the most over the top restrictions introduced

[Baxenden Bank]

To stop students going home would mean confining students to halls and saying they can't leave at all for any reason with enforcement on the door at all times, which I see they are trying in Glasgow for one weekend, though doing it at every Uni hall in the country (27% of the 2.38 million students are in Uni halls, which is 640,000) would be a staffing nightmare. If they were to do this, it would require stopping students going to do shopping as well, which would mean keeping two weeks of food in this small fridge (maybe two between six students). Do you think that is reasonable? Students will go home, and the only thing they can do then is to stop them being allowed back in January (though the threat might stop some people).

Well:
Minimum Tesco home delivery is £40 (or pay the £4 charge), spread between 8 students = £5 each. How much are they budgeting for food each day? They could get themselves organised and have a delivery of fresh produce seven days per week - you can always add beer to make the minimum £40 spend! Delivery Saver allows you to book a daily delivery, up to four weeks ahead, for £48 over six months - so £6 each. Other supermarkets have similar schemes.

Being really clever they could have deliveries on alternate days to alternate addresses - reducing the Delivery Saver rate to £3 each.

Do I think it reasonable? I think many of the restrictions being imposed at this point in the pandemic are way over the top. However there are some pretty easy solutions out there, if people actually want to find a workaround rather than having a strop and getting media attention. I'm sure that many students actually have found a workaround and are getting on with it. Quietly and effectively - but the media wouldn't be interested in that!

 

[py_megapixel]

Whether they care about it or not is irrelevant, it's the real world risk that counts and proving fairly low. I do like flying but I know the risks are low so do it.

But giving students the choice to remain at home affects nobody else, assuming that face to face teaching will still continue for those who prefer it.

Plus if it's likely that they would have to be quarantined in student accommodation for 2 weeks, can you really blame them for not wanting to go?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Serious question. If the virus is spreading so quickly amongst the student population just now, won't they have developed so-called "herd immunity" by Christmas?

 

[Huntergreed]

Serious question. If the virus is spreading so quickly amongst the student population just now, won't they have developed so-called "herd immunity" by Christmas?

Quite possibly, which actually means university outbreaks may be much less common soon, which is a good thing.

Now if we could only expand that to wider society.

 

[Darandio]

Now if we could only expand that to wider society.

For anyone healthy and that hasn't had it yet then this would be a great money spinner for universities, sell holidays there. For a reasonable charge they give you a bed for a week in the most infected hall so you catch it and get immunity. You can even teach the students to cook while you're there and you get away from your own four walls for a while, everyone's a winner.

 

[DelayRepay]

Well:
Minimum Tesco home delivery is £40 (or pay the £4 charge), spread between 8 students = £5 each. How much are they budgeting for food each day? They could get themselves organised and have a delivery of fresh produce seven days per week - you can always add beer to make the minimum £40 spend! Delivery Saver allows you to book a daily delivery, up to four weeks ahead, for £48 over six months - so £6 each. Other supermarkets have similar schemes.

Then everyone else will kick off because Granny can't get a delivery due to the selfish students booking up all the slots. So Granny will have to go to the supermarket and risk catching Covid 19.

Wouldn't it be easier for Granny to stay at home, if she's the one at risk? We could set up a scheme to make sure Granny gets priority for deliveries of food. Granny could make her own choices about the level of risk she wanted to take, but if she decided to stay at home she would be fully supported. There might even be people willing to volunteer to help Granny out. All we need is a catch name for it... how about something like 'Shielding'?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Serious question. If the virus is spreading so quickly amongst the student population just now, won't they have developed so-called "herd immunity" by Christmas?

I did wonder if sending students back was an attempt to do exactly that, but was then frustrated by far-more-cautious universities and local authorities?

 

[Huntergreed]

I did wonder if sending students back was an attempt to do exactly that, but was then frustrated by far-more-cautious universities and local authorities?

It was always a dreadful idea to hand the COVID Baton onto local authorities. The government are incompetent, but they’re on another level.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was always a dreadful idea to hand the COVID Baton onto local authorities. The government are incompetent, but they’re on another level.

Quite. Organisations that aren't exceptional at ensuring the bins are emptied correctly aren't a good bet to handle this.

 

[Richard Scott]

But giving students the choice to remain at home affects nobody else, assuming that face to face teaching will still continue for those who prefer it.

Plus if it's likely that they would have to be quarantined in student accommodation for 2 weeks, can you really blame them for not wanting to go?

Perhaps my post was a little lacking in detail wasn't talking about students but people in general (was responding to the post saying many people are concerned about the virus).

 

[WelshBluebird]

Have we seriously decended to arguing about if students should be expected to cook or not? For crying out loud. Unless there are not the facilities to do so (which is rare, but not unheard of) then there is zero reason why a flat of students couldn't cook themselves a Christmas dinner together. We did when I was at uni and that was for a flat of 13 people with each person doing a small bit for it!

Now by all means discuss if we should be in this situation or not. But this idea that students couldn't feed themselves over Christmas is by and large a joke.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have we seriously decended to arguing about if students should be expected to cook or not? For crying out loud. Unless there are not the facilities to do so (which is rare, but not unheard of) then there is zero reason why a flat of students couldn't cook themselves a Christmas dinner together. We did when I was at uni and that was for a flat of 13 people with each person doing a small bit for it!

Now by all means discuss if we should be in this situation or not. But this idea that students couldn't feed themselves over Christmas is by and large a joke.

Exactly.

There are issues here which need resolving, but this really isn't one of them, and the people who push it as one are just discrediting their arguments by adding in utter trivialities.

 

[DelayRepay]

Exactly.

There are issues here which need resolving, but this really isn't one of them, and the people who push it as one are just discrediting their arguments by adding in utter trivialities.

The issue that was raised, by a student, was that if they are instructed to stay in their halls over Christmas, then the usual services including catering would need to be provided, or suitable alternatives offered. I really hope students don't have to stay in their halls over Christmas, but if they do, it doesn't seem unreasonable for catering to be provided if that's the normal arrangement. I appreciate the staff will want time off, but equally I expect there will be plenty of people with catering skills who are happy to take on short term work.

You are right though, there are more serious issues including an answer to why we find ourselves in this situation in the first place. It was obvious that this would happen but students were still encouraged to move into the halls. Indeed, Glasgow university's website still says:

If you believe you will be unable to travel to your campus in Glasgow or Dumfries in time for the start of the academic year, as a result of visa/travel restrictions or medical concerns, you can register, enrol and commence study remotely, but you should transition to Glasgow or Dumfries as soon as you can.

It seems utter madness that they've told everyone to isolate, but are still encouraging more people to move in.

 

[kristiang85]

I was always able to cook at uni, but I wasn't touching the halls kitchens - they were vile. £2 for a banger and chips down in the chippy did me for a year.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have always been able to cook at uni, but I wasn't touching the halls kitchens - they were vile. £2 for a banger and chips down in the chippy did me for a year.

Can't have done your health much good to eat like that every day!

 

[trebor79]

I was always able to cook at uni, but I wasn't touching the halls kitchens - they were vile. £2 for a banger and chips down in the chippy did me for a year.

Can't have done your health much good to eat like that every day!

Reminds me of my uni days. Once a week I'd get fish, chips and mushy peas from a local chippy. It was run by a couple in their 60a who were always arguing with each other, proper shouting, swearing, throwing stuff at each other.
Anyway, one week, the old chap was stirring the mushy peas to fill the cup "You're in luck, it's a new batch this week". They were a completely different shade of green to what I'd had before from there.
Never had mushy peas again from there!

 

[Yew]

So if TwMatt Hancock tried to introduce the don't you dare enjoy yourself rule in England that Mrs Krankie is trying to introduce in Scotland, the universities would be reluctant to discipline students to the point of expulsion, as to do so would mean waving goodbye to all their tuition fee income.

Remember, the virus spreads by fun, but not when your miserable.


I had a interesting interaction in a indoor ski resort today, apparently it is required to wear a buff round your neck face covering on the ski lifts, which is a travellator, where everyone stands more than 2m apart because a) they're wearing skis and b) so they don't pile up when they reach the end. I can understand in places where it's difficult to distance, but when you're doing sport, and don't get close to anyone, it seems over the top.

 

[kristiang85]

Can't have done your health much good to eat like that every day!

Probably not every day, but still healthier than eating from a kitchen that resembled Chernobyl reactor 4.

 

[py_megapixel]

Tried to check something on the Lothian Buses website a few minutes ago. Wouldn't let me look at the site until I'd "read the advice and guidance for travelling safely on the network". Covers the screen with an opaque grey box with the only way out apparently being to click on the link to their Covid guidance.

Ridiculous. Who on earth thought that up?

 

[Richard Scott]

Probably not every day, but still healthier than eating from a kitchen that resembled Chernobyl reactor 4.

At least no bacteria or viruses would have survived!!!!!

 

[bramling]

How would some of the posters in here cope with an actual war?

But we are not at war!

 

[birchesgreen]

Can't have done your health much good to eat like that every day!

If you can't do it in your teens or early 20s no chance later on. If i ate now like i did in my first semester at uni i'd probably conk out by november

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2020 ==

But we are not at war!

World War Covid

 

[Skimpot flyer]

If you can't do it in your teens or early 20s no chance later on. If i ate now like i did in my first semester at uni i'd probably conk out by november

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2020 ==



World War Covid

Music: Paul Hardcastle

 

[Bikeman78]

All this Government 'Kill your Granny' malarky, talk about blackmailing people to stay away! Has anyone asked Granny if they wished to 'risk' seeing family, and very slightly having the possibilty they may catch the bug, or sit alone at home or in care home and die of solitude and mental degredation !

Since August I've been taking the kids to see my parents. They've been happy to take the risk. Now the dimwits in charge have taken the decision out of their hands. As of today, no one is allowed to leave Cardiff or visit other people at home.

Interestingly, there have been a few posts about the Welsh local restrictions on Facebook. The majority of comments are against the restirctions. The tide is turning! Also, how do they plan to Police the M4? They could randomly pick off people but the vast majority will get through.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2020 ==

Whether they care about it or not is irrelevant, it's the real world risk that counts and proving fairly low. I don't like flying but I know the risks are low so do it.

Funnily enough I watched the Tenerife episode of Air Crash Investigation this morning. It wouldn't stop me flying on a 747 but Covid has effectively closed off that Avenue of pleasure.

 

[LAX54]

Since August I've been taking the kids to see my parents. They've been happy to take the risk. Now the dimwits in charge have taken the decision out of their hands. As of today, no one is allowed to leave Cardiff or visit other people at home.

Interestingly, there have been a few posts about the Welsh local restrictions on Facebook. The majority of comments are against the restirctions. The tide is turning! Also, how do they plan to Police the M4? They could randomly pick off people but the vast majority will get through.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2020 ==


Funnily enough I watched the Tenerife episode of Air Crash Investigation this morning. It wouldn't stop me flying on a 747 but Covid has effectively closed off that Avenue of pleasure.

Surely if we carry on the way we are, there will be no world to carry on in after it's all calmed down !

 

[bramling]

Quite possibly, which actually means university outbreaks may be much less common soon, which is a good thing.

Now if we could only expand that to wider society.

It will be interesting to see if we hear of students actually getting properly unwell.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2020 ==

Since August I've been taking the kids to see my parents. They've been happy to take the risk. Now the dimwits in charge have taken the decision out of their hands. As of today, no one is allowed to leave Cardiff or visit other people at home.

Interestingly, there have been a few posts about the Welsh local restrictions on Facebook. The majority of comments are against the restirctions. The tide is turning! Also, how do they plan to Police the M4? They could randomly pick off people but the vast majority will get through.

I think through journeys are allowed, though only if an alternative route isn’t reasonably available.

One way other I intend to drive from Fishguard to London tomorrow evening via the M4, and have no intention of detouring via mid Wales.

 

[Bikeman78]

It will be interesting to see if we hear of students actually getting properly unwell.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2020 ==



I think through journeys are allowed, though only if an alternative route isn’t reasonably available.

One way other I intend to drive from Fishguard to London tomorrow evening via the M4, and have no intention of detouring via mid Wales.

Yes that's right but how will they stop people from Cardiff or Newport joining the motorway? There are many routes.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Yes that's right but how will they stop people from Cardiff or Newport joining the motorway? There are many routes.

You really think the dimwits making these rules are giving much, if any, thought to how they can or cannot be enforced in the real world?

 

[Scrotnig]

My local council has started taping off benches in parks and streets with red and white tape again.

We cannot even sit down on a bench now!

If I found myself needing to sit down I would cheerfully remove such tape and sit down anyway and any authoritarian thug trying to stop me would need to intervene physically and / or let me have my day in court.

What are people supposed to do, collapse in the street instead?

 

[DelayRepay]

What are people supposed to do, collapse in the street instead?

Yes. It doesn't even matter if they collapse and die, so long as it's not from Covid.

I noticed at the weekend a council had placed a notice on the public toilets. It stated that although the toilet was cleaned on a regular basis, anyone entering did so at their own risk. Preferable to closing the toilet completely, I suppose.