Corona Virus: How Are We Doing?

[stowie]

(I generally find that phrases like "category mistake" come from people who can see they're losing the argument. rather like:
"You can't compare the two!" and
"That's nothing like this!" )

I generally use the phrase to indicate a comparison between events which are so different as to render the comparison meaningless. I am not sure how else to put it that would be to your liking. What in the comparison between - for example- car crashes and COVID makes this a valid and useful comparison?

Well now that you've consented to discuss the economy; clearly the UK has not allowed the virus to run it's course, and the current recession is very different from the economy ticking along largely unaffected.
So let's be grown-ups and accept this is all a compromise. Shouting "exponential growth!" won't win arguments - partly because we haven't had exponential growth for 4 months

I am not really sure what you are disputing here. That the natural growth rate of the virus is exponential? Or that this is a key factor in the measures needed to manage the issue?

 

[Slick]

Just back from 3 days in the NE of England. Stayed in an almost deserted city centre hotel with the rooms about 30% cheaper than normal. Went out to eat on Monday and discovered you have to book for most restaurants and they were pretty much full. My favourite Cuban place said they had a table free - on Thursday I wandered around for a bit, getting turned away time and again but I also noticed a lot of restaurants were closed. Just an observation but the larger chains did better at managing space inside and having staff disinfecting tables than the smaller restaurants. Ended up at a Five Guys
Tuesday I tried to book a table at Akbars - a great curry house, but was told it was first come, first served. When we turned up there was a huge queue inside with everyone standing cheek by jowl with no masks and every table was filled. Didn't look like they'd attempted to space the tables out more either. Eventually found a small Italian place up a side street that had free tables.

Both nights the city was filled with young folk out enjoying themselves - pretty much as usual. Saw very few masks and virtually zero social distancing.

My colleague is addicted to McDonalds coffee (yeah, weird) but we found every single McDonalds was absolutely rammed, with queues around the building - even at 8.15am this morning!

The government incentive to eat out may be driving the busy restaurants or maybe folk are just glad to get out. I'd need to see what it's like on a Thursday.

Oh and a quick shout out to Siesta Coffee in Newton Aycliffe who refused my money - "Jock money isn't real money and we've been caught out before" - fark you ( I didn't say it to her face as it's a coffee shop linked to a gym. The waitress looked like a body builder and I think she could have snapped me in half. I just shrugged and walked out, bravely)

Did you not give her the tried and trusted retort that it's "legal tendur mate"?

 

[classic33]

Did you not give her the tried and trusted retort that it's "legal tendur mate"?

Scottish notes aren't legal tender in England or Scotland.

 

[Slick]

Scottish notes aren't legal tender in England or Scotland.

I know but it's the usual reply from your average punter and I've heard it a few times.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Did you not give her the tried and trusted retort that it's "legal tendur mate"?

I only ever have bother in the NE of England. Some years ago I ordered a bacon roll and a coffee in a Sunderland cafe. It was £4 something so I handed over a Scottish tenner. The cafe owner looked like I'd crapped on his shoes and asked if I had any proper money. I apologised and said no but found £2-odd in change in my pocket. "That'll have to do" he said, taking the coins and stomping off. Fine by me, I got a cheap bacon roll & coffee.

 

[Moon bunny]

Just back from 3 days in the NE of England. Stayed in an almost deserted city centre hotel with the rooms about 30% cheaper than normal. Went out to eat on Monday and discovered you have to book for most restaurants and they were pretty much full. My favourite Cuban place said they had a table free - on Thursday I wandered around for a bit, getting turned away time and again but I also noticed a lot of restaurants were closed. Just an observation but the larger chains did better at managing space inside and having staff disinfecting tables than the smaller restaurants. Ended up at a Five Guys
Tuesday I tried to book a table at Akbars - a great curry house, but was told it was first come, first served. When we turned up there was a huge queue inside with everyone standing cheek by jowl with no masks and every table was filled. Didn't look like they'd attempted to space the tables out more either. Eventually found a small Italian place up a side street that had free tables.

Both nights the city was filled with young folk out enjoying themselves - pretty much as usual. Saw very few masks and virtually zero social distancing.

My colleague is addicted to McDonalds coffee (yeah, weird) but we found every single McDonalds was absolutely rammed, with queues around the building - even at 8.15am this morning!

The government incentive to eat out may be driving the busy restaurants or maybe folk are just glad to get out. I'd need to see what it's like on a Thursday.

Oh and a quick shout out to Siesta Coffee in Newton Aycliffe who refused my money - "Jock money isn't real money and we've been caught out before" - fark you ( I didn't say it to her face as it's a coffee shop linked to a gym. The waitress looked like a body builder and I think she could have snapped me in half. I just shrugged and walked out, bravely)

Try spending Ulster Bank or worse, Bank of Ireland, in England.
Anyway, I looked into a local bookshop, it was pretty well full, no distancing, people browsing and replacing the books so no quarantine, I recognised at least one customer as a teacher and a few other professionals so they should have known better.

 

[Slick]

I only ever have bother in the NE of England. Some years ago I ordered a bacon roll and a coffee in a Sunderland cafe. It was £4 something so I handed over a Scottish tenner. The cafe owner looked like I'd crapped on his shoes and asked if I had any proper money. I apologised and said no but found £2-odd in change in my pocket. "That'll have to do" he said, taking the coins and stomping off. Fine by me, I got a cheap bacon roll & coffee.

I travel to various sites in England and came to the conclusion that I would have to wait and lift money when I arrived as I just got bored trying to spend Scottish notes in some places. Glad you got a cheap coffee and roll out it though, almost makes it worthwhile.

Probably just a Scottish thing.

 

[marinyork]

It's plausible if not likely. Arrangements are being made so that it can be administered towards the end of the year if it's ready.

It's not plausible. By vaccine most mean people being actually given it in their veins to millions of people by that date. That isn't plausible. We only have four months left to do that. In the spring by contast is plausible as vaccine coordinators and commentary have said.

A licenced vaccine is plausible, but that's a completely different thing. That is important as it ofters reassurance and hope, plus some protection for tens of thousands going into the winter wave.

 

[matticus]

I generally use the phrase to indicate a comparison between events which are so different as to render the comparison meaningless. I am not sure how else to put it that would be to your liking. What in the comparison between - for example- car crashes and COVID makes this a valid and useful comparison?

It wasn't *my* example, but it is self-evidently an example of a risk to human life that could be mitigated by shutting down "normal" societal activities. (But I think that was pretty clear in the post that started this ...)

 

[Stephenite]

Just had another test. Not related to the one I had 5 or so weeks ago. I've managed to pick up a cold again (very likely). Thought it must be an unusually bad attack of hay-fever at first but developed into sweats, dizzy spells and sore throat.

Phoned the doc's Wednesday morning. Telephone consultation in the afternoon. Test Thursday morning. Effective! Last time the results became available within 24 hours too.

Unfortunately, it means I'm in isolation until symptom free and not in work until a day after that.

 

[Stephenite]

Anyone in the UK wanting to travel to Europe from Saturday morning had better check the entry regs of the country you hope to visit.

If you are pining for the fjords you have a ten day quarantine to go through. Other countries may follow Norway's lead.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Scottish notes aren't legal tender in England or Scotland.

And English banknotes aren’t legal tender in Scotland.

 

[Stephenite]

Just had another test. Not related to the one I had 5 or so weeks ago. I've managed to pick up a cold again (very likely). Thought it must be an unusually bad attack of hay-fever at first but developed into sweats, dizzy spells and sore throat.

Phoned the doc's Wednesday morning. Telephone consultation in the afternoon. Test Thursday morning. Effective! Last time the results became available within 24 hours too.

Unfortunately, it means I'm in isolation until symptom free and not in work until a day after that.

Negative result. Three days off work meant I did a bit more tidying up than normal.

 

[MarkF]

I am off work, after an eye infection that I worked through with antibiotics, I then made sure my nose wire was nipped tight, I loosened it as the heat under my mask became intolerable. I then got a serious mouth infection, coincidence? After no days off work for decades? I don't think so. Dentist can't find anything wrong with my teeth/gums.

My terms were unilaterally changed, with no risk assessments and on Gov "guidance" not WHO advice. I am not the same as somebody doing a sedentary job. I confidently predict that there will a huge mask claims industry in the future.

 

[winjim]

Definite slowdown in testing turnaround time. A few weeks ago I was getting my results back in 24-48hrs but sent my latest swab in on Thursday and haven't heard back yet. Last week's was also delayed. Won't be the same everywhere of course, mine are sent to Scotland but I have friends here in Sheffield who have got results within 24hrs. Still, I wonder what's going on.