Current Affairs

[Onelife]

Apologies Gill.......l thought you were posting to make a point.

[Manoverboard]

It may be valid and appropriate but tell me who would you feel safer driving Mobietta a one eyed driver or a driver with two eyes both of which had the same driving ability...be honest Moby.

... and I will ignore you trying to score a point off me

[towny44]

In which case driving under any circumstance is a definite no-no.

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

Gill, the main criteria as to whether you are fit to drive is dependant on your eye test. I suffered a retinal vein occlusion which damaged my sight in one eye and I have an eye test every year at which my optician advises whether my sight is still adequate for driving.
I assume that anyone whose sight in their good eye does not require glasses will probably remain fit to drive. But all of this is totally different to someone whose sight is temporarily affected by an infection or an injury.

[Onelife]

It may be valid and appropriate but tell me who would you feel safer driving Mobietta a one eyed driver or a driver with two eyes both of which had the same driving ability...be honest Moby.

... and I will ignore you trying to score a point off me

A valid point but not appropriate..

[Gill W]

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

Gill, the main criteria as to whether you are fit to drive is dependant on your eye test. I suffered a retinal vein occlusion which damaged my sight in one eye and I have an eye test every year at which my optician advises whether my sight is still adequate for driving.
I assume that anyone whose sight in their good eye does not require glasses will probably remain fit to drive. But all of this is totally different to someone whose sight is temporarily affected by an infection or an injury.

I mentioned in my previous post that I have Meniere’s Disease. My vision is only affected if I have vertigo, so it’s temporary Interference with my vision.. However, I still needed to to seek DVLA permission to continue to drive. My optician wasn’t involved with this at all. My consultant was the person who provided info to the DVLA.

Every case is different, so there can’t be blanket criteria. The DVLA tell you who needs to refer to them and then they make a decision based on the info provided. The most important thing is to drive safely, so if you found you suddenly had an eyesight problem, basically you just wouldn’t drive if you couldn’t see properly - you don’t need someone to tell you!

[Onelife]

Having watched today briefing which focused on the new human tracing system launched tomorrow I felt clear what was expected of me should I get contacted by one of the Tracing team…that was until they turned to journalist questions. I can see why there is so much confusion when the panel are subjected to hypothetical could happen, might happen questions. It really is time now that they dropped these briefings for impromptu briefing on a public need to know basis.

There was one question the journalist could have asked but didn’t which concerns how the self-employed will react to being asked (having been in the vicinity of a covid infected person) to self-isolating for two weeks, with loss of pay? If reports are right this section of workers don’t qualify to be furloughed but can apply for Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) it is for this reason some self-employed might be prepared to ignore the recommendation especially as keeping checks on their whereabouts could be difficult. While I can see this could be open to abuse, I do wonder if a two-week cash payment could be advanced to replace (SEISS} in an attempt to get self-employed to adhere to the new tracing system?

[Manoverboard]

.... I assume that anyone whose sight in their good eye does not require glasses will probably remain fit to drive.

The ability to drive, as determined by one's optician, is to be able to read the number plate with or without glasses and regardless of the number of eyes a person has ... is my own understanding.

[towny44]

.... I assume that anyone whose sight in their good eye does not require glasses will probably remain fit to drive.

The ability to drive, as determined by one's optician, is to be able to read the number plate with or without glasses and regardless of the number of eyes a person has ... is my own understanding.

But in general that is the only test for sight that is applied, at least for people with no other problems.

[Onelife]

.... I assume that anyone whose sight in their good eye does not require glasses will probably remain fit to drive.

The ability to drive, as determined by one's optician, is to be able to read the number plate with or without glasses and regardless of the number of eyes a person has ... is my own understanding.

That is my understanding also Mob.....nevertheless two eyes when it comes to driving are better than one eye every day of the week. I'm no optician but l dare say a one eyed drivers eye will adjust over time but no one can tell me one eye is equal to two where driving is concerned.

I can also say four eyes when driving are a real pain in the a*se...as l'm continually telling my wife.

[CaroleF]

My late Mother-in-law had sight in only one eye and the DVLA were happy for her to have a driving licence. She had an injury when she was much younger and after eye tests she was allowed to drive.

[screwy]

In my experience as an ex Professional driver, there are a lot of drivers with no eyesight at all.Licences out of lucky bags spring to mind.

[Onelife]

My late Mother-in-law had sight in only one eye and the DVLA were happy for her to have a driving licence. She had an injury when she was much younger and after eye tests she was allowed to drive.

Hi Carol...l can think of worst things than having your driving licence withdrawn due to visual impairment but it must be devastating when it happens. As the law stands your late MIL and every other one eyed driver can, if they meet the criteria set out by the DVLC jump in their cars and drive 70mph down a motorway. ( but not with me sitting besides them)..my point however is that they will all have a visual impairment that will limit their visual driving capabilities.........and l think most would agree with that?

[towny44]

The media are now asking what's the point of track and trace since it only detects those with symptoms, while their may be thousands wandering around spreading the disease who are asymptomatic.
Were these not the same clowns asking why we were so late implementing it?

[Manoverboard]

... I suffered a retinal vein occlusion which damaged my sight in one eye and I have an eye test every year at which my optician advises whether my sight is still adequate for driving.

Forgot to respond earlier, sorry about that

A retinal occlusion is, I am advised, a stroke where a blood clot wipes out a blood vessel resulting in a shadow which in turn reduces the upper else lower sight range of the affected eye. This being the case it tends to remain unchanged else may show slight improvement over the years. This condition, I am told, does not normally affect one's side to side vision so may I ask why your Optician thinks you should have a regular check up regarding your driving capability ?

Or is yours a different condition to that I was trying to describe ?

[towny44]

... I suffered a retinal vein occlusion which damaged my sight in one eye and I have an eye test every year at which my optician advises whether my sight is still adequate for driving.

Forgot to respond earlier, sorry about that

A retinal occlusion is, I am advised, a stroke where a blood clot wipes out a blood vessel resulting in a shadow which in turn reduces the upper else lower sight range of the affected eye. This being the case it tends to remain unchanged else may show slight improvement over the years. This condition, I am told, does not normally affect one's side to side vision so may I ask why your Optician thinks you should have a regular check up regarding your driving capability ?

Or is yours a different condition to that I was trying to describe ?

He doesn't, he recommends an annual check up and test to ensure my overall sight has not deteriorated, but I always check with him, or her that I would still pass the number plate test.

[Onelife]

The media are now asking what's the point of track and trace since it only detects those with symptoms, while their may be thousands wandering around spreading the disease who are asymptomatic.
Were these not the same clowns asking why we were so late implementing it?

Hi John,

Being perhaps the most outspoken on this forum about the track and trace app "which to a more or lesser extent has been born out". I now however think in conjunction with the human tracing it has a good chance of being successful . There were several reasons as to why l was sceptical, most of which revolved around the the uptake and timing of its launch....The timing part (due to reported technical problems) has imo worked in the Government's favour as in my opinion an early roll out would have failed miserably with the amount of numbers that would have to have been traced.

What is vitality important now is that the government promote the downloading of the app in a way that gets as many on board as possible....to this end the man who coined such phrases as Get Brexit Done" will have a massive roll to play in achieving this goal l would imagine....so thank gawd he is still around.
I'm sure the Government will have been in touch with the telecom providers who will l hope be sending an initial "Get Covid Done" message to every phone in the UK and thereafter should the message not be getting home.

[towny44]

There is now a concern whether you will be able to guarantee the caller is a genuine tracer and not a scammer. How do they imagine the scammers are going to know who has been tested positive, unless they are going to ring everyone?
What level of intelligence is required for TV news presenters?

[barney]

Still more questions than answers before we’ll be signing up to it.

Our personal circumstance is my wive has a small but very profitable ladies fashion shop.
She loves her job and loves her clients.

So , hypothetically, she reopens in July after implementing every single guideline that has been put out there, at considerable expense i might add.

Then, two weeks in, she gets a call from a tracer saying she has been into contact etc.
So, being responsible, she’s expected to stay home (close)

She stays isolated and is fine so reopens.
Then a week later, she gets a call from a tracer.
So, the same thing happens.
Then she reopens.
Then, a week later ...........

You get my drift.

In my opinion, once the country unlocks, that will be it.
We will have to accept that covid remains and do the best we can while being sensible.

It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to keep isolating if they are not vulnerable.

[Manoverboard]

And what about the umpteen numbers of Oldies who do not have Smart Phones / can't read their small screens / wouldn't know an App from a Apple etc. They, imo, will either continue staying at home else be walking about in a state of anxiety wondering who they might / might not come into contact with.

[towny44]

Still more questions than answers before we’ll be signing up to it.

Our personal circumstance is my wive has a small but very profitable ladies fashion shop.
She loves her job and loves her clients.

So , hypothetically, she reopens in July after implementing every single guideline that has been put out there, at considerable expense i might add.

Then, two weeks in, she gets a call from a tracer saying she has been into contact etc.
So, being responsible, she’s expected to stay home (close)

She stays isolated and is fine so reopens.
Then a week later, she gets a call from a tracer.
So, the same thing happens.
Then she reopens.
Then, a week later ...........

You get my drift.

In my opinion, once the country unlocks, that will be it.
We will have to accept that covid remains and do the best we can while being sensible.

It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to keep isolating if they are not vulnerable.

The self isolating is not to protect you or your wife Barney, it is to prevent you passing it onto someone else. Of course your wife can stay home and not re-open her shop, that way she will be unlikely to become a contact.

[Quizzical Bob]

Still more questions than answers before we’ll be signing up to it.

Our personal circumstance is my wive has a small but very profitable ladies fashion shop.
She loves her job and loves her clients.

So , hypothetically, she reopens in July after implementing every single guideline that has been put out there, at considerable expense i might add.

Then, two weeks in, she gets a call from a tracer saying she has been into contact etc.
So, being responsible, she’s expected to stay home (close)

She stays isolated and is fine so reopens.
Then a week later, she gets a call from a tracer.
So, the same thing happens.
Then she reopens.
Then, a week later ...........

You get my drift.

In my opinion, once the country unlocks, that will be it.
We will have to accept that covid remains and do the best we can while being sensible.

It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to keep isolating if they are not vulnerable.

The self isolating is not to protect you or your wife Barney, it is to prevent you passing it onto someone else. Of course your wife can stay home and not re-open her shop, that way she will be unlikely to become a contact.

And she could slit her own throat and not be a contact.

You can’t expect people to keep locking themselves away for a fortnight just on a whim.

[barney]

Still more questions than answers before we’ll be signing up to it.

Our personal circumstance is my wive has a small but very profitable ladies fashion shop.
She loves her job and loves her clients.

So , hypothetically, she reopens in July after implementing every single guideline that has been put out there, at considerable expense i might add.

Then, two weeks in, she gets a call from a tracer saying she has been into contact etc.
So, being responsible, she’s expected to stay home (close)

She stays isolated and is fine so reopens.
Then a week later, she gets a call from a tracer.
So, the same thing happens.
Then she reopens.
Then, a week later ...........

You get my drift.

In my opinion, once the country unlocks, that will be it.
We will have to accept that covid remains and do the best we can while being sensible.

It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to keep isolating if they are not vulnerable.

The self isolating is not to protect you or your wife Barney, it is to prevent you passing it onto someone else. Of course your wife can stay home and not re-open her shop, that way she will be unlikely to become a contact.

She could just renage on her lease, close down, sell the stock to a market trader.
But she won’t.
She’ll carry on trading and doing her best.
If it becomes unprofitable, which could happen due to the fact that she’s about 15k down already this financial year, she will then reconsider.
It’s not sensible to subsidise a business.
One thing is for sure, she won’t be continually opening and closing

[Onelife]

Still more questions than answers before we’ll be signing up to it.

Our personal circumstance is my wive has a small but very profitable ladies fashion shop.
She loves her job and loves her clients.

So , hypothetically, she reopens in July after implementing every single guideline that has been put out there, at considerable expense i might add.

Then, two weeks in, she gets a call from a tracer saying she has been into contact etc.
So, being responsible, she’s expected to stay home (close)

She stays isolated and is fine so reopens.
Then a week later, she gets a call from a tracer.
So, the same thing happens.
Then she reopens.
Then, a week later ...........

You get my drift.

In my opinion, once the country unlocks, that will be it.
We will have to accept that covid remains and do the best we can while being sensible.

It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to keep isolating if they are not vulnerable.

Hi Barney,

I posed the same question in my 3576 post earlier. It's a difficult one and l don't really have any answers other than to say l heard mention that one day turn around tests are soon to become widely available, this would help the situation. Hopefully Barney now that you have mesures in place you won't be troubled by any phone calls other than to place orders.

[Onelife]

And what about the umpteen numbers of Oldies who do not have Smart Phones / can't read their small screens / wouldn't know an App from a Apple etc. They, imo, will either continue staying at home else be walking about in a state of anxiety wondering who they might / might not come into contact with.

Hi Mob,

I think the principal the Government will be working to is that many won't download the app whether that be from ignorance, cyber concerns, or as you say lack of technology know how/ access to phones.

I think it's going to be a case of every little bit helps and l for one will will be downloading the app. As l hope millions of others will be doing the same.... whilst appreciating everyone has different cercumstances to consider....should it be made compulsory due to lack of uptake then the decision is taken out of our hands.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Still more questions than answers before we’ll be signing up to it.

Our personal circumstance is my wive has a small but very profitable ladies fashion shop.
She loves her job and loves her clients.

So , hypothetically, she reopens in July after implementing every single guideline that has been put out there, at considerable expense i might add.

Then, two weeks in, she gets a call from a tracer saying she has been into contact etc.
So, being responsible, she’s expected to stay home (close)

She stays isolated and is fine so reopens.
Then a week later, she gets a call from a tracer.
So, the same thing happens.
Then she reopens.
Then, a week later ...........

You get my drift.

In my opinion, once the country unlocks, that will be it.
We will have to accept that covid remains and do the best we can while being sensible.

It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to keep isolating if they are not vulnerable.

The self isolating is not to protect you or your wife Barney, it is to prevent you passing it onto someone else. Of course your wife can stay home and not re-open her shop, that way she will be unlikely to become a contact.

She could just renage on her lease, close down, sell the stock to a market trader.
But she won’t.
She’ll carry on trading and doing her best.
If it becomes unprofitable, which could happen due to the fact that she’s about 15k down already this financial year, she will then reconsider.
It’s not sensible to subsidise a business.
One thing is for sure, she won’t be continually opening and closing

My understanding of the track and trace is that close contact is defined as closer than 2m for 15 minutes. So if Mrs Barney has her business well setup that seems unlikely. Otherwise the same would apply to every shop worker in the UK.