Current Affairs

[Mervyn and Trish]

I fully understand the app will need tweaks to make it perfect. Does anyone know of any other phone app that has not required updates as it is used and issues emerge?

And I also agree it is the students not the government to blame for their stupidity. They were demanding to be allowed back to face to face contact with their teaching staff. Now it is their responsibility to be sensible by wearing masks and distancing in communal areas. Almost 1 in 10 have it at the affected halls in Manchester yet students had to stopped by security as they were going out for a night on the town. Yes the actions we gave to take to fight this virus are tough on many. Not just students.

[Stephen]

Julie went down the town yesterday. I dropped her off at about 8:50 (I don't do town centres any more) and she was first in the queue for TK Maxx. A man and his child (about 9-10) stood directly behind Julie, ignoring social distance. A young lad came and opened the door at which point Julie went to put her mask on as she started walking forward. The man physically pushed Julie out of the way telling her to "stop wasting his f**** time". The young lad on the door told the man that he needed a mask at which point the man told him to "mind his own f*** business" and 'what was he going to do about it". The young assistant then told him to at least use the sanitzer to which he got a two word answer.

Julie just said something along the lines of "and jackasses like him are allowed to have children" (loudly). The man turned as if he was going to come back but thought better of it and walked on ... no mask, no sanitizer. I almost hope that he takes the dreaded lurgy back home to his family.

I agree with David, or to put it into one of Boris's sound bites ... "no mask, no entry, no exemptions". The time for excuses is over.

He'd be in his back if it happened to Mrs S. Not from me you understand. I'd be doing my shoe lace up

Seriously though, scum like that make my blood boil. Julie should have dialed 999 and done him for assault as well as not adhearing to the rules.

[Stephen]

Stephen.....It would have been very unlikely any student could avoid being infected when they live in such close proximity to each other (ten to a kitchen, Halls of residence) was always going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Stop making excuses for these people Keith. They are supposedly intelligent adults who know the rules. I'm sure safety measures are in place by the university's. They can keep a safe distance the same as the rest of us but choose not to. They only have themselves to blame.

[Gill W]

I managed to download it onto my Samsung Android phone at the first attempt, and even used the venue sign in feature when I went to the hairdressers on Friday. Now if an old Septuagenarian like me can cope, then so should most others.
Like most things there will be problems, but I say again that the media spending thousands having their reporters scour the country for people having problems, and then making its failure a headline feature will not improve things, a simple guide to resolve the problem issues and educate the techno phobes would be far better.

Regarding the app, it’s come to light that people can’t enter their test results on the app if the test was done by PHE or in hospital. The only rest results that can be entered are pillar 2 tests, the ones done commercially.

Therefore, there’ll be people who test positive, but won’t be able to record their information on the app.

I think the app might be a useful utility for ‘checking in’ at cafes and pubs, but less effective than first believed for actually fighting the virus.

It would be more accurate to call it Serco Test and Trace.

That is an issue that I hope will be addressed, I would hope that is a minor hiccup rather than a serious software issue that was not properly covered. Just about every new software roll out I was involved in back in the day had glitches that required patches to cover such problems.

I’ve just read something that suggests this has now been put right - but for something that is alleged to be an NHS app, it was a fundamental mistake.

[Gill W]

We’ve already seen on cruise ships and in care homes, how the virus spreads in closed communities. Student halls of residence are also settings where people live in close proximity.

Maybe, the powers that be should have learnt from previous experiences, and imposed tighter regulations for the return to university, such as Covid testing students on arrival at University and then regular testing thereafter,

[david63]

We’ve already seen on cruise ships and in care homes, how the virus spreads in closed communities. Student halls of residence are also settings where people live in close proximity.

Maybe, the powers that be should have learnt from previous experiences, and imposed tighter regulations for the return to university, such as Covid testing students on arrival at University and then regular testing thereafter,

And banning them going down to the pub with 200 other students - Oh I forgot, they have.

[towny44]

We’ve already seen on cruise ships and in care homes, how the virus spreads in closed communities. Student halls of residence are also settings where people live in close proximity.

Maybe, the powers that be should have learnt from previous experiences, and imposed tighter regulations for the return to university, such as Covid testing students on arrival at University and then regular testing thereafter,

The big difference between care homes and universities Gill is a massive 50 or 60 year age difference, so while I accept it was a likely outcome, it really will have just about no impact on the death rate, as long as the govt stick to their guns and dont let quarantined students go back home.

[Ray Scully]

Having two family members attending Universities, I don't think this has come as a surprise to anyone. Doubtless the driving factor influencing the return of students was financial.

[Ray Scully]

Having two family members attending Universities, I don't think this has come as a surprise to anyone. Doubtless the driving factor influencing the return of students was financial. There appears a lot of ill informed or just personal opinion being cast around. A pity folk don't take the time to talk with the students. Possibly those those who would not themselves observe the quarantine rules.

[Manoverboard]

I’ve just read something that suggests this has now been put right - but for something that is alleged to be an NHS app, it was a fundamental mistake.

NHS software has for the past 40 years failed for one reason or another on day one. Most of the reasons were self inflicted due to their senior management ' adjusting ' their specification part way through the project but not agreeing to a back slide of the deadline. For me it was therefore an ' inevitable ' mistake ' rather than a ' fundamental ' one but one of a very short duration thus demonstrating the resource that is going into getting it running correctly.

[barney]

Having two family members attending Universities, I don't think this has come as a surprise to anyone. Doubtless the driving factor influencing the return of students was financial.

They were forced to go according to one young lady on Sky news this morning Ray.
‘ if we cannot get out and about, why did they force us to come’ she bleated, like the spoilt child she clearly is.
60 may be the new 50 but 18 is definitely the new 12.

[oldbluefox]

May God forbid that we ever have a war. Who will carry on the fighting if they all have to go home for Christmas? These are the very same people the liberal luvvies wanted to give the vote when they were 16. From what I have seen and heard from some of them I am surprised they ever left their mothers' apron strings. I think the phrase is 'Grow up, man up!'
It's not easy at the moment but it is not easy for any of us and the lackadaisical attitude of those who say they will 'take their chances', 'you only live once' are making matters worse. Perhaps they should think more about those with serious ailments who cannot get treatment, the elderly in care homes with dementia who cannot understand the situation and why their loved ones are not visiting them, medics in the Covid wards battling to save lives, the difficulty of getting to see a doctor or dentist, the impact on businesses and those being laid off, etc etc. Maybe those who held and attended the parties should reflect on the impact coronavirus is having on other aspects of the population instead of their own immediate and immature needs. Yet again it is the minority in society who should be looking at themselves instead of looking to blame somebody else or trying to find a justifiable excuse not to abide by the guidelines.

[david63]

OBF - how many times have you been told to stop using common sense?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Interesting video I've seen today of a young man without any pre existing conditions who previously thought the virus was bo**ocks and wouldn't affect him and is now in intensive care.

[screwy]

There was an old dear on the radio earlier , she said that she was evacuated aged 8, she didn’t have , Internet, mobile or any other phone. What she said was these students need to accept the challenges and learn from them, basically, grow up.Well said Joan from Maidstone.

[oldbluefox]

They should have rounded up all the conspiracy theorists protesting in Leicester Square yesterday claiming there was no pandemic and when they presented at hospital with symptoms told to go home and take a couple of paracetamol. I have never heard so much drivel as came from some of their mouths yesterday.
"Some people are only alive because it's illegal to shoot them".

[Ray Scully]

They should have rounded up all the conspiracy theorists protesting in Leicester Square yesterday claiming there was no pandemic and when they presented at hospital with symptoms told to go home and take a couple of paracetamol. I have never heard so much drivel as came from some of their mouths yesterday.
"Some people are only alive because it's illegal to shoot them".

Careful here OBF. We don't want any miscarriages of justice here, so my recommendation would be to tattoo them before releasing them. this would also be helpful in ensuring that they are at the back of the que for any vaccinations. any thoughts on the design of the tattoo folks,

[Stephen]

I can think of a few but no appropriate for on here.

[Ray Scully]

Having two family members attending Universities, I don't think this has come as a surprise to anyone. Doubtless the driving factor influencing the return of students was financial.

They were forced to go according to one young lady on Sky news this morning Ray.
‘ if we cannot get out and about, why did they force us to come’ she bleated, like the spoilt child she clearly is.
60 may be the new 50 but 18 is definitely the new 12.

Hmm I don't think you point of view will get much traction with my son and DIL having paid out £6k for what? to see their children locked down, receiving lectures over the internet. They would have been much better off residing at home, but of course this would not have suited the profligate Universities and those landlords letting to students. Like most of what we are experiencing with this virus we have been forewarned by what has previously happened in other countries.

[Onelife]

Stephen.....It would have been very unlikely any student could avoid being infected when they live in such close proximity to each other (ten to a kitchen, Halls of residence) was always going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Stop making excuses for these people Keith. They are supposedly intelligent adults who know the rules. I'm sure safety measures are in place by the university's. They can keep a safe distance the same as the rest of us but choose not to. They only have themselves to blame.

I'm not making excusses Stephen l'm stating a fact....Large volumes of students, whether they be school children or uni students are all potential carriers when in enclosed spaces.... It only takes a few irresponsible school children/uni students, to close education facilites whether they be pub goers or just messing around at school..

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... quadruples

[towny44]

Stephen.....It would have been very unlikely any student could avoid being infected when they live in such close proximity to each other (ten to a kitchen, Halls of residence) was always going to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Stop making excuses for these people Keith. They are supposedly intelligent adults who know the rules. I'm sure safety measures are in place by the university's. They can keep a safe distance the same as the rest of us but choose not to. They only have themselves to blame.

I'm not making excusses Stephen l'm stating a fact....Large volumes of students, whether they be school children or uni students are all potential carriers when in enclosed spaces.... It only takes a few irresponsible school children/uni students, to close education facilites whether they be pub goers or just messing around at school..

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... quadruples

Keith, they are only potential carriers when they are infected, and they have been told often enough how this can be avoided. I hope jf their parents are paying for the tuition that they question their offspring about why they were not taking adequate avoiding measures.
If they take as little notice of their lecturers it really will be a waste of money them being at university.

[screwy]

Kids today, eh. These are our future,why should we worry.
Well maybe not for some of us...

[Kendhni]

Interesting video I've seen today of a young man without any pre existing conditions who previously thought the virus was bo**ocks and wouldn't affect him and is now in intensive care.

That wasn't the 30 year old Texan, whose attended a COVID party caught it and as they wheeled him into the intensive care his last words were said to be 'I thought it was a hoax, but its not'? I saw another report that said he had taken another family member out as well (but that may have been the usual social media garbage since I have never seen any other reference).


And now it looks like Florida (which is still a bit of a mess) is lifting restrictions.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Interesting video I've seen today of a young man without any pre existing conditions who previously thought the virus was bo**ocks and wouldn't affect him and is now in intensive care.

That wasn't the 30 year old Texan, whose attended a COVID party caught it and as they wheeled him into the intensive care his last words were said to be 'I thought it was a hoax, but its not'? I saw another report that said he had taken another family member out as well (but that may have been the usual social media garbage since I have never seen any other reference).


And now it looks like Florida (which is still a bit of a mess) is lifting restrictions.

No this one is a Brit. It was on.our local paper website but can't remember where he was from.

[Onelife]

Stop making excuses for these people Keith. They are supposedly intelligent adults who know the rules. I'm sure safety measures are in place by the university's. They can keep a safe distance the same as the rest of us but choose not to. They only have themselves to blame.

I'm not making excusses Stephen l'm stating a fact....Large volumes of students, whether they be school children or uni students are all potential carriers when in enclosed spaces.... It only takes a few irresponsible school children/uni students, to close education facilites whether they be pub goers or just messing around at school..

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... quadruples

Keith, they are only potential carriers when they are infected, and they have been told often enough how this can be avoided. I hope jf their parents are paying for the tuition that they question their offspring about why they were not taking adequate avoiding measures.
If they take as little notice of their lecturers it really will be a waste of money them being at university.

As far as I am concerned the government has taken a very caviller approach with the opening of universities…the expectation that students will show responsibility in an environment that gives them the freedom to experience university life for the first time is like asking a Stag not to hump a field of hinds…great expectation inevitable end in disappointment and the government should have foreseen how infection rates would get out of control in such environments.

The blame lies with the government because they choose to ignore the psyche behind why people do what they do…. Our country has been corrupted with our dog eat dog (I’m alright Jack) attitude which have now come back to bite us all in the ar*e.