To think restrictions always end in lockdown?

[Snowcov]

Since Covid began, there hasn't ever been a time when low level restrictions have "worked". They have always ramped up and up until really strict rules amounting to lockdown and then gradually wound back down again. Hearing talk of more restrictions coming in (I'm in Scotland so even more likely with Sturgeon) makes me feel like life is about to get very tough again. I'm personally against lockdown or tough restrictions - especially as this time, it would really just be kicking the can down the road as there is nothing more that can be done once any restrictions are lifted again - we've been vaccinated already and so I'm not sure what lockdown would actually achieve in the long term. Are we on a one way road to this again?

It’s not looking great. I’m not sure people would comply but if they close schools guess they’ll have to.

I hope not!

I really hope not. I wont survive another one.

Why have lockdown, we have a vaccine program. Surely having vaccines and still needing a lockdown says the vaccines are useless?

It certainly feels like that’s what’s coming doesn’t it. I’m honestly not sure where this will end up but I’m bracing myself for tougher restrictions after Christmas.

I know what you mean, but unless it is an enforceable thing (like closing pubs/restaurants) as opposed to "groups of 3 households with up to 3.7 people per household as long as they all wear pink" then people just won't do it this time.

I understand - if you have had 2 or 3 jabs, 90 year old nan has had 3 and you can do lateral flows, who is really going to leave nan alone at Christmas again?

@Changethefloorthroughout

It’s not looking great. I’m not sure people would comply but if they close schools guess they’ll have to.

Depends what you mean by have to. You can't send your kid into a school that isn't open/is open but not to children deemed unworthy of a place. That's a given. But what parents can and in many cases will have to do is use the sort of informal, ad hoc options that would likely be banned in any lockdown. One day with one set of grandparents, one day with the other, do alternate reciprocal days with next door on Wednesdays etc.

What will it really achieve? Yes ok it will drive cases down but as soon as it lifted cases will shoot back up. Unless they are seriously considering mandatory vaccination.

I think if we go back into lockdown it won't just be for the sake of it, it will be to suppress it while they do something drastic. I don't know, I've just got an uneasy feeling about it this time.

Yes always. Surprised that Plan B enthusiasts never saw it coming. A sizeable number of them are also lockdown cheerleaders, so no doubt will be happy at another lockdown. If you fail to accept that vaccinations are enough, no amount of restrictions will ever be enough.

I can't understand why politicians aren't learning that letting things run riot by easing restrictions quickly means we don't get Christmas. Again. Is this the cycle forever?

They can't do lockdown without re introducing furlough though. I don't think they/we can afford that again, so any type of lockdown which doesn't mean only essential workers are going to work will not really be a lockdown in the sense that we had before.

Lockdowns are a blunt measure from the past if you ask me. We now have a functioning vaccine and booster programme, and widely available (and, unless you’re travelling, free) tests.

I also don’t think there is either the money, the political will, or the public appetite for more lockdown.

@Whammyyammy

Why have lockdown, we have a vaccine program. Surely having vaccines and still needing a lockdown says the vaccines are useless?

Again and again this has been said. Lockdowns are to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed. The vaccines do work but they're not 100%, so a small number of a very large number of people with serious disease being admitted to hospital in a very short timeframe WILL overwhelm the NHS...

I think that’s why people start to resist at the beginning as it’s easy to see if you do some, it doesn’t do enough and you keep doing more

But I hope not.

It wouldn't bother me if there was, but I don't think we'll have another total lockdown.

Yep. And the stupid, selfish lockdown lovers safely ensconced in their middle class bubbles will cheer for it.

Makes me absolutely sick.

Agree with PP regarding feeling uneasy. However, I don't think we'll lockdown. We can't afford another lockdown financially, and also in terms of mental health and education. My main worry is a varient that is dangerous to children. I try not to think about it.

@loannaJumley yes what's the answer in the long run. We stop the NHS being overwhelmed during the lockdown. And after? We have already got the vaccines and that's apparently not enough...so what happens when lockdown finishes? Back to square one.

Personally, I would lockdown the unvaccinated in all but name if it comes to it. Avoid the 90% of hospitalisations coming from them. Make it illegal to go anywhere without a passport and even shops. Home delivery only. Drastic but better than a lockdown of everyone else if it comes to it.

I hope not but I agree.. I’m not feeling confident about January.

It’s all so pointless as this time last year I was in Tier 2 London and we could feel lockdown coming so of course I did as much as I possibly could in as should as time as I could (and then when lockdown hit I was so glad I’d spent December in soft play and the pub!!). I feel the same now..

They'll just lock down until we've all had our booster that clearly is ineffective given the fact we've already had two jabs and are still having new restrictions implemented

I'll get my booster but starting to get a bit pissed off by it all now.

Guaranteed there'll be a two week 'circuit breaker' during the school holidays even though there are hardly any cases and they're not severe.

[quote Snowcov]@loannaJumley yes what's the answer in the long run. We stop the NHS being overwhelmed during the lockdown. And after? We have already got the vaccines and that's apparently not enough...so what happens when lockdown finishes? Back to square one.[/quote]
Invest in the NHS, pay more taxes, increase it’s availability.

Just saw BBC news alert saying we’ve moved to ‘alert level 4’ and Boris to make an announcement at 8pm. Based on how they have handled things previously it very much feels as though they are priming us for ramping up restrictions. Not expecting that to be announced tonight (they normally leak it to the media beforehand) but expecting that he’ll talk about a possible need to do something soon. Let’s see!

Guaranteed there'll be a two week 'circuit breaker' during the school holidays even though there are hardly any cases and they're not severe

Omicron cases are doubling every 2-3 days. It’s not rocket science to work out where that’s going in the next 4 weeks with no restrictions.

As for it’s not severe, we really don’t know yet. And even a tiny percentage needing hospital on top of everything else will be enough to cause problems.

@Freddiefox there's no staff available immediately even if we do that.