Milzy
Guru
Exempt cards are a thing you know.
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
Yes, they are a piece of cardboard with some writing on them. No more than that.
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
Tshwane District Omicron Variant Patient Profile - Early Features
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) report on hospitalized patients since the advent of the Omicron variant. Describes the condition of the hospitalised on 2 Dec - Omicron variant well established and v high percentage of Tshwane County in Gauteng province's infections so Omicron (as they put it) "reasonably assumed".
Two different (and not necessarily conflicting) assessments about Omicron:
likely the apparent lower lethality is arising from some mix of:
We'll just have to wait to find out. Would be great the variant turns out to be intrinsically less lethal, even if it is more infectious. Less hospitalisation; less deaths ceteris paribus.
[PINK/] IF this is the case, have the government 'made' yet another error: slowing the opportunity for Omicron to out-compete the more dangerous Delta?[/PINK/]
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) report on hospitalized patients since the advent of the Omicron variant. Describes the condition of the hospitalised on 2 Dec - Omicron variant well established and v high percentage of Tshwane County in Gauteng province's infections so Omicron (as they put it) "reasonably assumed".
Two different (and not necessarily conflicting) assessments about Omicron:
- milder than previous versions
- much more contagious
likely the apparent lower lethality is arising from some mix of:
- demographic bias (or under-sampling if you like) of early outbreaks
- an effect of not letting all the lags play out
- the younger demographic in the SA population vs here
- an effect of the virus mostly spreading in a population with high levels of immunity from recent infection and vaccination (latter higher in over 50s (57%) than under 50s (34%))
- an effect of the virus mostly spreading in a population that (given its demographic and the excess deaths figures) has had an exceptional loss of vulnerable people in the last year
We'll just have to wait to find out. Would be great the variant turns out to be intrinsically less lethal, even if it is more infectious. Less hospitalisation; less deaths ceteris paribus.
[PINK/] IF this is the case, have the government 'made' yet another error: slowing the opportunity for Omicron to out-compete the more dangerous Delta?[/PINK/]
Last edited:
classic33
Leg End Member
Some aren't even printed.
The problem is that between them and the "flora" lanyard, for hidden disabilities, they are all self certified and issued.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
And why do you think there is no such thing as a "genuine exempt card"?
You certainly haven't said anything which comes close to establishing that.
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
If all else fails, try reading the Regulation.
There are only 9 categories of person who are exempt from its provisions (kids under 11, police on duty, emergency responders, etc). Clearly none of those have any requirement for an "exempt card".
If the individuals who get on buses or walk into pubs without a mask want to wear a card on a lanyard, it really ought to say "I accept that I am subject to the provisions of the Regulation, from which I am not exempt, but I claim I have a "reasonable excuse" (as defined therein) for being excused from compliance". The validity of that excuse would ultimately be for a court to decide, if it came to the crunch.
But of course they would then need either very small handwriting or a much bigger card.
classic33
Leg End Member
Because you'd need to see your GP to get an official letter stating your disability(ies) that qualify you as exempt. These letters cost around the £20 mark.
How many people would pay £20, and how many GP's would have the time to process them.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
I have no idea how many will be willing to do so. Nor do I have any idea what relevance that has to the point.,
Seriously, unless you are someone who is disabled where they have no capacity or have medical issues with breathing generally, I don't want to wear a mask approach is not a thing. Whether you believe it or not research and millions of people who wear, and have worn a mask before Covid prove infection rates are lower with one when out and about.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
The government seem to disagree with youIf all else fails, try reading the Regulation.
There are only 9 categories of person who are exempt from its provisions (kids under 11, police on duty, emergency responders, etc). Clearly none of those have any requirement for an "exempt card".
If the individuals who get on buses or walk into pubs without a mask want to wear a card on a lanyard, it really ought to say "I accept that I am subject to the provisions of the Regulation, from which I am not exempt, but I claim I have a "reasonable excuse" (as defined therein) for being excused from compliance". The validity of that excuse would ultimately be for a court to decide, if it came to the crunch.
But of course they would then need either very small handwriting or a much bigger card.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ngs-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
classic33
Leg End Member
If you treat it as an official, legal card, then it would have to be proven medically. The only person that could do that for you would be your GP.
The same as any other medical exemption certificate/card. From disabled rail/travel card to blue badge.
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
It would be more accurate to say that the Government disagrees with itself.
Throughout the pandemic, pages on the gov.uk website headed "Guidance" have frequently been at odds with the legislation - for example the often misleading guidance about what we could and couldn't do during the lockdowns (debated extensively on CC at the time).
Nobody has ever been prosecuted (apart from a few subsequently overturned convictions early in the pandemic) for failing to follow the guidance. When you get fined for not following the rules, it's in relation to the legislation, which you can read here, if you so desire: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (England) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)
Clearly you haven't.
Last edited:
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
True, but irrelevant, since nobody has suggested that.
classic33
Leg End Member
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
You changed that while I was reading it
I was about to ask why you had pointed to the general publications page, rather than the actual regulations
Any reasoning behind that?
And no, it wouldn't be accurate to say the government disagrees with itself in this case, though I fully agree the guidance has by no means been consistently in line with the actual legislation.
There is nothing in the article I posted the link to above which is in disagreement with the legislation, other than that they use the term "exempt" in laymans' terms rather than the strict legal sense.
