COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[Mon Autre]

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 ?

I think most people know it can't last forever and are keen to have their freedoms restored.

We just want to see lockdown lifted in a sustainable way with clear instructions. We want to know that employers won't be allowed to ignore guidance and compel people to work in unsafe conditions. We want to see progressive and creative solutions that will give confidence that we have the best possible chance of avoiding a second spike.

We haven't seen much evidence of sustainable or thoughtful strategy in their actions so far so I understand why people are nervous about how lockdown will be lifted. If it isn't done properly then we'll be back under again in no time. Waiting a bit longer and doing it with a clear method could mean more freedoms return more quickly. Going about it the wrong way could send us backwards.

 

[Blue Hefner]

We’ve just gone top of the European death table. It’s even beyond this shower to then announce now is the time we can all go round to our mates for piss up and it’s time to open all the offices and shops first thing Monday morning - our restrictions aren’t that bad compared to the vast majority that have imposed any

But let’s pretend offices and shops did open on Monday - would anyone be that keen to go? I’m not going anywhere and won’t be for while yet

 

[Cityfan]

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.

I don't know who is dying because of non Covid issues, but I do know it is completely impossible to deliver proper medical care with the resources we have whilst there is extensive community transmission of Covid.

 

[Blue Hefner]

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, aso we can feel secure that we're in control as best as we can be. It's not too much to ask, 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.

I completely agree. It’s time we took this seriously and stopped playing at it

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

I think most people know it can't last forever and are keen to have their freedoms restored.

We just want to see lockdown lifted in a sustainable way with clear instructions. We want to know that employers won't be allowed to ignore guidance and compel people to work in unsafe conditions. We want to see progressive and creative solutions that will give confidence that we have the best possible chance of avoiding a second spike.

We haven't seen much evidence of sustainable or thoughtful strategy in their actions so far so I understand why people are nervous about how lockdown will be lifted. If it isn't done properly then we'll be back under again in no time. Waiting a bit longer and doing it with a clear method could mean more freedoms return more quickly. Going about it the wrong way could send us backwards.

I couldn't agree with you more mate. But people slamming the government on the basis of media reports ahead of what is being announced on Sunday is frankly ludicrous. At least lets wait until we hear what they have to say !

 

[MCFC1993]

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.

You do realise that we're still losing hundreds and hundreds every day from Covid-19. Those are the excess deaths that need to be prevented.

The deaths caused by lockdowns are sad and are no less meaningful but they're still a lot lower than the daily death toll outside of a lockdown.

We are in no position to end the lockdown as it stands, maybe businesses could start to be phased back but the logistics behind that and the safety aspects are ridiculously difficult.

 

[mancityscot]

Only thing I’m remotely looking forward to reopening is the golf course. Won’t be going anywhere near bars, restaurants, shops, cafes for a while yet, even if they were to reopen

 

[robbieh]

The day UK locked down there were 31 deaths and 554 new cases.

Looking at today's figures does anyone think easing restrictions should happen soon?

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

You do realise that we're still losing hundreds and hundreds every day from Covid-19. Those are the excess deaths that need to be prevented.

The deaths caused by lockdowns are sad and are no less meaningful but they're still a lot lower than the daily death toll outside of a lockdown.

We are in no position to end the lockdown as it stands, maybe businesses could start to be phased back but the logistics behind that and the safety aspects are ridiculously difficult.

No sensible person is talking about ENDING the lockdown, they are talking about easing it.

 

[ayrshire_blue]

I've got the fear regarding England and Wales opening things up (even slowly) from Monday.

1 because I don't think the number of infections are dropping anywhere near enough to do so and 2 because the lockdown up here in Scotland is to continue (rate of transmission believed to be slightly higher than rest of the UK at this stage) and I fear that a sizeable % of Scots will choose not to listen to advice up here if they see the rest of the UK getting a bit more freedom. The knock on effect of thst could be catastrophic.

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

Only thing I’m remotely looking forward to reopening is the golf course. Won’t be going anywhere near bars, restaurants, shops, cafes for a while yet, even if they were to reopen

But that is a great point. What is the actual risk of two people playing golf whilst staying 2, 5 or 10 meters away from each other ? That, to me, would be a perfectly sensible easing of restrictions.

 

[twosips]

I just put it in a reply to someone else, but I'll post it separately. As much as I'm terrified of the lockdown ending, I understand its necessary eventually. All I, and I presume many others want, is proof that we've got this under control and we're not ending it cos money and boredom.

I'd feel an awful lot better if we we can do the following:

- get the deaths/new cases down to very low numbers, prove its staying there
- conduct widespread antibody tests (like in NYC/Germany) to work out what % of the country has had it
- provide masks for the public use like other countries have done
- temperature testing at places of work/airports
- strict health and safety measures for businesses to follow, and actually enforce them, not ignore it
- we prove without doubt that testing can exceed 100k a day, and is sustainable
- we get our shit together re PPE and look after NHS workers, plus care homes
- we prove the contact tracing app actually works and is effective, not the current shambles it allegedly is

Is any of that unreasonable? I'd take even 'most' of it, but I suspect we'll get very little of it, and if we do, it'll be done sporadically.

 

[MCFC1993]

No sensible person is talking about ENDING the lockdown, the are talking about easing it.

Well you were asking for alternatives, I've yet to see a sensible suggestion in regards to easing the lockdown that takes everything into account.

Fact is we are still getting the same amount of infected cases that we were getting around April 9th, so the lockdown hasn't exactly been that strict in the first place and those infected cases tell us that any big lift on restrictions would almost certainly cause a 2nd spike.

 

[west didsblue]

But that is a great point. What is the actual risk of two people playing golf whilst staying 2, 5 or 10 meters away from each other ? That, to me, would be a perfectly sensible easing of restrictions.

Agree with that. Allowing outdoor activities where social distancing is easy to maintain would be a sensible thing to do and would relieve stress in some households. We’re nowhere near the point where pubs and restaurants can reopen though.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

When they relax the lockdown, the sensible thing to do is isolate yourself even more than before. It’s going to be carnage. We need to keep going.

 

[MCFC1993]

Agree with that. Allowing outdoor activities where social distancing is easy to maintain would be a sensible thing to do and would relieve stress in some households.

Still think it has to be managed, some golf courses would probably be fine, especially members only courses but places like Heaton Park can't open.

 

[kaz7]

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 ?

It has only been 5/6 weeks ,keeping people apart will keep people alive,it is a new and new virus that nobody in the world had immunity to,patience

 

[Ohrodneyrodney]

I just put it in a reply to someone else, but I'll post it separately. As much as I'm terrified of the lockdown ending, I understand its necessary eventually. All I, and I presume many others want, is proof that we've got this under control and we're not ending it cos money and boredom.

I'd feel an awful lot better if we we can do the following:

- get the deaths/new cases down to very low numbers, prove its staying there
- conduct widespread antibody tests (like in NYC/Germany) to work out what % of the country has had it
- provide masks for the public use like other countries have done
- temperature testing at places of work/airports
- strict health and safety measures for businesses to follow, and actually enforce them, not ignore it
- we prove without doubt that testing can exceed 100k a day, and is sustainable
- we get our shit together re PPE and look after NHS workers, plus care homes
- we prove the contact tracing app actually works and is effective, not the current shambles it allegedly is

Is any of that unreasonable? I'd take even 'most' of it, but I suspect we'll get very little of it, and if we do, it'll be done sporadically.

Not unreasonable but you are probably looking at another 6 months at least for all that. So you would have to stomach all the non-covid but lockdown related deaths (which would increase significantly) for that period and deal with an even more incredible national debt than we have already built up. As Ive said, unfortunately its a very very difficult balancing act.

 

[MCFC1993]

When they relax the lockdown, the sensible thing to do is isolate yourself even more than before. It’s going to be carnage. We need to keep going.

Pretty much the way I'm treating it.

I started social distancing weeks in advance of the lockdown announcement and I'll be carrying it on a long time afterwards as well.

 

[twosips]

Not unreasonable but you are probably looking at another 6 months at least for all that. So you would have to stomach all the non-covid but lockdown related deaths (which would increase significantly) for that period and deal with an even more incredible national debt than we have already built up. As Ive said, unfortunately its a very very difficult balancing act.

Why 6 months though? Why are other countries already doing lots of this? Why can't we for fucks sake? That's bullshit and passing the buck for the government.