Are You Celebrating The Easing Of Lockdown?

[Bobbisox1]

I listened last night to LBC and some callers were aghast saying it was far too soon and they were ‘scared’, my own take on it, if you’re scared, stay with the advice of the last 3 months , if not, then ease yourself into normal slowly As I intend to do

[iluvmargie]

I'm not sure if it's true or not Parsley, but I did read it online somewhere yesterday, so don't shoot the messenger! If I have a meal in a pub, I generally like a coffee afterwards, hence the 'hot drink'.

[woofgang]

I have no idea where the hot drink thing came from, I have just done a scan of the rules and can't find it anywhere.

[woofgang]

here's the guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery#takeaways-2-2

[Mamyalynne]

If they can serve food and cold drinks I see no reason why they could not sell hot drinks too.

[ichkeria]

I’m not “celebrating” as such but I am very pleased.
I am a bit surprised they’ve made the day pubs reopen a Saturday. Maybe that makes sense

[Mamyalynne]

Rude of me not to actually answer the question, personally it's not a reason to celebrate for me but I am very happy for all who have been feeling hemmed in and keen to get out and about again.

[iluvmargie]

Like I said, I read it somewhere yesterday, but can't remember where.

[sanmac]

Wow, just got an appointment for a hair-cut at 11am on Thursday! They opened last Friday, but I couldn't get one until tomorrow even though I'm a regular customer.

[ladybirder]

No, I'm not. I am still as vulnerable now as I was at the beginning. So wish I didn't feel like that but ...

[New Judge]

//It is very likely that those measures saved quite a lot of lives,so hardly insane.//

Let’s leave that verdict until it is established how much damage – including lives lost to non-Covid illnesses – has been caused by them, danny. Never before has a pandemic (and there have been plenty of them) been dealt with by effectively suspending the nation’s economy and services for such a prolonged period. That’s for a very good reason, as we shall find out in due course. This outbreak is scarcely any different to any of the large scale pandemics that have occurred in the last century. If anything it is not so virulent as some.

As Parsley Dumpling points out, the virus hasn’t gone away and it won’t go away until it’s ready. Strains of the 1968 “Hong Kong ‘Flu” are still around more than fifty years later. Governments cannot prevent the eventual spread of viruses and to believe that they can is delusional. I agreed with the lockdown with its original aim. That was to prevent an ill-prepared NHS being overwhelmed. When it was apparent that had been achieved (after about four or five weeks) that should have seen the end of it. Now its aim seems to be to prevent the virus spreading at all, and that cannot be done.

//NJ what measures would you put in place?//

I would ensure there are proper measures in place to protect the vulnerable groups so that they did not have to venture out if they chose not to. Simply telling them to “stay indoors” is hardly sufficient. I would perhaps prohibit large gatherings such as at sporting events but that’s about it. Everybody else can make their own judgements and take whatever precautions they deem necessary. I would certainly not permit local authorities to narrow the roads under their control so that the pavements can be widened. The two metre guidance (which has been interpreted as a rule) on pedestrians passing each other in the street is probably the most ridiculous manifestation of the paranoia which has gripped this country since the fiasco took shape.

The ridiculous “guidance” accompanying the reopening of pubs and restaurants is further evidence that the government hasn’t quite got hold of the idea that they will not prevent the spread of this virus. “Order by app when possible. I only know of one large chain which has that facility (J D Wetherspoon). None of the chains have it or are likely to have it by next week. Certainly no smaller pub owners will have it or the resources to develop it. I’ve heard that hair drying is not to be permitted in hairdressers. How many women will go to the hairdressers and either not have their hair washed or have it washed and leave with it soaking wet? Just where do they drag the people from that come up with such ideas?

[ichkeria]

I don’t think we’ll go back to the previous lockdown or anything approaching it even if there is a renewed outbreak

[Bobbisox1]

Ich, I doubt many would adhere to another one anyway

[ichkeria]

Indeed. Let’s face it the PM effectively ended the lockdown yesterday. Of course he has to make noises about not taking and chances and reimposing some measures but in reality I think that’s it. There might be some delay in easing further social distancing but living with social distancing I’m sure will be the way for the foreseeable future

[Apc2604]

I think its very likely that areas with rising high numbers of cases will be put under quaranteen measures, but not another lockdown of the whole country.

[Vagus]

We won’t be celebrating as such, but our hands are twitching even now at the thought of getting our hands on our baby grandson on 8th :)

[diddlydo]

Vagus - as I understand it we still can't touch, hug or kiss our grandchildren . When people from different households meet they're supposed to maintain social distancing unless a single person has formed a "bubble" with another household.

[david small]

Not celebrating at all.