Coronavirus

[jsp]

Yeah I try not to sit there watching the news all day because nothing really changes and like you say the real news good or bad in terms of progress towards cures or vaccine isn't going to be getting released to the public until they have some real confidence about it to avoid panic.

 

[Shoot]

So the Prime Minister is writing to every UK household regarding Coronavirus at a cost of nearly 6 million.
Whats the point to this? Why do we need letters through doors at such needless expense?

Letter received. Bloody pointless!

 

[Shoot]

I don't know where all of you currently reside, so I can't really speak to your specific situations. Mr C and JSP, where are you guys? I've seen that Shoot is in England. Where is everyone else?

You asked where I lived and I informed you I was in the UK. Have you deduced from that, that the UK is England?

 

[IDFD]

Or it could be that you also said

I am a Scot who lives in England

 

[Mr C]

 

[SuperRash]

Burn.

 

[Shoot]

Or it could be that you also said

Now who would have though you would have found that!

 

[Shoot]

The government is being strongly criticised for not issuing clear guidance on whether we should be wearing masks or not. total shit talk, can individuals not assess the pro's and cons themselves and make their own determinations?
My view would be wearing a mask (if you happen to have one) would go some way to protect others from yourself if you happened to be an Asymptomatic carrier, on the flip side it may put you at risk as it encourages hand to mouth actions, the mask itself could become contaminated and could be a risk with the putting on / taking off.
Whats so hard about that!!

 

[jsp]

I think the issue is the WHO recommend you do wear one in public but our government don’t seems pretty sensible if it helps reduce the risk of those carrying the virus without knowing passing it on. As long as you give sensible guidance on how to put them on and off safely and reinforce the washing your hands and how regularly you change the masks.

The main criticism of the government is they’ve taken a reactive stance to this rather than proactive the countries who took proactive measures seem to have been able to manage things better than we have and our health service doesn’t have huge capacities for intensive care.

We could have taken lockdown precautions at the same time as Italy or France when it became inevitable what was happening which would have reduced the spread of the virus in the UK.

 

[Shoot]

Kind of difficult to offer guidance to folk how to wear the mask they don't have

 

[jsp]

The sort of masks they’re suggesting the public wear are not the same ones the NHS need though they aren’t a piece of protective equipment it can even be something homemade.

The guidance could be as vague as covering your mouth/nose with a scarf when in public just to reduce the chances of the transfer but this is the kind of point it’s not really massively effective but even if it only helps stop the spread by a few % is it worth doing?

 

[Shoot]

The sort of masks they’re suggesting the public wear are not the same ones the NHS need though they aren’t a piece of protective equipment it can even be something homemade.

The guidance could be as vague as covering your mouth/nose with a scarf when in public just to reduce the chances of the transfer but this is the kind of point it’s not really massively effective but even if it only helps stop the spread by a few % is it worth doing?

And you need someone to tell you this? or are you suggesting the make it law?

 

[jsp]

And you need someone to tell you this? or are you suggesting the make it law?

I don’t cover my face when I go do the food shopping because I don’t have to I’m saying it might be a good idea to update the guidance to get people to do this when they go out in public places.

This has become news because the mayor of London wants to enforce it on all public transport but currently he can’t because it isn’t part of official guidelines.

 

[IDFD]

He actually could. He has precedent to make changes like that in London. For example the network wide ban on drinking on the tube. He’s just making excuses not to and to try and make government look bad.

 

[Shoot]

I think this is all twaddle we are being fed now. We are already starting to come out of lock down and you can be sure the Government will be telling us all to get back to work in the next couple of weeks. The economy will become king.
Lots of stores starting to reopen now and with that will come people. Wear a mask and social distance will be the advice but you can be sure we are coming out of lock down as I speak.
In fairness, I myself am an advocate of people going to work providing workplaces have suitable control measures. But public transport remains a problem so they need to come up with some sort of solution. Staggered shift patterns could certainly ease that problem.
It's important people take personal responsibility to protect themselves and others.

 

[SuperRash]

What makes you think we are coming out of lockdown? I haven’t seen any non-essential stores reopening. I think we will be in a firm lockdown for as long as needed, the government cannot risk coming out too early and then there being a second wave. The economy will recover but their reputation may not.

 

[jsp]

I think they're getting ready to come back I was surprised to see stores like B&Q open again but if they can comply with the regulations that are in place then they probably need to re-open and force the government to shut them down which is what will kick in their insurance.

As the chief medical guy said yesterday this isn't going away until we have a vaccine or medicine that is effective at fighting covid 19 things like social distancing will remain in place and he basically said there's a very small chance of either of these things happening this year.

This thing is highly contagious on levels we've not really experienced so letting everyone loose isn't really an option as we will spike again and our health service will fail. They need this thing to be controlled as the staff are already at breaking point they can't sustain this level of care much longer.

I think we'll be in lockdown until end of May then things will start to relax piece by piece.

 

[Mr C]

They are talking about Pubs on the radio, I don't see pubs open again in 2020

 

[jsp]

Yeah not sure if they've said it officially but it's certainly being reported that pubs will be the last thing to re-open.

There's growing pressure on schools to open again in the UK which to me feels a bit mad unless they've spent the last month coming up with new teaching methods and plans on how to reduce the number of pupils in each classroom to maintain social distancing requirements as I've said before my opinion is schools will be closed until September. They then need to use this period to put plans in place for how they re-open they need to prove to everyone their insurance companies, their staff, the students and parents that schools are safe places of work that won't allow covid 19 to spread quickly.

We won't be going back into offices any time soon working from home the majority of the time will become the new normal for a lot of people.

Some of our sites are back in this week working at seriously reduced staff levels as part of a trial period.

 

[Shoot]

What makes you think we are coming out of lockdown? I haven’t seen any non-essential stores reopening. I think we will be in a firm lockdown for as long as needed, the government cannot risk coming out too early and then there being a second wave. The economy will recover but their reputation may not.

B&Q is essential is it ? Pret A Manger? You watch as the likes of McDonald Etc start opening, garden centres...... and with this out come the people.
I noticed a significant increase on my little High St yesterday and that was just because the local little hardware store opened.
It’s happening.
I bet there will be big changes when they next review in two weeks time..... will be big steps to get follk back to work.

 

[Shoot]

I think they're getting ready to come back I was surprised to see stores like B&Q open again but if they can comply with the regulations that are in place then they probably need to re-open and force the government to shut them down which is what will kick in their insurance.

As the chief medical guy said yesterday this isn't going away until we have a vaccine or medicine that is effective at fighting covid 19 things like social distancing will remain in place and he basically said there's a very small chance of either of these things happening this year.

This thing is highly contagious on levels we've not really experienced so letting everyone loose isn't really an option as we will spike again and our health service will fail. They need this thing to be controlled as the staff are already at breaking point they can't sustain this level of care much longer.

I think we'll be in lockdown until end of May then things will start to relax piece by piece.

Didn’t the Government already close them down! You can be sure they are re opening with government knowledge. Panic is setting in with the cost of all this.

 

[Shoot]

Can’t see pubs reopening any time soon

 

[IDFD]

I'd be surprised if there was any major changes in 2 weeks time. Seems to have bypassed everyone but the government extended the job retention scheme until the end of June. That means there is no plans to be out of this before then.

I think the beginning of July is the most realistic time frame.

Daily deaths are still in the 800's and April 20th was our second highest number of new cases in a day. We aren't anywhere near being on the other side of this.

 

[Shoot]

I'd be surprised if there was any major changes in 2 weeks time. Seems to have bypassed everyone but the government extended the job retention scheme until the end of June. That means there is no plans to be out of this before then.

I think the beginning of July is the most realistic time frame.

Daily deaths are still in the 800's and April 20th was our second highest number of new cases in a day. We aren't anywhere near being on the other side of this.

Yes, because this will be required for many, such as people in the leisure industry, bar managers and staff etc. Most will be encouraged back to work within a week or two of the next review, Its bang on the cards.

 

[jsp]

Didn’t the Government already close them down! You can be sure they are re opening with government knowledge. Panic is setting in with the cost of all this.

I think the guidance to shops wasn't 100% they basically said you can stay open but their advice to consumers is only leave the house for essential shopping so it probably put the ball in their court in terms of closing meaning most insurance companies won't be paying out if you have coverage.

B&Q have continued to operate a click and collect scheme over the last few weeks and obviously deliveries but apparently their online store is shocking takes 2 hours just to get on it as it can't handle the pressure in what is peak trading time for them DIY/Gardening etc. B&Q could argue they provide to trades who are still being told to go to work so they are part of construction supply chain which is under instruction to stay open.

 

[jsp]

Head teachers have put something out saying the earliest they think schools could go back is 1st June they need the time to plan and prepare for teaching in the post covid 19 world just like every industry everyone has to adjust to this new way of life for the next 12 months that's just a sad fact. This virus isn't going to get weaker it isn't going to just die off it's going to keep spreading if we allow it to but equally we can't all just stay home forever.

 

[IDFD]

Yes, because this will be required for many, such as people in the leisure industry, bar managers and staff etc. Most will be encouraged back to work within a week or two of the next review, Its bang on the cards.

I’d tend to agree with you but whilst the scheme is in place you can’t get back to normal!

Too many cogs are required in most industries and if one of those is missing then people can’t return so if one company continues to furlough their staff you probably have a knock on effect on 10+ others.

You also say it’s on the cards but I don’t get where you’re seeing this from. As I said deaths are still in the 800’s and our second highest rate of infection was 3 days ago. We aren’t on any downward trajectory.

 

[Shoot]

I’d tend to agree with you but whilst the scheme is in place you can’t get back to normal!

Too many cogs are required in most industries and if one of those is missing then people can’t return so if one company continues to furlough their staff you probably have a knock on effect on 10+ others.

You also say it’s on the cards but I don’t get where you’re seeing this from. As I said deaths are still in the 800’s and our second highest rate of infection was 3 days ago. We aren’t on any downward trajectory.

I believe we will be in the next couple of weeks. What folk need to understand is, that we are in lock down predominately to stop the NHS from being totally overwhelmed. Hospital admissions are already down and that will continue.
In some ways it is still a herd immunity strategy regardless of what we are being told.

 

[SuperRash]

B&Q is essential is it ? Pret A Manger? You watch as the likes of McDonald Etc start opening, garden centres...... and with this out come the people.
I noticed a significant increase on my little High St yesterday and that was just because the local little hardware store opened.
It’s happening.
I bet there will be big changes when they next review in two weeks time..... will be big steps to get follk back to work.

Well hardware stores were actually on the list of essential stores so it’s no surprise they’ve reopened is it?

 

[Shoot]

Well hardware stores were actually on the list of essential stores so it’s no surprise they’ve reopened is it?

Facts are, they closed and now they are open, and they are not on their own. A sign that we are coming out of lock down, as stated. You watch.

 

[jsp]

I believe we will be in the next couple of weeks. What folk need to understand is, that we are in lock down predominately to stop the NHS from being totally overwhelmed. Hospital admissions are already down and that will continue.
In some ways it is still a herd immunity strategy regardless of what we are being told.

Yeah but what we can't ignore is once the extreme pressure eases on the NHS hopefully within the next 3-4 weeks we allow those that work in it some sort of rest bite a bit of room to breath, they've gone over and above what many would be prepared to tolerate in this period it is in no way what they signed up for. If we ask them to try and carry on at these levels so people can go to work they'll just breakdown.

The biggest thing everyone needs to understand is "getting back to normal" could take years reality is we will all need to adjust to a "new normal" for a long period of time. It isn't going to be the current circumstances forever but once they start it'll be month by month tiny little baby steps. I don't know if this has really set in with most people yet.

 

[Shoot]

Yeah but what we can't ignore is once the extreme pressure eases on the NHS hopefully within the next 3-4 weeks we allow those that work in it some sort of rest bite a bit of room to breath, they've gone over and above what many would be prepared to tolerate in this period it is in no way what they signed up for. If we ask them to try and carry on at these levels so people can go to work they'll just breakdown.

The biggest thing everyone needs to understand is "getting back to normal" could take years reality is we will all need to adjust to a "new normal" for a long period of time. It isn't going to be the current circumstances forever but once they start it'll be month by month tiny little baby steps. I don't know if this has really set in with most people yet.

Agreed, I am not suggesting folk will go back to work in the same circumstances as before the lock down, but back to work they will go regardless. The Gov cannot and will not continue to pick up the bill it presently has to and the banks will and probably are showing resistance to the Governments pressures on them.

 

[jsp]

Facts are, they closed and now they are open, and they are not on their own. A sign that we are coming out of lock down, as stated. You watch.

They closed because they couldn't afford the risk exposure of getting sued by their staff for putting them in an unsafe work environment every business will have spent the last 4 weeks looking at how they can operate within the guidelines laid out by the government. How can you make your work space safe because clearly their business can't operate with everyone working from home they need customers.

These stores are full of products that they'll have had to pay for from their supplier that they can't sell you might find they clear the shelves in a few weeks then close down again at least they've banked the cash.

As far as I'm aware since the legislation passed that allowed the government to close down businesses there hasn't been any changes to it or relaxations so they are as free to trade today as they were a month ago all that's happening is they've worked out how they can do it.

Will be interesting to see if it forces a response from government you can't tell construction workers to carry on and then close stores where in theory a construction worker could go for supplies it's part of the lack of clear instruction that has left a businesses in limbo. I wouldn't be surprised if pressure if put on them to shut and operate a click and collect/delivery only business model again as most of what people will be buying from B&Q this weekend is non essential goods.

My guess is fast food outlets will re-open soon but in a collection only situation drive through and delivery will be all they do if financially that model works for them they'll be back online within weeks.

 

[IDFD]

It’s my birthday. So I’ve just been shopping to get beers and BBQ food. And got to say it’s actually ridiculous how packed the high street is. Cars and people wise. You’d have no idea that we’re in lockdown.

 

[jsp]

Happy Birthday @IDFD sunny day so everyone is out having their exercise today I guess.

I walk the dog every day around 6pm and while it does vary you do see quite a few people knocking about but pretty much everyone following rules and sticking to families get the odd questionable group knocking about.

People in the UK probably don't appreciate how hands off our lockdown has been in other European countries you need to fill out a form every time you go out and checks are routine I imagine the checks might be a bit more hands on in London but outside of the cities they seem pretty relaxed.