COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[Mikeegrini]

It’s an awful situation to be in. My son has gone away, from Friday, for a much needed break with his girlfriend to a cottage in the middle of nowhere in the lakes. We are Stockport. He had a message from the agency he had booked with, Cottages.com, at the beginning of last week, to say if Grt Mcr went into tier 3 his booking would be cancelled. Up until Friday morning, he pretty much didn’t if he’d be going or not.

This happened to my mum, she was 13 miles from her destination in Wales when she received a call and was told not to turn up. 5 hours of driving in total for a 71 year old. This was about about 3:30 on Friday.
A guy she uses for home maintenance was already at his caravan in Wales when he was instructed to leave the site by the campsite even though he arrived on Thursday.
In both cases it was stated that even though GM was in T2 they would still be told they couldn't stay and would "get into trouble".

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Vaccines and November more and more evident when typed in google. Just need to stand firm for a few more months and we will have this under control.

The government are going to play this down, they have to really. If they announced that a vaccine would be rolled out in December then their would be mass ignoring of the rules. So i dont expect any significant anouncements until just before its ready to be given to the first groups.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

I think most importantly the rules have been the same from day 1.

Rules:
Gatherings of more than 50 have been banned.
Table service only in bars and restaurants and 2m distancing between groups.
No general entry to Sweden from outside the EU.
Novisits to care homes, hopital wards etc.
All have stayed the same since march.

Advice:
Stay home if you are ill (at all).
They have changed the sick pay rules so you get it from day 1, where before you didn't get the first day.
Masks still aren't manitory - mostly because it sends the wrong message imo- you shouldn't be out and about if you're feeling ill.
In the spring they advised people in Stockholm not to travel outside the city and that seemed to work. Data from mobile phone masts showed a drop in travel.

Schools were closed in the spring for over 16s but tnow they are open again,

Support for companies that furoughed staff was improved so that a lot of people on lower pay kept 80-90% of their wage.

Universities are back, with a mixture of on-line lecures and labs/tutorials in groups.

I think people are following the rules. Perhaps because they're not too restrictive and they have stayed the same. People know whats what.

Having said that, they've just introduce a new rule for Stockholm - if someone you live with feels ill, you should stay home as well. Work from home if you can, if you can't you get an "infectious disease" payment.

Looking from the outside in, the UK looks a mess. You need more of this:

is this true that Professor Van Tam has not been seen speaking at a briefing since he said this, apart from last week i should add.

 

[ganganvince]

is this true that Professor Van Tam has not been seen speaking at a briefing since he said this, apart from last week i should add.

12th Oct

Live as Jonathan Van-Tam sets out state of coronavirus in UK

The new data has been revealed ahead of new lockdown rules coming later today

www.dailypost.co.uk

 

[blueparrot]

Covid-19: Most vulnerable 'could get vaccine by Christmas'

The head of the UK Vaccine Taskforce says it would not mean that life would get back to normal straight away.

www.bbc.com

Hence the reason not to spew a load of money on a national lockdown

Opposite, it means if we can control numbers needing hospital for a few months and save some lives then we can afford the cost of either a circuit break or local lockdowns.
If there was no prospect of vaccines anytime soon and an end to it then the cost of repeated lockdowns would be unaffordable.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

is this true that Professor Van Tam has not been seen speaking at a briefing since he said this, apart from last week i should add.

No. I think It’s Ruth May, the Chief Nursing Officer, who hasn’t appeared since she refused to lie for Dominic Cummings.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

But isnt everyone concentrated in the cities with vast open spaces ?

Stockholm has a similar population (2.3m) and population density 11k/sq mile) to Manchester (2.8m and 10.4k/m2).

But then, the commuter area and trans-border journeys will be very different to here. Plus the Swedes social distance with those they don’t know as part of their culture anyway.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Are gyms now the only way to exercise? All I see on social media is gym goers playing the mental health card. Exercise helps with mental health because it releases endorphins. And there are a million different ways to release endorphins, you don’t HAVE to be in a gym for that.

Very true.

But I don’t use the gym for cardio workouts and exclusively use them for resistance training. I’m currently doing strength training and there’s very little/nothing I could use that would be heavy enough to lift and pull in the outside world. Maybe some fallen branches.

For people living on their own who aren’t in a bubble (like me), the gym (and my local coffee shop I go to) has been pretty much the only place I’ve socialised with anyone.

I’d be gutted if my gym shut, especially as it’s been really quiet, it’s felt safer than supermarkets (far more cleaning, sanitising and distancing going on at the gym from both members and staff) and we’ve had no cases (yet).

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I’ve just been for my walk down the local woodland trail and there’s loads of people out jogging, as well as environmental group of students and retired folk clearing the ridge of growth and reducing trees etc.

i would prefer gyms that can be kept fairly safe to stay open but people can get plenty of exercise outdoors too. For example, the local parks have outdoor yoga classes (I know the weather is getting worse) and military fitness classes.

Btw I’m not going to the gym I’m a member of at the moment because it’s in a basement that’s not good for ventilation and the passageways in and out are narrow and people could spread the virus fairly easily there IMHO. I’m still paying my membership in case that helps to keep people in a job.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

I’ve just been for my walk down the local woodland trail and there’s loads of people out jogging, as well as environmental group of students and retired folk clearing the ridge of growth and reducing trees etc.

i would prefer gyms that can be kept fairly safe to stay open but people can get plenty of exercise outdoors too. For example, the local parks have outdoor yoga classes (I know the weather is getting worse) and military fitness classes.

Btw I’m not going to the gym I’m a member of at the moment because it’s in a basement that’s not good for ventilation and the passageways in and out are narrow and people could spread the virus fairly easily there IMHO. I’m still paying my membership in case that helps to keep people in a job.

This is why the government should be encouraging people to meet up outside, whilst explaining the benefits of proper ventilation, if outside proves to be impossible. Simple messages applicable to all, instead of this hugely over complicated system they’ve come up with. Apparently they’re planning a ‘tier 3 plus’ system! It’s one thing to make mistakes but to keep making the same ones over and over doesn’t fill people with confidence in them and doesn’t bode well for any vaccine roll out..

 

[Tim of the Oak]

This is why the government should be encouraging people to meet up outside, whilst explaining the benefits of proper ventilation, if outside proves to be impossible. Simple messages applicable to all, instead of this hugely over complicated system they’ve come up with. Apparently they’re planning a ‘tier 3 plus’ system! It’s one thing to make mistakes but to keep making the same ones over and over doesn’t fill people with confidence in them and doesn’t bode well for any vaccine roll out..

One of the things I really liked about what Blueish Swede had to say was about the consistency of messaging in Sweden. We’ve been a shambles in comparison.

I’ve gone as far as treating myself to an Adidas Originals 80s style Sweden tracksuit to help me with the extra training I am trying to do!

 

[True_Blue69]

This is why the government should be encouraging people to meet up outside, whilst explaining the benefits of proper ventilation, if outside proves to be impossible. Simple messages applicable to all, instead of this hugely over complicated system they’ve come up with. Apparently they’re planning a ‘tier 3 plus’ system! It’s one thing to make mistakes but to keep making the same ones over and over doesn’t fill people with confidence in them and doesn’t bode well for any vaccine roll out..

The National Trust did this at first and made entrance free. For a week anyway then just shut the lot. I know so many that have taken up hiking and go at least 3 time’s a week. A lot of people have taken the opportunity to eat better and get fitter which is great. It’s a lot easier to eat well when you’re working from home, no office treats, home made lunch etc.

 

[BlueAnorak]

I’ve just listened to a researcher on the news who has developed Covid detection through checking peoples irises. It’s been tested at Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital and they are hoping to get regulatory approval in between 3 and 6 months. The researcher said it would be a very cost effective and faster test (results in a couple of minutes) that would be ideal for schools, airports etc.

Should be being rolled out within a month to check if people need to have a proper test.

 

[ganganvince]

Opposite, it means if we can control numbers needing hospital for a few months and save some lives then we can afford the cost of either a circuit break or local lockdowns.
If there was no prospect of vaccines anytime soon and an end to it then the cost of repeated lockdowns would be unaffordable.

Disagree it becomes even more pointless locking down in areas of low prevelance with the economic damage.

 

[hgblue]

One of the things I really liked about what Blueish Swede had to say was about the consistency of messaging in Sweden. We’ve been a shambles in comparison.

I’ve gone as far as treating myself to an Adidas Originals 80snstyoe Sweden tracksuit to help me with the extra training I am trying to do!

They have consistently resisted the insane policy of lockdown. This is now confirmed by the WHO, probably to cover their arses when the lockdown policy becomes completely discredited. They are now plunging down the list of worst affected countries, whilst those who locked down are dealing with the inevitable second wave. Penny dropping amongst the lockdown advocates yet?

 

[Tim of the Oak]

They have consistently resisted the insane policy of lockdown. This is now confirmed by the WHO, probably to cover their arses when the lockdown policy becomes completely discredited. They are now plunging down the list of worst affected countries, whilst those who locked down are dealing with the inevitable second wave. Penny dropping amongst the lockdown advocates yet?

The WHO say lockdown shouldn’t be the primary tool used but it can be needed to reset in the absence of an effective test, trace and isolate system. Since ours was shambolic we needed more restrictions. People refusing to isolate exacerbated this.

 

[Out on blue 6]

Stockholm has a similar population (2.3m) and population density 11k/sq mile) to Manchester (2.8m and 10.4k/m2).

But then, the commuter area and trans-border journeys will be very different to here. Plus the Swedes social distance with those they don’t know as part of their culture anyway.

Sometimes think it's less about population density more about how dense the population is.

 

[grunge]

i think the likley biggest varriable is the way deaths are counted. In Germany you have to died because of Covid, in the UK if you die of something else but have covid, it goes down as a covid death which is utterly ridiculous.

That’s not true tho. When you look at excess deaths you would see a large spike in non covid deaths if they were trying to “hide” it like that but that spike isn’t there.

Tracking covid-19 excess deaths across countries

In many parts of the world, official death tolls undercount the total number of fatalities

www.economist.com

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

One of the things I really liked about what Blueish Swede had to say was about the consistency of messaging in Sweden. We’ve been a shambles in comparison.

I’ve gone as far as treating myself to an Adidas Originals 80snstyoe Sweden tracksuit to help me with the extra training I am trying to do!

Absolutely. Posted in politics bit but probably applicable here.
Now agreeing to give details from track and trace to the police. That’ll encourage people to get tested.....Not.
Problem = people not self isolating. Solution should be making it easier to self isolate, not criminalising it. Positive test and you get £500 a week to stay at home (for 7 days). Job done.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

What gives you the right to be obnoxious to other posters just because you dissagree with their view point?

Fair dos, that was OTT.

There's a lot of highly misleading stuff posted here that's obviously wrong, and frustration hit the better of me.

It could have been even worse - that was posted after a win!

Apologies @BigJoe#1