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

Probably, yes!

As if going on holiday during a global pandemic is a zero risk activity. Madness.

People Per Hour

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£100?!

Is this the current advice re. meeting up outdoors?
https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/social-distancing-guidance/london-parks-and-green-spaces-covid-19-guidance
You can meet in groups of up to 6 from diff households, but it is against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people... so 7 to 29 people 2m apart is against advice but not against the law?

It is not, but people think in risk often in vague terms.

Because nothing is zero risk, so some people will just think "Meh, I am going". Without very clear risk charts this is bound to happen.

I personally see being in a plane with recirculated air as the worst scenario, cos if somebody is a superspreader I doubt masks will stop it. But maybe I am wrong, and it is actually the airport that is The Worst risk, who knows?

against advice but not against the law...

I kept seeing this in everything, law somehow just advice, like supermarket simply choosing it’s up to them to decided whether people should go in without mask.

It is not, but people think in risk often in vague terms.

Everything have been vague since the March “keep doing what you’re doing” debacle from Boris Johnson.

In fairness to the holiday people the government only announced the air bridges 3 weeks ago. If you'd been going to Spain for 15 days on the 12th, this is the timeline:

• early June - you assume the holiday's cancelled, but you've not yet had a refund
  
• 26 June they announce they're going to implement air bridges (no list of countries though). At this point the holiday is 2 weeks away and you don't know if you're going or not.
  
• 3rd July they tell us which countries they've got air bridges with and that it starts from the 10th (I think). Holiday's back on and your choices are go or lose your money. You have just over a week to get everything ready. (Side note, I think if you live in Scotland and your partner lives in England, one of you is allowed to go and the other is not.)
  
• 25th July, with basically no warning from the government, quarantine is reinstated and you're not even home yet
  
  

I really don't blame people for being upset and I think it's pretty unfair to paint these people as idiots. Imagine you're a taxi driver (or similar) who can only afford one holiday a year and you booked your trip in December - you either don't go and lose the money and your only annual holiday, or you go and surprise! you are prevented from working/earning/caring for your parents/etc. for two full weeks when you return.

Dickheads shouldn't have implemented the policy if it was only going to last two fucking weeks.

I also love the Stay Alert: For what?

It's not that a virus announces itself loudly by means of banging pots and pans.

Stay alert for fat chumps who dont know how to wear a mask and walk further than a pub .

so 7 to 29 people 2m apart is against advice but not against the law?

That's my understanding, yes.

The 30 people gathering is in The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020. There isn't anything about 6 households etc.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/684/regulation/5/made

Two words - Grant Shapps.

Whom apparently aware of the possibility that there’s going to be a restriction.

if I've learnt anything from this the vast majority do actually listen to the government, which further highlights how disappointing and unclear the messaging has been.

Government says you can go on holiday, 600,000 pack their bags

Government says wear a mask in shops and i've seen at least 90% abiding to that, at least in supermarkets.

Are Royal Mail and other couriers still doing contactless deliveries? 2nd time now in the last few days, the drivers were so desperate to actually hand me my packages... but I really just want to talk to them through my windows... lovely as they are. Even our local my Hermes guy is alright except he keeps getting lost to my address when he’s been no less than a dozen of times...

Going to drive a mate to a local testing center, she doesn't drive, and her neighbors cannot help as they need to be super careful.

B&Q plastic faceshield: tick
Bucket with soap and change of clothes at door: tick
Masks: tick
Gloves: tick
Sanitizer: tick
Opening ALL the car windows until we arrive: tick

How did it go?

So we have to wait for results.

Basically, in Belfast you drive down, show the QR appointment code, they give you a lane.

You go there, they hand you a test with instructions and then you ring a number of somebody there.

Then you swab which is the worst my mate didn't like that bit. All in all easy enough, just be aware that you can't use the postal tests if you are sick a few days. That's what they told her.

So if you think you need a test ring soon if you don't drive otherwise post test may not longer be suitable.

We got funny looks at the traffic light I wonder why... :)

(I was parked waiting for her)

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Test negative so that was fast!

She'll go to doc as she's coughing / wheezing

^ glad negative.

Surprised no wider chat about numbers possibly starting to rise. Oldham on verge of local lockdown.

September for national lockdown again or reckon they'll hold out until nearer proper winter?

The nasal swab is the pits. Have one booked in for Friday in the hope we can travel somewhere. Not looking forward to it.

I didn't mind the nasal swap too much, made me sneeze like a bastard though. In comparison to the throat swab. Any kind of gag reflex, try to hold onto your lunch.

I wouldn't describe any of it as painful though.

Yeah, definitely not painful. Just a sensation that I'm not particularly accustomed to!

Sorry, that wasn't a dig at you. just an attempt at reassuring anyone else who hasn't had one.

I didn't think you wew having a dig. Was also worried that I might put people off!

I have a particular discomfort with things being inserterted into my nose because I had some reconstructive surgery after a nasty nose and skull fracture when I was a kid. Had my sinuses stuffed with wadding at some point after the op to put a plate in. Not a great experience. I've had a problem with things going near or into my nose ever since.