Is another lockdown inevitable?

[Flowersandjellybeans]

I just can’t work out whether it’s more likely than not we’ll end up in another lockdown (and when that might be)…

There are multiple articles in all the newspapers, often contradicting each other… I honestly can’t work out what is likely to happen or really even on the table and when it would actually happen?

YANBU = yes, we’ll end up in another lockdown
YABU = no, we won’t have another lockdown

I KNEW there would be people here saying "we have to lock down NOW" or words to that effect. I've said it before but it's because they actually enjoy it, no doubt about it. And, of course, they are probably able to work from home. Or don't work at all.

But being an introvert doesn't mean you never want to socialise @Borisjohnsonshairbrush - it just means to recharge, you like being alone whereas extroverts recharge by being social. I'm an introvert and really missed the social aspect of life during the first lockdown, even though I love being alone too.

I generally think the pro-lockdowners are people who can WFH, whose incomes aren't effected by furlough and businesses shutting, who live in big houses with plenty of space and equipment for everyone to work and study at desks and not crammed into beds or on the kitchen table etc.

They wouldn't support it as much if they worked at the local pub and lived in a cramped terrace or flat with no outside space!

I do think the original plan was to try and lock us down for Christmas, I heard quite a few people saying the same when they started pushing for the boosters and then the omicron variant materialised.

But now with all the crap with the Downing Street parties etc I don’t think they will before Christmas. But if they do, they know lots of people won’t comply as they’ve lost all trust in the government and quite simply had enough, I know I have.

I’m guessing January.

I don’t think the restrictions for the unvaccinated are morally right.

Is it morally right for them to hold back everybody else with their decision not to vaccinate?

The pro-lockdowners seem to be the introverts, the people with a a boring or non-existant social life/no friends or family, or able to work from home and be a Disney/Mary Poppins parent.

Lol perhaps. However I find it’s more people who have had covid, not been very well at all despite being jabbed and then seen it ripple through their family. Does somewhat refocus the mind when you are struggling to breathe at home or your teen hasn’t been able to stand up for days and you know the hospitals are full.

I think people need to calm down about Christmas generally. It’s one day. Gone from being fun to full on crazed possession.

Who’s holding anyone back? It’s the government and their nonsensical rules.

How many millions (billions? ) was spent on furlough? No money left

@QueenofKattegat

I hate how people toss around the term lockdown now. As though it's an acceptable tool. Let's all pause our lives, hide away at home for a few weeks baking bread and emerge into a covid free world. Lockdowns are worse than the alternative. It is not acceptable in any way for it to be an option at this stage. Those that want to impose their own personal lockdown are free to do so.

Yes there seem to be some takers. They should go for it.

Interestingly our headteacher stated it appears the adults are passing to children not vice versa.

Not at our school.
Most staff had it last year and are pretty much all fully vaccinated and at least half triple jabbed.

It's the pupils (infants do 4-7y) testing positive here, followed by family members. The junior school locally is even more higher affected but again it's the pupils not the adults catching it.

Regardless I very much doubt schools will close as a whole this time round. Nearby school has less than half in class as the rest are all positive - even classes aren't closing here let alone a whole school or all schools.

It will be interesting to see if our attendance numbers stay the same or drop when we get to the 14th though. I know a few parents already suggesting their child won't be in for the last few days ti ensure they're fine for Christmas Day.

It’s the government and their nonsensical rules.

Which would not have been needed had people vaccinated to slow down the spread.

@icedcoffees

You are completely right. Tbh I didn't go on my works doo because I'm trying to stay safe and not catch it prior to going abroad next Sunday.

I work in a private health care hospital and have had to work all the way through. That kept me going I don't know how the furloughed coped.

We have a family business too and we have only just survived the last lockdowns.

@Tropicaltutu

I lost my grandad to covid in Feb. So I'm not that ignorant. I just want to live again.

“ Which would not have been needed had people vaccinated to slow down the spread.”

The vaccinated are included in the spread too. Hospitalisations are low and include both vaccinated and unvaccinated. What are we blaming the current unvaccinated actually for?

@Thewiseoneincognito

If we don’t lockdown then we’ll truly see what untamed Omicron looks like with the magnitude of disruption to services, logistics and functions of the country laid bare for all to see and experience.

Whoa, dial down the drama! None of this has happened in South Africa. In fact, doctors there are now reporting that even those who are hospitalised don't need oxygen and the country hasn't locked down either.

I think they will avoid full lockdown because they know there will be wide spread non compliance.

I do think they'll impose restrictions where they can though so, pubs and restaurants etc.

@Loudestcat14 dial down the drama? Take note of my post and refer back to it mid Jan if we don’t lockdown, then we can talk about drama.

Snowywintersundays historically riots tend to be in good weather so a winter riot is always unlikely, subject of riot is irrelevant.

I find the comparisons to China an insult to the Chinese who have over decades suffered under a genuine totalitarian regime.

Thewiseoneincognito I shall. I think your comment is over the top. You claim Omicron is going to rip through society and cause massive disruption if we don't lockdown – why hasn't that happened in South Africa then? With lower rates of vaccination. Oh, and no reported deaths.

The government has lost the goodwill and trust of the people to enforce another lockdown.

I wouldn't be surprised if schools move to 'blended learning' after Christmas. Lots of talk about January being the peak and a lot of local schools are already online due to teacher shortages.

@Thewiseoneincognito

If we don’t lockdown then we’ll truly see what untamed Omicron looks like with the magnitude of disruption to services, logistics and functions of the country laid bare for all to see and experience.

But there are already quite a few interventions in place so it wont be untamed.

You have immunity (and that still helps) from previous infection and vaccines.
Masks/Working from home/testing/need to show vaccination etc/peoples natural behaviour.

So it wont be untamed. And a lockdown like we had in April 2020 and January this year will cause IMO far more harm. Plus actually isnt suggested or recommended.

The whole concept of Lockdown for me causes issues because it causes too much fear and damage.

Having levels like other countries (probably thought out levels rather than Plan A, B and C!) I think would be very helpful. Following the Steps out of our January lockdown into a level and having criteria attached to it would be an open and understandable process.

Realising that there may be a chance that rather than being where we are we need to move back to May/June time last year with testing for travel and vaccine passports would be far more palatable and easier to sell

I think there might be occasional short, strict firebreaks for short periods of 1-2 weeks, to dampen transmission rates when hospitals are running too hot.
I don't see how they can lock down for extended periods now without restarting furlough which I would have thought was largely out of the question economically.
It's all about managing capacity in the NHS now, not stopping people getting sick. That ship sailed long ago.

[quote Borisjohnsonshairbrush]@icedcoffees

The pro-lockdowners seem to be the introverts, the people with a a boring or non-existant social life/no friends or family, or able to work from home and be a Disney/Mary Poppins parent.[/quote]
@Borisjohnsonshairbrush I don’t think that’s necessarily fair. I’m pro-lockdown if it’s needed to stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed again. Definitely not an introvert with no social life. Have lots of friends and family that I have sacrificed seeing to try and keep people safe. Retail manager so cannot work from home. I found out I was pregnant 4 weeks before the first lockdown. Spent a LOT of my pregnancy isolating alone due to furlough and DH being an essential offshore worker. Went through 3/4 of my labour alone. No support after birth. Most friends and family have missed out on seeing much of my DCs first year of life. And most important of all - I’ve lost 2 close (otherwise very healthy) family members due to covid. And have a close friend (30 years old) who’s cervical cancer wasn’t discovered until stage 4 due to the NHS being too overwhelmed with covid in her area to be performing smear tests.

I’m currently still forced to work alongside some that are anti-vax and anti-lockdown because “covid is a conspiracy” 🙄
Some of us that are pro-lockdown are just so because we’ve seen the very real impact that covid has had.

@EnidFrighten

There probably should be, but Boris Johnson doesn't have the authority in his own cabinet or in the country to make it happen.

Yes he does but it's a question of balance. It would do yet further damage to the ecomomy. A lot of businesses who have only just managed to survive would finally give up the struggle. Access to routine healthcare would become even more difficult and the effects on mental health would continue.

But fundementally I think a significant number of ppl would simply ignore it or see it as a slighting Boris, which of course is just mindless stupidity.

However, if we ignore the scientific advice, for what ever reason, and the NHS does get over whelmed then we face the prospect of natural selection. The reality of that will be stark.

Hopefully it won't come to that.

There better bastard NOT be another lockdown. We are mostly vaccinated now, so why on earth would we/SHOULD we have one?

Like I said on a thread yesterday, what the F was the point of getting triple vaccinated if they are just going to force us to stay in for several months again?

What's the point in another lockdown? To protect the unvaccinated? Not likely matey. The fact that the vast, VAST majority of unvaccinated people are unvaccinated by choice, means they can take their chances!

I call it natural selection.