Quote:
Originally Posted by Pierre
To be fair to Old Boy and the grief he’s been getting. He does have a point.
Many of our population that are classed as vulnerable will have to stay in lockdown for their own safety for potentially a long time, possibly a very long time.
And members of their family and carers will have to be very precise in how they are around them.
But we will have to come out of these restrictions at some time, preferably before September if possible. I say restrictions because we are not in “lockdown” or anything like “lockdown”. We have been Asked to restrict our movements when and wherever possible, keep socially distancing and be sensible.
As long as we c@n keep the infection rate static and not overwhelm the NHS we can start opening up certain things. It will have to strictly monitored and managed, but for example if you can manage socially distancing and supermarket shopping, you can do it for any shop.
Cafes, restaurants and bars, will be an issue. Not impossible, but bars, especially when people have had a few will be tricky.
But I think throughout June, July & August we will see some relaxing of restrictions.
Oh and if your wondering why I chose September. I am a parent and a football fan.
I don’t see kids going back until the start of the new school year, and I would love the new season to start as normal. This season should be scrapped and expunged from the record books - Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
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Old Boy would get far less grief if he didn't stumble incoherently from one feeble excuse to open up the economy to another on an almost hourly basis.
This country survived two World Wars yet Old Boy tells us it can't stand a few months sitting in the house, getting out occasionally, and biding our time until the circumstances are right to gradually release the restrictions in place?
The economic arguments are hollow. As I've pointed out the role of Central Banks and Government is to stand behind economies in crises. The money it uses to support people now - furloughed staff, self employed, small business owners, etc. - pays rents, mortgages, pays bills and generally buys essentials. All these people want to do is get to the end of lockdown and be in the same position as before. We are the fifth largest economy in the world and that should easily be achievable and maintain a position where people have jobs to return to. This gets stability in the long run.
Make a mess of the current position - and give up the gains we have made to date - and consumer confidence remains low. Businesses will be reluctant to invest in anything for fear that we return to a further lockdown in deadly second or third waves of Coronavirus. Consumers will be wanting to save in case they have to cover a few months of lost earnings in future rather than spend.
The first tranche of restrictions could realistically be released in as little as 4 to 6 weeks. A gradual process that will take months, undoubtedly. However getting it right now yields dividends then. Getting it wrong now and we are in for months/years of turmoil.