Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

You don't actually need to do that. I went to a walk in testing centre in Waltham Forest before Christmas and people were turning up without appointments and being quite open about the fact they wanted to get tested before Christmas so they could spend time with vulnerable family members. The Council's leader Clare Coghill was even publicly telling people to get tested before leaving London for Christmas (this all before the Gov's last minute festive U-turn) so there were also people in the queue who'd "been told to get tested by the council".

I also (separately) was told to get tested by my GP when I didn't have symptoms.

Also good luck to those testing school kids if today’s experience was anything to go by.

I wasn’t having a go btw, just thought it could be a contributing factor. The more people that get tested the better. I was fortunate enough to have ONS the week before and had been isolating before I saw my parents on Xmas day. I also had 2 of the rapid flow at work but we all know they are pretty useless.

Yeah no worries didn't think that, I was just surprised at the time that (at least in Waltham Forest) this was the message because it wasn't in line with the Gov's 'don't get tested unless you've got symptoms' which is all over the NHS website and gov.uk.

I agree with you that the more who get tested the better and it seems Waltham Forest do too even if that's not the central government line!

If there is capacity.

Looks like there are concerns in Germany about not buying enough vaccines.

https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-planning-disaster-germany-and-europe-could-fall-short-on-vaccine-supplies-a-3db4702d-ae23-4e85-85b7-20145a898abd

It’s messed frisbee right up...

You are correct: this was the slide I misinterpreted.

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The statistic is that 1 in 70 people in the general population of England (or the UK, not sure) have got Covid-19 at the moment.

Is that true? It seems (to a non-statistician, non-understander of epidemiology) high given an R value where it is; as in everyone in the country would have it in short order

What everyone else said really. I'm not defending driving for short trips in London (which isn't what our Civic gets used for) and generally speaking I think people who do that are nuts.

However, public transport involves sitting inside with a load of strangers you don't know if you can trust and who might not be wearing masks - basically everything epidemiologists tell you not to do.

We tried taking a bus once ages ago, half the people on it weren't wearing masks and/or weren't distancing properly. If you're comfortable with that level of risk fair enough, it seems like a bad idea to me, but more importantly my Dad is extremely clinically vulnerable and my Mum is clinically vulnerable. I want to be able to see my family when I can without putting them at risk, which is why we bought our car in the first place.

I don't know of anything on Covid specfically, but public transport users are more likely to spread and catch flu-like illnesses:
https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0427-5

@amey
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/aina-townsend-gets-car-after-biking-to-return-wallet/

if I ever get a car it will be through a scheme like that, do they let you choose? I'd like a 3rd hand honda jazz.

cc: @amey

Oops meant to post that in the meme thread, sorry.

A third hand Honda Jazz is a very sustainable motor vehicle. Until someone nicks your cat.

Soon after moving to London we got rid of the car and cycled/used public transport instead (Using trains to visit relatives), however due to covid, just before Xmas we bought a car so we could visit my parents safely. It's currently sitting outside our flat pretty much unused!

Them's the breaks :(

Why do primary schools in Lambeth be open on Monday but neighbouring Southwark be not. Likewise say, Tower Hamlets vs Hackney?

rolling rate, right?

^^ kids made of god sperm, not shit sperm.

Both my kids made in London boroughs that aren't shut down.
Checks out.

your'e spremz r kingly, i've read the toilet walls.

You know you can both complain loudly to Lambeth ?
@mashton

I know. I went for a poo in crystal palace park and saw it written.

Haringey Council saying that kids shouldn't be going to school regardless of what the government says
https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/returning-primary-school-statement-leader-and-deputy-leader
Does seem pretty baffling how they've decided.

You know you can both complain loudly to Lambeth

Why? I like having a test centre there and don't play frisbee.