Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[SpookyFrank]

I'm a bit confused why so many people seem to think that "If Boris says I should go back to work, then I should go back to work immediately." Surely everyone should just be waiting for instructions from their employer, regardless of what the government messaging is now? There's no point rocking up at work Monday morning if there's nobody there to unlock the door, or the place hasn't been cleaned for weeks, or the catering contract has lapsed, or any of a hundred other reasons.

But employers will use this to compel people to go back to work.

 

[cyril_smear]

But it’s not unnecessary. It’s necessary. Can you not see that? We have to restart the economy.

you're just coming across as bitter.

 

[chilango]

Back to reality

You think the architects of the neo-liberal system got where they are by just sticking to what was commonly accepted as "realistic". Of course not.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

So me and Mrs K can meet up with our son, who is one person, and we won’t be fined for breaking the rules. But our son is going to meet up with us, and we’re two people, so he gets fined? Or have I missed something?

 

[cupid_stunt]

True, but people can't go to work on public transport, if they are restricting capacity to just 10% of normal.

That's just one reason why the floppy hair twat's announcement is so confusing.

Sorry Edie, but as you think the clown's message was so clear, perhaps you could square the circle on just this one point?

 

[LDC]

So me and Mrs K can meet up with our son, who is one person, and we won’t be fined for breaking the rules. But our son is going to meet up with us, and we’re two people, so he gets fined? Or have I missed something?

None of you are supposed to be meeting up. No mixing of households are allowed, that hasn't changed.

 

[Edie]

Sorry Edie, but as you think the clown's message was so clear, perhaps you could square the circle on just this one point?

What’s the question?

 

[Looby]

I can almost understand why b year six might want a few weeks prep before senior school but other than that why would they send the two youngest and least able to socially distance back unless they're purposely trying to spread it about? It's insane. Anyway, they can go fuck themselves. We'll think about it in September.

Yeah I’ve been having this conversation with friends with reception and year 1 kids.
One friend can’t wait for her kids to go back despite her having quite bad asthma and another really doesn’t want to risk it.
The difference is for them they the one who isn’t going to send her kids back has a partner at home and only works part time for an understanding employer.
The other is trying to work from home full time in a telephone based role with two children in the house.

 

[Edie]

So me and Mrs K can meet up with our son, who is one person, and we won’t be fined for breaking the rules. But our son is going to meet up with us, and we’re two people, so he gets fined? Or have I missed something?

?!

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

None of you are supposed to be meeting up. No mixing of households are allowed, that hasn't changed.

Meeting up in the open air whilst social distancing.

 

[Mation]

Really? Cos I personally know of at least three mates whose small business is about to go bust. Tell that to them.

So they need financial support. Why haven't they got it? (The government can decide to afford it.)

Their businesses shouldn't be kept afloat by people risking their lives. That's the wrong answer on every level.

 

[frogwoman]

Sweden is expecting its economy to contract by at least 6% and possibly up to 12% or more.

 

[LDC]

Meeting up in the open air whilst social distancing.

No. You have never been supposed to be doing that. And you still can't. Surely you know that?

 

[frogwoman]

Even with lockdown lifted you cant expect people to spend money in pubs etc or to book holidays. It's not going to happen.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Really? Cos I personally know of at least three mates whose small business is about to go bust. Tell that to them.

The economy is set up in such a way that this kind of thing happens. Capitalism is really really terrible in a crisis. That's not the only way to do things, though. fwiw the small company I work for could also go bust because of this. Already furloughed a third of the staff due to lack of new orders.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

No. You have never been supposed to be doing that. And you still can't. Surely you know that?

From Wednesday that’s precisely what we’re now told we can do, according to the Guardian, but only if we meet up outside with only one person, hence my confusion,

 

[Edie]

You think the architects of the neo-liberal system got where they are by just sticking to what was commonly accepted as "realistic". Of course not.

No. And maybe this is a real opportunity for change for the better. But the reality is our Government needed a plan, today, of what is going to happen. In the context of the current global political and economic situation. And taking money from billionaires is not realistically going to happen. Although would maybe not be a bad plan all else being equal.

 

[redsquirrel]

No. You have never been supposed to be doing that. And you still can't. Surely you know that?

Well according to the BBC you can from Wednesday

• You can meet one person from outside your own household if you stay two metres apart
• So, you can sit next to a single friend in the park, but you must socially distance

 

[Raheem]

Really? Cos I personally know of at least three mates whose small business is about to go bust. Tell that to them.

What's happening isn't about them being able to restart their businesses. Unless they're in the hospitality sector, they can do that anyway. Might be pointless in many cases, but they can. What's happening is that they are about to lose any financial support they have been getting from the government.

 

[Thora]

No. You have never been supposed to be doing that. And you still can't. Surely you know that?

The Guardian report says you can meet up with one other person outside so long as you maintain 2m distance.

 

[cupid_stunt]

But the reality is our Government needed a plan, today, of what is going to happen. .

And, failed to come up with one.

 

[Edie]

So they need financial support. Why haven't they got it? (The government can decide to afford it.)

Their businesses shouldn't be kept afloat by people risking their lives. That's the wrong answer on every level.

Do you realise that the government haven’t actually paid out any money towards furlough yet? And there have been a number of sly and concerning phrases that don’t install massive confidence that they will without question. Jobs are gonna be shed and hard, and businesses are gonna start to go bust at a rate of knots. I’m kinda surprised that the protection of livelihoods isn’t afforded a bit more importance on here given most of us have families to feed.

 

[killer b]

So me and Mrs K can meet up with our son, who is one person, and we won’t be fined for breaking the rules. But our son is going to meet up with us, and we’re two people, so he gets fined? Or have I missed something?

it's totally unenforceable, so it won't be enforced.

(I went for a walk with my folks today, three days early. In many ways, the relaxation they've announced is simply what people are doing anyway)

 

[agricola]

No. And maybe this is a real opportunity for change for the better. But the reality is our Government needed a plan, today, of what is going to happen. In the context of the current global political and economic situation. And taking money from billionaires is not realistically going to happen. Although would maybe not be a bad plan all else being equal.

TBF it (or at least going after tax havens) is the only conceivable pot of money that could ever pay this lot off.

 

[LDC]

Well according to the BBC you can from Wednesday

• You can meet one person from outside your own household if you stay two metres apart
• So, you can sit next to a single friend in the park, but you must socially distance

Hadn't seen that, and it wasn't announced, that seems weird as it's a big change.

 

[Edie]

it's totally unenforceable, so it won't be enforced.

(I went for a walk with my folks today, three days early. In many ways, the relaxation they've announced is simply what people are doing anyway)

Exactly. People are just ignoring it now anyway and voting with their feet.

 

[sheothebudworths]

But it’s not unnecessary. It’s necessary. Can you not see that? We have to restart the economy.

You've been busy working through this and I'll bet you've seen lots that the rest of us haven't.
You also defo won't have been sat indoors pouring over comparitive figures from other countries, either, with the time to worry about how/why 'lessons' continue not to be learned, or to be completely ignored.
We can't stay in lockdown forever, of course but we can move out of it sensibly.
There will be a further loss of lives and an even greater impact on services (and therefore to the economy, too, as it goes - if that is even something worth keeping in mind as the priority) if we move too quickly.
It is NOT essential that builders, for eg, suddenly have to find their way, any way, to work tomorrow - it just isn't - and it's a really thoughtless, stupid new rule to have come up with after a week where we have been flooded with the idea that lockdown is over.
I feel like there is going to be a narrative, going forwards from now, that people are being lazy - that's not what has been happening while you have been out there. <3
Do we have enough PPE for NHS staff yet? For careworkers? Wasn't that always one of the five rules? It's obscene that lockdown is being lifted right now, with the priority on non-essential (but profitable) work like building, with huge stress put onto those workers.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Do you realise that the government haven’t actually paid out any money towards furlough yet?

They have, several local business owners confirmed last week in a Zoom meeting that they have received their payments.

 

[David Clapson]

Why can't we all do what we like, so long as we stay 2m apart?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Do you realise that the government haven’t actually paid out any money towards furlough yet? And there have been a number of sly and concerning phrases that don’t install massive confidence that they will without question. Jobs are gonna be shed and hard, and businesses are gonna start to go bust at a rate of knots. I’m kinda surprised that the protection of livelihoods isn’t afforded a bit more importance on here given most of us have families to feed.

You're setting up a false choice, though. Either we're all forced back to work regardless of the virus situation or we all lose our jobs.

The Bank of England can print more money.

That's a serious suggestion. It was done to bail out the banks. Do it now to bail out people.

Oh, and take money off the rich. Lots of it.