Current Affairs

[Stephen]

Just booked our first holiday…we’re off to Iceland in October…if that goes well we’re off to Asda and Tesco’s the following week.

That old one

See the previous Fridays mornin all

[david63]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed recently the proliferation of the "exempt" badges that are being worn instead of face coverings.

Now I am not saying for one minute that there are not some genuine reasons why some cannot wear face coverings but if anyone wants one they are 0.55p (https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/hid ... ering.html) and you do not need any medical proof.

OK I guess that if you were challenged by plod you would need to have a valid reason but one of the reasons for not wearing a face covering is

if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress

(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -coverings) which would be very difficult to disprove.

In my opinion if anyone cannot wear a face covering then they should have to wear a visor and have a medical certificate to that effect, and if the cannot wear a visor then they should not be out - simples.

[barney]

My brother got his flight money back from Air Malta today.
From April and November 2020 flights.
Excellent service....... not.

[Stephen]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed recently the proliferation of the "exempt" badges that are being worn instead of face coverings.

Now I am not saying for one minute that there are not some genuine reasons why some cannot wear face coverings but if anyone wants one they are 0.55p (https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/hid ... ering.html) and you do not need any medical proof.

OK I guess that if you were challenged by plod you would need to have a valid reason but one of the reasons for not wearing a face covering is

if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress

(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... -coverings) which would be very difficult to disprove.

In my opinion if anyone cannot wear a face covering then they should have to wear a visor and have a medical certificate to that effect, and if the cannot wear a visor then they should not be out - simples.

Exactly.

As you say David, proving it is the problem. And plod (when you actually see one) are about the only people willing, at a push, to confront someone about it.

[Kendhni]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed recently the proliferation of the "exempt" badges that are being worn instead of face coverings.

There should be no exemptions - the time for such preciousness has been and gone.
I see Morrisons has said that if you want into their store then you must be wearing a mask - great news and their example should be followed by every store.

[towny44]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed recently the proliferation of the "exempt" badges that are being worn instead of face coverings.

There should be no exemptions - the time for such preciousness has been and gone.
I see Morrisons has said that if you want into their store then you must be wearing a mask - great news and their example should be followed by every store.

Ah but, Morrisons has said this applies to all, except those with valid exemption.

[Kendhni]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed recently the proliferation of the "exempt" badges that are being worn instead of face coverings.

There should be no exemptions - the time for such preciousness has been and gone.
I see Morrisons has said that if you want into their store then you must be wearing a mask - great news and their example should be followed by every store.

Ah but, Morrisons has said this applies to all, except those with valid exemption.

Yea, looks like the story has been updated to include medical exemptions. Earlier versions of the story clearly said that nobody would get in without a mask, the way it should be - I guess the precious have got their way again.

[david63]

I see Morrisons has said that if you want into their store then you must be wearing a mask

Our Tesco has had the "mask police" at the door for the last month or so

[Stephen]

I thought we were in lockdown? What a joke and no wonder we’re in the sh*t.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/13083185 ... -homebase/

[Bensham33]

I thought we were in lockdown? What a joke and no wonder we’re in the sh*t.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/13083185 ... -homebase/

Exactly and people wonder why there are so many people walking around....they can.

[Kendhni]

I thought we were in lockdown? What a joke and no wonder we’re in the sh*t.


https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/13083185 ... -homebase/

And they wonder why the public are confused?
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ ... 806c4aea6e

Apparently if you have dodgy eyesight you can go on a car journey as well!

[Kendhni]

I see Morrisons has said that if you want into their store then you must be wearing a mask

Our Tesco has had the "mask police" at the door for the last month or so

So has ours but occasionally they get ignored (fortunately the prissy little insects that think wearing a mask is beneath them are getting fewer and fewer).

Our local ASDA used one of their young workers to hand out masks - he was sworn at, pushed to one side, told to mind his own business. The next time they had a couple of local bouncers on the door, this time it was all 'oh sorry I forgot', 'yes I would like a mask please', 'certainly I will pull it up over my nose'.

[Manoverboard]

Sainsbugs are hiring trained Security Guards to enforce mask wearing and with luck they will refuse entry to those who are exempt. The latter should be doing their food shop online else get a little helper to do it for them.

[oldbluefox]

I don't see any confusion at all. The rules are quite simple except where the media are trying to blur the issues and look for loopholes.
As for the issue with Cummings or for that matter Corbyn, Ferrier, Jenrick, Kinnock and many other elected members as well as celebrities who attended parties, weddings and funerals I know what I must do to keep myself, my family and my friends safe.
We had all of this silly nonsense over Scotch eggs which dominated the news for days. Give me strength!!!

I am pleased to hear Sainsburys and Morisons are now putting restrictions on those entering the store and personally I would say no mask, no entry and you won't get served all backed up by a big burly security 'person' with a body cam so if anyone wants to get tough they have the evidence for later prosecution. (Alternatively the little lass on the door at Cockermouth Aldi. Knee high to a grasshopper but nobody was getting past her!!! )

[Stephen]

I've come into Chelmsford this morning for a dentist appointment. You'd never think we were in lockdown going by the amount of traffic. The bus companies must be running at a loss, all driving round passengerless.

[david63]

The only reason that there is confusion is that some need to know what the rules are everywhere. The only rules you need to know are those that affect you.

I will accept that there needs to be some clarity in some areas - such as a definition for "local"

[oldbluefox]

I don't know how you can define 'local'. Local in a rural area may be very different to that in an urban area. "Only shop in local shops". For some that may be miles away so I'm not sure about any kind of definition.
However I am sure that whatever I do I should remember "Stay at home, etc" and avoid contact as much as is humanly possible to avoid transmission. Anything else is a virtual irrelevance.

[Stephen]

This should answer you question on travel. It's common sense really. You stay local and certainly don't travel into another county.

The info below was taken from this government link

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lo ... ome#travel

Travel

You must not leave your home unless you have a reasonable excuse (for example, for work or education purposes). If you need to travel you should stay local – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall. The list of reasons you can leave your home and area include, but are not limited to:

•work, where you cannot reasonably work from home
•accessing education and for caring responsibilities
•visiting those in your support bubble – or your childcare bubble for childcare
•visiting hospital, GP and other medical appointments or visits where you have had an accident or are concerned about your health
•buying goods or services that you need, but this should be within your local area wherever possible
•outdoor exercise. This should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)
•attending the care and exercise of an animal, or veterinary services

If you need to travel, walk or cycle where possible, and plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. This will allow you to practise social distancing while you travel.

Avoid car sharing with anyone from outside your household or your support bubble. See the guidance on car sharing.

If you need to use public transport, you should follow the safer travel guidance.

[Gill W]

I think the definition of ‘local’ does need to be clarified, and whether you can travel by car to your ‘local’ place of exercise.

As it stands at the moment, 7 miles from home appears to be local, re Johnson’s bike ride, and they aren’t saying whether he cycled all the way there or whether he drove there.

Unambiguous messaging is needed, and I’m fairly sure I made a similar comment in the first lockdown

[Manoverboard]

I don't know how you can define 'local'. Local in a rural area may be very different to that in an urban area. "Only shop in local shops". For some that may be miles away so I'm not sure about any kind of definition.
However I am sure that whatever I do I should remember "Stay at home, etc" and avoid contact as much as is humanly possible to avoid transmission. Anything else is a virtual irrelevance.

We get our food deliveries from Weymouth else Ferndown, a round ' local ' trip of 80 miles. Needless to say we would prefer to go without if we were incapable of organising ourselves properly.

[Bensham33]

Boris thinks cycling 7 miles is local. So there's the answer. Local is 7 miles from home........I despair.

[Kendhni]

I don't see any confusion at all. The rules are quite simple except where the media are trying to blur the issues and look for loopholes.

In that case, the police don't seem to understand the rules
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... table.html

It appears now that a cup of coffee counts as a picnic - that really is a scotch egg moment.

[barney]

Over 1,000 covid breach fines have been handed out by Devon and Cornwall police.
Anpr is earning it’s keep.

[towny44]

Boris thinks cycling 7 miles is local. So there's the answer. Local is 7 miles from home........I despair.

Not knowing the full facts it's difficult to decide whether Boris broke, bent or just skirted round the rules.
However if he went there because it would be quieter than say one of the London parks, and not interfere with people walking on the cycle paths, then maybe he took the correct course of action.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Boris thinks cycling 7 miles is local. So there's the answer. Local is 7 miles from home........I despair.

Not knowing the full facts it's difficult to decide whether Boris broke, bent or just skirted round the rules.
However if he went there because it would be quieter than say one of the London parks, and not interfere with people walking on the cycle paths, then maybe he took the correct course of action.

There is also a security implication. No doubt Boris could exercise by cycling from his front door up and down Whitehall. But a fundamental of personal security for high profile people is not to be predictable and not have fixed routines. So if he did cycle out the door every day, by the end of the week he'd be at serious risk.

I have my own conundrum here. MY normal dog walk is to drive two miles and then walk along a near-deserted canal towpath. Do I still do that now? It is only two miles but it is outside our town boundary. And I can walk the dog from our front door. But the downside of that is I pass far more people than if I stick to my normal routine. So the risk is greater. I genuinely don't know the right answer.