Public reaction if there is another major lockdown

[bathsh3ba]

My daughters and I have been out and about enjoying the relaxation of restrictions (within the rules). Everyone seems so happy to be out and honestly not many seem to be socially distancing. At first I was nervous and now I guess we are used to it though still distance as much as we can. The impression I get in our area at least is that everyone has mentally had enough and in their heads they have moved on and consider we are on our way out. I really hope we are and it's great to see numbers still consistently going down - but it makes me wonder how people would react if there is another major lockdown. Would most still comply?

[SweetMeadow]

People keep mentioning being vaccinated with the current vaccines like that is the end of the risks from this virus. And whilst the vaccine role out is a major achievement, it’s the potential variants of concern like the Indian one that may be coming down the track which could really put us back to square one.

When I see large groups of people gathering with little social distancing out and about at the moment and limited widespread coverage of the Indian variant, I feel really anxious.

[RedcurrantPuff]

@SweetMeadow

People keep mentioning being vaccinated with the current vaccines like that is the end of the risks from this virus. And whilst the vaccine role out is a major achievement, it’s the potential variants of concern like the Indian one that may be coming down the track which could really put us back to square one.

When I see large groups of people gathering with little social distancing out and about at the moment and limited widespread coverage of the Indian variant, I feel really anxious.

And what? It will mutate forever. Do we never get a life back?

The CMO said only recently it would be about a year before variants escaped vaccines.

And as for India and Brazil you only need to watch the news to see where their problems lie. The amount of people living in slums/poverty. Much worse than here.

[MrsPsmalls]

If people a frightened enough they will do it. If a lockdown was called tomorrow no one would comply as numbers are low. If a new variant has people dropping like flies then people will. If a lockdown is called it will be because it is needed. And if it is needed people will comply.

[Torvean]

There should be no need after enough ppl are vaccinated. The whole thing was saving the NHS.
So those vaccinated unlucky to catch it should not become as unwell. Therefore less ppl in ITU and hospitals can open up.

Yes there may be hot spots. I think we will hear about it for next couple years but again local break outs.
Then booster shots like flu till not necessary.
No national lock down.

[ConstantlyChanging]

They won’t have a choice same as the other times.

[480Widdio]

I haven’t complied to the rules this lockdown nobody I know has.

Obviously if gyms and shops etc. are shut then I have to accept that.But not stopping seeing friends and family indoors,

[TheKeatingFive]

If people a frightened enough they will do it.

At a personal level, yes. But most of the non vulnerable know they’re in little personal danger, so that’s been an uphill battle for a while now.

Unless we find ourselves facing a game changing variant, the fear of lockdown 1 won’t be repeated. And further compliance with strict lockdown won’t be widespread.

[TheKeatingFive]

They won’t have a choice same as the other times.

They have the choice to mix in private homes.

[mustlovegin]

Would most still comply?

Yes

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

While borders are open to countries like India and quarantine restrictions not being enforced for those returning from high risk countries we are a leaky sieve open to new strains. I don't think there is much more good will towards the government for failing to learn of previous mistakes, failing to learn from other countries and for failing to do things that are blindly obvious to the rest of us.

[Terracotta9]

I won’t be locking down again later this year.

After a year of lockdown—which was actually an unprecedented quarantine of the healthy, for a year!—and with most people eventually vaccinated, if there are still issues then frankly we are just going to have to learn to live with covid.

[Kokeshi123]

People would have no choice other than to stop going to the pub or sending their kids to school if they closed. But the police can't realistically stop millions of people from seeing friends in their homes or setting up homeschool pods with other parents---policing is done by consent, at the end of the day.

[Operasinger]

There won’t be another lockdown. Our vaccination programme is taking care of that.

[B33Fr33]

I bloody hope there will! Data sets are looking pretty ropey again.

[SnuggyBuggy]

I think a lot of the fear has worn off. It's not new and scary anymore and you can't really sustain fear.

[Eve]

Lockdown was to stop the NHS being overwhelmed , so I am sure with the investment now going on in the NHS to improve staffing numbers, increase beds and icu facilities etc there won’t be such a need in future . They need to spend that £350million a week they promised.

[RedcurrantPuff]

@B33Fr33

I bloody hope there will! Data sets are looking pretty ropey again.

Where? Here?

As for fear I’m nit allowing myself to be frightened again. The fear was caused by lies spread by the government who aren’t even that bothered themselves.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

I for one would be straight out protesting alongside Piers Corbin, you want to restrict citizens of this country whilst 10,000 people are free to fly in daily- can’t believe we’ve accepted so much to date.
The next wave of fear will be to get people to inject children- I shudder when I think of what’s become of this country and our liberty!!!

[MichelleScarn]

lemonswan If you are that essential to your role live at work.

Ah you're someone who just sees other people as a service? So what if the essential workers all said 'no can do' due to personal priorities and used parental/unpaid/holiday leave as they couldn't do your genius plan of living at work for an indefinite period?

[nancywhitehead]

Hopefully there won't be any need for it. I don't think that they will do it unless there is a need, because obviously it is having a huge damaging effect on people's wellbeing and the economy.

If there is a need e.g. because of a new strain that vaccines aren't effective against, then yes I think most people will still comply. Some won't but they will be the minority.

[nancywhitehead]

@Operasinger

There won’t be another lockdown. Our vaccination programme is taking care of that.

It depends whether these new strains are vaccine-resistant and spread across the population - if they do then we could be back to square one, or at least everyone needing another vaccine.

Hopefully that won't happen but it is a possibility.

[Kokeshi123]

I think the other thing to bear in mind is that we know a lot of things we didn't know about last year.

We know that surface transmission is a negligable risk. We know that outdoor transmission is very difficult. We know that a lot of the rules that organizations have tried to impose to keep us safe are largely a waste of time and amount to "infection control theater." And we have also seen, looking around the world, that it's quite hard to predict how pandemics will actually pan out depending on the measures taken. As PP have pointed out, different levels of lockdown in American states don't necessarily correlate very well with the actual numbers of cases or deaths.

I doubt very much that people will be interested in following silly rules about "essential shopping" or not sitting on a park bench to eat. I think that people will mostly apply common sense measures like trying to do things out of doors where possible, and making better use of ventilation than before.

[Thewiseoneincognito]

Hopefully the vaccine work manages to hold out against any strains that may be problematic. I was expecting a sea of ‘I’ve had me jab I don’t need a mask’ type of idiots since last Monday and so far there hasn’t really been many. People are still complying which is a good thing. So I think when we do go into the next lockdown people will accept it and get on with things.

The regular defiant fools on here saying I’ll still have people round and do what I want etc will no doubt be ranting and raving at the injustices but on the whole most people will keep calm and carry on following the rules.

[namechangeaga1ne]

@SilverGlitterBaubles

While borders are open to countries like India and quarantine restrictions not being enforced for those returning from high risk countries we are a leaky sieve open to new strains. I don't think there is much more good will towards the government for failing to learn of previous mistakes, failing to learn from other countries and for failing to do things that are blindly obvious to the rest of us.

This. I feel so angry with this government. Yes they have a lot of things to balance, but ffs, some things are blindingly obvious e.g. India.

[Teawaster]

Why would we need another lockdown? The chances of being hospitalised and dying from covid were very low anyway for those under 60 . Everyone older than that will have had both vaccines by now or will do so very shortly . Anyone between 40 and 60 will have had one vaccine , their chances of catching the virus is significantly reduced, their chances of being hospitalised and dying are tiny. And they will all be vaccinated in the coming months...apart from under 18's.
People who have had the vaccine can still possibly transmit covid but they would be transmitting to people who are extremely unlikely to get very sick or die . The only reason that I can think of for another lockdown would be if there is a strain that will be resistant to the vaccine . That doesn't seem too likely we are being told .