Coronavirus.

[Mogster]

I have a motorbike and conditions are perfect, especially with less “cages” on the road.

I was thinking of having a ride on my own, I thought I would not be in contact with anyone which is the main concern.

But then I considered, what if I have an accident? The ambulance service, police and possibly fire service would have to come and scrape me off the road and this would divert vital resources and they’d all have to come in contact with me and each other.

So I think I’ll leave the bike at home for now. Regrettably.

Not just bikes but anyone going out should think carefully about their actions.

I’ve been driving more carefully. The last place I want end up is in hospital right now taking up resources because of a stupid accident. I’ve been telling elderly relatives to be more careful generally than usual also. I think it’d be worth the government and emergency services stating this also.

 

[Hadders]

I also bought a carton of Lactose intolerant milk from M & S on or in something it will taste the same. It has a use by date of early May as well.

Do you normally purchase Lactose intolerant milk?

If not this is a blatant example of panic buying. Lactose intolerant milk is not a fast selling product and is not produced in great volume. By purchasing it when you don't really need it you're depriving people who genuinely need it. Supermarkets and manufacturers are not set up to deal with a huge spike in sales of lactose intolerant milk as (quite reasonably) you would not expect it to happen.

There isn't a shortage of 'normal' milk (or anything else for that matter) if everyone purchases in sensible quantities.

I am sorry to be blunt about this. It is extremely anti-social. Please stop this behaviour.

 

[AM9]

Do you normally purchase Lactose intolerant milk?

If not this is a blatant example of panic buying. Lactose intolerant milk is not a fast selling product and is not produced in great volume. By purchasing it when you don't really need it you're depriving people who genuinely need it. Supermarkets and manufacturers are not set up to deal with a huge spike in sales of lactose intolerant milk as (quite reasonably) you would not expect it to happen.

There isn't a shortage of 'normal' milk (or anything else for that matter) if everyone purchases in sensible quantities.

I am sorry to be blunt about this. It is extremely anti-social. Please stop this behaviour.

Surely the milk isn't lactose intolerant! I've always seen it labeled 'lactose free milk'.

 

[Bletchleyite]

But then I considered, what if I have an accident? The ambulance service, police and possibly fire service would have to come and scrape me off the road and this would divert vital resources and they’d all have to come in contact with me and each other.

Yep.

Basically, at the moment, if you choose to do something you didn't need to do and end up requiring medical treatment as a result, you're an idiot who might have just killed someone who needs the bed you've taken, or by spreading it (if asymptomatic) to the doctor who treats you, resulting in them being unable to treat someone else.

It's time to be totally risk averse in what you do, even if 100% staying at home.

 

[AM9]

Yep.

Basically, at the moment, if you choose to do something you didn't need to do and end up requiring medical treatment as a result, you're an idiot who might have just killed someone who needs the bed you've taken, or by spreading it (if asymptomatic) to the doctor who treats you, resulting in them being unable to treat someone else.

It's time to be totally risk averse in what you do, even if 100% staying at home.

The home is statistically more hazardous than many outdoor locations, so that could be a presumption with negative consequences, not to mention the likely worsening of day to day health conditions for some.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The home is statistically more hazardous than many outdoor locations, so that could be a presumption with negative consequences

I include being at home in the need to be risk averse. You might for instance want to avoid using the chip pan if you have one.

But if you want to go out, go for a walk alone, that's near enough zero risk.

 

[AM9]

I include being at home in the need to be risk averse. You might for instance want to avoid using the chip pan if you have one.

But if you want to go out, go for a walk alone, that's near enough zero risk.

I wasn't thinking about chip pans, - haven't had one of those in the house for 40+ years. In homes, especially where all residents are indoors all the time is a minefield of health hazards, starting with trip hazards, additional cables of devices in use to kill the boredom, then there's many forms of exercise being promoted for those under house arrest, - expect to see countless youtube videos of those going wrong any time soon.
Providing you don't live on a roundabout, or in a house-boat, walking, even around residential streets has a negligible risk of inadvertent injury.

 

[AM9]

I’ve been driving more carefully. ...

As written, that implies that you old normally not drive as carefully as you can.

 

[Belperpete]

Hi there,

I'm looking for some advice but can't seem to find any. I am due to travel on Monday for a 3 day visit to London. This is an essential visit, as it includes me having to pick up valuable stuff from a family friend's home that will allow me to work from home, considering the uncertainty of the situation.
The family friend also lives alone so I need to ensure that they'll be okay for the next couple of months - I imagine it will only get worse so it will be almost impossible to physically check on their wellbeing at that point.

On Thursday, the government has said that there is zero prospect of shutting travel in and out of London because they need to keep travel open for essential workers. I'm just a bit worried about the chances of a complete lockdown before Thursday morning (the day I'm supposed to travel back home). I'm worried about being stranded but this journey is essential. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice to share, supportive comments would be appreciated.

Also another question would be which out of tube/bus/taxi would be safest to travel to reduce chances of catching the virus. Please bear in mind that the taxi would be my most expensive option and a last resort to get to and from the train stations. Once I arrive at Euston, I will be making no stops and just want to get to the home of the family friends quickly and vice versa on my return date.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
S

Can't you get your family friend to send the items you need out to you?

3 days sounds like a long time just to pick up some things and check that someone is okay - do you really need that long? Considering that London is by far and away the highest risk area of the UK for catching the virus, I would be spending the minimum time possible there.

You will be really popular if you bring the virus back from London with you, and give it to friends, family or neighbours back home. Even if you don't bring it back, you are likely to get the blame when anyone around you gets the merest sniffle. You may want to consider getting sufficient provisions in ready so that you can self-isolate for 14 days when you get back.

If you really have to go, I would advise travelling at quiet times. The trains have been quite empty this past week, but next week there will be reduced services, so may not be quite so empty. Look for the trains with the cheapest advance fares, even if they are not particularly convenient, as these are likely to be the ones with least tickets sold. Certainly avoid any travel on the underground or buses at rush hour times.

 

[AM9]

But they need to know that the UK does not have executive orders. There is simply no legal basis, until Monday at least, to do that.

Under existing legislation, the government has almost universal power that it deems necessary to insure that its directives are adhered to. Those laws have been in one form or another since the Emergency Powers Act 1920 (ISTR).

Curfews, bans on travel, assembly and "other specified activities", confiscation of property with or without compensation, and, most drastically, the deployment of the armed forces on the streets to quell disorder are among options open to ministers under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
Other than the task of creating a statutory instruments, these restrictions need no parliamentary sanctions.

 

[Mag_seven]

You may want to consider getting sufficient provisions in ready so that you can self-isolate for 14 days when you get back.

No - that is stockpiling and will deprive others - the supermarkets are requesting that we only buy what we would normally buy.

 

[Darandio]

No - that is stockpiling and will deprive others - the supermarkets are requesting that we only buy what we would normally buy.

Normally i'd have had absolutely no issue with people doing two weeks shopping in one week, even if everyone had done that over the course of the last couple of weeks the supermarkets would probably have coped if the load had been spread over those 14 or so days. It's buying 3 months worth of pasta and toilet roll, then 4-6 weeks of everything else that has broken the system.

 

[MP33]

There was a Minister on the Andrew Marr show this morning, he was asked the timing of a lock down. He said that there has been talk about one being imposed too late and there is also the problem of imposing one too early. Too early and the Public will see no changes and need and start to defy it, just before it is required.

 

[Cowley]

There was a Minister on the Andrew Marr show this morning, he was asked the timing of a lock down. He said that there has been talk about one being imposed too late and there is also the problem of imposing one too early. Too early and the Public will see no changes and need and start to defy it, just before it is required.

It’s coming though isn’t it? I’d say towards the end of this week.
I’m also not sure why our population would have problems with dealing with it compared to other nearby countries that are doing the same? I think we’d do it as well as anyone although obviously there’ll still be stories of the odd person being ridiculous.
If the cases start going through the roof in the next five days it’ll really focus minds.
Time will tell if they got the balance correct or not.

 

[MP33]

I think that any lock down will be dependent on whether the instructions about Mother's day are followed and also any effects of peoples behaviours this weekend.

 

[ainsworth74]

I think that any lock down will be dependent on whether the instructions about Mother's day are followed and also any effects of peoples behaviours this weekend.

In which case it'll probably appear in tomorrows 5pm briefing seeing as the instructions appears to have been widely flouted this weekend...

 

[Cowley]

In which case it'll probably appear in tomorrows 5pm briefing seeing as the instructions appears to have been widely flouted this weekend...

Yep. Lots of people driving past ours today including plenty of bikers heading up the A377 (one of the most dangerous roads for bikers in Devon).

 

[Antman]

It's ironic that this has coincided with nice weather, if it was wet and miserable most people wouldn't want to go out. We've resisted the temptation to go anywhere in the car, whilst we would be self isolated in the car an accident or breakdown and other people become involved and more strain on the emergency services. Essential local journeys only for the foreseeable future.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In which case it'll probably appear in tomorrows 5pm briefing seeing as the instructions appears to have been widely flouted this weekend...

Yep, I reckon we'll go like Italy now. Absolute idiots.

 

[Howardh]

My hotel I had booked for Brighton next week are allowing me to re-book later in the year (October suits me and them) so I now need to get my rail ticket back. As the post above says, it's a fine day and ironic that after four months of filth the weather perks up. I suppose I'm lucky in having a garden, and a pair of tits to entertain me who are trying to nest in the bush by my front window. So I might be a proud father later this spring....

 

[Domh245]

It's ironic that this has coincided with nice weather, if it was wet and miserable most people wouldn't want to go out.

Indeed! Very annoying as most of February I was stuck indoors every weekend with successive storms, and now this!

 

[Ianno87]

My hotel I had booked for Brighton next week are allowing me to re-book later in the year (October suits me and them) so I now need to get my rail ticket back. As the post above says, it's a fine day and ironic that after four months of filth the weather perks up. I suppose I'm lucky in having a garden, and a pair of tits to entertain me who are trying to nest in the bush by my front window. So I might be a proud father later this spring....

Just making sure I read right to the end of your penultimate sentence...

 

[Meerkat]

And there is my point. We expect large portions of society to shut down, we expect leisure / hospitality businesses to shut down indefinitely, we expect people to go without pay for weeks, maybe even months, but we can't risk upsetting the private health industry by forcing them into making their facilities available.

sounds like a political axe to grind to me. You make it sound like the private hospitals were refusing whereas the ‘negotiations’ are more likely to have been ‘how do we do this?’. They would have to sort out a command structure, how the supply chain works, and how to look after the staff etc etc.
It’s all open book non-profit, what more did you want?

 

[MP33]

As I predicted there have been visitors across the road for Mother's day. I am not surprised as the couple are a right pair of nosey know it alls. They are also in one of the vunerable age groups. There was also a visitor to another property who left a present on the door step rang the bell and left.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wouldn't oppose private hospitals as a whole anyway (in normal times). People voluntarily pay to reduce load on the NHS, what's not to like?

 

[Howardh]

I wouldn't oppose private hospitals as a whole anyway (in normal times). People voluntarily pay to reduce load on the NHS, what's not to like?

They have their uses but can't handle emergencies which is what the majority of us would use the NHS for. But as oyu say, once the NHS has done the vitals, it's a way of shipping them out to recover and free up beds. Also they can do routine stuff which saves NHS time and money (and they are still paying their taxes!), so yes, no issues with private care.

 

[Bantamzen]

sounds like a political axe to grind to me. You make it sound like the private hospitals were refusing whereas the ‘negotiations’ are more likely to have been ‘how do we do this?’. They would have to sort out a command structure, how the supply chain works, and how to look after the staff etc etc.
It’s all open book non-profit, what more did you want?

You're damned right its political axe grinding. At a time when we are told we are in a crisis, and people are losing their jobs because they have to stay at home to reduce the impact on the NHS, the private companies are setting out their terms to government?

 

[Ianno87]

You're damned right its political axe grinding. At a time when we are told we are in a crisis, and people are losing their jobs because they have to stay at home to reduce the impact on the NHS, the private companies are setting out their terms to government?

Well, they're not going to work for free are they? Private healthcare staff need to put food on the table too.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I can only conclude many people in this Country really are stupid. If the stupidity continues next week we will be heading into a full on lockdown situation.

Correct.

Really are really, immeasurably stupid. Wholly self-centred, the rules apply to others.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

There's quite a lot of concern where I live (Snowdonia) about people totally ignoring the 'essential journey' bit and heading into the area for a holiday/weekend break/day trip etc, reported that the local Tesco Express was full of them this morning. Some local Air b&b hosts have closed down, others haven't. Campsites reported to be very busy, the local FB village page has calls for 'direct action'

No-one has said you can't drive, only 'non-essential journeys by public transport' are strongly discouraged. An obvious unfairness to public transport users, but it is about social distancing rather than travel in itself. You can be on your own in a car (or with people in your house anyway), drive to the country, wander about and come home, quite safely. Yet when people all go to the same place (Brighton Beach or Snowdon Summit), the social distancing is not achieved. They could, of course, have gone to the lesser visited places and not come within 100m of someone else. But that requires thought and lack of sheep/herd mentality.