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Original poster

Three options on the table - a guessing game

173 replies

Fivemoreminutes1 · 20/12/2021 08:06

It's the question we're all asking - are new restrictions going to be imposed in England to control Omicron, and if so, when?
Quote from the BBC:
“Our chief political correspondent Adam Fleming tells us that civil servants have prepared a "menu of three options" that range in stringency, according to a Whitehall source. Ministers are yet to make a choice.”

Anyone want to guess what they are?

OP posts:
vera99 · 20/12/2021 12:29

Actually 4 Grin

BestZebbie · 20/12/2021 12:34

It has all gone very very quiet today, after all the lockdown speculation articles in the press over the weekend, hasn't it? Are they waiting to see if today's case number is horrific before taking a decision on any further measures?

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 20/12/2021 12:36

From the bbc live feed

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 20/12/2021 12:36

Try again...

Three options on the table - a guessing game
SmallestInTheClass · 20/12/2021 12:38

Option 1 will be good for those of us sticking to the rules, but will be awful for those in hospitality. I think if they go for option 1 I'm sure the main reason will be so they don't have to give any money to businesses who are suffering, because it's only guidance. Very sad for those who work in the sector, there will be lots of families struggling if that's the case.

Yahyahs22 · 20/12/2021 12:41

@Whammyyammy

Why are people so keen on restrictions on our lives being brought in? Are their lives so sad and unfilled, that they want everyone to experience the same miserable existence?

Covid rates are high, because we are heavily testing for them. If we tested for flu or other viruses in such depth any year at this time we would find high numbers.

Get fully vaccinated and get on with your lives. If you can't or won't be vaccinated then live carefully, but don't expect others to be locked away or compensate for your lack of vaccine compliance.

Lockdown will bring misery and nothing else, plus many, including myself will not comply, so whats the point

Spot on
Reasonistreason · 20/12/2021 12:42

Havent read entire thread but I’m so sick of people calling for non essential businesses/shops to be closed. They may be non essential to you but believe me they are very essential to the people who own and run those businesses and the staff who work in them. The last 20 months have been bad enough for most businesses and suggesting that hospitality can continue to operate with outside service only is crazy and is closing them by the back door with absolutely no financial support - who the hell wants to sit outside for a meal in the UK in dec/jan/Feb?

I appreciate that people have died and are dying from covid but this is a sad fact of life, people die all the time (7 people related to me or close friends died in 2020 none with covid) and it’s about time we just got on with it and make our own risk assessment. Life is full of risks and after all this time and with the vaccine programme it’s up to an individual how they choose to live their lives. This is not going away and we have to live with it. Even I remember from my schools days, viruses don’t go away they mutate getting weaker over time. Are we really going to get hysterical about “what ifs and maybes” every time there’s a new variant?

Wheresthebeach · 20/12/2021 12:46

I think it will be more bluster about the vaccine, maybe masks indoors.

Not sure how, in the current climate, he can announce limits on social interaction.

blameitonthecaffeine · 20/12/2021 12:48

I think it will be 1.

I think 2 and 3 are there to make us feel lucky about 1 and more likely to comply.

Yahyahs22 · 20/12/2021 12:48

@Reasonistreason

Havent read entire thread but I’m so sick of people calling for non essential businesses/shops to be closed. They may be non essential to you but believe me they are very essential to the people who own and run those businesses and the staff who work in them. The last 20 months have been bad enough for most businesses and suggesting that hospitality can continue to operate with outside service only is crazy and is closing them by the back door with absolutely no financial support - who the hell wants to sit outside for a meal in the UK in dec/jan/Feb? I appreciate that people have died and are dying from covid but this is a sad fact of life, people die all the time (7 people related to me or close friends died in 2020 none with covid) and it’s about time we just got on with it and make our own risk assessment. Life is full of risks and after all this time and with the vaccine programme it’s up to an individual how they choose to live their lives. This is not going away and we have to live with it. Even I remember from my schools days, viruses don’t go away they mutate getting weaker over time. Are we really going to get hysterical about “what ifs and maybes” every time there’s a new variant?
And again, spot on
mumda · 20/12/2021 12:49

bubbles
rule of 6
rule of 6 but two households only
2m rule
outdoor socialising only
no socialising ever again.

TheLovelinessOfBaublyDemons · 20/12/2021 12:53

[quote vera99]Actually 4 Grin

[/quote] My grandad was civil servant and said this was completely accurate! 🤣
Unsure33 · 20/12/2021 12:53

@Heckythump1

What's the point of option 2?! Are we more likely to catch covid after 8pm?! :P what a joke!

At this point, I think a full lockdown would be the only way to get any compliance, but I don't want that as I don't want my daughter to miss anymore bloody school!

Honestly it’s like Groundhog Day.

Option 2

Least people getting drunk
Less close mixing with no social distancing
Less people ending up in fights and drunk and using nhs resources.

Etc etc etc

Unsure33 · 20/12/2021 12:56

@Reasonistreason

Havent read entire thread but I’m so sick of people calling for non essential businesses/shops to be closed. They may be non essential to you but believe me they are very essential to the people who own and run those businesses and the staff who work in them. The last 20 months have been bad enough for most businesses and suggesting that hospitality can continue to operate with outside service only is crazy and is closing them by the back door with absolutely no financial support - who the hell wants to sit outside for a meal in the UK in dec/jan/Feb? I appreciate that people have died and are dying from covid but this is a sad fact of life, people die all the time (7 people related to me or close friends died in 2020 none with covid) and it’s about time we just got on with it and make our own risk assessment. Life is full of risks and after all this time and with the vaccine programme it’s up to an individual how they choose to live their lives. This is not going away and we have to live with it. Even I remember from my schools days, viruses don’t go away they mutate getting weaker over time. Are we really going to get hysterical about “what ifs and maybes” every time there’s a new variant?
I think it’s only the media being hysterical.

The government are doing what they said they would do . Wait and see if the variant causes more serious illness.

They don’t want lockdown at all .

ifonly4 · 20/12/2021 12:58

Looks like we might know more later today/tomorrow as there's a meeting at 2pm. Labour will obviously support further restrictions as they're calling for them.

TheLovelinessOfBaublyDemons · 20/12/2021 12:58

*was a

OhdearOhdearOhdearIndeed · 20/12/2021 13:08

I've heard there is something in the pipeline, but I think compliance will be low prior to Christmas.

Without furlough they can't really lockdown and I think parents would absolutely hit the roof if schools close, particularly as it has been expressed in the news it is a very mild illness. I get that it is more contagious,so for those who are really ill there will be more of them ill at one period of time, but not everyone will see that.

I don't think a full lockdown will go down well in his party and I think some Labour MP's won't support it if the public doesn't.

OliveTree75 · 20/12/2021 13:19

@TheKeatingFive

3 would prompt a leadership challenge, so not that.

Possibly 2, but only after Christmas.

1 for now.

Agree with this
antisocialsocialclub · 20/12/2021 13:23

@ifonly4

Looks like we might know more later today/tomorrow as there's a meeting at 2pm. Labour will obviously support further restrictions as they're calling for them.
They really need to let people know asap, or are they hoping people cancel plans due to uncertainty.
whenwillthemadnessend · 20/12/2021 13:26

@declare

Thank you for the link That is perfect and explains everything!

Kate3150 · 20/12/2021 13:27

@antisocialsocialclub- I agree, I wish they would just communicate with us so we know either way. I feel more down and anxious with the unknown. It’s hard to look forward anything at the moment x

IcedPurple · 20/12/2021 13:29

Not that I have any special insight, but I think a 'full lockdown', with stay at home orders, schools and hospitality closed and only 'essential' shops allowed to open, is highly unlikely.

Not only would it be politically impossible for Boris Johnson, the effect on public morale would be devastating. Plus, the money simply isn't there.

Immaculatemisconception · 20/12/2021 13:41

@IcedPurple

Not that I have any special insight, but I think a 'full lockdown', with stay at home orders, schools and hospitality closed and only 'essential' shops allowed to open, is highly unlikely.

Not only would it be politically impossible for Boris Johnson, the effect on public morale would be devastating. Plus, the money simply isn't there.

Agreed.
godmum56 · 20/12/2021 13:43

@DeclareThePenniesOnYourEyes

But not everyone can be vaccinated *@Whammyyammy*. So closing places means that all of those people without vaccinations don’t overwhelm the NHS. And yes, before you say it, everyone eligible should be having the vaccine, but a significant chunk of the population just can’t have it because of allergies and kids under 12 currently can’t either. So those people (and the people not having it because they don’t want it) will be spreading in around and catching the uncushioned version. Some of those people will end up hospitalised. It’s a significant enough number of people in this situation that it risks overwhelming hospital services. That’s why we might need further restrictions.

And it’s not like you lose in any way here- your vaccinations haven’t been a waste of time… they still make you less likely to die or become very ill.

The very vast majority CAN be vaccinated. Those who can't for genuine medical reasons are a VERY small percentage of the over 12 population. www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/who-cant-have-covid-19-vaccine
godmum56 · 20/12/2021 13:44

@IcedPurple

Not that I have any special insight, but I think a 'full lockdown', with stay at home orders, schools and hospitality closed and only 'essential' shops allowed to open, is highly unlikely.

Not only would it be politically impossible for Boris Johnson, the effect on public morale would be devastating. Plus, the money simply isn't there.

Plus the cost benefit analysis is different now we have vaccines