We need to take control

GrannyGravy
“The population of New Zealand is 4.886 million and it is 268,838 sq km. The population of the UK is 66 million and it is 243,610 sq km which makes the UK 90.62% the size of NZ.”
Exactly GrannyGravy I was going to say just that.

We need to get the vaccine to people who have to work at the moment along with the care home staff, police, firemen and teachers, not the elderly who are in care homes or can stay at home.

Micro example of lockdown. The shopping precinct near my house was a ghost town during the first lockdown. This time it's life as normal. Everything is open. Tier 4 area.

How can everything be open? All non essential shops and businesses like hairdressers are shut. (Three members of my family are in non essential retail)

Peasblossom local to us open: Thé Rangé, Pound Shop, Garden Centres, B&Q, just some examples. In my view, not necessary.

BlueSky

GrannyGravy
“The population of New Zealand is 4.886 million and it is 268,838 sq km. The population of the UK is 66 million and it is 243,610 sq km which makes the UK 90.62% the size of NZ.”
Exactly GrannyGravy I was going to say just that.

There's still no reason why people in the UK couldn't have a stricter lockdown. Some of the Chinese cities are much more densely populated than the UK.

A bit late to the thread but definitely agree with posters who suggest the two women in Derbyshire was a set up. Who notified the press if they didn’t themselves? The pictures in the paper glamorous or what? I feel sorry for the Police they are trying their best in a difficult situation. All these women have done is encouraged people to cause problems for the Police and gain publicity from it. The Press also should be ashamed for encouraging this in a time where hospitals are overwhelmed and it’s more important than ever that we follow the rules.

Jaxjacky

Peasblossom local to us open: Thé Rangé, Pound Shop, Garden Centres, B&Q, just some examples. In my view, not necessary.

Just four examples - I agree. I suppose there is some slight logic to B&Q or other DIY places as many people took the opportunity during the first lockdown to have things done to their house or to get on with DIY, but restrictions could still apply.

Willow73

We need to get the vaccine to people who have to work at the moment along with the care home staff, police, firemen and teachers, not the elderly who are in care homes or can stay at home.

There are approximately 20 million people at high risk. Are you seriously condemning them to be locked up until people get their act together?

I've stayed at home since March, apart from going to the GP, diabetic eye test, dentist and pharmacy. I've seen my son twice. Apart from waving at delivery people and posties, I've had to human contact. I would seriously like to have the opportunity to go out by having my risk reduced.

MawBe

Jaxjacky

Peasblossom local to us open: Thé Rangé, Pound Shop, Garden Centres, B&Q, just some examples. In my view, not necessary.

Just four examples - I agree. I suppose there is some slight logic to B&Q or other DIY places as many people took the opportunity during the first lockdown to have things done to their house or to get on with DIY, but restrictions could still apply.

I don't know what The Range is. B&Q do deliveries, as do some local garden centres.

This time it's life as normal. Everything is open. Tier 4 area

But we don’t have Tiers any more Gagajo we’re in national lockdown.

There are a number of shops open which were closed or just doing click and collect during the first lockdown. Also many pubs, restaurants and cafes are open for takeaways or collections.

Unfortunately I feel that we do need to be stricter with the restrictions if we are going to reduce the infection rate. I could make suggestions but it would be pointless as I don’t thing the government will take any notice of my views!

Oh, I see. Yes those would have a big footfall. We’re just little independent traders?

I think we are currently in a "light" version of a lockdown. There are way too many shops open here and traffic is down only about a third.

Last year there was virtually no traffic. Manufacturing is still allowed and was shut down last time unless it was "essential".

If this pandemic is worse now in terms of spread, surely the restrictions should be tighter.

Interesting comments all round and an very interesting OP.

Surely we have to completely lock down to allow ourselves the chance we have been offered by the vaccination. This is no longer (if it ever was) about rights and personal decision; it is about life and death.

However, I do not believe we can ask people to lock down and live on thin air. We must ensure people have enough to live on while we do this. The simplest thing would be to use a form of universal basic income where everybody gets the same amount paid upfront and then monthly. Then it is everybody stays at home except for a narrowed list of key workers.

More people are now classed as key workers. Therefore there are more people travelling about and more children going to school. This has been done, I imagine, in order that the Government can save on furlough money.

We are told that a COVID certificate will be necessary for people coming into the country from next week but I have heard nothing about how quarantine is going to be supervised. Making rules and ensuring compliance are two very different things.

SiL is an HGV driver. He was furloughed in the Spring but is working this time round. Why ? He says it is because the Construction industry is still working.

Greenfinch

SiL is an HGV driver. He was furloughed in the Spring but is working this time round. Why ? He says it is because the Construction industry is still working.

The majority of construction work continued throughout the previous lockdowns.

growstuff

BlueSky

GrannyGravy
“The population of New Zealand is 4.886 million and it is 268,838 sq km. The population of the UK is 66 million and it is 243,610 sq km which makes the UK 90.62% the size of NZ.”
Exactly GrannyGravy I was going to say just that.

There's still no reason why people in the UK couldn't have a stricter lockdown. Some of the Chinese cities are much more densely populated than the UK.

Agree and it’s the “management style “ not the size. Ditto Australia. Quick tough action.

Agree with your earlier post growstuff re ‘rights and responsibilities. As a retired teacher I found that young people knew their rights but were sometimes less inclined to take responsibility. If some adults are not taking responsibility seriously, as in following the lockdown rules, how can we expect young people to learn by example.

No such things as rights when I was going to school ! You did as you were told. The same at home and at work too. Everything ticked along nicely until rights raised its ugly head.
Sorry but these are my politics and politics should have been kept away from classrooms, which is my answer to why the world has turned on its head because everyone now USES " their rights " ( wrongly) in mostly everything.

It's democracy gone mad when it comes to something as serious as the difference ibetween life and death.

EllanVannin

No such things as rights when I was going to school ! You did as you were told. The same at home and at work too. Everything ticked along nicely until rights raised its ugly head.
Sorry but these are my politics and politics should have been kept away from classrooms, which is my answer to why the world has turned on its head because everyone now USES " their rights " ( wrongly) in mostly everything.

Jeezy peeps EV! Of course there were rights!

Were the teachers or your parents allowed to beat you within an inch of your life? No? Rights!

Were you entitled to an education? Yes? Rights!

Were you left to die in the streets if you were ill? No? Rights!

I do wish people would stop banging on about "Rights" being a bad thing! Some people use it as an excuse to do what they like but that's what we need to stop, we can't be saying people don't need rights!

I'm also a bit worried by the phrase "democracy gone mad".....

Just me?