Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[planetgeli]

Yeah, I mean we are arguing over semantics here, but there is a lot of latitude in how you interpret the advice. It certainly doesn't stop you going on an 8 hour hike, provided that 8 hour hike is out your door and could be considered reasonable.

It doesn't use the word 'reasonable'. It specifically says 'minimise'.

How does that lead you to think an 8 hour (or 'unlimited') ramble is ok?

 

[Teaboy]

Hmmm. This feels too early still to be easing lockdown. After all their talk about avoiding a second wave at all costs this seems premature to say the least. I really don't know why they aren't pushing it back to the end of May which is what a lot of people were geared up for because of the 12 week thing.

The papers today are a total mess. Who on earth has been briefing them? How absurd to be full of news about how its all going to end on Monday just before a sunny bank holiday weekend? Any bets on what loads of people are going to do this weekend?

This is no way to run a country at any time let alone in the midst of a national crisis. Flailing clowns have just condemned a few thousand more.

 

[Cid]

It doesn't use the word 'reasonable'. It specifically says 'minimise'.

How does that lead you to think an 8 hour (or 'unlimited') ramble is ok?

Because it also says there is 'no limit on how long you can exercise for'. Everything in there is open to interpretation.

 

[Cid]

Hmmm. This feels too early still to be easing lockdown. After all their talk about avoiding a second wave at all costs this seems premature to say the least. I really don't know why they aren't pushing it back to the end of May which is what a lot of people were geared up for because of the 12 week thing.

The papers today are a total mess. Who on earth has been briefing them? How absurd to be full of news about how its all going to end on Monday just before a sunny bank holiday weekend? Any bets on what loads of people are going to do this weekend?

This is no way to run a country at any time let alone in the midst of a national crisis.

Yeah, it's fucking baffling tbh. Italy's peak for example was about 38 days ago (So ~35 days before they released lockdown a bit)... Ours about 16 days, and it's really too early to get a a good idea of exactly what the data is saying.

e2a: and, as has been said upthread, Italy's release is still potentially pretty risky.

 

[Buddy Bradley]

Have the news completely given up on reporting death numbers now? No mention of it at all on the BBC News. Or do they just not want to shine a light on how the government have won 1st prize in the "how many of your people can you kill through you own incompetence" competition?

 

[Cid]

I keep ending up in with this fucking annoying feeling that the government should suffer for its fuckups, but since that would involve more people dying, also hoping they blag it.

 

[Chilli.s]

Newspapers desperate to sell papers shocker. None bought if people are at home.

 

[Teaboy]

Yeah, it's fucking baffling tbh. Italy's peak for example was about 38 days ago (So ~35 days before they released lockdown a bit)... Ours about 16 days, and it's really too early to get a a good idea of exactly what the data is saying.

Well yes. And though London has seen a sharp decline in death rates the rest of the country seems to have plateaued, maybe even creeping up in some areas.

Have the news completely given up on reporting death numbers now? No mention of it at all on the BBC News. Or do they just not want to shine a light on how the government have won 1st prize in the "how many of your people can you kill through you own incompetence" competition?

Yup. Don't mention the death rates now we're #1. Also having spent weeks comparing our death rates to other countries its now all about how 'you can't compare death rates with other countries'. I mean, that's right but it didn't stop them doing it for ages.

 

[planetgeli]

'Minimise'.

'As short as possible'.

Look, I think the govt are being wankers, no question, but if anyone on here interprets that as "8 hour hike is fine", on a board that is nominally anti-State and believes in people taking their own decisions to act in a socially responsible way then...pfft.

Call them wankers by all means but don't anyone pretend that because they're wankers we can all go looking for loopholes and interpretations and that's fine. Even their loose rules do not lead to the conclusion that an 8 hour or unlimited hike is fine.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Suspect we'll be getting a second wave in two weeks, that'll be fun.

 

[LDC]

Suspect we'll be getting a second wave in two weeks, that'll be fun.

And so long as it doesn't overwhelm the NHS then we'll have followed the 5 guidelines.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

TBH my feeling is that whether or not people spend a little bit longer in the park or a few people go out for exercise twice a day will probably have next to no effect on virus transmission. Keeping it vague and encouraging all the finger pointing around this stuff has been very useful for them in distracting attention away from the places where transmission risk really is high though.

 

[Teaboy]

And so long as it doesn't overwhelm the NHS then we'll have followed the 5 guidelines.

And one step closer to herd immunity.

 

[Artaxerxes]

TBH my feeling is that whether or not people spend a little bit longer in the park or a few people go out for exercise twice a day will probably have next to no effect on virus transmission. Keeping it vague and encouraging all the finger pointing around this stuff has been very useful for them in distracting attention away from the places where transmission risk really is high though.

I'm expecting the lockdown rules to crumble to fucking dust.

 

[LDC]

TBH my feeling is that whether or not people spend a little bit longer in the park or a few people go out for exercise twice a day will probably have next to no effect on virus transmission. Keeping it vague and encouraging all the finger pointing around this stuff has been very useful for them in distracting attention away from the places where transmission risk really is high though.

Yeah, statistically it's not outdoor activities that are riskiest. Afaik the big ones are schools, workplaces, public transport (especially in London), and large gatherings (and households and institutions obviously). I think that the concern is that the restrictions around the first 2 are being relaxed prematurely for the sake of the economy, and under pressure from some industries.

 

[Petcha]

I agree it’s too early. Even though I’m going fucking insane and will quite possibly murder my flat mate within days. We’ve got this far. I think we should see out another few weeks or otherwise the last six weeks of hell will have been pointless.

Thankfully the weathers tanking on Sunday and Monday which will keep some people in.

 

[Teaboy]

I'm expecting the lockdown rules to crumble to fucking dust.

That was my thought. Its already beginning to crumble round my way. This weekend is now going to be very interesting.

 

[chilango]

TBH my feeling is that whether or not people spend a little bit longer in the park or a few people go out for exercise twice a day will probably have next to no effect on virus transmission. Keeping it vague and encouraging all the finger pointing around this stuff has been very useful for them in distracting attention away from the places where transmission risk really is high though.

Yep.

It wasn't forcing everyone back into cramped workspaces with bosses disregarding social distancing wot done it. It was people picnicking too close together.

 

[chilango]

That was my thought. Its already beginning to crumble round my way. This weekend is now going to be very interesting.

Yep.

 

[LDC]

Feels like all the talk in the media this morning is the economy and suffering businesses, and encouraging things back to normal for the sake of them asap.

 

[Cid]

'Minimise'.

'As short as possible'.

Look, I think the govt are being wankers, no question, but if anyone on here interprets that as "8 hour hike is fine", on a board that is nominally anti-State and believes in people taking their own decisions to act in a socially responsible way then...pfft.

Call them wankers by all means but don't anyone pretend that because they're wankers we can all go looking for loopholes and interpretations and that's fine. Even their loose rules do not lead to the conclusion that an 8 hour or unlimited hike is fine.

I don't think anyone here is actually going on 8 hour hikes. It's just that there is a huge degree of latitude in how you interpret the advice. That's kind of the point; the government could have introduced actual restrictions on form of exercise and length if it wanted (as other countries have). But it didn't. It's not there. Why? See above for various interpretations.

 

[weltweit]

I am hearing on the news that the shipment of gowns (PPE) from Turkey which was in the news recently, well apparently the gowns are not up to standard and so won't be distributed to users. Hopefully we can get our money back!! ?

 

[Petcha]

I am hearing on the news that the shipment of gowns (PPE) from Turkey which was in the news recently, well apparently the gowns are not up to standard and so won't be distributed to users. Hopefully we can get our money back!! ?

I’d also like to know what happened to the 2 million antibody tests we ordered from China before they were even tested.

 

[planetgeli]

I've always been of the opinion their reluctance to move to lockdown was entirely rooted in a belief of the importance of the economy over people's safety and health. I would not be at all surprised to see a move back to 'herd immunity' at some point with the justification of 'we just can't afford this anymore'.

Feels like all the talk in the media this morning is the economy and suffering businesses, and encouraging things back to normal for the sake of them asap.

Sorry those quotes should be the other way around. Mine's from April 10th. It's no great surprise that capital wants to get back to business.

 

[maomao]

I'm torn between thinking it's going to be some headline grabbing popular easing of garden centres and family picnics and remembering that they wouldnt be tories if they weren't always looking for the next opportunity to fuck us all over in the name of profit. They're not called vermin for nothing.

 

[Teaboy]

I'm torn between thinking it's going to be some headline grabbing popular easing of garden centres and family picnics and remembering that they wouldnt be tories if they weren't always looking for the next opportunity to fuck us all over in the name of profit. They're not called vermin for nothing.

Well if the mirror is to be believed its going to be a timetable which will have us back in pubs by August. I don't think the mirror is to be believed.

 

[ice-is-forming]

Aus is one of the least affected countries , and we're only just starting to tentatively reduce restrictions. Not sure what the UK are playing at

 

[teuchter]

I don't think anyone here is actually going on 8 hour hikes. It's just that there is a huge degree of latitude in how you interpret the advice. That's kind of the point; the government could have introduced actual restrictions on form of exercise and length if it wanted (as other countries have). But it didn't. It's not there. Why? See above for various interpretations.

I'd be quite comfortable that an '8 hour hike' could be perfectly socially responsible in certain circumstances. If I lived somewhere I could do that from my home, without venturing to risky places (like climbing mountains etc), and without going anywhere crowded or where I couldn't keep a distance from others, I don't see a problem. I think it's almost certainly less harmful than going to the supermarket to buy something non essential like beer.
I decided some time ago to ignore the fictional '1 hour' rule and have been doing a couple of 3-4 hour walks or bike rides on quiet roads per week rather than spending an hour every day running round a busy park.

 

[Cid]

I think for me it's this:

• There is no pattern in decline for new cases. Obviously that may represent a real decline (because more testing), but with at least 5k new cases/day... um.
• The picture for deaths is still unclear. Does seem to be a decline, but really needs another week to see how that plays out.
• US deaths may be coming up. Again, really needs a week to be clear, and exactly what that represents is difficult to say.

Broadly though, the theme there is 'let the data clarify itself (themselves?) a bit'. Monday week might be the right time for some (cautious) announcement, I just don't see how Monday can be.

 

[Cid]

I'd be quite comfortable that an '8 hour hike' could be perfectly socially responsible in certain circumstances. If I lived somewhere I could do that from my home, without venturing to risky places (like climbing mountains etc), and without going anywhere crowded or where I couldn't keep a distance from others, I don't see a problem. I think it's almost certainly less harmful than going to the supermarket to buy something non essential like beer.
I decided some time ago to ignore the fictional '1 hour' rule and have been doing a couple of 3-4 hour walks or bike rides on quiet roads per week rather than spending an hour every day running round a busy park.

Yeah, essentially agree with that. It's very shit in that if you live in a city centre block of flats, just going in and out is probably more risky than someone who lives in a detached house near a footpath deciding to run a marathon, but it is the reality.

(I do live in a city centre block of flats incidentally, but once I'm out tend to take ~1 hour of moderate exercise on the bike)

Oh, and probably more at risk from the people I share workshop space with than I am from anything else.