Current Affairs

[oldbluefox]

Some people can't handle social distancing so no chance of getting them to wear masks (Bournemouth beach, BLM protests, Liverpool and Leeds FC celebrations to name just a few). They seem to think the guidance doesn't apply to them.

[screwy]

Bloc parties,Illegal Raves, Street music parties.. All of these, mass attended by ‘ young people’ obviously either, don’t care or believe that they’re immune.? They don’t have the discipline or moral backbone of us ‘seniors’.

[david63]

If we had started wearing masks sooner we would have had fewer deaths

That is nothing more than speculation - there is, and never can be, any evidence of that.

there can be no excuse for not wearing face masks sooner other than the government taking bad advise or more likely ignoring good advice

At that point the WHO was saying that face coverings would have no affect in the spread of Covid-19

[Manoverboard]

What I need to understand is why our death rate is among the highest, I don't subscribe to the view that it's all the govts fault, therefore I want some detailed analysis of the stats. Is our counting system different, is it due to a higher BAME population, or higher obesity levels, or is our health care less efficient?

Thank you ...

I do not personally believe that the reasons will be found by simply looking at stats and this is assuming of course that we even wish to lay the finger of blame else to conclude that we were 3rd or 97th in the CV containment Worldwide Stakes. For me we are where we are and as is always the case with the various Authorities in this Country ‘ Lessons will be learnt ‘ or not as the case may be.

It has generally been the case that Government wheels turn very slowly due in part, I happen to believe, to the methodology they employ in their management processes. Local Government and the NHS are exactly the same and although we are starting to see significant change in this regard it cannot be said that they were all up to speed at any point during this pandemic. I have therefore concluded that avoidable delays were slowing up the actions at the local level rather than at Government level because they were driven by the science rather than by procedure. Even if this is proven to be the case it sadly changes nothing but it ideally gives us some hope next time round.

[Onelife]

If we had started wearing masks sooner we would have had fewer deaths

That is nothing more than speculation - there is, and never can be, any evidence of that.

there can be no excuse for not wearing face masks sooner other than the government taking bad advise or more likely ignoring good advice

At that point the WHO was saying that face coverings would have no affect in the spread of Covid-19

This is why when onelife speaks you should all sit up and listen

[Onelife]

What I need to understand is why our death rate is among the highest, I don't subscribe to the view that it's all the govts fault, therefore I want some detailed analysis of the stats. Is our counting system different, is it due to a higher BAME population, or higher obesity levels, or is our health care less efficient?

Thank you ...

I do not personally believe that the reasons will be found by simply looking at stats and this is assuming of course that we even wish to lay the finger of blame else to conclude that we were 3rd or 97th in the CV containment Worldwide Stakes. For me we are where we are and as is always the case with the various Authorities in this Country ‘ Lessons will be learnt ‘ or not as the case may be.

]It has generally been the case that Government wheels turn very slowly due in part, I happen to believe, to the methodology they employ in their management processes. Local Government and the NHS are exactly the same and although we are starting to see significant change in this regard it cannot be said that they were all up to speed at any point during this pandemic. I have therefore concluded that avoidable delays were slowing up the actions at the local level rather than at Government level because they were driven by the science rather than by procedure. Even if this is proven to be the case it sadly changes nothing but it ideally gives us some hope next time round

One should also listen to Mob because he talks a lot of sense.......on occasions

[towny44]

If we had started wearing masks sooner we would have had fewer deaths

That is nothing more than speculation - there is, and never can be, any evidence of that.

there can be no excuse for not wearing face masks sooner other than the government taking bad advise or more likely ignoring good advice

At that point the WHO was saying that face coverings would have no affect in the spread of Covid-19

This is why when onelife speaks you should all sit up and listen

There is still a strong scientific body that believes face masks have very little actual value in stopping the spread of the virus, but they probably do have a significant placebo value, although even this could be counterproductive if it encourages people to take more risks because they feel safer.

[Gill W]

When I look back to the week beginning 16th March, what I remember most is yelling at the TV screen, every time I saw Johnson, ‘for God’s sake man, lock us down properly’. Everyone knew it was on its way, people were pre-emptively preparing, some businesses were already letting their people work at home and many people actively wanted the lockdown.

Yet there was a lot of delay, at government level. For the life of me, I still can’t understand why they shut the pubs after closing time on a Friday night, allowing those who wanted it, one last booze up.

No doubt, one day, there will be an enquiry, but I’m wondering what people would want from an enquiry. As it will be talking about what has happened, it will be inevitable that the findings will be based on hindsight, which, I feel, will negate the outcome in the eyes of some. I also feel that some won’t accept the outcome of the enquiry if they don’t like what it says..

Already, there’s attempts at blame shifting, such as it’s the NHS at fault, the care homes, young people etc etc.

But ultimately, the government is responsible for its coronavirus response, and must be held accountable

[barney]

Couldn’t agree more Gill.
It’s almost like back of a fag packet government, making it up as they go along.
Ironically, we have friends who willingly went to Cheltenham and are now saying that the lockdown should have been done sooner.
Mrs B had already made the decision not to open the week before lockdown was formally announced.
That’s all water under the bridge now.

[Gill W]

That is nothing more than speculation - there is, and never can be, any evidence of that.
At that point the WHO was saying that face coverings would have no affect in the spread of Covid-19

This is why when onelife speaks you should all sit up and listen

There is still a strong scientific body that believes face masks have very little actual value in stopping the spread of the virus, but they probably do have a significant placebo value, although even this could be counterproductive if it encourages people to take more risks because they feel safer.

The way I look at it is, if face masks don’t work, we are just putting ourselves to some inconvenience by wearing them. If they do work, we could actually be saving someone’s life by wearing one.

So makes sense to me to wear the mask

[Manoverboard]

... Already, there’s attempts at blame shifting, such as it’s the NHS at fault, the care homes, young people etc etc.

But ultimately, the government is responsible for its coronavirus response, and must be held accountable

Everybody on your list played a part including the Government of course but when the Government Minister instructs the NHS Trusts, Hospitals, Surgeries and Care Homes plus County Councils etc etc to ensure that they have adequate stocks of PPE it is not the Government who take actions to achieve the requirement. Some did their job properly and arranged for stocks in anticipation of the requirement while others did not and that is because they hadn’t got a clue how to project manage the situation else action was delayed because ‘ Peter or Jane ’ was off sick. Such delays also result in death.

[david63]

The purpose of any enquiry should be to find out what lessons can be learnt and not to apportion blame.

One area that does need attention is that of hospitals. At the outset everyone was sent to the nearest hospital no matter what their problem was and I read the other day that it is estimated that around 8,000 patients died because they refused, or were frightened, to go to hospital. Now I know that many of those would have probably died anyway, either at that time or subsequently, hospital or not.

The lesson to be learnt is that there needs to be two distinct types of hospital - those that deal with "normal" cases and those that deal with virus case - and never should the two cross.

The trouble is that when you start having an enquiry nobody does anything until its report is published some five years down the road and at massive cost when those involved could sit round the table for a couple of days and come up with the same answers.

[towny44]

This is why when onelife speaks you should all sit up and listen

There is still a strong scientific body that believes face masks have very little actual value in stopping the spread of the virus, but they probably do have a significant placebo value, although even this could be counterproductive if it encourages people to take more risks because they feel safer.

The way I look at it is, if face masks don’t work, we are just putting ourselves to some inconvenience by wearing them. If they do work, we could actually be saving someone’s life by wearing one.

So makes sense to me to wear the mask

You and I are not really the ones that might use the wearing of masks to avoid adequate social distancing though Gill. But I accept that since the vast majority of people are taking the correct precautions then masks would not be a problem, and might help to prevent the spread of disease, if only in minor way.

[Onelife]

There is still a strong scientific body that believes face masks have very little actual value in stopping the spread of the virus, but they probably do have a significant placebo value, although even this could be counterproductive if it encourages people to take more risks because they feel safer.

The way I look at it is, if face masks don’t work, we are just putting ourselves to some inconvenience by wearing them. If they do work, we could actually be saving someone’s life by wearing one.

So makes sense to me to wear the mask

You and I are not really the ones that might use the wearing of masks to avoid adequate social distancing though Gill. But I accept that since the vast majority of people are taking the correct precautions then masks would not be a problem, and might help to prevent the spread of disease, if only in minor way.

I can’t think why you would say that John unless you don't intend going out…if Gill or anyone else uses a mask they are surely better off (however minor) than what they would be should they bump into someone who doesn’t care about social distancing.

We all need to get into the right frame of mind if we're going to have to walk in the shadow of this deadly killer…wear a mask, wear glove and carry a sanitiser.

[david63]

wear glove

When was that announced?

[Onelife]

wear glove

When was that announced?

I announced it about three months back ...but then it's not been that difficult to be ahead of the game with some of the government's shall we shan't we decision making.

Bring back Theresa

[Clophill4]

Does it need to be announced - the rules are the minimum you do, any extras that make you safer are down to you.
I wouldn't go shopping at the moment without mask, gloves, sanitizer and a very suspicious view of everybody else in sight.

[towny44]

wear glove

When was that announced?

I announced it about three months back ...but then it's not been that difficult to be ahead of the game with some of the government's shall we shan't we decision making.

Bring back Theresa

I can't really see Thersa wearing a mask, or being able to make a rational decision about covid protection, so I am extremely happy she is no longer in charge.

[Manoverboard]

Does it need to be announced - the rules are the minimum you do, any extras that make you safer are down to you.
I wouldn't go shopping at the moment without mask, gloves, sanitizer and a very suspicious view of everybody else in sight.

We are like that too but in reality do we actually need to be ?

[screwy]

She made Michael Foot look like a good PM.

[Onelife]

Does it need to be announced - the rules are the minimum you do, any extras that make you safer are down to you.
I wouldn't go shopping at the moment without mask, gloves, sanitizer and a very suspicious view of everybody else in sight.

Hi Clophill.....We should go shopping together

[Mervyn and Trish]

Wearing gloves doesn't help unless you change them between every place you visit. Like health workers do between patients. Otherwise they merely spread contaminants including the virus between surfaces. For personal protection handwashing is equally if not more effective. The virus doesn't enter the body through the skin. That is why the medics and scientists haven't advised using them.

[Onelife]

When was that announced?

I announced it about three months back ...but then it's not been that difficult to be ahead of the game with some of the government's shall we shan't we decision making.

Bring back Theresa

I can't really see Thersa wearing a mask, or being able to make a rational decision about covid protection, so I am extremely happy she is no longer in charge.

What flavour soap would you prefer

[Mervyn and Trish]

She made Michael Foot look like a good PM.

Michael Foot was never PM. Fortunately. But Jezzer made him look like a good leader of the Labour Party.

[Onelife]

Wearing gloves doesn't help unless you change them between every place you visit. Like health workers do between patients. Otherwise they merely spread contaminants including the virus between surfaces. For personal protection handwashing is equally if not more effective. The virus doesn't enter the body through the skin. That is why the medics and scientists haven't advised using them.

Correct Sir Merv...but l think most in my age bracket only go out to do one outlet shopping......otherwise use a sanitiser between shops.....at the very least the wearing of gloves works as a reminder not to touch your face.