Lockdown easing in England

[BushInn1746]

That's what they are, though - estimates.

I don't think anyone - however learned - has the first idea of what is going to happen. Its into the unknown... (play the Twilight Zone music...)

Hi

It is the unknown and Scientists admit that.

It is no good weeping later, saying to the government I have lost my ... surely you knew it was a possibility it could return in the Winter when people were coughing & sneezing with usual Winter flu, why did you not plan for this when you knew there were people with Covid-19 still?

Seems to me this Government are being damned if they do something and damned when they don't!

Mark

[jillruss]

Au contraire, Mark. I sincerely hope they are planning for a winter resurgence. Its what they failed to do for the current bout - apparently BJ disbanded the special group set up  (before his time in office) to do just that about 6 months ago.

We already know that they - and previous governments - failed to act on recommendations made by a 'dummy run' about 5 years ago.

Their first imperative is supposed to be to keep us safe! Not sure how many points I'd give them so far, but definitely 0 for effort.

[Viktoria]

Well I don’t  Have figures to hand of the numbers unemployed during the Great Depression.
It has to be remembered we had fought a war for “ A land fit for heroes”.
 So many fatherless families etc.
No Welfare state in place and yet we got through to fight another war twenty years after WW1 ended.I had graphic descriptions from my parents what that was like.
A jam butty to me was two slices of bread,buttered and jam spread on them .
For my Dad’s generation it was dry bread ,no butter or margarine ,a little smear of cheap jam.
And he’d been in the army,P.O.W.back home March 1919.
I also think that many jobs that will become non essential are the ones like nail bars, tanning boutiques, fashion outlets etc.
A pity because people have invested and got off their backsides to create their own businesses.
However we can survive without them but I do feel for the small entrepreneurs like that.

 I don’t see any harm in being as cautious as we can, that way we protect ourselves ,our loved ones and people such as Health Workers etc .
The more we do that the quicker this could die out as no “ hosts”.
The NHS staff must be on their knees ,those who have survived!
I am not leaving my house and garden only for a short walk in a very sparsely populated location .
I have no physical  contact with anyone ,money for window cleaner in a pot of TCP, will pay son for the shopping he leaves at the gate or doorstep when
it is alright to do so.
Have sent no cards or presents for birthdays, have not been anywhere at all since my last Hospital appointment before all this really became a lockdown situation.
I can’t do more.
But I’ll be blowed if I will be made to feel guilty for being old by someone who is not being as cautious as I am!.
Viktoria.

[Greensleeves]

Au contraire, Mark. I sincerely hope they are planning for a winter resurgence. Its what they failed to do for the current bout - apparently BJ disbanded the special group set up  (before his time in office) to do just that about 6 months ago.

We already know that they - and previous governments - failed to act on recommendations made by a 'dummy run' about 5 years ago.

Their first imperative is supposed to be to keep us safe! Not sure how many points I'd give them so far, but definitely 0 for effort.

I agree absolutely.   Now the scientists, doctors and the chief nurse are all standing back, and refusing to put their names to the chaos that is Westminster's response to the pandemic.  I do hope that if the govt tries to put the blame on them, we stand behind those who have worked so hard and risked their lives to minimise the deaths during this dreadful time.

[LizzieL]

Margaret~

As well as the Guardian's excellent updates, you can get the  map and data on a daily basis from:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/?_ga=2.268921969.1240859137.1591980393-977526689.1584549676

Scroll down to the map and select LTLA (Lower Tier LAs).  If you select the arrows you can get the info in alpha order, highest to lowest, etc.

MS - I fear that the studio where I had my glass art fired  will have closed down. I've not heard from them for a while. It's in a large converted flour mill and there are many really good artists and makers with studios there 

I may be really dense, but all I am finding is total number of cases in my extremely large local authority area. No indication of how many in the last week or two within 5 - 10 miles of where I live

[Gadget]

I don't think I said that you could get  lower than your LTLA, Lizzie.   These are the daily numbers, for what they're worth. Daily differences are not all that much use. It's best to look at weekly figures.

None of the figures will tell you the actual number of cases or deaths. We stopped testing early on and many people have  just self isolated. Death certs don't always mention Covid, so they're not counted.

The very best you'll get will be an estimate. 

[Gadget]

I tend to note the numbers for my LTLA (Newcastle upon Tyne) and do my own calculations to get an estimate. I've noticed that the numbers for N/c haven't change since Thursday.

[Jomot]

My argument was with  Jomot’s  fifth paragraph, where the saving of the lives  of elderly  people was weighed  against  that of young people———
“At significant cost to the young”..
Well not only the young matter ,we should all matter.
Remember what Captain Tom did , has any young person without the difficulties age brings ,done anything as like much as that?
They will have helped  of course .
I did not say this in my first post but I will now, some people are behaving incredibly selfishly, and I would say Jomot ,by going out and about as you intend  doing ,you are putting your father at risk if you visit him.
Viktoria.
.

Are young people doing anything?  How about this: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tonys-10k-walk

As to my father, when going out & about  - as I fully intend to do - I will be visiting places that the Government has deemed safe to open, and following Government guidelines on social distancing, hand washing etc.  However, I will also be contributing to the local economy and helping to protect local jobs.  Hardly selfish actions.

Life cannot be entirely risk-free, and given latest estimate that only 1 in every 1,700 people are currently infected, I consider my intended actions to be entirely proportionate to the risk.  If I unknowingly pick up the virus and somehow pass it on to my father then it will be because I've been extremely unlucky; not because I've been reckless.

Where has anyone suggested you should feel guilty for being old?  I certainly haven't.  Nor have I suggested you should behave in any way beyond that which you are comfortable with.  Your behaviours will doubtless keep you safe - but the same level of protection is inherent in simply being young, fit & healthy, so how is it selfish for those people to want to earn a living and receive an education?

It's clear we won't agree, but ultimately we are both behaving within guidelines and according to our own perception of the risk, and I've every confidence that we'll both "stay safe". 

[Maiden Stone]

No amount of rules and advice is going to stop some people 'invading your space' when you're out and about - that's just how it is. Its up to us to make those rational allowances and act accordingly.

By carrying a yardstick or a long umbrella with a sharp point when out in public. A golf umbrella will be best - to be opened if people approach.   
I saw a man walking towards me on a narrow pavement this evening. He stepped in the road and walked the other side of a parked car as we passed each other. He smiled at me and I said "good evening" to him. The same thing happened on that pavement another day. Fortunately it's a quiet road. I feel safe enough out in the open air.
When a person gets too near me in Tesco, I turn my back.