Current Affairs

[david63]

The point is Gill that in the North West and Yorkshire we have not been able to move about and go to pubs for several months so we have not had the opportunity to mix and spread the virus.

The only reason that it will come up north is because of the behaviour of those down south who thought that on Saturday night it was clever and/or more important that they travelled around the country before the restrictions came into force on Sunday.

Anyone who travelled on Saturday night, unless for valid reasons, should be rounded up and put in a compound

[Gill W]

It’s quite funny watching the argy bargy in Dover......excuse me, not our fault, blame the French.

We are now 8 days from the end of the transition period.

We have allegedly prepared for 1000’s of lorries to be held at Dover.

It is not France’s fault that it turns out that we are ill prepared.

No, but it was France that closed the border.

It’s just brought Brexit Reality forward by a few days.

[david63]

For example, 3000 deaths at the World Trade Centre. We are currently having the equivalent of a WTC a week.

No mention then of the 3,000 deaths a week from cancer, nor the 3,000 deaths a week from coronary heart disease.

Deaths from Covid are something that we are going to have to learn to live with for many years to come.

[Gill W]

The point is Gill that in the North West and Yorkshire we have not been able to move about and go to pubs for several months so we have not had the opportunity to mix and spread the virus.

The only reason that it will come up north is because of the behaviour of those down south who thought that on Saturday night it was clever and/or more important that they travelled around the country before the restrictions came into force on Sunday.

Anyone who travelled on Saturday night, unless for valid reasons, should be rounded up and put in a compound

Infections were flat here all summer, and, only went up slightly in September when the schools went back.

Infections only started booming in mid November, and we came out of lockdown in tier 3, so no pubs have been open and our movements have been curtailed. Yet the virus boomed even more.

I don’t know if you are trying to blame ‘southerners’ for spreading the virus on Saturday. Why would southerners randomly get on a train on Saturday night, unless they were northerners trying to get home for Christmas.

[Gill W]

For example, 3000 deaths at the World Trade Centre. We are currently having the equivalent of a WTC a week.

No mention then of the 3,000 deaths a week from cancer, nor the 3,000 deaths a week from coronary heart disease.

Deaths from Covid are something that we are going to have to learn to live with for many years to come.

As I said only tend to talk about things which are out of the ordinary.

There’s nothing to stop you taking about other deaths on a regular basis, if you want to - but , as I said most people don’t talk about what happens each and every week

[Onelife]

I think to a certain extent we are becoming numb to the daily death figures Gill….I get that sinking feeling every time I think of them so try not to go there.

Agreed. You get ‘used’ to 500 deaths a day. Then the figure jumps up, and you get that shock all over again, then it becomes the norm again.

I suppose the numbness is a self preservation thing, as it is too awful to think about

Why have you never expressed the same concern about the regular 20,000 deaths from flu every year?

In my case, because l know there will yearly deaths from flu....what I don't know is where this is all going to end...One is known the other isn't thus the reason we are discussing it now.

[Gill W]

So you are suggesting we base our entire covid strategy on how it impacts the South East are you?

Where did I say that?

The variant is on the loose in the south east, whatever action is taken now won’t change that. Nothing was done to curb it until it was too late.

You want to pray that the variant doesn’t get a grip in your area - or pray that the government takes swift action to protect you from the variant.

Gill, along with many millions of others we are taking personal steps to avoid any version of covid from affecting us, it's a great pity that not everyone is being as cautious with their own or their loved ones protection.

People are still catching this, even though they are taking all the precautions. Just doing things that they have to do, like going to work, school or the supermarket is enough to get infected. I hope we aren’t going to go down the road of victim blaming

[screwy]

We are now 8 days from the end of the transition period.

We have allegedly prepared for 1000’s of lorries to be held at Dover.

It is not France’s fault that it turns out that we are ill prepared.

No, but it was France that closed the border.

It’s just brought Brexit Reality forward by a few days.

There is a difference to paperwork being checked and borders closed.

[Manoverboard]

There is a difference to paperwork being checked and borders closed.

In 1962 we went by coach to Northern Spain, albeit via Belgium, at a cost of £23 pp for 10 days.

At the French / Spanish border the French checked all the paperwork ... and the tyres and the fuel tank and our passports, duty free items plus selected luggage for nearly four hours. I suspect this ' methode francaise ' may have been handed down from father to son

[screwy]

I always went via Hull, paperwork was checked with export agent there, sometimes it was checked at Europoort. Almost always crossed into Germany at Venlo,again Dutch agent put it through German customs,same system coming back, I was normally at Venlo about an hour.usual Checks going into Germany, fuel tank, tyres.No big deal,wasn’t kept for days like they’re,well some, are making out with Brexit.

[screwy]

I would add this was in the 80s.

[Ray B]

The recent replies on here don’t reflect that the virus has mutated and the mutated strain is more infectious.

London and the south east had been flat for infections through the summer, but boomed as the new variant tightened its grip.

Perhaps the issue is that people’s behaviour has stayed the same, but the virus has changed.

You really don’t want the variant to get a hold in other areas as infections have literally gone through the roof in the south east, where it is most prevalent.

If anybody’s main concern is public health in your local area - you should be crying out for the lockdown as a pre-emptive action.

The A11 was very busy Friday night with traffic from London

[barney]

Where did I say that?

The variant is on the loose in the south east, whatever action is taken now won’t change that. Nothing was done to curb it until it was too late.

You want to pray that the variant doesn’t get a grip in your area - or pray that the government takes swift action to protect you from the variant.

Gill, along with many millions of others we are taking personal steps to avoid any version of covid from affecting us, it's a great pity that not everyone is being as cautious with their own or their loved ones protection.

People are still catching this, even though they are taking all the precautions. Just doing things that they have to do, like going to work, school or the supermarket is enough to get infected. I hope we aren’t going to go down the road of victim blaming

My mother in law has just tested positive for covid in her care home in Exeter and we can 100% guarantee that she has not been reckless in her behaviour, basically because she has not been out for over a year.
They have been testing weekly and the Director is pretty sure how it came in, given that not a single member of staff has tested positive.

[david63]

Unashamedly plagiarised from BBC comments

The whole of Cornwall has been placed into tier 4 lockdown after hundreds of pirates returned home to Penzance to celebrate Christmas with their families.

Apparently the Arrrrr rate has increased dramatically.

[david63]

So Tony Blair is now an expert on viruses and vaccinations - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55410349

[Whynd1]

In my mums care home ,2 members of staff were positive. So all staff and residents were tested. My visit for last Monday cancelled. Not yet been informed of the results. They have gone from the very start with no cases at all.
They locked down very early on and didnt use agency staff, so this will come as a bit of a blow.

[Manoverboard]

I saw that David but find it best to ignore him, a grade 1 smart a*se with a sickly smile ( allegedly )
.

[Onelife]

So Tony Blair is now an expert on viruses and vaccinations - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55410349

The validity of this I don’t know but a chap (scientist I think) was saying this morning that the first dose gives 52% protection, increasing too 95% with the second dose…if this is the case then I can see the logic in giving more of the single dose to more people in preference to giving both doses to fewer people especially while the variant strain is running riot.

[Onelife]

Gill, along with many millions of others we are taking personal steps to avoid any version of covid from affecting us, it's a great pity that not everyone is being as cautious with their own or their loved ones protection.

People are still catching this, even though they are taking all the precautions. Just doing things that they have to do, like going to work, school or the supermarket is enough to get infected. I hope we aren’t going to go down the road of victim blaming

My mother in law has just tested positive for covid in her care home in Exeter and we can 100% guarantee that she has not been reckless in her behaviour, basically because she has not been out for over a year.
They have been testing weekly and the Director is pretty sure how it came in, given that not a single member of staff has tested positive.

Sorry to hear that Barney.

[Manoverboard]

So Tony Blair is now an expert on viruses and vaccinations - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55410349

The validity of this I don’t know but a chap (scientist I think) was saying this morning that the first dose gives 52% protection, increasing too 95% with the second dose…if this is the case then I can see the logic in giving more of the single dose to more people in preference to giving both doses to fewer people especially while the variant strain is running riot.

Not for me .... once all us old buggers have had both jabs we will be in the pub / shops else on the beach spending tons of money but not if the protection is less than 95%. 52% is far too much of a risk. Blair seems unable to think things through to a logical conclusion but if he has just the one jab then that's fine by me.

[Manoverboard]

My mother in law has just tested positive for covid in her care home in Exeter and we can 100% guarantee that she has not been reckless in her behaviour, basically because she has not been out for over a year.
They have been testing weekly and the Director is pretty sure how it came in, given that not a single member of staff has tested positive.

Sorry to hear that Barney.

Me too but I didn't post in case it was one of the Barney's who may have passed it on ... I really do hope not.

[oldbluefox]

So Tony Blair is now an expert on viruses and vaccinations - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55410349

Blair doesn't have a good track record for anything he has done. If I were a scientist involved in developing the vaccine I would not be happy if a failed politician came along and started messing around with its delivery. If they thought one dose would suffice that is what they would have recommended.

[david63]

So the basic message today from Matt Hancock is that we need to keep away from others, no mixing with others, no travelling to see others - which is what many of us have been doing.

It was good to hear that the tier system is working for the "old" strain in the North of England despite the scepticism of some.

The journalists are still banging on about being "hard done to" down south - never a problem when the north were taking the brunt of the restrictions.

[oldbluefox]

Can't believe the hysteria being whipped up by the media. I suppose finding their movements and pleasures being restricted will have come as an unwelcome novelty. I just hope the mass exodus from London has not transmitted the virus further afield although I heard on the radio this morning that infection rates in Dorset and parts of Cumbria had gone up recently. It wouldn't have anything to do with second/holiday homes being occupied by incomers from Tier 3, perish the thought!!!

[Gill W]

Gill, along with many millions of others we are taking personal steps to avoid any version of covid from affecting us, it's a great pity that not everyone is being as cautious with their own or their loved ones protection.

People are still catching this, even though they are taking all the precautions. Just doing things that they have to do, like going to work, school or the supermarket is enough to get infected. I hope we aren’t going to go down the road of victim blaming

My mother in law has just tested positive for covid in her care home in Exeter and we can 100% guarantee that she has not been reckless in her behaviour, basically because she has not been out for over a year.
They have been testing weekly and the Director is pretty sure how it came in, given that not a single member of staff has tested positive.

Oh no, sorry to hear that, Barney