‘We hope lockdown means we can see our families over Christmas’
While some think the four-week lockdown is too little too late, others hope it will allow them to see their families over Christmas.
From Thursday, the advice returns to stay at home and only leave for a number of reasons – including education, for work purposes if you can’t work at home, exercise, shopping for food and essential items, or for healthcare. Non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure and entertainment venues will also close until December 2.
Many people visiting Wolverhampton city centre yesterday backed the restrictions, hoping they could see loved ones over the festive period. But others feel that the measures are “too little, too late” and should have been brought in weeks ago.
Carly Middleton, 21, from Gornal, said: “I do think the lockdown is needed – if they do it now we can be hopefully be a bit more free at Christmas.
"I think it is just common sense.
"I just hope it won’t last longer than the four weeks they are saying. I really want to spend that time with my family.”
Permjit Chanion, 54, from Blakenhall, said: “I think they should have brought in a second lockdown much sooner. They shouldn’t have opened all the pubs and restaurants before until we knew more about the disease.
“I think it is too little too late. We should have kept everything in lockdown for longer before. The virus isn’t going down and it isn’t going away.”
Amie Dunkirk, 32, from Penn, said: “I think it is about time the Government did something a bit more extreme – the warning signs have been there for the last few weeks and his scientific advisors were advising him to do something more than the tiered system.
“But I think if they are going to lockdown the country again, they need to do it properly – I think the schools need to close again, at least for part of it. Children are still socialising and spending time with other children – who then go on to see their parents, and perhaps grandparents if they are in a child care or social bubble.
“It is a shame for all the businesses and I think it could be a nail in the coffin for some more independent shops and businesses. They’ve struggled throughout March, April and May, and now they’re being faced with closing again for a month, or more.
“I agree with the lockdown, I do think it is needed. The four weeks is a goal for us all to work towards, to have something to look forward to in 2020 of Christmas with our families.”
Gerry King, 72, from Merridale, said: “The virus is a problem and how we solve it is another issue. They have been creating secondary problems – if the virus disappeared overnight we would still have massive problems, unemployment, the collapse of the economy.
“People will suffer because of the long-term effects of the lockdown.”
Jody Henderson, 40, from Tettenhall, said: “I think it is only right that the restrictions are brought in and if people stick to the rules now then we can have a Christmas where we get to see family members. I am happy to adhere to the rules as long as we get to come out of lockdown in four weeks with the rest of December to have freedom to spend with loved ones.”
Thomas Silcox, 27, from Chapel Ash, added: “I think it is all a bit of a farce really. Labour called for a circuit breaker lockdown weeks ago and the Government decided they weren’t going to do it. It was worse that we were being told to stick to something during the press conferences.
“I think this four-week lockdown has come too late. It will put so many more jobs in turmoil.
“I think this will last longer than four weeks. They said it would be lockdown for three weeks last time – and it was three months.”
