Coronavirus outbreak

[tom73]

Card payments, wasn't one of the conditions for pubs reopening cashless payments only.

That's one of the standard government "if you can" options. Many small pubs still don't take cards though as it stands card payment details alone won‘t meet the requirements. They can’t be used for contact tracing unless the law is changed. It won’t help with the other requirement that only 2 households can eat together.

 

[mjr]

Card payments, wasn't one of the conditions for pubs reopening cashless payments only.

Would that be legal here? It wasn't abroad when tested in court.

EDIT: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...re-how-cashless-society-harms-most-vulnerable says Rishi hasn't implemented the legal protection for cash that he announced in the budget.

 

[PeteXXX]

My daughter received this letter on Monday. It is my grandson's village school, though the next year up. Happily, he has not yet returned there.

Just as people think things are getting back to 'normal'.
The child who tested positive is Yr1. 6 years old, I believe.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

My daughter received this letter on Monday. It is my grandson's village school, though the next year up. Happily, he has not yet returned there.

View attachment 532054

Just as people think things are getting back to 'normal'

The estimated rate of infection is one in 1700 people. With those numbers, dependent on size of course, any school will have a reasonable chance of having an infected pupil or teacher.

 

[PeteXXX]

It is a small village school. I don't know exactly how many pupils, but there's only 3 years, In pods, back so far.

 

[tom73]

Locally we've had at least 3 school's with cases in the wider area at least 3 others have had to close.

 

[DaveReading]

Since this particular virus is one in which humans are NOT developing an immunity to it after exposure or contracting it.

That may or may not be true. We simply don't know yet.

 

[Johnno260]

Uk excess deaths now at 65,000. That trip to pub looking as good a deal now ?
Somehow i can’t see Witty dashing to the pub he was not that happy today. Or willing to play along with Boris.

I can't see the point, if I want a beer I can get some with my shopping order.

Look at the 1918 pandemic the 2nd wave was devastating.

 

[Algarvecycling]

Not having any lockdown - not putting into place any measures to reduce infection - would have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. That in of itself would have severe economic consequences, to say nothing of the very real personal costs which would likely touch almost everyone in this country. Furthermore, it's becoming clear that many people take months to recover and many more suffer permanent lung damage. How much do think it would cost the economy, and the NHS, to support possibly hundreds of thousands of permanently damaged invalids?

Add to this that people will stop going to pubs, cinemas, shops, restaurants, work once it becomes clear that the death rate is spiralling out of control (an effect that could already be observed the week before the lockdown was implemented). This also has an economic effect. Not attempting to control the spread of this disease has economic consequences which are likely to be as severe as the lockdown.

Indeed, this is the point most seem to miss, that while the deaths are bad and would have been worse, the numbers of sick that would result from no protective measures at all would be overwhelming for the healthcare services and have severe knock-on effects for those with other ailments needing treatment. It isn't like 'flu where Bob in Accounts would take a week and then be back, he could be gone for 2 - 4 weeks or more and still have issues afterwards. His month out of action is bad for his employer and ergo the economy. Multiply that exponentially by all those who don't die but need time to recover and the economy potentially would be worse off than it is! At least under lockdown some business could continue and cogs could turn. This is what is not understood and why the World's Leaders have taken this so seriously. Collapse Healthcare and combine that with a large number of off sick and the country would be in dire trouble. It's short-term pain vs long-term pain. There is no pleasant choice.

I fear Brazil and parts of the USA are going to demonstrate just what happens when Leaders decide to ignore the virus. Until a cure is found, we have to learn to live with this and adapt to rolling control measures. Here in the Algarve region of Portugal, we have an excellent record so far, just over 500 known infected and 15 deaths. Amazing really, but the locals took this very seriously early. Masks, social distancing etc.
However, a group of youngsters decided to have a large party recently and within days, 76 new infections all from that party. The virus is living amongst us. It is ready to spread like wildfire. We have to keep a lid on it or risk huge harm to our society. The young unaffected? They can and do die from this, albeit at far less risk but they too can get badly ill and that in itself is not pleasant. It is a numbers game and it actually doesn't take massive numbers to create major disruptions and result in tragic costs. Flippancy over percentage amounts sadly only turns into real numbers when directly affected for many.

 

[Moon bunny]

I can't see the point, if I want a beer I can get some with my shopping order....

The point is man is a social animal, and, like it or not, many peoples‘ social lives revolve around pubs. Remove that human contact and all sorts of mental difficulties arise, it isn’t simply all about the beer. I got my present job indirectly through someone I met in a pub.

 

[tom73]

Royal Colleges now calling for a rethink and the need to prepare for second wave.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53159918

 

[Tanis8472]

Would that be legal here? It wasn't abroad when tested in court.

EDIT: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...re-how-cashless-society-harms-most-vulnerable says Rishi hasn't implemented the legal protection for cash that he announced in the budget.

Ah, but we've taken back control of our laws haven't we

 

[Johnno260]

The point is man is a social animal, and, like it or not, many peoples‘ social lives revolve around pubs. Remove that human contact and all sorts of mental difficulties arise, it isn’t simply all about the beer. I got my present job indirectly through someone I met in a pub.

Less social interaction if a 2nd lockdown is imposed, or if you're lying in a hospital bed.

Issue with bars and pubs after a few drinks and peoples inhibitions are down being 1m apart wont be a thing.

 

[Algarvecycling]

The point is man is a social animal, and, like it or not, many peoples‘ social lives revolve around pubs. Remove that human contact and all sorts of mental difficulties arise, it isn’t simply all about the beer. I got my present job indirectly through someone I met in a pub.

This is absolutely true and therefore needs a solution. I think indoor Pub life is more a scene in cooler climes but in the hot countries I grew up in and now live in again, the social venues are similar but outdoors and, nowadays, less risky. For those who rely upon Pubs for their main social interactions, something does need to be done and from I've read measures are being adopted to lower risk but as another Poster correctly pointed out, too much alcohol and those measures are more difficult to adhere to and enforce.

This is an example of where a culture that considers excess drinking acceptable and even sport, fails. I couldn't stand going to anything other than gastro pubs in the UK precisely due to the numbers of folk who thought getting drunk was fun. For me, alcohol is to be enjoyed but to still recall the evening the morning after and not suffer from any after-effects. Far too many of my colleagues would describe their perfect night out as one they couldn't remember. In COVID times, that is just not wise and could lead to Landlords being forced to close when more measured behaviour might see them remain open for the benefit of all. Time will tell, I guess, as to just how mature the population behaves.

 

[DaveReading]

I've never been a fan of the expression "between a rock and a hard place", but I'm forced to admit that it's a pretty good description of where we are now.

And while we're recycling cliches, I can't see even the faintest glimmer of light at the end of this particular tunnel.