October lockdown?

[Goingdooolally]

Hi
I can’t see another thread on this and I think it’s more Scotland than general CV related.

Any thoughts on this? I’m a teacher and there’s been no word at work but I’m hoping to go away for a week in half term (west coast) and really really hoping lockdown doesn’t happen! Selfish I know, but we need a break!

Anyone got any views on the likelihood?

Next summer we will be back to a fairly normal situation

Next summer feels like a long long way away (also feeling quite fed up this morning)

Well yes I feel that too.
But I'm not writing off my next decade. That would stop me getting out of bed tomorrow!

It's like going through the stages of grief. Acceptance is fickle. One day I think it's going to be alright and the next I'm in complete shock about the reality of it all and what we are facing over the coming years.

I don't think there will be a vaccine or 'cure' for donkeys years, if ever. Listening to Prof. Raj Bhopal he believes it's unrealistic to believe that we'd have a vaccine by next summer. He talks about how people will say that the vaccine made them sick etc so that has an impact on how much they have to test it first which will take time.

I think it will be possible to travel abroad and have holidays, in Italy you are tested as soon as you arrive and get the result in 30 minutes. New ways of mitigating the risk are emerging every day.

It is devastating but there is hope that we will find ways around it and gradually get back to something resembling what we had. I'm rambling now thinking about how we can every have congregations again, crowds, gatherings... that is the most devastating bit for me. I sing in a choir and we can't sing together, it makes me cry. I want to jump on a place and visit my friends and relatives. I don't know if I can cope with working from home not being able to see faces or really understand what people are doing and feeling. There are so many aspects to this.....

I really feel for young people and am so grateful for the experiences I had in my 20s that they are going to miss out on.

@BrazenlyDefying snap - my MIL is very similar but I am very aware that prior to Covid most local authorities were moving many services online with efforts to "encourage " those who can apply for permits/school places etc online to do so. This has been given even greater impetus by the pandemic and support will be directed to those who really can't engage digitally.
Developing or maintaining basic digital skills will become ever more crucial.
@Dinosauratemydaffodils - so sorry you miss you library - it is worth emailing/contacting your local Councillor and asking when it will reopen or what other provision will be put in place if the existing building is not practical.
@WaxOnFeckOffand @RaraRachael - yes I sympathise entirely and feel very similar - whats the point ?

Well the Chinese are going for vaccination. They won't hang about.

So nice to hear people with similar feelings to my own. I'd felt in a minority to dare suggest how I felt as I was told I was being selfish and to think of the people who had died.
I remember when they told us back in March that it would be for 12 weeks, it felt like the end of the world.
I'm afraid NS putting these new restrictions in place to coincide with our much needed school holidays just put the tin lid on it as far as I'm concerned.

@RaraRachael - I wrote a long post in response but it disappeared. You are definitely not alone !
I feel increasingly frustrated and unmotivated and just sad that my life consists of working, eating and sleeping . DH and I's idea of a good time was to go into town for a tiny bit of window shopping and for a coffee, usually going via B&Q or Screwfix for dh - it was't exactly riotous living but the joy has been sucked out of it.

I'm a bit confused at the vaccine pessimism, I understand we're facing effectively a new flu type scenario where we need a 'which strain is most common' seasonal guess, but I read the Times front page saying that they will be in a position to vaccinate and fast roll out Jan-Easter - did I miss something?

Surely there is scope for the govt offering the oxford vaccine now to anyone that wants to take the risk? The hospitals can't stop people from catching covid in hospitals - I know family who are high risk would be tempted to take a vaccine as soon as available.

I’m sorry everyone is feeling blue. If I think too much about the future I could have a panic attack. It’s outwith my control so I choose not to.

What’s helped me is lots of exercise and fresh air. Making plans to meet a friend. Exploring the local area and going on trips with my husband. Trying new stuff.

This has made me feel more like I’m living rather than existing.

@Goingdooolally

I’m sorry everyone is feeling blue. If I think too much about the future I could have a panic attack. It’s outwith my control so I choose not to.

What’s helped me is lots of exercise and fresh air. Making plans to meet a friend. Exploring the local area and going on trips with my husband. Trying new stuff.

This has made me feel more like I’m living rather than existing.

I know there are things I could do, but I no longer want to.

Just so fucked off. It's not like I did a lot but I could if I wanted to. Sick of the pointlessness of it all.

Just trying not to get even more annoyed at those who are being duped and scared just because they can. There is no exit plan. At some point we need to get back to normal, it might as well be now.

This pretty much sums things up

An exit plan is putting it too strongly I agree but the tactics as I see it is for the NHS to stumble through the winter and respiratory disease season without overwhelm and then build up the vaccinated group.

If you let rip now what do you think the local hospitals will look like?

I don't think I am a brain washed sheeple but I'm open to hearing any persuasive arguments! 😉

A friend of mine recently went to Iceland the country - her first grandchild was born recently.

She was tested on arrival, got the (negative ) test back in a few hours but still has to self isolate for another 5 or 6 days until she has a second test and, providing she still tests negative, only then can she give her grandchild a hug.

She'll also have to self-quarantine for 14 days when she gets home - unless Iceland comes off the list in the interim.

Most countries have restrictions. It's a horrific balancing act - I'm glad I'm not the one having to make the tough decisions

@prettybird, those are the easy decisions to make. In any case, my understanding is that a test at arrival is pretty much useless... especially if you still have to quarantine.

Also, I am quite sure you friend locked herself up for the prescribed 5-6 days before seeing the grandchild... ;)

A test on arrival, combined with the follow-up test is not useless - if someone already had Covid it would pick that up and the follow-up test would pick up the virus if it had been in the early stage at the time of the first test. So it is then effective if they have self-isolated for the required period. Obviously, if either test is positive, then further self-isolation is required.

Arrivals in Iceland can choose not to have the double screening and instead self-isolate for the full 14 days.

Yes, my friend has seen her grandchild - but from the permitted distance, as the location that they are staying in is a studio flat attached to her dc's home (cue amusing pictures of the grandparent standing in the foreground/background of the picture ). Which is why I specifically mentioned "hugging" as that is what she can't and won't do until she gets the all clear.

She is very aware that a recent cluster of over a 100 cases in Iceland (which contributed to Iceland being put on UK's quarantine list) was traced back to just two French tourists who chose to flout the self-isolation requirements . She respects the Icelandic approach and is not going to do anything to jeopordise either it or her family's health.

Yep, who wants to be THAT numpty.

The Icelandic scientists have had a strong handle on where their infections come from.

I was fascinated that they had some of their earliest cases traced from a UK football match but never have said which one.

Current mood

[quote BlueThursday]Current mood

[/quote] Yep, exactly!

I think it’s fine to feel like that but at some point you’re going to have to pick yourself up! I like a good angry wallow from time to time but for my own mental health I need to look at the positives.

What positives?

After rumours of overnight stays being banned in some areas of England, I still might not get away on my few days away. Which are already curtailed for extra cleaning, likely to not have bars or restaurants open, have to wear masks everywhere. There is literally nothing that hasn't had any ounce of joy sucked out of it.

Plenty of positives in life. You need to look for them maybe. But it’s fine to be pissed off, I’m not going to be annoying and try to cheer you up

I’ve got cosy slippers on and going to catch up wkth bake off so that’s my positive tonight