COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[twosips]

Really not sure what some people are wanting. Are they really suggesting unending lockdown with no easing (with restrictions and regulations) so a completely collapsed economy, potential food shortages, increasing domestic violence, increasing mental illness, growing numbers of suicides etc etc etc or the phased easing like the government is suggesting ? What's the bloody alternative ?

No, just do it at the right time. Hardly any sane person expects us to be locked down forever. Has anyone on here repeatedly said that with sincerity? Why put words into people's mouths? The clamour to get us back outside when cases are not dropping anywhere nearly as quick as we'd hope, and we're still announcing figures of over 600 deaths a day, is depressing. We're acting like we're in the same place as Germany with this weird 'end the lockdown now!' rhetoric. Yeah, let's get people out sharpish for a nice quick second peak! It's literally been 7 weeks. Hardly anything. People just want caution, and what's wrong with that?

 

[robbieh]

The capitalist class will exit this relatively unscathed. After all they can survive without earning money a lot longer than the majority of us.
And they will expect normal service to be resumed. More austerity in order to protect their profits.

But as someone said some time ago..'we have nothing to lose but our chains' and now would be as good a time as any to try.

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

No, just do it at the right time. Hardly any sane person expects us to be locked down forever. Has anyone on here repeatedly said that with sincerity? Why put words into people's mouths? The clamour to get us back outside when cases are not dropping anywhere nearly as quick as we'd hope, and we're still announcing figures of over 600 deaths a day, is depressing. We're acting like we're in the same place as Germany with this weird 'end the lockdown now!' rhetoric. Yeah, let's get people out sharpish for a nice quick second peak! It's literally been 7 weeks. Hardly anything. People just want caution, and what's wrong with that?

Im guessing you didn't see (or preferred not to) my "with restrictions and regulations" bit. That indicates caution. The lockdown has to be eased with caution. Your "lets get people out sharpish" is putting words in my mouth. Don't do it

 

[johnnytapia]

It’s nothing to do with that. We lockdown forever and more people will die from non covid issues. Poverty / domestic violence / suicides / cancer. Surely you can see there is a very difficult trade off?

Absolutely. I don't advocate we lockdown forever. I do advocate we provide the necessary PPE, laws (not "guidance") etc to ensure that people like train drivers, shop assistants, teaching assistants et al aren't considered legitimate collateral in getting the economy back on its feet. Graham Brady isn't going to be stuck in a hole next to a work colleague breathing fetid air - he'd happily let workmen do it though. And all because he doesn't give two flying fucks for the average man.

 

[Fame Monster]

Latest excess mortality figures have been published. We've got the worst excess mortality figures in the world, worse than both Belgium and Italy. But at least the NHS wasn't overwhelmed.

 

[johnnytapia]

Really not sure what some people are wanting. Are they really suggesting unending lockdown with no easing (with restrictions and regulations) so a completely collapsed economy, potential food shortages, increasing domestic violence, increasing mental illness, growing numbers of suicides etc etc etc or the phased easing like the government is suggesting ? What's the bloody alternative ?

Easing but provide people with PPE, by law, not as "guidance".

 

[twosips]

Im guessing you didn't see (or preferred not to) my "with restrictions and regulations" bit. That indicates caution. The lockdown has to be eased with caution. Your "lets get people out sharpish" is putting words in my mouth. Don't do it

No, I saw it. Sharpish thing wasn't aimed at you, apologies - more of a general rant at my frustration at all the people who care more about money than people's lives. They'll never admit that of course, but we all know really that's the motivation for many. People like that Boris arse-licking weirdo on here.

 

[Cityfan]

Really not sure what some people are wanting. Are they really suggesting unending lockdown with no easing (with restrictions and regulations) so a completely collapsed economy, potential food shortages, increasing domestic violence, increasing mental illness, growing numbers of suicides etc etc etc or the phased easing like the government is suggesting ? What's the bloody alternative ?

The alternative is to wait a little bit longer to get the numbers down so you can start seriously contact tracing and isolating to keep the transmission low so the economy can keep on functioning and not have to go into lockdown again when a second peak threatens.

 

[johnnytapia]

Yes get that nasty government to let us sit at home sunbathe and keep giving us money.

The mask slips...

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

Easing but provide people with PPE, by law, not as "guidance".

I don't need PPE to meet my family whilst staying 5 metres away from them

 

[ayrshire_blue]

What's the bloody alternative ?

The metaphorically bloody alternative to the literally bloody alternative.

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

The alternative is to wait a little bit longer to get the numbers down so you can start seriously contact tracing and isolating to keep the transmission low so the economy can keep on functioning and not have to go into lockdown again when a second peak threatens.

How long is a little bit longer and what numbers do you want to see down to what level ?

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

The metaphorically bloody alternative to the literally bloody alternative.

And carrying on doing what we are doing is also a literally bloody alternative

 

[johnnytapia]

I don't need PPE to meet my family whilst staying 5 metres away from them

5 metres? You do know it's not cumulative don't you? If it's your mum and dad you don't have to do 2m then another 2m? Just checking.

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

5 metres? You do know it's not cumulative don't you? If it's your mum and dad you don't have to do 2m then another 2m? Just checking.

I have, and always will, go above and beyond what is "recommended" to keep myself and others safe.

 

[Cityfan]

How long is a little bit longer and what numbers do you want to see down to what level ?

I don't have the precise number but we clearly don't have the contact tracing system up and running yet.
It's worked in a whole load of Asian countries it can work here.
If we have to lockdown a second time it will be a bigger kicking for the economy than waiting a bit longer this time.

 

[True_Blue69]

No, just do it at the right time. Hardly any sane person expects us to be locked down forever. Has anyone on here repeatedly said that with sincerity? Why put words into people's mouths? The clamour to get us back outside when cases are not dropping anywhere nearly as quick as we'd hope, and we're still announcing figures of over 600 deaths a day, is depressing. We're acting like we're in the same place as Germany with this weird 'end the lockdown now!' rhetoric. Yeah, let's get people out sharpish for a nice quick second peak! It's literally been 7 weeks. Hardly anything. People just want caution, and what's wrong with that?

He asked what the alternative is, as I really can’t see one and you didn’t give him one. Regardless of how long we lock down for the same thing is going to happen again until we either get a vaccine or immunity levels. Just prolonging the inevitable and potentially destroying millions of lives at the same time.

 

[MCFC1993]

Hope they don't go too far with the easing of these restrictions as we're simply not in a position to do so. We're still losing 650 a day.

I'll still be treating it with the same caution and will be making sure members of my family do as well, much like we did a good few weeks before the lockdown even began.

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

I don't have the precise number but we clearly don't have the contact tracing system up and running yet.
It's worked in a whole load of Asian countries it can work here.
If we have to lockdown a second time it will be a bigger kicking for the economy than waiting a bit longer this time.

You do realise that people are dying now because of non-covid but lockdown related issues now, right ? So the longer you leave it the more of them will die ? It is and will be a balancing act, but you cant just say "keep us in lockdown" without an understanding of that and some comprehension of the numbers, which the Government and scientists will have.

 

[twosips]

He asked what the alternative is, as I really can’t see one and you didn’t give him one. Regardless of how long we lock down for the same thing is going to happen again until we either get a vaccine or immunity levels. Just prolonging the inevitable and potentially destroying millions of lives at the same time.

The alternative is we wait a little longer until deaths and reported cases are clearly clearly going down, and have done an awful lot. We prove that this contract tracing app isn't a shambles (all signs indicate it is), we get countless new measures in place - temperature testing at places of work and airports like in other countries. We do antibody tests throughout the country to work out what percentage of the country has had it. We provide all members of the public with masks like in other countries. We prove without doubt that mass testing is sustainable, as are PPE supplies. We set out incredibly stringent health and safety standards for places of work, with frequent checks to ensure they're maintaining them.

We get our shit together properly basically, not just wing it. This is my issue and this is what I want. Signs that we're prepared before we open up, so we can feel secure that we're in control as best as we can be. It's not too much to ask, and if anything its absolutely necessary, but deep down we all know we just won't do that here. I'd be surprised if we accomplished one or two of these things before easing restrictions. We won't, we'll just open the gates and politely ask businesses to keep staff to two metres. That'll never happen. There will be loads of reports of workers complaining about this, but it'll be met by pointless empty platitudes, and cases will rise, people will get sacked anyway, we'll get an awful second peak, and we'll just say 'we're following the science'! Great.