I'll tell you what I'd do. If Mr and Mrs I Don't Care were sat on a beach or in a park I'd find somewhere else to sit. Even if it meant driving home for the simple reason I don't want to die - yet. A slow and careful end of lock down has to happen sometime. I grant you there will be a lot of suck it and see but with common sense we can do this. If we as a nation fail we will have to wait for a vaccine but I'm up for trying, very very carefully, to give this challenge a go. Mr and Mre I Don't Care
Here’s another question. Now construction is supposed to actively returning to work. Will the government continue to fund furlough for these companies?
There's no way furlough continues on much longer than has already been announced to be honest. I think the timeline shown yesterday was in some part to give employers guidance as to when they will need to pay staff properly again. I think we will see it extended for a short while at 60% and then withdrawn entirely. The plan is herd immunity, everything said yesterday, and indeed everything that a certain Dom Cummings is all about, points to that I think. I just hope they can manage it properly, though they are undoubtedly sacrificing our most vulnerable in doing so. My own Mum is still working at Southmead, she's categorised as 'at risk' with COPD so should be at home for 12 weeks, but they are so desperate and things could get so bad that they just need her in. So she's working as a nurse through it all. She has sod all PPE and she could be on the brink of a near-death experience at any time. It's disgusting to be honest. On that note, people are celebrating the fact that we haven't had to use the nightingale hospitals. It's not because of lack of patients, it's because of lack of staff to handle those patients, hence the numbers dying in care homes. With herd immunity probably now the plan, I do expect them to be used up soon one way or another. I don't think the need for the temporary morgue near Arnos Vale has even come to pass yet... Apologies, bit of a brain dump there. Interested to hear others' takes.
Welcome back Rob, you do realise that someone is going to question everything on your comment don’t you? And all because you pointed out made in China to him
Rob, Huge respect and best wishes for your Mum and all front line staff. I think we might be in for a rough ride, even the German R rate has gone above 1 since they lifted restrictions. We'll have to be so careful these next few weeks/months.
Everyone is more than welcome to do so. No commute these days, we've all got time now Much appreciated, and yes agreed. We really need to learn from other countries and watch how their situations develop just like ours .
Rob - personal stories abound and your mother's situation is an indication of the selfless approach of many towards what needs to be done. We who have no role to play on that front should salute and be grateful to those that do. Unfortunately there's a danger that all this is becoming politicised. Although it may be unintentional, the mere mention of Dom Cummings in your post inclines toward that. The fact is that no political party nor their advisers empowerd to run this country (Boris at the moment) would have all the answers and be able to instantly press all the right buttons. It doesn't work like that - we are in unknown territory and there's no instruction booklet to refer to. Every measure adopted to forge an "exit" from this dreadful situation will attract dissent from some quarter or other. The fact that it's Boris & Co at the helm seems to be fair game, particularly for the opposition led devolved countries. Let's face it, the shambles that Labour are in England can make all the noise they like but will achieve nothing because they have no power to enforce. On the other hand, Sturgeon for the SNP and Drakeford for Welsh Labour have considerable clout, and could be inclined to use it politically under the guise of concern. Greater influence comes with greater responsibilities and they should remember that. Tensions and animosity between the UK's 4 nations by attempting to use covid 19 as a political football is the last thing we need at this time. We need to work together.
There's no way furlough continues on much longer than has already been announced to be honest. I think the timeline shown yesterday was in some part to give employers guidance as to when they will need to pay staff properly again. I think we will see it extended for a short while at 60% and then withdrawn entirely. The plan is herd immunity, everything said yesterday, and indeed everything that a certain Dom Cummings is all about, points to that I think. I just hope they can manage it properly, though they are undoubtedly sacrificing our most vulnerable in doing so. My own Mum is still working at Southmead, she's categorised as 'at risk' with COPD so should be at home for 12 weeks, but they are so desperate and things could get so bad that they just need her in. So she's working as a nurse through it all. She has sod all PPE and she could be on the brink of a near-death experience at any time. It's disgusting to be honest. On that note, people are celebrating the fact that we haven't had to use the nightingale hospitals. It's not because of lack of patients, it's because of lack of staff to handle those patients, hence the numbers dying in care homes. With herd immunity probably now the plan, I do expect them to be used up soon one way or another. I don't think the need for the temporary morgue near Arnos Vale has even come to pass yet... Apologies, bit of a brain dump there. Interested to hear others' takes. All the best to your Mum Rob and I really hope she stays safe while putting her own neck on the line for others. My Mother in Law had a fall at home around 6-7 weeks ago just as all this was starting and lockdown was being implemented and was taken into the BRI. The close family were told to go in the following morning as she wasn't expected to last past Midday, but by late afternoon she was sitting up in bed and eating ice cream. The hospital admitted they 'got it wrong'. No visitors were allowed in to see her ever since that first day and she has now been transferred to a brand new care home in Brislington. During her stay in hospital the BRI kept asking the family for basic information about my Mother in Law that should be on her medical records but they seemed pretty incompetent, and they discharged and sent her to the home with none of her personal possessions she'd had with her, not even a nightdress or toothbrush !! Pretty bad show, and apparently nor was she tested for Covid-19 before the transfer, which in my humble opinion is gross negligence. She's still very confused and in my humble opinion is in need of some serious further medical investigations, but she is not allowed visitors where she is now, and the home phoned my Sister in Law yesterday to advise that they now have 3 cases of Covid-19 present in there. So overall it's really not good news and the BRI have been frankly shocking all the way through just as they were with my own Mum who died there 11 years ago and who during her stay there never once saw a Doctor.
I understood all he said and concur in 14 mins you cant cross all the T's and dot all the i's … JUST HOW THICK are some people, nearly every leader of every country has stated PPE is a WORLD shortage. The suppliers [ many more now ] were caught between a rock and a hard place! some countries it took off earlier and they felt obligated to supply them the lions share! [ and still it was not enough ] Starmer is trying to be a "posh non argumentative leader of the Labour party" he has an uphill struggle. I' ve said it many times good news is not a good seller, probably 70% of the population accepts good news without question ...the other 30% can only thrive on negative issues, and are like rabid dogs fighting over a small bone. Starmer realises most of the dissenters [30% ] are likely labour voters? and needs to keep the pack fed! problem with supermarkets is 2m spacing until you get inside then 70% are seen to appreciate 2m and stop ….. the 30% barge past, lean over you get stuff … I have been shopping 3 times about 3 different shops and the dissenters tend not to speak English or are your typical scruffy DCAS's …. !!!! These DCA's will unfortunately bring down the house of cards …. on my walks I come across groups … pic nics/ cans of beer / sat around smoking … obviously not same household and never 2m apart. not that I am likely to go, but I would mark out a circle 6m diameter in the sand and dig a trench a foot deep with my entrenching spade. make piles of sand inside the circle from trench and pits I dig within my "space"
the BRI, as I have often said is the worst hospital in the UK … THE TREATMENT MY MOTHER HAD resorted in me removing her from her ward … she still had all the drips in her [ but not connected ] I was lucky to find a wheel chair I had a nurse and eventually a matron / manager trying to stop me! As I was getting in my car to drive to drive off a nurse appeared waving a piece of paper at me …. I was told she should not be moved, was on medication that she desperately needed … and could die! 2 weeks later we went for a drive around the lakes and had a drink in Priddy …… they killed off my mum in law less than 2 years ago! sent a letter of apology she might not have had the best of treatment … father in law would not sue...
Nothing to do with politicising anything here OS, I'm past caring about it to some extent. But we have been remarkably slow on most things, and plain perplexing on others. We have a world shortage of PPE, but we sent 50,000 pieces to the USA the other day. We have a densely packed population, but South Korea and Japan have wiped the floor with us in terms of deaths. Boris missed, what was it, 5? or so Cobra meetings on coronavirus where we could have stopped the exponential growth early on. They're not immune from criticism, and by any comparison with countries like ourselves, they've handled it badly. I mention Cummings purely because he is well-known for his thoughts on eugenics, he's been sat on the 'independent' SAGE, and he is a supporter of herd immunity. It's a plan which is typical of him, and which puts our loved ones (and to be fair a fair few on here I'm sure) at stake. The debate is whether it is for the greater good or not. Mentioning him is not me aligning to the left or even supporting anyone at all, it's purely topical. I certainly don't get my opinions from Labour, nor the SNP or anything like that on this, but while we're on it, I'm willing to bet Sturgeon's advice yesterday will save far more lives than Boris's I'm afraid. Appreciate the comments from those regarding my Mum though. She's one of thousands and I'm sure we all know at least someone doing more than their bit throughout this . All I want to know now is when I can get a bloody haircut!
No probs Rob. I didn't say you were personally politicising matters, I just said there was an opportunity (and tendancy) amongst politicians to do so generally when it suits. I don't see this as a political fodder - it's far too serious a subject to try to score brownie points.
It’s desperate times! My missus suggested a hat as well. Bit harsh when she suggested a mask too mind.
well Starmer sure wasted his time this afternoon... after BOJO reiterated a fuller edition of last nights speech … which I think he did mention would be enhanced today … coming up with a whole series of Q's that just minutes before had clarified.... … his only valid points were about 2 items that [ these were published Sat/ Sun ] WOULD HAVE CLARIFICATION later in the week, confirmed as tonight tomorrow. BOJO also managed to have a good dig regarding "non transparency" the BRITISH PEOPLE IN THE MAIN KNOW WHAT THE SCORE IS .. they have and will use their common sense to do what is right … adding later that those who do not will suffer minimum fine of £100 doubling after each offence …. I think 60% of the public are totally clear,and around 80% have a pretty good idea of what they can and cant do ….. Blackford … 5 Q's … barrel scrapings really, commenced stating need a clear and definite answer to each one … BOJO replied to first 4 with 1 word answers … and the last to do with 4 nations he took time to explain "how helpful and instructive his meetings were with the 3 other leaders, not exactly the needed answer but probably more in keeping with the spirit of unity!! … poor old Blackford sat there wordless and dumbstruck …… decided to watch ITV news from now on … BBC started with KUENSBERG and after 10 secs switched over … ITV was quite refreshing, a bit like the good old BBC of yonder year … a great deal of unbiased reporting. So 2 weeks trial of the "lifting" and a week to see what the other 3 nations will do!
Having had a day to think about things I can't help wondering that we're almost certain to have a second spike. Where's the common sense in.... .... How are Londoners not going to spread the virus on the tube and buses. .... Allowing the French in but not the Germans. ...... Etc etc etc etc It's an impossible situation.
I was watching the documentary on BBC1 last night in the Royal Gwent hospital in Newport. And one of the doctors said the second wave is due July/August and will be worse than the first. He sad they will struggle. The third wave is due October time and without a cure / vaccine in his words “we will be ****ed” If you can get it over there watch it on catchup.
It is, but how long we leave it before the whole world is broke and unemployed. That's a bit of an exaggeration I know, but you get my point I'm sure. We're likely to see second, third and further spikes in the UK I suspect and people, especially in the home counties need the bus and tube to get to and from work and there is no other option available. But the Government already know this, hence I suspect the change of tactic to Stay Alert.
