Has the govt confirmed that unlocking is going ahead on 29 March?

[FriedMacaroni]

Hello, I've got myself in a bit of a tizz and I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

When the roadmap was announced, it included the following:

• Each step to be assessed against four tests before restrictions ease, starting with the return of schools on 8 March
• PM is clear that the decision on each stage will be based on data not dates, and government will move cautiously to keep infection rates under control
• There will be a minimum of five weeks between each step: four weeks for the data to reflect changes in restrictions; followed by seven days’ notice of the restrictions to be eased.

Schools went back on 8 March (hurrah) and things seem to have been moving in the right direction since then - apart from the big rise in cases in Europe.

So I assumed that there would be a briefing on 22 March, to let us know whether or not we met the criteria to move to step 1b. However I haven't heard an announcement, and it is now 27 March. I haven't made any plans because I've been waiting on the announcement.

Could someone point me to an official confirmation that the unlocking is going ahead?

thanks

YES. Source: BBC news right now.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56544236

Mr Johnson said: "In just a few days' time, I'm finally going to be able to go to the barbers.

"But more important than that, I'm going to be able to go down the street and cautiously, but irreversibly, I'm going to drink a pint of beer in the pub.

"And as things stand, I can see absolutely nothing in the data to dissuade me from continuing along our roadmap to freedom, unlocking our economy and getting back to the life we love."

I want to see someone try to cautiously and irreversibly drink a pint

Thanks, I appreciate you posting. I checked the BBC website and I can see this:

Boris Johnson has said the roadmap for easing England's coronavirus lockdown is still on track, even as a third wave of infections hits Europe. "The PM said he will soon "be able to go to the barbers" and eventually "drink a pint... in the pub".

Outdoor gatherings are allowed from Monday, with more restrictions due to be eased on 12 April.

Mr Johnson added that nothing in the data dissuaded him "from continuing along our roadmap to freedom".

From Monday, people will be allowed to meet outside - including in private gardens - in groups of up to six, or as two households. Shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality venues are due to reopen on 12 April.

I was expecting a briefing which would should an assessment for each of the 4 tests before formally confirming the unlocking - it almost seems like that's taken as read and he's looking beyond that to the next unlocking. Maybe I'm too institutionalised after a year, expecting them to show me the data that's informed their decisions about my day-to-day life.

I feel a bit uncomfortable thinking about April 12. It's been an enormous, positive change to have schools open. I also welcome the changes on Monday. But to have more changes just 14 days after that - it feels like we're going too fast, it's a bit overwhelming.

Ha ha ChocOrange1 the cautious irreversible pint-drinking had been removed from the section I looked at!

I think the unlocking om the 29th March is part of the same step, sort of 1a and 1b, so I assume it would have gone ahead anyway.

The hairdressers/barbers and drinking in pubs outdoors is part of step 2 on April 12, so I'm not sure Boris understands his own roadmap.

Blimey he'd better stick to it, I've rammed my diary full of plans, can't bear the thought of crossing them out, again 😭

@FriedMacaroni

Thanks, I appreciate you posting. I checked the BBC website and I can see this:

Boris Johnson has said the roadmap for easing England's coronavirus lockdown is still on track, even as a third wave of infections hits Europe. "The PM said he will soon "be able to go to the barbers" and eventually "drink a pint... in the pub".

Outdoor gatherings are allowed from Monday, with more restrictions due to be eased on 12 April.

Mr Johnson added that nothing in the data dissuaded him "from continuing along our roadmap to freedom".

From Monday, people will be allowed to meet outside - including in private gardens - in groups of up to six, or as two households. Shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality venues are due to reopen on 12 April.

I was expecting a briefing which would should an assessment for each of the 4 tests before formally confirming the unlocking - it almost seems like that's taken as read and he's looking beyond that to the next unlocking. Maybe I'm too institutionalised after a year, expecting them to show me the data that's informed their decisions about my day-to-day life.

I feel a bit uncomfortable thinking about April 12. It's been an enormous, positive change to have schools open. I also welcome the changes on Monday. But to have more changes just 14 days after that - it feels like we're going too fast, it's a bit overwhelming.

I'm sure the people who have their livelihood hanging by a thread are not finding it overwhelming to finally be able to earn money again.

Christ, it can't come quick enough.

But to have more changes just 14 days after that - it feels like we're going too fast, it's a bit overwhelming.

I think this was pointed out at the time. A review after 4 weeks for every step and then a week notice before moving onto the next step was fine, but doesn't work in the 1st step because it had 2 parts and the secondary school start was staggered. So the first review will be before we know what the effects of step 1 are.

I think they would have done the 12th April stuff on the 29th March if it wasn't for easter.

Thanks for the responses, including the robust ones. They help put thing into perspective. Being holed up with one's household for weeks means less exposure to the views of others so I appreciate your honesty. I can only imagine how tough it must have been for many businesses over the last year.

Where my perception was amiss was seeing this as a 5-step process - step 1, 1b, 2, 3 and 4. Seeing it as a 4-step process, with 1b to allow people to meet for Easter, makes more sense. 1b is an anomaly.

That's not a helpful response.

I think that, because 1b is mostly during the school holidays, the theory is that it shouldn’t make a big difference to the R number compared to 1a. We are swapping the risk of schools open for the risk of outside rule of 6/2 households, organised sport and more freedom to travel away from home.

Going too fast? Is this a wind up? The data shows we are no longer in a national emergency, and the vulnerable have been vaccinated. What is the worry?

@Oblomov21

Overwhelming? Please make an appointment to see your GP about your chronic anxiety.

My dd suffers with chronic anxiety. It's complicated, debilitating and certainly not easily diagnosed by some dickish poster online.

What a hideous and utterly pointless thing to say to a stranger.
Do you feel better now you've been an unhelpful arse online?

@Oblomov21

Overwhelming? Please make an appointment to see your GP about your chronic anxiety.

Don’t minimise the way the OP is feeling. Everyone’s feelings are valid - especially at a time like this. And her responses have been very gracious I think.

Totally agree @millenialblush, I'm sick of government controlling our lives. Bring on the reopening

OP's thoughts and views are not rational, and she isn't able to grasp a common sense view of current affairs. Angst filled posts.
It is highly likely that she may have some sort severe anxiety. And I'm suggesting she sees her GP for treatment. Because that is no way to live.
I'm not minimalising wherediditgo. If she can't see that her view is not balanced Tyrone she needs help.

And fluffyclouds if your dd does have severe anxiety then you should be even more sympathetic to other posters and their irrational thoughts. And advise them to seek medical assistance from their Gp too.

FFS.

@Oblomov21

OP's thoughts and views are not rational, and she isn't able to grasp a common sense view of current affairs. Angst filled posts. It is highly likely that she may have some sort severe anxiety. And I'm suggesting she sees her GP for treatment. Because that is no way to live. I'm not minimalising wherediditgo. If she can't see that her view is not balanced Tyrone she needs help.

And fluffyclouds if your dd does have severe anxiety then you should be even more sympathetic to other posters and their irrational thoughts. And advise them to seek medical assistance from their Gp too.

FFS.

I wouldn't dream of suggesting to an op that they should seek medical help and if there was ever a reason I did, I'd do it kindly and with warmth or perhaps a pm?

Your post came across as unhelpful and unkind, as you well know.
So yes, ffs.

Stage 1a and 1b are the same step. So it was always going to go ahead. It's Stage 2 (12 April) which is as yet unknown.

Medication wouldn't necessarily help here - this isn't some imbalance in the brain, it's nervousness about change and fear of the unknown. That's an ordinary human response, it's how we've all survived millenia.

We'll get through it OP and it'll be normal again before we know it (I hope)

@Pootle40 I'm assuming you have a job where you get paid regardless? My business has been closed and need to get back to work to pay my mortgage! If you're not happy with the speed of the roadmap I suggest you stay at home and hide 🙄

"Angst filled posts"

?? @Oblomov21

I'm not sure we're reading the same thread. The OP suggested being a bit confused about when the government were going to announce how we've done towards the steps for reopening.

Then said that it was "a bit overwhelming" that restrictions were lifting. But subsequently posted thanks for the different perspectives after spending so long just at home with family.

Please tell us where the "angst" is?!

Fluffy, I completely disagree. No PM required. Suggesting a poster seeks medical advice from a GP is absolute bog standard response from most posters on most threads where anxiety is blatant.

Lots of people are a bit "overwhelmed" while still looking forward to the easing of restrictions, so I think it's perfectly reasonable for the OP to be double checking things.

Personally for me cautious optimism is my position, however, every time the government did a cautiously optimistic easing of lockdown last year and then doubled down on everything because things went South again last year has made me very wary of accepting things at face value.

I'll be openingmy non-essential shop on April 12th for the third time in a year, hopefully. in that time my LL has still been paid rent and the overheads covered. We got government support but we're still down to the bones of our arse. If anything gets delayed, there is little chance of being able to buy new stock unless we can open and stay open and know exactly what measures we should have in place. Yes, I want a bloody idiots guide based on as solid and reliable data as possible. because if it gets to the 10th and hospital numbers or deaths have gone up and they think again, I might just implode.

So maybe that's angsty for you, or maybe I need clinical help for not having 100% faith in our government. But that sounds suspiciously like being "re-educated" when actually I don't see anything unreasonable in my feelings, based on lived experience, nor the OPs.