Is there another lockdown now or not?

[Overthebow]

BBC is showing new guidance for Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside.

Is this supposed to be another lockdown? I’m confused.

No, I'm talking about people claiming there is no availability of appointments. The NHS can provide them, they can't be responsible for everyone's personal circumstances though, and we can't expect the whole country to be in lockdown to protect people who can't sort transport to a vaccine centre.

@hopingtochangeeachtime

Hopefully they can contain this variant and still unlock on 21st June ? Is three weeks enough ?

I don;t think containing it is realistic, no.

The question really is how many deaths will there be going forwards, not whether they will contain it.

The government isn't really trying to contain it, especially not amongst young people/in schools.

@FreekStar

No, I'm talking about people claiming there is no availability of appointments. The NHS can provide them, they can't be responsible for everyone's personal circumstances though, and we can't expect the whole country to be in lockdown to protect people who can't sort transport to a vaccine centre.

This is so ill-informed.

If you are unwell, perhaps with a disablity and have to get three buses to get your vaccine - you may opt not to do it.

There are thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of people in this country who do not have the spare money to get to a vaccine centre.

The reality of the country is not always as we would like to imagine it.

I really don't believe that. Most vaccines are being given locally in health centres and pharmacies. Those that can't access vaccines because of poverty are a tiny minority.

What is so confusing? Cannot understand what is so difficult for people to understand? Makes me so angry, blaming the government for people’s stupidity. Use common sense, if your area has the Indian variant try and stay away from other areas that don’t have any problems, meet outside where possible and follow all guidance. If you are not in one of the 8 areas then try not to visit 1 of the areas. So simple and if the rules are followed end of lockdown will come shortly, if not it’s a5 risk.

@FreekStar

I really don't believe that. Most vaccines are being given locally in health centres and pharmacies. Those that can't access vaccines because of poverty are a tiny minority.

Is it a tiny minority, or no-one? You said you don't believe ANYONE is in group 6 who hasn't managed a vaccine yet - despite acknowledging reasons why someone may not have managed a vaccine.

Do you know that no-one in group 6 is in poverty?

@Tigerswife

What is so confusing? Cannot understand what is so difficult for people to understand? Makes me so angry, blaming the government for people’s stupidity. Use common sense, if your area has the Indian variant try and stay away from other areas that don’t have any problems, meet outside where possible and follow all guidance. If you are not in one of the 8 areas then try not to visit 1 of the areas. So simple and if the rules are followed end of lockdown will come shortly, if not it’s a5 risk.

I agree - surely nobody expects to be told by any government how to keep themselves, their families and the wider community as safe as possible.

Goodness me, if I run across a busy road and am hit by a vehicle, should I say ‘well the government didn’t tell me not to, so it’s their fault’?

Everyone should be taking responsibility.

They have specifically said it's guidance, not rules. Stop dramatising

@DumplingsAndStew Read what I actually wrote!

I said I don't believe anyone has been unable to BOOK a vaccine, NOT unable to ATTEND a vaccine appointment.

@hopingtochangeeachtime

Hopefully they can contain this variant and still unlock on 21st June ? Is three weeks enough ?

No it's not enough. Not least as no one in the so called lockdown areas knows what on earth is going on.

It's a half asses attempt and will have half asses consequences in terms of infection rates. Wether that makes any material difference to death rates is another question.

[quote FreekStar]@DumplingsAndStew Read what I actually wrote!

I said I don't believe anyone has been unable to BOOK a vaccine, NOT unable to ATTEND a vaccine appointment.[/quote]
Until one week ago, a family member was only offered vaccination appointments at a city 45 miles away from where they live. They live in a decent sized city so no good reason why that should have been. Their experience is not that unusual from what I understand.

Are people claiming that those living in multi-generational families and in a close-knit community don’t have a single person able to take them to a vaccine appointment? Piffle.

If you live in the wilds of Wales getting anywhere is difficult. In the middle of one of the affected towns, not so much. My aunt who is housebound lives in one of the cities. They were doing vaccination house calls to those who weren’t able to travel.

[quote FreekStar]@DumplingsAndStew Read what I actually wrote!

I said I don't believe anyone has been unable to BOOK a vaccine, NOT unable to ATTEND a vaccine appointment.[/quote]
Why would someone BOOK a vaccine they would be unable to ATTEND?

@FreekStar

I really don't believe that. Most vaccines are being given locally in health centres and pharmacies. Those that can't access vaccines because of poverty are a tiny minority.

No one can make you believe it. Public health experts have said it is true, but I'm sure you know best.

I agree - surely nobody expects to be told by any government how to keep themselves, their families and the wider community as safe as possible

Sorry, but before the 17th of May, were you going into friends’ houses and hugging them??

And now???

Why??? Why can’t you use your own common sense??

We have spent the last year and a bit following government guidance and rules. What they say matters.

Don’t gaslight people and tell them to use their own common sense. No one knew about this new guidance, so how was anyone supposed to follow it? No one knew whether it was compulsory or not.

Why is someone from Leicester, who has hardly left their house for the last year, going to visit family on the other side of the country, any more irresponsible than someone from Cambridge (example) going on holiday abroad??

@FreekStar

I really don't believe that. Most vaccines are being given locally in health centres and pharmacies. Those that can't access vaccines because of poverty are a tiny minority.

Not true. Resorces are stretched in many areas. Where I am, vaccines are being given 20 miles away in the next town. If you don’t have a car it would require 3 buses or 2 buses and a train to get there! It's not accessable for many people and this is a real problem.

@DumplingsAndStew Ok- can't be bothered to explain it to you...

[quote FreekStar]@DumplingsAndStew Ok- can't be bothered to explain it to you...[/quote]
👍👍

I think some of the reason people are ending up needing to travel for vaccines is that they are booking online via the NHS app rather than waiting for their GP to invite them to book locally. It's confusing. I did this- I tried a few times to book my second vaccine on the website and could only book for a mass vaccination centre in the next town. However, shortly after got invited to attend a local health centre so was able to cancel the original appointment.

@Tigerswife

What is so confusing? Cannot understand what is so difficult for people to understand? Makes me so angry, blaming the government for people’s stupidity. Use common sense, if your area has the Indian variant try and stay away from other areas that don’t have any problems, meet outside where possible and follow all guidance. If you are not in one of the 8 areas then try not to visit 1 of the areas. So simple and if the rules are followed end of lockdown will come shortly, if not it’s a5 risk.

Yes it’s very simple to understand isn’t it! But again the government are trying to treat us like adults and get people to cooperate willingly when its blatantly obvious that some people need things spelling out for them!

I don’t blame people for not realising that there were new guidelines for certain areas though as I’d not heard that anywhere!

I can't believe there are so many on here that are in favour of more lockdowns- what will it achieve ultimately?

Just posting this because others are talking about vaccinations. I'm in Hounslow where they have announced surge testing and vaccinations, which I interpreted as vaccinations for over-18s based on what is happening in Bolton. Spoke to an advisor on 119 who told me to hang up and phone 119, select the booking option, and they will let me book a vaccine despite not yet being eligible under the "official rules". So, I phone, and get told it's not actually possible for me to book a vaccine because their "computer says no" based on me not meeting the age requirement. A bit disingenuous to refer to "surge vaccinations" if it's just the same as the rest of the vaccination programme nationwide, I think! To be clear, I am not trying to skip a queue, simply keen to get vaccinated when my local authority has announced they are trying to get as many residents vaccinated as possible.

No one is in favour of more lockdowns.

But neither are people in favour of more hospitalisations with the very damaging effect that has on health services, nor more deaths.

People are in favour- the posters above are calling others stupid for not following the new guidelines. Do they really expect everyone in these areas to just cancel their plans and holidays for half term?

No one is in favour of lockdowns in and of themselves.

People think restricting activity is preferable to seeing high hospitalisations.