the point of no return now and this is getting permanent :(

And many of them now going back to lockdowns and realising their mistake.

Of course the real reason is that your government want you to be unhappy cos they are evil wizards as I'm sure your friends on facebook have explained.

The government have purposefully chosen policies that make people unhappy @LastTrainEast
Love your copy and paste answer though, couldn't come up with your own ideas? :)

Yes the UK is great overall, but last year has made me see it so differently, and I think the quality of life in the cities is actually very low when you can't actually do anything like go for meals, the theatre, etc. The weather isn't great and there's not much outdoorsy unless you live in particular parts. Starting to make me question if I could have a better lifestyle somewhere else.

My son and daughter-in-law live and work in Switzerland. They got off very lightly in the first wave but had lots more deaths in the second wave. However, they have always been allowed to mix with other households in one another homes and in social groups outside virtually unrestricted. They have continued to spend their weekends going rock climbing, snow boarding and doing a range of watersports, having bbqs with friends etc.
They have been working from home, have to wear masks on public transport and have had some non-essential shops closed. They have also had short periods of restaurant closures etc but these were eased at the beginning of March.
I think there are lots of countries who seem to have been more compassionate in terms of understanding people's need for socialisation over the last year. We are definitely at the extreme end of legislating

I think some of the restrictions in the UK and Ireland are harsher because they know people will push the boundaries further than the rules allow. Maybe they have to allow for that?

I've lived in Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe. Trust me Brits are rule followers.

@99victoria

My son and daughter-in-law live and work in Switzerland. They got off very lightly in the first wave but had lots more deaths in the second wave. However, they have always been allowed to mix with other households in one another homes and in social groups outside virtually unrestricted. They have continued to spend their weekends going rock climbing, snow boarding and doing a range of watersports, having bbqs with friends etc. They have been working from home, have to wear masks on public transport and have had some non-essential shops closed. They have also had short periods of restaurant closures etc but these were eased at the beginning of March. I think there are lots of countries who seem to have been more compassionate in terms of understanding people's need for socialisation over the last year. We are definitely at the extreme end of legislating

I agree, the UK has stripped everything back other than takeaways. No wonder we feel collectively shite.

@IrishMamaMia

This thread and question has come up in many different threads over the past few months. I'd describe myself as well-informed, as in I regularly digest a lot of news from all outlets. I have friends across Europe and US, what I would describe as similarly affected countries? Except from Ireland (I'm Irish and am well aware of how strict the measures are there), why are our measures so long-term and so much worse than elsewhere? Why cant we meet one person indoors outside of bubbling? Why can't I book to go to a Covid secure museum like my friends in Germany? Why can't I access simple grooming at a hairdresser for a month? Why can't my children learn healthy life-saving skills like swimming?Why can't I go into a book shop? America are just getting on with it. I keep seeing media reports that countries are about to be overwhelmed and they never are. And this week we see subtle hints in the media that relaxation of lockdown might not proceed. The media seem obsessive about travelling abroad? I couldn't care less I want the freedom to live a bit of a life daily. Is anyone feeling this? I basically support lockdown in an emergency situation but I can't support this anymore. Was reading Steve Baker's comments on Question Time this morning and think he's right. I feel like we've gone through the point of no return now and this is getting permanent :(

No. This way of life must never be permanent.

@99victoria that's the impression that I get, that many countries have restrictions that allow people to get on with safe, outdoor activities and give people the option of socialising indoors. Obviously I'd say a lot of people regardless of country don't take this offer up where vulnerable friends and relatives are involved.
I wish we had similar here. I'm very worried that no social lives, no sports, no culture is the pattern we are going to follow if future lockdowns are necessary. Makes me feel a bit sick to be honest.

I don't exactly feel that the Netherlands has light restrictions at the moment. We are under curfew and are allowed one visitor. Shopping only with an appointment since two weeks ago, they only did that because so many shops were going bankrupt. Kids swimming lessons are allowed because there's so much water around here.

I think the big difference is that Dutch people are still allowed to go anywhere in the country, it seems quite draconian in that respect in the UK.

@CuteOrangeElephant the Netherlands has been interesting to follow as i know there's some similarities culturally with the UK. I follow an instamum who is based there and she went on a vacation within the country recently, I was so envious.

I would prefer a curfew and to be allowed one visitor within the home. Obviously others might disagree though.

@IrishMamaMia

I would prefer a curfew and to be allowed one visitor within the home. Obviously others might disagree though.

I'd prefer to get back to normal thanks.

@kittensarecute same. Sorry, I meant if there was a choice between shit options

American here. We have had minimal restrictions outside of a few large cities because the US doesn't have an NHS to save. We have an extremely expensive public-private healthcare system with a lot of capacity to handle a pandemic. The system was stretched a bit early on in a few cities, but once we got enough ppe into place and ventilators built, it has been able to handle covid without threat of collapse. US companies have developed three vaccines and we've innoculated 100 million people and expect to have all adults innoculated by June.

Like I said, our system is very expensive, but we do get what we pay for. Most states had minimal lockdown. Mine was locked down for only 3 weeks total, and now is completely open except for wearing masks, and even masks are only encouraged, not mandated.

If I were British, I'd be livid that the chronic underfunding of the NHS has meant that you have to suffer through repeated lockdowns. The human toll must be enormous, and wouldn't be necessary if healthcare funding was adequate.

The American healthcare system is often derided as too expensive, to which I say, "What's a more important use of resources than human life and health?"

@IrishMamaMia

This thread and question has come up in many different threads over the past few months. I'd describe myself as well-informed, as in I regularly digest a lot of news from all outlets. I have friends across Europe and US, what I would describe as similarly affected countries? Except from Ireland (I'm Irish and am well aware of how strict the measures are there), why are our measures so long-term and so much worse than elsewhere? Why cant we meet one person indoors outside of bubbling? Why can't I book to go to a Covid secure museum like my friends in Germany? Why can't I access simple grooming at a hairdresser for a month? Why can't my children learn healthy life-saving skills like swimming?Why can't I go into a book shop? America are just getting on with it. I keep seeing media reports that countries are about to be overwhelmed and they never are. And this week we see subtle hints in the media that relaxation of lockdown might not proceed. The media seem obsessive about travelling abroad? I couldn't care less I want the freedom to live a bit of a life daily. Is anyone feeling this? I basically support lockdown in an emergency situation but I can't support this anymore. Was reading Steve Baker's comments on Question Time this morning and think he's right. I feel like we've gone through the point of no return now and this is getting permanent :(

Re: hospitals, I guess it depends on what you define as ‘overwhelmed’. You may not think that widespread cancellations of cancer treatment, elective surgery and routine checkups (to make space for covid patients) are a sign of being overwhelmed, but we’ll be counting the mortality and health implications of those decisions for a while to come. I guess that’s ‘overwhelmed in my eyes’.

'I'd be livid that the chronic underfunding of the NHS has meant that you have to suffer through repeated lockdowns.' Totally this, @LifeExperience it definitely seems an advantage of the American system that capacity is there. Although private isn't a total panacea. I'm Irish originally, we have a semi-private system and aew even less able to cope than the UK :(

@Circumlocutious the mental health implications are also not going to be pretty.

The media seem obsessive about travelling abroad? I couldn't care less I want the freedom to live a bit of a life daily

Same OP. it seems we are in this mess because from the very start the government wouldn't restrict non-essential foreign travel - and they still won't do this in any effective manner, so we are still in this mess.

I also don't care about travel, and most in places like Aus/NZ are fine not to be able to travel so that their lives are almost completely normal (barring short sharp lockdowns that are totally unlike ours that last months). Obviously families are separate in different countries, but equally I haven't seen my DB in the same country (UK) and parents only once in a year (also in UK) so families have been split apart even in the same country by the multiple lockdowns and rampant virus transmission/mutation.