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or at least put out some stark warnings out particularly focused on gatherings
Sure. The thing is though, those are already illegal now. But no law will have an impact if there is almost no enforcement.
But I agree with regards to 'need to be seen to do something'. Cynical, but probably very correct.
SwissChap-
But no law will have an impact if there is almost no enforcement.
I think the most important part of the new laws are the ones banning gatherings, yet all we've heard in the news is how the police have been enforcing the unnecessary travel part - road checkpoints in Cumbria and drones over the peaks. This (i'd guess) is the easiest to do, but has the lowest impact on preventing transmission.
The police should be focusing on gatherings.
It's Orwellian, but on Sunday, I would not be bothered if they got the drones and police helicopter out to check out people's back gardens for illicit bbqs. Easy to spot if someone has more than the direct family in attendance, and a simple job to go knock on their door and break it up. Discouraging gatherings has to be top priority IMO.
Scrabble
Here's my take.
There are two reasons restrictions will increase -
If the death rate keeps climbing government needs to be seen to be doing something. Increasing restrictions is much easier than magicking up 10,000 ventilators / 100,000 tests.
Increasing restrictions keeps the general population focused on the problem at hand.
I think the main theme of further restriction will be on distance from home. You will only be allowed to the nearest supermarket/pharmacy. Perhaps outdoor exercise will be limited to a couple of miles from your front door.
The second element will have some effect. While people riding their bikes 20 miles from home are not an epidemiological risk, the wider impact of tightening restrictions will help reinforce the whole idea of the necessity of social distancing amongst the population, just at the time people might have started to relax, had the current restrictions remained in place.
Sunday is going to be a media shit storm as everyone goes out to enjoy 20 degree's and sunshine for the first time in forever.
If I was in Government, I'd be tempted to ramp it up tonight...or at least put out some stark warnings out particularly focused on gatherings - that's where the transmission is going to be happening.