Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[little_legs]

I had an email from my employer (a London council) on Friday afternoon saying that they had had no prior info on what changes might be announced this evening, so they would be continuing with existing arrangements, those who can working from home, those of us still coming to work continuing with the special distancing etc measures we've been following for the past seven weeks. They're going to take time to assess changes in advice and make sure clear and proper procedures are in place

But I'm sure lots of employers who depend on income through sales etc will be eager to get employees back in ASAP and won't be so keen to wait while safe (or as safe as possible) working practices are worked out and put in place.

True.

 

[wayward bob]

I've amended my reaction emoji accordingly. Gist hard sometimes with text

tbf my reaction would have been the same no matter what they think

but the impact on them is clear as a bell. they're "disadvantaged" in some way that we haven't been able to compensate for. their schools have bridged some of those gaps in a way we can only be grateful for - more so at primary/sixth, less so at secondary, but kid1's out now and kid2 has alllll the friends

 

[Epona]

The more than once exercise or being allowed to sit in parks etc is from Wednesday btw, not from now.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

In theory, they could also encourage more people bringing bikes on tubes (would probably be easier to observe SD if you could, too!) so that more people could cycle in from more central points, or from routes further out that felt safer.

I dunno, the transport issue is just fucked really, isn't it?

Yes. Public transport is going to be one of the big potential vectors for a long time no matter what measures are taken, and regardless of what Mr Johnson says I will be avoiding it - which makes getting around London pretty hard.

Really need to learn to use that scooter.

 

[cyril_smear]

Can we travel for excercise?

sorry my attention and short term memory is dreadful.

 

[Supine]

my gaff is desperate to get people back in but legal are having none of it because liability

I think that will be common. I'm very interested to see what the guidelines are that he mentioned for employers.

 

[cyril_smear]

Any idea how this will affect people who are currently claiming Uni credit and have being given the nod to not to have to job searching? I'm gonna assume if libraries aren't open for internet access a lot of people will be in trouble.

 

[bimble]

Can we travel for excercise?

sorry my attention and short term memory is dreadful.

Think he said yes. Travel to sunbathe even far as I understood it.
Eta yep here’s the bit.

 

[MickiQ]

He has clearly read the opening chapter of "How To Act Like Your in Charge" by giving his speech from behind a desk in No 10 trying to act all Prime Ministerial.
Speech was long on hyperbole and short on facts though, will need to see what detail there is tomorrow.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

So now people can travel for exercise areas such as the Yorkshire Dales which until now have a low Covid19 presence will get an influx of visitors thus increasing the risk for people living there.

 

[bimble]

So now people can travel for exercise areas such as the Yorkshire Dales which until now have a low Covid19 presence will get an influx of visitors thus increasing the risk for people living there.

Yep. There may have been a calculation of what is going to happen to the already totally broken mental health system and this seemed worth it?

 

[cupid_stunt]

If we had had a urban competition to come up with the most confusing message possible, I doubt we could have won against the floppy hair twat.

 

[xes]

Hold on a tickedy boo, have I got to go to fucking work? (been in the garden burning things all day, missed all news)

 

[Mation]

BoJo The Clown might as well go round squirting virus water into people's faces from a comedy flower on his lapel.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

It's been pointed out in various places that none of this changes the law - the whole thing about one exercise per day, not travelling etc was never in the law at all. So really it's an update of guidelines to coppers.

 

[xes]

BoJo The Clown might as well go round squirting virus water into people's faces from a comedy flower on his lapel.

This being the definitive post for me, but I take from other posts on this page that the message was less than clear?

 

[little_legs]

 

[gosub]

Hold on a tickedy boo, have I got to go to fucking work? (been in the garden burning things all day, missed all news)

Go back to work, but be alert, otherwise it's your fault and pubs and restaurants will stay closed. So try not to die, if you die then nobody will be able to go to the pub and it's all your fault.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

This being the definitive post for me, but I take from other posts on this page that the message was less than clear?

Look, there's a virus out there. You know it's there. But get back to work cos furlough holidays are over. So take care, whatever you do. You'll probably work something out. Or not. We don't care.

 

[Edie]

If we had had a urban competition to come up with the most confusing message possible, I doubt we could have won against the floppy hair twat.

I thought it was very clear and quite sensible. Am always massively out of kilter on here. What was unclear about it?!

 

[Humberto]

I thought it was very clear and quite sensible. Am always massively out of kilter on here. What was unclear about it?!

Well if you can't work from home but can only travel to your workplace on public transport are you supposed to go or expected to?

 

[platinumsage]

It’s going to take a long time to get the alert level down to 3, as it’s currently in the hundreds of thousands according to the equation on the slide.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

 

[Edie]

Well if you can't work from home but can only travel to your workplace on public transport are you supposed to go or expected to?

Yes. It’s not rocket science. Just avoid public transport if possible.

 

[emanymton]

It's been pointed out in various places that none of this changes the law - the whole thing about one exercise per day, not travelling etc was never in the law at all. So really it's an update of guidelines to coppers.

Also the previous guidance was to work from home were possible. With the exception of some shops, pubs etc it was up to the individual employer if they shut down or not*. The factory opposite me has carried on going the whole time. Nothing has changed that I can see expect for a shift of emphasise in government communications.

*I suspect that for many of the places that did close it was mainly due to a lack of business for staying open to be worthwhile.

 

[Duncan2]

Spot on littlelegs

 

[Mation]

This being the definitive post for me, but I take from other posts on this page that the message was less than clear?

No end to lockdown until we meet the tests. We haven't met the tests. Lockdown is not ending. Go back to work this week if you can't work from home. Don't use public transport. Unless you do. Go and sit in the parks and it's a-ok to travel for exercise. As much as you want. Maintain social distance. Schools to start reopening before the summer holidays. Hospitality will be back soon. We're following the science. We're giving money to some chums to make up a red alert system so we don't have to talk about the science any more.

That sort of thing.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Yes. It’s not rocket science. Just avoid public transport if possible.

That's fine if enough people can that it's safe for those who can't. But that will need to happen by * magic *. It certainly doesn't sound like it's going to happen through any kind of planning.

Sort your own bloody lockdown. Christ.

 

[Humberto]

Yes. It’s not rocket science. Just avoid public transport if possible.

Fair enough. What did he actually say though. 'Avoid' public transport. But don't?

 

[Looby]

So now people can travel for exercise areas such as the Yorkshire Dales which until now have a low Covid19 presence will get an influx of visitors thus increasing the risk for people living there.

Yeah! I don’t want people thinking Dorset beaches are fair game now. We already had idiots driving from London to see the sea.