What are the chances of lockdown this Christmas?

[43leftfeet]

I've been away this weekend (UK, but I've been distracted and not following the news).

I see there's been talk of Johnson announcing a "ban on Christmas" possibly, around the 17th - or not, depending on what happens with Omicron - is that about right?

I know we can't know yet what's going to happen, but what are people's feelings?

What do you think the restrictions, if any, are likely to be in England & Wales & in Scotland?

This has just been sent out to all parents in our area of Bexley. Nativity plays to be Livestream but no parents are allowed amongst other things.

www.bexley.gov.uk/news/our-latest-public-health-advice-schools-bexley

January if there is one

@Bobholll

Yes *@Scottishgirl85* - his horrific abuse & death highlights exactly why schools should never close again. He would probably still be alive. They’d have not got away with starving him or beating him, school would have noticed. He wouldn’t have had to stand for 14 hours a day because he’d have been at school. How many other children suffered abuse like this as well but not quite to the point of death.

People bleat on about school is education, not childcare. Well, to some kids it isn’t just education. It’s safety, warmth, food & a childhood.

I don’t think there will be a lockdown. Maybe increased restrictions in the new year but still not a lockdown. And frankly, unless this variant is super deadly, I can’t see anyone listening & not seeing vaccinated & boosted family..

Absofuckinglutely

@vera99, I'm so glad my DGD has already had her school nativity (or end of term concert) in front of parents. Both of her parents went, and she was so excited.

“ The latest polling is that most people want tighter restrictions currently”

Really? Which people?

There won't be a lockdown this Christmas

@Egghead68

He does what will keep the right wing of his party/CRG happy so that he stays in power, regardless of consequences.

The latest polling is that most people want tighter restrictions currently

Pollings only show the thoughts of the people who actually do the polls. I'd like to know the demographics.

@Autumndays123

Does it not get to a point where we just have to push on regardless? It's been nearly two years, two years of anxiety, loss, stress and yes I'll health and even death for some people, but locking down every few months is not sustainable at all. Covid is here for good, there is absolutely no doubt about it, it's not going anywhere. Vaccines don't seem to be working so unfortunately, we just have to learn to live with it. I imagine I'll get flamed for this, but what's the alternative? Locking down every couple of months for the rest of the planets life? Who is going to pay for that? How can we subsidise wages indefinitely? What about the industries that are already on their knees even two years in?

Lockdown aren't working, restrictions aren't working, vaccines apparently aren't working against new strains, so we just have to get on with life. Maybe have masks a permanent feature but other than that, what will be will be.

@Autumndays123 if omicron infects everyone, because the vaccines don't work, and hospitalised 2% (which is conservative), there will be a million people admitted to hospitals, which won't cope. If your appendix bursts or you break your arm, there's no a&e there for you. What do you propose to do to "live with it"?

Re polls they’re not very representative

Many quoted high rates from YouGov who wanted masks. When they were optional you’d see that reflected, but you don’t as polls just reflect people motivated enough to answer.

@Autumndays123

Does it not get to a point where we just have to push on regardless? It's been nearly two years, two years of anxiety, loss, stress and yes I'll health and even death for some people, but locking down every few months is not sustainable at all. Covid is here for good, there is absolutely no doubt about it, it's not going anywhere. Vaccines don't seem to be working so unfortunately, we just have to learn to live with it. I imagine I'll get flamed for this, but what's the alternative? Locking down every couple of months for the rest of the planets life? Who is going to pay for that? How can we subsidise wages indefinitely? What about the industries that are already on their knees even two years in?

Lockdown aren't working, restrictions aren't working, vaccines apparently aren't working against new strains, so we just have to get on with life. Maybe have masks a permanent feature but other than that, what will be will be.

If vaccines aren't working what has caused the reductions in hospitalisations and deaths and why would Chris Whitty et all say that they do?

Which new strains are they apparently not working for?

Do you work in vacinne research, are there results that are being surpressed or lied about?

I'm as certain as I can be that there won't be another lockdown so I agree with you that we have to get on with living with it

I think that after what happened with Arthur, there would be an absolute outcry if another lockdown was announced.

Plus, I wouldn’t buy into it at all - S.Africa thinks there has been an overreaction and with the hypocrisy of the government, I won’t be wasting anymore of my life under cover.

From another thread...

Long thread here by James Ward definitely worth reading, lots of unknowns but we may see another wave like in January last year (though unlikely worse than that):

"Of course, that means that a third of the hospitalisations would also come in a single week, so that peak week would have around 25-30k hospitalisations in it. Add in a bit of continuing strain from delta, and you’ve got roughly the same peak (30k) as wave 2 in January 2021."

twitter.com/JamesWard73/status/1467628403553615885

I agree with you Autumndays123

I hate how we toss around the term lockdown so lightly now. How people are just so accepting of it!

@vera99 I read that thread too, is what I keep trying to explain - slightly less severe doesn't mean it won't be carnage if loads more people get it.

The latest polling is that most people want tighter restrictions currently

Who are these people? The ones that enjoyed sitting at home "staying safe" and making banana bread and haven't had to go out to work every day since this whole shitstorm began?

@QueenofKattegat

The latest polling is that most people want tighter restrictions currently

Who are these people? The ones that enjoyed sitting at home "staying safe" and making banana bread and haven't had to go out to work every day since this whole shitstorm began?

No. Usually people with elderly relatives. Which is a lot of people. Most younger people were concerned for others, not themselves.

I have a suspicion that it may be a reference to the undated screenshot of the YouGov poll upthread - which tells us nothing about what “most people” really want right now.

A lockdown is only to protect the nhs not because cases are high . If more and more people are being admitted to hospital then is when possibility of lockdown or further restrictions until then no . Masks have only been mandatory as a precaution of this new variant doesn’t mean things are getting worse . I’m not saying they won’t get worse as I don’t know about further variants I’m just saying unless new variants and people more ill , even after boosters then only then . I think it unlikely and I wouldn’t even follow any lockdown. I’m against lockdown for all kinds of reasons.

@QueenofKattegat

The latest polling is that most people want tighter restrictions currently

Who are these people? The ones that enjoyed sitting at home "staying safe" and making banana bread and haven't had to go out to work every day since this whole shitstorm began?

Well that's usually the same cohort that's more likely to be responding to pollsters during the day, so yeah, quite likely. Then obviously there is the telling researchers what you think you ought to say phenomenon.

It is, of course, impossible to be a younger person with elderly vulnerable relatives who suffer greatly during lockdown, and to oppose it partially for that reason...

It is, of course, impossible to be a younger person with elderly vulnerable relatives who suffer greatly during lockdown, and to oppose it partially for that reason...

Oh absolutely. One can only oppose lockdowns if one is selfish and/or "thick", which appears to be the new buzzword on this lovely board.

It may be that most people do want more restrictions - I have no idea - I would just like to know what that statement is based on.

@QueenofKattegat

It is, of course, impossible to be a younger person with elderly vulnerable relatives who suffer greatly during lockdown, and to oppose it partially for that reason...

Oh absolutely. One can only oppose lockdowns if one is selfish and/or "thick", which appears to be the new buzzword on this lovely board.

I particularly enjoy the ones bleating about selfishness whilst transparently not giving a fuck about any of the vulnerable people are screwed over by lockdown.

I’m surprised anyone is for lockdown at this stage given the vast damage and harm they do.

@MarshaBradyo

I’m surprised anyone is for lockdown at this stage given the vast damage and harm they do.

Well the harms are quite unevenly distributed.