Coronavirus outbreak

[marinyork]

What was his reasoning? Following the science?

It's something to various degrees he's been on about the week before at another appearance. It was stated as a wish and part of wanting to get back to normal, although I think there was an 'eventually' in there that although I heard it others might not have.

Politically the government doesn't have a handle on what's opening up in June yet and has to plan for phase 3 from July onwards.

Most headlines these days just seem to be about battles with over opening of schools and newspaper stoking over expectations of summer holidays, both of which are issues to be discussed but are ultimately a gigantic distraction for the country when taking the size of this crisis and need the narrative and logistics sorted quickly.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I'm annoyed at Sturgeon today.

Ms Sturgeon also said she would "strongly encourage people" to wear face coverings in shops, but was still considering whether to make it mandatory.
She added: "I said when I announced the policy some weeks back that we would keep this under review.
"We haven't reached a final position on this but I think it is fair to say it is something that we are considering."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-52921078

What is absolutely clear is no one gives a monkey about her "strong encouragement" as it's being routinely ignored. Worse, people that do wear them are saying they're being sniggered at in shops. I wonder if she actually has the power to make wearing a mask compulsory or is she talking out her arse?

 

[tom73]

I agree i've not seen social science finding on how other counties have done on over all compliance. Other counties went much more heavier on lockdown then us. We either have a distance that we stick with or totally publicly remove it. To move it now just makes everything else look pointless. It's going to be difficult to balance risk with opening up the economy. So much has been spent already trying to keep things going. We may as well now borrow a bit more and move to more clever options that allow the economy to rebalance, invest in training and new technology all of which is long over due. No-one has a clue what the economy will look like post covid so may as well get in 1st. One thing is clear from past pandemics if health is left weak the economy takes much longer to come back.
Health look's to be as each day passers going off the radar of government , press and public.

PPE is long forgotten old news i'm not convinced it's fixed yet. The government messages are just getting more mixed by the day even yesterday Borris said none essential travel should be avoided. But yet we've been told it's fine to travel as much as you want for a day out. We've all seen packed out beeches and the mess many are making in the national parks inc moorland fires. Then we have the shield don't shield if in doubt as your GP who don't have a clue what to say due to being sidelined, go on holiday but at the same time you need to stay at home for 2 weeks but at the some time the government still talk of air bridges so may change. A test track and trace the may well be set up but many local public health officers say it's not running. It's just a big mess if Tesco had the same mixed messages it would have gone bust years ago. The only thing that look's like going bust any time soon is public health

 

[marinyork]

What is absolutely clear is no one gives a monkey about her "strong encouragement" as it's being routinely ignored. Worse, people that do wear them are saying they're being sniggered at in shops. I wonder if she actually has the power to make wearing a mask compulsory or is she talking out her arse?

I don't think anyone in the UK does have the power/persuasion. Locally specific services, more likely health may get people wearing them temporarily. Indoors everywhere in shops, nah, not a chance. As the government recommend it I wear a covering I wear an FFP1 (above a face covering, but that's the mask/covering that I have) in shops. I don't get laughed at, it's not that bad, but only about 5% of people in shops are wearing face coverings I estimate.

Even if there was enforcement, theoretically it'd be best targeted at particular types of establishment/problems encountered. Or indoors workplace enforcement.

 

[mjr]

I'm annoyed at Sturgeon today. [...] I wonder if she actually has the power to make wearing a mask compulsory or is she talking out her arse?

I think she does, thanks to http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/7/schedule/19

 

[mjr]

I don't think anyone in the UK does have the power/persuasion. [...] I don't get laughed at, it's not that bad, but only about 5% of people in shops are wearing face coverings I estimate.

Persuasion is different. Generally, Johnson's UK government seems unwilling to use even a fraction of the powers it has been given to confront this pandemic, which starkly contrasts to the extreme measures used for certain other things. I guess it's just not a matter of life or death to ministers(!) I don't know how the Scottish approach differs.

I agree with the above estimate from what I've seen. Peak mask use was just before Cumgate and it's now fallen drastically again. I'm also seeing an increase this week in people getting argumentative against one-person-per-basket restrictions and security staff now letting families go in, at the expense of longer queues outside because of the fixed capacity limits.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

There's a cycling graph in the transport figures now. I bet that's down today. Will Shapps mention his bike voucher scheme again? It seemed to attract zero interest at the time he first mentioned it - it did look like an ineffective diversionary tactic at the time.

Edit: he did, along with the bike to work scheme.

 

[tom73]

Face coverings to become mandatory from 15 June on all public transport.
More positive talk about cycling

 

[Rocky]

Face coverings to become mandatory from 15 June on all public transport.
More positive talk about cycling

It appears that the Prof hasn’t just been shouting at the clouds......someone must have been listening

 

[tom73]

It appears that the Prof hasn’t just been shouting at the clouds......someone must have been listening

Looking like it yes
I just hope they get the messaging right and staff are clear on who don't have to wear one due medical grounds or it will become yet another flash point. I can see some poor old pensioner left at the bus stop in the rain with no other bus coming anytime soon.
How you prove it I don't know and let's also hope we don't get a rush of everyone buying ones with the oneway valve as that's not going to do anybody any good.

 

[marinyork]

Persuasion is different. Generally, Johnson's UK government seems unwilling to use even a fraction of the powers it has been given to confront this pandemic, which starkly contrasts to the extreme measures used for certain other things. I guess it's just not a matter of life or death to ministers(!) I don't know how the Scottish approach differs.

I agree with the above estimate from what I've seen. Peak mask use was just before Cumgate and it's now fallen drastically again. I'm also seeing an increase this week in people getting argumentative against one-person-per-basket restrictions and security staff now letting families go in, at the expense of longer queues outside because of the fixed capacity limits.

I say I don't think they (meaning Boris, Matt, Priti) can persuade based on the last 3-4 months. Not that it's impossible for anyone. Other politicians after this time would have an uphill battle.

The evolution of the messages, it seemed to be the medics in northern ireland and the media that preceded the government's stay at home message. I think lockdown fatigue exists. I think messages need to change.

Families going in, here that was for about a week that was enforced.

I see it's Grant Shapps today for the announcement about masks as tom73 said. It does seem to be Shapps that says the harder announcements compare to previous pronouncements on public transport and 10% capacity.

 

[Mr Whyte]

Face coverings to become mandatory from 15 June on all public transport.
More positive talk about cycling

Great on the cycling, and good for masks on transport if I ever get a bus again I`m glad I don`t have to wear a mask.

 

[Rocky]

Looking like it yes
I just hope they get the messaging right and staff are clear on who don't have to wear one due medical grounds or it will become yet another flash point. I can see some poor old pensioner left at the bus stop in the rain with no other bus coming anytime soon.
How you prove it I don't know and let's also hope we don't get a rush of everyone buying ones with the oneway valve as that's not going to do anybody any good.

The evidence is starting to appear that supports mask use. I do feel sorry for the poor old pensioner in your scenario but surely they’d have a hanky which they could cover their nose and mouth with?

 

[marinyork]

The evidence is starting to appear that supports mask use. I do feel sorry for the poor old pensioner in your scenario but surely they’d have a hanky which they could cover their nose and mouth with?

Not talked about much, but in Italy some regions/provinces that eventually actually mandated them gave them out to every household.

I'm not suggesting that's worth happening here or will happen but it's an interesting comparison. Despite that though they were very widely worn way, way before that.

There's a rumour round here that buses are once an hour and there's no timetable. This is another one for working on getting the message out.

 

[tom73]

The evidence is starting to appear that supports mask use. I do feel sorry for the poor old pensioner in your scenario but surely they’d have a hanky which they could cover their nose and mouth with?

I agree totally my scenario was more about grumpy drivers having even more power to be a total arse about.
The nose thing is interesting I've lost count with how many wear sadly mostly surgical masks below the nose.
Only this morning I was handed some meds at the pharmacy with her wearing one like that.