Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

Those that don't have the app on their phone are purely selfish. In other countries removing the app would mean that you could not get into any shop or business premises - in others the police would hit you with sticks and make you crawl all the way home - a suitable punishment for such selfishness. Personally I think mobile phone companies should have been using push technology to forcibly install the app on all mobile phones - like they did with the core tracking element.

[Gill W]

To check the virus we don't have to lock everyone up indefinitely.

Who said anything about locking people up?

We are doing all the things you mention - yet the 7 day average of new cases is still approx 46000 a day, and the trajectory of the line is still upwards.

Thats not a ‘virus under control ‘ situation

[Gill W]

Incorrect it's pining far to often. It's to sensitive.

Why is it pinging too much now, when it wasn’t pinging too much in April and May.

What factor has changed?

[towny44]

To check the virus we don't have to lock everyone up indefinitely.

Who said anything about locking people up?

We are doing all the things you mention - yet the 7 day average of new cases is still approx 46000 a day, and the trajectory of the line is still upwards.

Thats not a ‘virus under control ‘ situation

Gill there may well be a little light at the end of the tunnel, the infection rate seems as though it might have peaked. After Mondays high of 50,000, which was probably boosted by the weekends overhang, it seems to have steadied around the 40,000 mark. I accept that 3 days data is not conclusive but I am a bit more hopeful that this might now be the height of the wave.

[Quizzical Bob]

To check the virus we don't have to lock everyone up indefinitely.

Who said anything about locking people up?

We are doing all the things you mention - yet the 7 day average of new cases is still approx 46000 a day, and the trajectory of the line is still upwards.

Thats not a ‘virus under control ‘ situation

We have never been able to ‘control the virus’ and we never shall.

[towny44]

Incorrect it's pining far to often. It's to sensitive.

Why is it pinging too much now, when it wasn’t pinging too much in April and May.

What factor has changed?

We all know it's due to the increased infection rate, but the higher vaccination levels should now be providing extra protection to almost 70% of the adult population. So it should be possible to ease back on those people as long as they have a negative PCR test maybe 2 days after they are pinged.

[Quizzical Bob]

Incorrect it's pining far to often. It's to sensitive.

Why is it pinging too much now, when it wasn’t pinging too much in April and May.

What factor has changed?

Fill your boots,
https://stats.app.covid19.nhs.uk/#conta ... ing-alerts

Of course, nobody is going to want to report Covid symptoms and be paid to stay at home for ten days in the middle of a heatwave, surely?

[david63]

the infection rate seems as though it might have peaked.

There was a report today that the number of positive (I know the media prefer the term infections but we all know that is rubbish) tests yesterday was down on that of the previous week. So the 50k seems is if it may have peaked.

May be too soon to say so but perhaps the Government did know what it was doing.

[oldbluefox]

Some interesting statistics from our local newspaper............
"Case rates increased across all age groups but continued to be highest among younger people.
The case rate for under 50s was 1085/100k compared to 184/100k for over 50s. Among 19-24 year olds the case rate hit 2293/100k".

You can come to all manner of conclusions about those figures but the case rates among the 19-24 year olds is interesting and alarming since they are the ones most likely to be gathering socially. According to the Medical Officer for Health in Cumbria they are the age group least likely to have the vaccine and whilst we have plenty of vaccines the attendance rate in this age group is pretty low.

[Gill W]

Gill there may well be a little light at the end of the tunnel, the infection rate seems as though it might have peaked. After Mondays high of 50,000, which was probably boosted by the weekends overhang, it seems to have steadied around the 40,000 mark. I accept that 3 days data is not conclusive but I am a bit more hopeful that this might now be the height of the wave.

To my mind there are so many factors in play at present.

I think maybe the football peak has gone through, and the schools breaking up must help. Scotland’s cases deceased after they were knocked out of the football and their schools broke up.

On the other hand as England has no legal restrictions anymore, we may face increases due to gatherings in nightclubs etc. Also, I’m not sure if everyone is bothering with testing anymore, as the messaging has made them think it’s ‘over’. It seems a muddled picture at the moment,

[oldbluefox]

Anyone who thinks it's over is living in cuckoo land. To say there is confusion is a convenient excuse amongst those who think they can ignore the advice and recommendations. You are correct that we may see an increase in cases as people socialise in pubs and nightclubs until they cotton on that even if innoculated they are not 100% secure and without the vaccine they are vulnerable.
They are playing Russian roulette with the disease and the consequences are seen in a significant rise in cases.

[towny44]

Anyone who thinks it's over is living in cuckoo land. To say there is confusion is a convenient excuse amongst those who think they can ignore the advice and recommendations. You are correct that we may see an increase in cases as people socialise in pubs and nightclubs until they cotton on that even if innoculated they are not 100% secure and without the vaccine they are vulnerable.
They are playing Russian roulette with the disease and the consequences are seen in a significant rise in cases.

Foxy you are beginning to sound like Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii, or private Frazer in Dad's Army, get a grip man and show some true grit.

[screwy]

My good lady and myself have just had a very pleasant 2 night stay in Richmond, N Yorks.
Last night we were talking to the barman in the hotel, a very pleasant 19 yr old student at Manchester Metro Uni.He said that he will not be having the jabs because .

1, He's young ,fit and healthy/
2. It doesnt stop you getting the virus and passing it on.

What can you say.?

[Manoverboard]

We had several substitutes and a missing green pepper on Tuesday in our Sainsbugs order.

Shortage of staff seems to be a problem in some areas but the isolation rules have changed so the selfish panic buyers can now rest easy.

[Gill W]

Has there been any evidence of panic buying?

The supply chain issues have been going on for months with the resultant gaps on shelves but most people only noticed yesterday when the main stream media belatedly picked up on it.

Let’s hope all the problems are solved by this change in isolation rules …….

[oldbluefox]

Last night we were talking to the barman in the hotel, a very pleasant 19 yr old student at Manchester Metro Uni.He said that he will not be having the jabs because .

1, He's young ,fit and healthy/
2. It doesnt stop you getting the virus and passing it on.

What can you say.?

Absolutely. This idea seems to be quite common. I get fed up listening to excuses being made for this generation. Perhaps if enough of their mates get Covid the reality of this virus will dawn on them and they will go and get some protection.

[barney]

France and Italy have both introduced covid passports to gain access to venues.
If England did similar, they would be queuing up around the block.

[oldbluefox]

Foxy you are beginning to sound like Senna the Soothsayer in Up Pompeii, or private Frazer in Dad's Army, get a grip man and show some true grit.

Not at all. I think some of these people are oblivious to the dangers and need to wise up a bit and we need to stop making excuses for them.

[Manoverboard]

Has there been any evidence of panic buying?
... Let’s hope all the problems are solved by this change in isolation rules …….

There was Ken with his 400 toilet rolls, a bit of panic buying surely

Having more staff in store will obviously help but cannot possibly resolve all availability issues in every part of the UK. A positive move by Boris nevertheless

[screwy]

France and Italy have both introduced covid passports to gain access to venues.
If England did similar, they would be queuing up around the block.

Our friendly young Student barman re: previous post claims it’s against his ‘ Human rights’ to be denied entry or travel without a Covid passport.

On another subject, we are waiting to have a new kitchen fitted,we were called by the shop today that the fitter (56) is in hospital with Covid. He has not had the jabs because he thought Covid wasn’t serious.! I suggested he should fire him.

[screwy]

Has there been any evidence of panic buying?

The supply chain issues have been going on for months with the resultant gaps on shelves but most people only noticed yesterday when the main stream media belatedly picked up on it.

Let’s hope all the problems are solved by this change in isolation rules …….

Not sure where your shopping Gill but up here I’ve not noticed any empty shelves in Tesco,Sainsbury’s or Morrison’s over the last few months and I’ve been doing all the shopping since last year, maybe we’re just fortunate up here.?

[barney]

Has there been any evidence of panic buying?

The supply chain issues have been going on for months with the resultant gaps on shelves but most people only noticed yesterday when the main stream media belatedly picked up on it.

Let’s hope all the problems are solved by this change in isolation rules …….

Not sure where your shopping Gill but up here I’ve not noticed any empty shelves in Tesco,Sainsbury’s or Morrison’s over the last few months and I’ve been doing all the shopping since last year, maybe we’re just fortunate up here.?

It does appear to be area specific Screwy.
I’ve noticed no difference down our way.
Compulsive hoarders certainly don’t help the situation in areas that have problems.
Some actually brag about stockpiling as if they are somehow superior.

[Mervyn and Trish]

On a different supermarket topic, when I popped in this week the one way system had gone as had the staff member monitoring the door. However mask wearing was still 99%. In fact the only non wearer I saw was young with an arrogant air of sod off I'll do what I like. May be misjudging but that's what the body language said.

[david63]

a very pleasant 19 yr old student at Manchester Metro Uni.He said that he will not be having the jabs

Perhaps he will change his mind when he wants to go out clubbing with his mates or wants to go on holiday.

it’s against his ‘ Human rights’ to be denied entry or travel without a Covid passport

Nothing to do with "human rights" - it is a requirement of the company that he is interacting with. These youngsters have a lot to learn about life.

France and Italy have both introduced covid passports to gain access to venues.

So have we - it is now on the NHS app.

[david63]

Just been to our Tesco - some shortages on the shelves but nothing major (apart from no tonic!) but what was surprising was that 90% of the staff were not wearing masks as opposed to 90% of customers wearing masks.