Easing several lockdown rules at once could boost virus, say UK scientists

[Northerner]

The easing of multiple lockdown measures in England at once risks Covid-19 gaining a fresh foothold, scientists advising the government have warned.

They raised concerns over the halving of the 2-metre physical distancing rule at the same time as reopening venues, saying the country was currently experiencing up to 4,300 Covid-19 infections a day and had no effective digital track-and-trace system, while highlighting research that showed transmission of the virus was more likely to happen indoors.

On Monday, it was announced that millions of people with underlying health issues would be permitted to leave their homes and mix with groups from 6 July, for the first time in three months.

On Tuesday Boris Johnson gave venues from museums to pubs to hairdressers the green light to reopen from 4 July, halved physical distancing from 2 metres to 1 metre and said two households could meet up indoors, both also from 4 July.

Acknowledging the relief many would feel – the Daily Express headline on Tuesday was “Freedom pass for millions” – Johnson called it the end of a “long national hibernation”. However, scientists made clear that it came with risk.

Coronavirus: easing several lockdown rules at once could boost virus, say UK scientists

Sage advisers warn halving 2-metre distancing rule and reopening venues brings risks

www.theguardian.com

Must admit I was quite surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been!) at the extent to which measures will be lifted - there seems to be very little that remains of the lockdown 😱 Introducing so many avenues for possible infections will surely make it difficult to pinpoint the major contributor to any new wave

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Must admit I was quite surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been!) at the extent to which measures will be lifted - there seems to be very little that remains of the lockdown 😱 Introducing so many avenues for possible infections will surely make it difficult to pinpoint the major contributor to any new wave

I was shocked by the amount of measures reduced too. What remains closed? Offices and gyms? Don’t get me wrong I’m gagging for a hair cut but seems a bit off kilter that someone can literally rub my head and blow whatever germs are lurking in the air around a room full of people with a hairdryer, but people cant sit 2 metres apart in a work environment - unless they work in schools or shops of course.

 

[Northerner]

I found all the combinations of who could meet who, how many and where especially confusing - a bit like a Ted Rogers riddle from 3-2-1, back in the days of Dusty Bin (for those old enough to remember that!) 😱 🙄

 

[Bruce Stephens]

What remains closed?

Swimming pools and some thing like nail bars (which seem similar to hairdressers to me). Theatres and so on can open but can't actually be theatres (no live performances). Nightclubs, dance studios. People who can work from home are still encouraged to do so.

(Robert Peston has been emphasising that model villages are allowed to open.)

I hope the ONS is able to increase their sampling so we get a good picture of what's happening. With any luck the incidence will continue to fall; the weather's good, for one thing.

 

[Sally71]

Well it's not rocket science, is it. Of course if people are suddenly allowed to go out again and visit places then it will increase the risk. On one hand it's great that things are starting to open up again, to be honest though if pubs and hairdressers and cinemas are allowed to open again then I don’t see why other places can’t (easier to maintain social distancing with a small number of people in a dance studio than with a hairdresser having to touch you!). On the other, I can’t help thinking it's too soon Much as I have missed being able to go out and do a bit of shopping, have lunch and then maybe go and see a film, I won't be rushing out to do so just yet. Especially if I have to queue for the privilege😱

 

[Docb]

For the first time I have become very uneasy about coronavirus and the prospects for the future. It seems to me that the effect of today's decisions in effect will sacrifice a few for the benefit of the many. Unusual for a conservative government who usually sacrifice many for the benefit of the few.

The scientific opinion seems to say that an increase in COVID infections will arise from today's changes if the rules are not obeyed absolutely by everybody, and that is not going to happen. This means that a minimum of a couple of hundred deaths a day and goodness knows how many debilitated by the disease has been set as an acceptable penalty to pay in order to prevent a total collapse of UK the UK economy.

Maybe a sensible strategy, maybe not. What is certain is that we are all on our own, especially so if you are 70+, male and have pre-existing conditions. So take care.

Apologies if this sounds a bit depressing but even I cannot see a way of putting a positive spin on it.

 

[trophywench]

No - hairdressing is normally done from behind you, and they use the mirror to ask things like how much do you want cut off holding a 'slice' of hair at right angles from you head and any conversation takes place via the same mirror, not face to face whereas nails are normally done face to face!

I think the granddaughter that does my hair has been told they have to wear masks at work anyway.

 

[trophywench]

We're both happy to wait until August to see how it goes, before deciding if we want to venture back out into the world, thanks.

 

[Ljc]

We're both happy to wait until August to see how it goes, before deciding if we want to venture back out into the world, thanks.

Ditto.

I don’t know if it will work I can only hope, I’ve ordered a replacement notice to go on our front door asking people to stand two metres away. , my last Asada delivery driver couldn’t have got any closer if he tried.

 

[atoll]

fourth of july.....no particular significance with that date is there?
pandemic is over peoples,so we can get brexit done.
wealth before health.

 

[Robin]

fourth of july.....no particular significance with that date is there?
pandemic is over peoples,so we can get brexit done.
wealth before health.

Lockdown is costing lives too. Not so much wealth over health, but for some, especially the elderly, choosing whether you die of Covid or isolation.

 

[grovesy]

Sports Massgae Therapists are up in arms as they seem to be been lumped together with Massage Parlours and not been able to reopen. Mine who I see at my Chiropractor's Surgery , has premises elsewhere, and had put plans in place to restart.

 

[Northerner]

There was an email on the TV earlier from someone who ran a dance studio. As he said. he has lots of space and it would be easy to separate people sufficiently to reduce risk. Hew also said that his studio is above a pub which, with the same floor space, will have much less room because of the bar, tables, chairs etc., so it seems wrong that they can be open and he can't My niece runs a dance school and is in the same boat She's had no financial support because like a lot of small companies she pays herself via dividends. OK, it means she pays less tax that way, but point me at a member of the government who doesn't deprive the government of considerably greater funds through tax dodges etc.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

The messaging on it is so vague that people will hear ‘1m plus‘ and just take it as 1m not 1m PLUS a mask, screen or other safety measures. And given how people think 2m is the length of their arm to begin with it’s going to mean effectively no social distancing.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

There was an email on the TV earlier from someone who ran a dance studio. As he said. he has lots of space and it would be easy to separate people sufficiently to reduce risk. Hew also said that his studio is above a pub which, with the same floor space, will have much less room because of the bar, tables, chairs etc., so it seems wrong that they can be open and he can't My niece runs a dance school and is in the same boat

Dancing tends to involve exertion (so increased breathing, etc.) which probably makes that much worse. (Unfortunately.)

 

[mikeyB]

I just wonder what will happen at the borders with Wales and Scotland, where this easing won’t be happening just yet. Close the borders?

 

[grovesy]

The messaging on it is so vague that people will hear ‘1m plus‘ and just take it as 1m not 1m PLUS a mask, screen or other safety measures. And given how people think 2m is the length of their arm to begin with it’s going to mean effectively no social distancing.

Professor Whitty was emphasising that point at the press conference.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Dancing tends to involve exertion (so increased breathing, etc.) which probably makes that much worse. (Unfortunately.)

That's been the rationale here for delayed restart of dance classes, and it makes sense. It's not so clear to me why bars with restrictions on number of people in them are more OK, but the ostensible rationale seems to be that they're OK if people remain seated and don't move around and mingle in standing groups, gabbing in each others' faces.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

It's not so clear to me why bars with restrictions on number of people in them are more OK, but the ostensible rationale seems to be that they're OK if people remain seated and don't move around and mingle in standing groups, gabbing in each others' faces.

I haven't looked to see if there are restrictions on music volume, but if there aren't then there should be. I think (in England) the recommendation is for people to be seated (at a booked table) rather than moving around too much. Altogether not much like a pub.

 

[Flower]

I was alarmed at how much was relaxed yesterday. It hasn't changed my fear level at all, I’m avoiding people and places as much as ever. I’m not dying to go to the shops or for a coffee.