Coronavirus

[nomadking]

"nothing much has changed"?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the changes for England at a Downing Street briefing after scientists said a new coronavirus variant was spreading more rapidly.

That is what has changed. As that variant is spreading more rapidly, the threshold for an "acceptable" level of infection drops lower. Eg If something spreads twice as easily, then a doubling up of cases quickly escalates.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by nomadking

"nothing much has changed"?

That is what has changed. As that variant is spreading more rapidly, the threshold for an "acceptable" level of infection drops lower. Eg If something spreads twice as easily, then a doubling up of cases quickly escalates.

That was known several days ago but he didn't act. Just carry on as planned was the message. Every day counts with this virus.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

Even harder for me for travelling to Wales.

From what i understand is the whole of Wales will be in tier 4 from midnight, which means no one from the UK can travel into tier 4 from tiers 1,2 or 3 and only then they can only doing it on Christmas Day from those tiers, so no overnight stays.

Here's the guidelines.

https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-guide

There is no Christmas day relaxation in Wales.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Mr K

That was known several days ago but he didn't act. Just carry on as planned was the message. Every day counts with this virus.

What exactly was known several days ago? The new variant is one thing, but the analysis that it's spreads more rapidly is another. That wouldn't have been known without detailed examination of the figures.

Mr Johnson said analysis from New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) suggests the new variant could increase the R number - or reproductive rate of the virus - by 0.4 or more.

The NEW evidence suggests that where somewhere had R number of X, the new variant increases that R number by 0.4, eg R number of 0.8 becomes 1.2. Decisions would have been previously made on the understanding of the lower R number.

Originally Posted by jfman

The situation in Scotland seems slightly more ridiculous with “schools at all costs” forcing some LAs (not all, and to a varying degree) to keep schools in up to 23rd before three households mixing is permitted on 25th.

Yet now there will be an additional week off with online learning for a further week. Other than for key workers pupils will not return to 18th January.

Being proactive before Christmas would have driven the numbers down prior to the risks of the 25th. With most schools not returning until at least 10 days later in any case.

Our head has been fighting with the LA to close the school for well over a week as more and more kids were sent home. She finally got her way on Thursday, but the school had to lose most of S4, 5 and 6 (and some of S1) before the cooncil relented. Our offspring were at home with their new chromebooks on Friday and for the rest of term. But it had to get really, really bad before this was allowed.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Chris

Our head has been fighting with the LA to close the school for well over a week as more and more kids were sent home. She finally got her way on Thursday, but the school had to lose most of S4, 5 and 6 (and some of S1) before the cooncil relented. Our offspring were at home with their new chromebooks on Friday and for the rest of term. But it had to get really, really bad before this was allowed.

I've friends who are teachers and they describe a grim, deteriorating situation. As someone with fond memories of doing no work and watching movies recorded off television on VHS in my last week before Christmas and summer holidays I do have to question if it is worth it vs a week after that would be ramping up work in the new term.

[Hom3r]

They need to do this


Masks MUST be worn inside, no mask no entry no excuses no exceptions, if your health is that bad shop online or get someone to do it for you.


Masks MUST cover the mouth and Nose, no clear visors on there own.



Security can stop you entering the store, and eject you immediately if you are caught taking the mask off. After all the Health and Safety at work act says the employer has a duty to protect his staff.



The minority cannot be allowed to dictate public health.


I have been called a bully and I should stay at home buy these Covidiots.

[nomadking]

One of the problems is with these £10,000 fines for holding a large gathering. So many individuals know they're never going to be asked to pay that, so effectively there is no punishment.
Link

Police Scotland's latest data on Covid breaches reveals that officers are repeatedly visiting the same properties to break up parties.
The call logs, which have been obtained by BBC Scotland, also show that a number of people have been handed multiple fines.
On 28 August the police were given the power to break up house parties contravening social gathering rules.
Since that date, officers have been called out nearly 5,000 times.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Masks MUST be worn inside, no mask no entry no excuses no exceptions, if your health is that bad shop online or get someone to do it for you.

That is already the policy and has been since the start%?

Masks MUST cover the mouth and Nose, no clear visors on there own.

What evidence do you have that visors are ineffective? Masks aren’t for everyone

Security can stop you entering the store, and eject you immediately if you are caught taking the mask off. After all the Health and Safety at work act says the employer has a duty to protect his staff.

not all premises have security. Premises already have the power to allow, or not allow, in whoever they wish

The minority cannot be allowed to dictate public health.

They already do, there’s been 173,000 “infections” recorded in the last week, which it’s about people 0.25% of the population, if that isn’t the minority dictating I don’t know what is.

[1andrew1]

In Greenwich, London - and I assume this applies to the rest of England - it's been central Government that's forced the schools to remain open.

(15/12/2020) The leader of Greenwich Council has said he has "no choice" but to ask schools to remain open after threats of legal action from the government.

The authority wrote to head teachers asking for classes to move online from Tuesday amid rising Covid-19 cases.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson ordered the council to keep all schools open until the end of term.

Council leader Danny Thorpe said he could not justify using public funds to fight the decision in the courts.

In a statement, the Labour councillor said he did not agree that it was right to keep schools open but he had "no choice but to ask our schools to keep their doors open to all students, rather than just continuing with online learning".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55317971

[nomadking]

Link

Plastic face shields are almost totally ineffective at trapping respiratory aerosols, according to modelling in Japan, casting doubt on their effectiveness in preventing the spread of coronavirus.
A simulation using Fugaku, the world’s fastest supercomputer, found that almost 100% of airborne droplets of less than 5 micrometres in size escaped through plastic visors of the kind often used by people working in service industries.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by nomadking

One of the problems is with these £10,000 fines for holding a large gathering. So many individuals know they're never going to be asked to pay that, so effectively there is no punishment.
Link

Priti Patel, not someone known for her love of numbers, shall we say, has had her "embarassing" £10k fine policy cancelled.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...super-23026294

[Pierre]

Wales to go into severe lockdown, because all the previous lockdowns have been so successful?

What is the definition of stupidity/ insanity again?

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

When lockdown doesn’t work, the obvious solution is more lockdown.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Priti Patel, not someone known for her love of numbers, shall we say, has had her "embarassing" £10k fine policy cancelled.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...super-23026294

They were resumed. Keep up.
Link

A student has been slapped with a £10,000 fine after ignoring repeated warnings by hosting parties in breach of coronavirus rules.
The man, 21, studying at Bournemouth University, held the events at his private student accommodation.
The first took place on 11 October, the second on 28 November - which was during the second lockdown - and the latest was on 8 December.
About 70 people received individual £200 fines related to the gatherings.

Link

The organiser of a party attended by more than 100 people has been fined £10,000 for breaching Covid-19 rules.
Northamptonshire Police said officers were called to the house party in Northampton last weekend.

A few day later after the suspension of issuing fines.
Link

Police forces can resume handing out £10,000 fines for breaches of coronavirus regulations, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has said following discussions with the government.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Link

That’s a misleading headline, they don’t go “through” the shield, they’re not Covid Copperfield viruses.