Forum Topic

Do we need stricter Lockdown rules?

Do we need stricter Lockdown rules? I write this after reading a article on Sky news website in which, and I agree that in Lockdown 3 people are being to complacent.I'm beginning to feel after reading that article and from looking around say CHR that highly likely its true. But when Lockdown rules allow say people to exercise, coffee shops open, click and collect services, people to mix in support bubbles, walk pets can you really blame people as this is what's being allowed and recommended by the government. So, really I hardly blame people in built up areas going out and of course it will likely be busy as we are in a large city. I think it's less people causing trouble, but more so the current government rules for this pandemic/Lockdown are too free.What do others think,should lock down rules become more stricter? Do you think stricter Lockdown rules would actually help the situation?

chris poole ● 2117d26 Comments

A peer-reviewed study out this week“ While small benefits cannot be excluded, we do not find significant benefits on case growth of more restrictive NPIs. Similar reductions in case growth may be achievable with less restrictive interventions.”“ Assessing Mandatory Stay‐at‐Home and Business Closure Effects on the Spread of COVID‐19”https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eci.13484

Russell Pearson ● 2117d

I partially agree with the OP, but there is no excuse for groups of people from different households chatting on street corners, closer than a metre, which I have seen on several occasions recently. My wife and I limit our excursions to the occasional food shop and walking our dog, which also provides our personal exercise. I think that the guidelines from goverment are entirely clear and don't need modification. I can't see any reason for them to be misunderstood.

Mike Preece ● 2116d

I partially agree with the OP, but there is no excuse for groups of people from different households chatting on street corners, closer than a metre, which I have seen on several occasions recently. My wife and I limit our excursions to the occasional food shop and walking our dog, which also provides our personal exercise. I think that the guidelines from goverment are entirely clear and don't need modification. I can't see any reason for them to be misunderstood.

Mike Preece ● 2116d

..but 'guidelines' aren't 'rules', so we're all left to 'use our common sense' and argue the toss, but 'we don't want to snitch on our neighbours', and Johnson thinks having a proper curfew 'isn't British'.  So the present arrangements are intentionally so loose and flexible that 'compliance' is virtually impossible and unenforceable - 'You're being arrested for possession of a scotch egg in a public place.' 'But that's not a picnic, it's a snack.' 'No it isn't, it's a substantial meal.' This doesn't stop the government blaming the population rather than themselves for the increasing levels of infection, while refusing to impose sufficiently rigorous restrictions that might actually make things better.

Peter Evans ● 2116d

It was fine for younger people to go out but since the new strain of the VirusBest to use common sense and if you are vulnerable wear mask all the time if you have to go out, the rules were for different age groups and over 50s to stay home if possible but things have change now the virus spreadsfaster so do what is right for you to stay safe even younger people are more at risk now.

Janice Evans ● 2116d

People just aren’t following the guidance so we certainly need stricter rules. The local authority has also shown itself to be incapable of applying any common sense so we need Government control. Our local authority to far too wet and weak to deal with the situation.

Steve Taylor ● 2116d

Walking along the river recently there were quite a few groups of people I’d guess weren’t from the same household and were way under 1m away from each other. There was about 10 young people having food and drink at the river near the old ship. So this could be better enforced. Also some shops, even the supermarkets, are very busy and apparently unmanaged so this should change. But some of the latest guidelines are unclear to me. If I live in Chiswick am I allowed to drive to ealing to meet a friend for a walk. Or Wimbledon Common? Gunnersbury Park? If I’m in Gunnersbury park on my own can I sit on a park bench to look at the trees? Or drink a coffee I’ve bought at the “bar” In the park or even read a book?

David Turner ● 2116d

If you  can define "local" in a legal sense I would be able to answer your question where you can drive from to another place.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2116d

Never mind if you fancy getting yourself in the papers and on TV - you can complain to the media.

Philippa Bond ● 2116d

David please stay home, exercise locally on your own or if you can not do that you can meet up with one other person but stay 2 meters apart. Bottom line have little or no human contact other than your own household to reduce the risk of you getting the virus and of course giving it to others. It really isn’t that hard perhaps your post was tongue in cheek.....essential shopping wear a face covering, wash your hands regularly but definitely after touching anything outside your home, have you got it?

Jayne Thorburn ● 2116d

If the regulations still allow us to 'drive to somewhere nice and meet a friend' then there's plenty of room to tighten things up to 'walk round the block by yourself'.

Peter Evans ● 2116d

But they don't; please read the 'instructions', which I know, appear more like 'advice'. And should be more obvious of enforcement. But it is pretty clear what is needed. If we are going to return to a pleasant way of life, we must get rid of the corona-virus. Vaccination is obviously very important, but that will take several weeks before it starts to reduce the virus viability. In the meantime we have to use standard pandemic behaviour: keep away from other people; personal hygiene; and masks when in confined indoor spaces.

Mike Preece ● 2115d

My grandmother went into service when she was 13. Allowed to go home once a month. It can’t be so difficult not to see friends during this awful time when we all have phones.

Vivienne Cox ● 2115d

It's just been reported that Boris has been seen riding his bike 7 miles away from where he lives. So that's OK, then, or maybe he was just testing his eyesight.

Colin Jordan ● 2115d

Or maybe he was exercising. I hope he wasn’t in Chiswick though, as there would be hell to pay if he wasn’t using the cycle Lane.

Andrew Jones ● 2115d

A doctor on the TV news last night was saying that we hadn't yet seen the effect of Christmas. I don't see how that can be right. It's been almost three weeks. The nincompoops who insisted on having a 'proper family Christmas' and infected each other are now recovering (the vast majority) or already in hospital. Daily infections recorded yesterday were well down on the previous Monday.So, no, I don't think we need stricter rules. Let the current ones do their job. The police also need to crack down on genuine rule breakers, rather than people who drove a couple of miles to the park to exercise.I go out twice a week to walk and buy groceries and am finding everywhere very quiet. I don't believe that the rules are being widely flouted.

Susan Kelly ● 2115d

too early to definitvely say anything, but the last two days have seen lower numbers of new cases than the corresponding day one week ago (source https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/), suggesting the current lockdown is starting to do its job. Of course, these are country-wide data, so don't show the region-by-region data, but some glimmer of hope that we are beginning to turn the corner?  Today's numbers will be interesting to see if they continue this downwards trend.Sadly, deaths will always lag a coupe of weeks behind cases in beginning to drop.

Chris Jenkins ● 2115d

The data show that regions that were in tier 4 at Christmas are seeing falls in infections. The ones that were in tier 3 are lagging behind. I have friends who were in tier 3 (Devon, Dorset) and took the sensible decision to cancel their Christmas plans anyway. If only more people had done the same.Incidentally, Hounslow is moving steadily back UP the London league table, as is Ealing.

Susan Kelly ● 2115d

interesting Susanwhat source are you using to find this level of granularity in the data?

Chris Jenkins ● 2115d

@ukcovid19stats on Twitter, which picks them up from official data sources.https://twitter.com/UKCovid19Stats/status/1348700637140316166 gives yesterday's London stats.

Susan Kelly ● 2115d

Susan, if you check the article on the site's home page about West Middlesex Covid admissions you will see that the Christmas effect is yet to hit the hospitals. This is why forecasts for deaths in the coming weeks see numbers rising.https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/fears-covid19-crisis-overwhelm-hospitals-worse-b850785.htmlThis article in the Evening Standard suggests that hospital numbers are now expected to peak in mid-February. On this basis tighter restrictions can be anticipated.

John Connelly ● 2115d

" article in the Evening Standard suggests that hospital numbers are now expected to peak in mid-February."Precisely - and this is even with the second vaccination kicking by then in to protect millions of the older and at risk folk.

Steve Taylor ● 2115d

"The nincompoops who insisted on having a 'proper family Christmas' and infected each other are now recovering (the vast majority) or already in hospital". Where is your evidence for this? Could you give us some facts and figures? How do you know for a fact, that they infected each other?

Brian Coyle ● 2115d

""The nincompoops who insisted on having a 'proper family Christmas' and infected each other are now recovering (the vast majority) or already in hospital". Where is your evidence for this? Could you give us some facts and figures? How do you know for a fact, that they infected each other"? Still waiting, Steve.

Brian Coyle ● 2112d

Well, I know first-hand (my friend’s brother) of one family of seven who met up for Christmas.  Every one of them developed Covid over the next two weeks, and one has since died.Anecdotal, yes, but also true.

T P Howell ● 2112d

You will have a long wait Brainy, because I have no idea what you are talking about. You may be confusing me with someone you think you know!

Steve Taylor ● 2112d