General Discussion on Current Situation 2/

[Ray T]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX_Hi_-DJMY&feature=youtu.be

[derekwg]

 Given the same circumstances,I would have done exactly the same as Mr Cummings,full stop.

[LizzieL]

 Given the same circumstances,I would have done exactly the same as Mr Cummings,full stop.

And gone out for a drive a few days later to test your eyesight?

Not the way a driving examiner checks the test candidate's eyesight

[Ray T]

 Given the same circumstances,I would have done exactly the same as Mr Cummings,full stop.

You'd probably enjoy Barnard Castle (when it re-opens). There's the castle - obviously - the Bowes Museum, the shops, David Harper's awful paintings and the river - you can either drive down through the town or walk down past the castle to that. Then there's the Young Offenders Institute and, oh, if you're coming from Durham, give yourself a bit longer than half an hour!

[groom]

 Given the same circumstances,I would have done exactly the same as Mr Cummings,full stop.

And gone out for a drive a few days later to test your eyesight?

Not the way a driving examiner checks the test candidate's eyesight

Apparently that's going to be part of the eye test next time you go to an optician.    Drive about 30 miles to a castle and back. If you make it back safely you get 50% off your new glasses.

[IgorStrav]

 Given the same circumstances,I would have done exactly the same as Mr Cummings,full stop.

No worries, Derek, thanks for letting us know.



At the time Dominic Cummings left his home in London and went to Durham, the instructions applying to the UK population were as set out below:

Guidance from Public Health England said that if someone in a household has coronavirus symptoms, “all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill”. It adds, “You and all household members should remain at home. Do not go to work.”

“Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence.”

"people should also, “ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home”."

The well-understood principles behind this were that the UK population should not run the risk of spreading the virus by leaving home, or put pressure on other areas of the country by potentially burdening them with extra patients other than their local population.

Help was available for people with difficulties, and indeed Dominic Cummins had a neice who was willing, and would have been able within the rules, to travel to help his family.



In regard to Dominic Cummings and his refusal to consider that there were any alternatives to his actions (despite the very many people who managed to cope in similar and indeed much worse circumstances)

Integrity (definition):     
" the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles"

Moral principles:           
" the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group"

Matt Hancock exhorted the public to do their “civic duty” and stay at home when instructed and comply with the requirements of Test and Trace.

Civic duty:                     
" The concept of civic duty is based on the principle that citizens owe some allegiance to their government and that government in turn protects its citizens."


I don't think Derek has been instrumental in putting together the guidelines which the UK population has been striving to comply with, in the face of an unprecedented pandemic threatening us all.

Dominic Cummings was very much instrumental, and if he came up with the STAY AT HOME slogan, I congratulate him, as I think it has been really clear and understandable.

My issue - as demonstrated by the definitions above - is that he seems to feel that his slogan didn't apply to him.

In doing that, in such a position of power, he has cast doubt and uncertainty across the whole of the UK (if you are different, Derek, well done - a lot of people do seem to disagree), and we can ill do with this just now.

[Ruskie]

.... David Harper's awful paintings ....

https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/daily/2020/05/25/news/dominic-cummings-sighting-could-have-been-me-suggests-tv-antiques-expert-1951679/

 

[LizzieL]

Mr Cummings has attended meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) - the scientific body which gives independent advice that shapes the government's coronavirus response.


Only 63,222 more signatures required.

https://www.change.org/p/dominic-cummings-must-be-sacked?use_react=false

Several more:

https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-must-resign-or-be-fired-for-his-breach-of-lockdown-rules?source_location=petitions_browse

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-dominic-cummings-must-be-removed-as-aide-to-pm-after-breaking-lockdown-rules?source_location=petitions_browse

https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-should-be-asked-to-resign?source_location=petitions_browse

https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-dominic-cummings-needs-to-resign-or-be-sacked?source_location=petitions_browse

So many, it risks diluting the total number signing, unless people find them all and sign them all

[Guy Etchells]

Durham Constabulary press statement
 28/05/2020


"On 27 March 2020, Dominic Cummings drove to Durham to self-isolate in a property owned by his father.

Durham Constabulary does not consider that by locating himself at his father’s premises, Mr Cummings committed an offence contrary to regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. (We are concerned here with breaches of the Regulations, not the general Government guidance to “stay at home”.)

On 12 April 2020, Mr Cummings drove approximately 26 miles from his father’s property to Barnard Castle with his wife and son. He stated on 25 May 2020 that the purpose of this drive was to test his resilience to drive to London the following day, including whether his eyesight was sufficiently recovered, his period of self-isolation having ended. 

Durham Constabulary have examined the circumstances surrounding the journey to Barnard Castle (including ANPR, witness evidence and a review of Mr Cummings’ press conference on 25 May 2020) and have concluded that there might have been a minor breach of the Regulations that would have warranted police intervention. Durham Constabulary view this as minor because there was no apparent breach of social distancing.

Had a Durham Constabulary police officer stopped Mr Cummings driving to or from Barnard Castle, the officer would have spoken to him, and, having established the facts, likely advised Mr Cummings to return to the address in Durham, providing advice on the dangers of travelling during the pandemic crisis. Had this advice been accepted by Mr Cummings, no enforcement action would have been taken.

In line with Durham Constabulary’s general approach throughout the pandemic, there is no intention to take retrospective action in respect of the Barnard Castle incident since this would amount to treating Mr Cummings differently from other members of the public. Durham Constabulary has not taken retrospective action against any other person.

By way of further context, Durham Constabulary has followed Government guidance on management of alleged breaches of the regulations with the emphasis on the NPCC and College of Policing 4Es: Engage, Explain and Encourage before Enforcement.

Finally, commentary in the media has suggested that Mr Cummings was in Durham on 19 April 2020. Mr Cummings denies this and Durham Constabulary have seen insufficient evidence to support this allegation.

Therefore Durham Constabulary will take no further action in this matter and has informed Mr Cummings of this decision."

The above is the statement from Durham Police, I notice Norman Smith changed the above statement to fit the lies the BBC are repeating about the trip to London and to Barnard Castle. It is worrying that a reporter with Norman Smith's experience has to resort to lying about the statement.
Cheers
Guy