don't forget the key words are "keep the pandemic in check". Current lockdown doesn't stop COVID.This means they are allowing a certain number tof people o be potentially exposed to the virus, and those people are schoolkids and their parents.
Hopefully when Sunak makes his statement today he actually gives us a clear answer on the Furlough situation after 2nd December for the devolved countries today.
Starting to become a joke that there is still no clear answer.
Starting to become a joke that there is still no clear answer.
Schoolkids and their parents aren't at any additional risk because of this lockdown at least, right?
The kids are pretty unique in that they're encouraged to gather in groups of 30+ in small rooms day after day after day.
The press seems to be rumouring an extension, but no specific timescale just yet.
My girlfriend for a 6am train to work that was jam-packed. We're almost certainly going to be in this for longer than 4 weeks.
That's what happens when the guidance gives too much flexibility to asshole companies whose only concern is profit.
Never in my life have I been asked to do so much to help my country by doing so little.
I fully accept how incredibly difficult lockdown is for a lot of people out there for a variety of reasons, but for those of us who are privileged enough to be minimally affected by it, the very least we can do is honour the restrictions.
It's truly repugnant how selfish and callous certain swathes of the population are when they are asked to sacrifice a little for the greater good.
I fully accept how incredibly difficult lockdown is for a lot of people out there for a variety of reasons, but for those of us who are privileged enough to be minimally affected by it, the very least we can do is honour the restrictions.
It's truly repugnant how selfish and callous certain swathes of the population are when they are asked to sacrifice a little for the greater good.
I'm in the town centre for a medical appointment and it's quiet, but a far cry from the opening scene of 28 Days Later things were in April. Traffic basically no different to normal. Most food shops and some others (e.g. WH Smiths) open and with customers.
Honestly, based on Wales, don't expect much to change with people's behaviour. This very much didn't feel like a lockdown.
My company has sent everyone (aside from myself since I'm still WFH for the foreseeable future) a letter to print off to claim that they're "critical workers" (I work for a television post production company).
I understand certain jobs in the company require being in the office, but the majority of the company can work perfectly fine from home through TeamViewer.
I understand certain jobs in the company require being in the office, but the majority of the company can work perfectly fine from home through TeamViewer.
Just been informed of a positive case in our kids nursery/school class. Have been asked to collect and keep them home for 14 days... keeping schools open was such a great idea!
None of us are feeling any symptoms yet, fingers crossed we don't get hit hard.
None of us are feeling any symptoms yet, fingers crossed we don't get hit hard.
Last edited:
So many stores in Liverpool are offering click and collect which makes me think the streets are going to still be busy with people making "essential" shopping trips. It's more like Lockdown 2.0 diet
Excellent thread by George Monbiot, again. I believe schools should be open but it is criminal that the government have essentially done nothing to help them prepare and keep staff and students safe. All the while they are bunging their incompetent mates wads full of cash to fuck up our virus response.
Monbiot is a treasure - really appreciated his analysis through all of this.
That's what happened in Wales. Makes a mockery of the whole thing.
Have to disagree there, but I guess it's based on where you live and what's in your area. And I suppose what you were doing pre-lockdown so whether it had any impact on anything you used to do.
Have to say though, found this one much easier than the first. I guess it's due to having a fixed end date(and only being 17 days), knowing when everything will re-open, rather than it being extended every 3 weeks.
The main Argos stores have been on a downward trend for a while - it is part of the reason why the more recent strategy has been to open smaller outlets within Sainsbury's stores. Part of the announcement about closures also mentioned some more in store outlets - so it seems to me that they are just accelerating their already in place plan.
In terms of the jobs mentioned from Sainsbury's the supermarket, it sounds like those are related to deli / fish counters etc - parts of the store that in my experience are usually under used by shoppers in most supermarkets anyway. Obviously not good for the people whose jobs will be affected - but there's a little more going on here than just "supermarkets and argos shouldn't be cutting jobs".
Basically this too.
I'm not talking about my actions, I'm talking about people I've seen around in Cardiff and Newport. The high street, traffic levels etc.
Short of the pubs / restaurants closing, it felt like very little changed from the week before, not least in terms of people's behaviour. That said, obviously both Cardiff and Newport were in a form of local lockdown the weeks before this countrywide one.
The only thing that's really changing for us from the past few months is no football training for our son two evenings a week and not taking our kids to see their grandparents, but that's only once a fortnight-ish. Everything else is the same.... the kids are at school, we're working from home (as we have been since March), and we get our shopping delivered (always have done). We did go out for a few family meals at our local, but it's not like that's a core part of our life. So it's kind of weird thinking we're in "lockdown" again, it feels nothing like it. In fact I would have forgotten if it wasn't for this thread.
I don't think we'll ever see that level of desertion again - unless literal enforcement (read: army) is brought in. Back in March / April, this was all new, and people were rightly terrified. I remember making my first trip to the supermarket, once our frozen food run out, and stripping naked at the doorway when I got home, washing my clothes at stupid temperatures, and showering myself raw because I just didn't know.
The issue is that now people do know, and of course a lot of them have decided they know better. Obviously we don't understand COVID completely, but people now seem to feel confident that they can take matters into their own hands. And the blame for that can be laid directly at the government's doorstep as a result of inactivity, miscommunication, Cummings' eye test, and all that nonsense.
I'm adhering to the same strategy I have been seen March: just don't go out unless I absolutely have to - and then to mask up when I do. I'm lucky enough to run my business from home, my kids go to a small private school, and I can get everything I need delivered. The concessions I need to make to keep other people safe are so minor that I'd be incredibly callous not to make them.
I mean, being real
Surely nobody expects it to last until Dec 2, then the christmas rush happens and we're back to square 1 again? England will 100% be in lockdown until after christmas, IMO. Scotland will follow shortly aswell once sunak refuses to acknowledge furlough at a later date.
However, the lack of compliance isn't surprising at all. People just don't care any more largely aided and abetted by the idiots in charge who think they are above the rules.
I'm not convinced tbh, any drop in cases / deaths by then (which there should be even if we have to extend this current lockdown by 2 weeks or whatever, and even if this is lockdown-lite) will give them their excuse to go back to the 3 Tier system, which is what they've said will happen. Then they can "save Christmas".
Can't see that happening, this government will want people to spend as much money as possible over the festive season and suffer the consequences IMO
Wait, why in the hell is WHSmiths open? What's essential about that? Newspapers?
A lot of them house post offices - so pretty essential.
That's a good point, none of them near to me do so I didn't think of that. Still, I would say the shop part needs to stay shut.
Yeah, I don't see it being extended.
Wales's figures over the next few days are going to be fascinating, as we're really overdue a significant drop here (assuming we believe the lockdown is working).
"See if it works" SEE IF IT WORKS?
We are way beyond the point where we could afford such an irresponsible mantra.
So what you're saying is they shouldn't listen to the scientists and doctors who have spent all their careers researching pandemics?I I'm sure the guidance wasn't provided lightly.
Yes, I could have chosen better wording, but that doesn't matter really.
Have you forgotten that the UK has had enough of "experts"?
(some) scientists are saying the risk isn't big. And I am saying that that the governments should close down even minimal risk vectors.
*Some* here including multiple huge science agencies containing the people responsible for providing health guidance to all of the EU and North America. This isn't some fringe unqualified astrophysicist being asked for their opinion at random.
The big trouble, I assume admittedly almost baselessly, is the proverbial horse of getting the virus down to levels like Australia or New Zealand in most European nations bolted a long time ago, and getting to those levels is probably concluded to not be realistically feasible.
What happens when cases are the same if not higher though?
"Well... we went into lockdown when the cases were lower and deaths were lower, but you know what guys, we're leaving lockdown at these higher rates... Guys? guys? Anyone with us here?"
I certainly think christmas day will have relaxed rules, because literally nobody will follow them anyway, but wether shops and stuff all re open before then? I'm not as confident. I have noticed (in scotland at least) a lot of places offering "Black week" etc, most likely fully expecting us to go into lockdown and not wanting to miss black friday sales.
Every other lockdown/restrictions have lasted longer than they claimed and the fact the've refused to rule out this, speaks volumes imo. I think it's extremely unlikely england opens up before xmas.
And I am still saying that the governments should close even minimal risk vectors. The scientists are NOT saying that it will make coronavirus worse if we close schools
It felt like a normal morning here in rural Devon. I had to take my wife to work, as although she will be furloughed later, some staff have to attend to sort things before they close, and the traffic levels were normal on the seven mile drive. We stopped at our local village for some groceries, and it was as busy as usual, but, the only shops there are essential, so it's reasonable that people are there to buy food. This is a far cry from lockdown 1 where the roads were deserted and seeing someone out in the village was a rare sight.
Given the way things are going in Europe and North America...
EDIT: To be clear, from what I understand the scientists have been calling for stricter measures before things got as bad as they are now, so it doesn't seem like the government is listening to them regardless.
But what's new.
From a pure public health perspective, we should absolutely shut down even the tiniest risk vectors. But those vectors also serve other, vital, social and even health purposes, and turning them off has consequences that - in the extreme - could be worse than leaving them open, at least in the longer term.
Of course schools are a source of transmission. But are they enough of a source of transmission to offset all the positive effects of keeping them open?
This is pretty much where I'm at with the school situation, though for me it gets a bit sketchier up into college and uni. Having said that, we're too late to do anything about it now, they should never have reopened.
