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the most over the top restrictions introduced

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MarlowDonkey

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Either this gentleman has a bit of Covid OCD, or he has a wierd desire to gave her Majesty a facial wash, or there is a new scam going on with the new £10 & £20 notes that I am not aware of!!!!!

Isn't there a supposed contact risk from banknotes and coins? Whether in five months, anyone has actually caught the disease in this way hasn't been established. In fact, how much surface contact risk really is there? I recall from back in March or April hearing a suggestion that the handles on the nozzles at filling stations were spreading it. Whether that was in any way true isn't known, but the lack of fuel sales duing lockdown would have cut it out.
 
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Journeyman

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Went to a County Park today. Groups of more than 1 cannot hire a pedalo unless they live together. Not sure how they check.

Apart from nightclubs, soft play areas not opening and no park run - I havent a clue what the restrictions are anymore. Can people not from the same household share a pedalo?

Yes, if you tell a barefaced lie about where you live.
 

Mojo

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Went to a local open-air swimming pool this afternoon. The lockers and changing cubicles are outside. Every other changing cubicle was out of use (this wasn’t a problem as despite being nearly 30 degrees there were only 7 other customers) but being enclosed from ankle-height to over two metres tall the protection provided is much greater than those daft plastic screens in supermarket.
 

Huntergreed

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There's been a barrage of complaints to my local tesco for removing their one way system, because people don't feel 'safe' anymore.

Some people I've spoken to want to see mandated masks, a security guard on the door enforcing '1 in, 1 out', a one way system around the shop, mandatory social distancing (ie if you're caught outwith your little box, you should get a telling off).

People have truly lost it :(
 

adc82140

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Those people who don't feel "safe" had better stay at home then. There are also nasty buses and cars to run you over, the sun could give you skin cancer, you might get mugged, you might fall over a pot hole, then end up in hospital and catch MRSA, the cheese you buy could give you listeria. Perhaps we can send them some bubble wrap to cover their furniture in. Although we should turn off their gas supply as they might get carbon monoxide poisoning. Don't get me started on how dangerous electricity is. That needs to be cut off too. It could start a fire.
 

Huntergreed

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Those people who don't feel "safe" had better stay at home then. There are also nasty buses and cars to run you over, the sun could give you skin cancer, you might get mugged, you might fall over a pot hole, then end up in hospital and catch MRSA, the cheese you buy could give you listeria. Perhaps we can send them some bubble wrap to cover their furniture in. Although we should turn off their gas supply as they might get carbon monoxide poisoning. Don't get me started on how dangerous electricity is. That needs to be cut off too. It could start a fire.
Indeed, this highlights how silly some of the arguments are in how people don’t feel “safe”, but sadly the way policy is now made is that it must not lead to any transmission whatsoever, and that this is more important than anything else (including discrimination sadly) :(
 

adc82140

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In addition are those in power that stupid that they cannot see that the mask thing has led to a breakdown in social distancing and therefore increased infection
 

Huntergreed

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In addition are those in power that stupid that they cannot see that the mask thing has led to a breakdown in social distancing and therefore increased infection
This would seem to be the case, yes.

I’ve always stated I felt masks would lead to an increase in transmission due to this and people using them improperly, I remain convinced this is the case.
 

C J Snarzell

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I actually saw a sign about wearing face masks that had been erected on a wall near a designated smoking area, outside a local hospital.

Either someone is clearly having a laugh or maybe Lambert & Butler have invented a new cigarette than can be smoked under facial coverings.

CJ
 
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duncanp

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Birmingham City Council have more or less closed their cemeteries.

They are only open for visitors, as opposed to funerals, between 4pm and 7pm each day.

This is supposedly to "protect staff and keep them safe", but it is particularly cruel and heartbreaking for people whose loved ones are buried in one of the cemeteries, as it means in many cases they are prevented from visiting or tending to a grave.

Never mind the fact that

  • cemeteries are open air spaces, where the transmission of the virus has been shown to be very weak
  • you don't usually get big crowds in a cemetery, so it should be possible for staff and visitors to socially distance very easily

If staff need to work in a particular area, they can put temporary barriers there in order protect themselves if they wish.

The neighbouring borough of Sandwell have not indulged in such nastiness, and their cemeteries are open to the public all day on fairly standard hours.

Perhaps the big bad killer virus has a penchant for particular local authority areas, or more likely the lazy Birmingham City Council are using COVID-19 as an excuse not to do anything.
 

Bletchleyite

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There's been a barrage of complaints to my local tesco for removing their one way system, because people don't feel 'safe' anymore.

Some people I've spoken to want to see mandated masks, a security guard on the door enforcing '1 in, 1 out', a one way system around the shop, mandatory social distancing (ie if you're caught outwith your little box, you should get a telling off).

People have truly lost it :(

Why is that having "lost it" (other than masks not being mandated on those who are exempt)? Cases are on the rise, and this is because people are getting slack. The measures should remain as they were when they were introduced. And yes, everything you have listed is what was agreed with PHE etc as being sensible measures for a supermarket.

It's not that I personally "don't feel safe" as I've probably got more chance of crashing the car and dying on the way there than dying of COVID caught there, it's that the overall figure (and whether it's decaying or growing) is really, really important.
 

AdamWW

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Why is that having "lost it" (other than masks not being mandated on those who are exempt)? Cases are on the rise, and this is because people are getting slack. The measures should remain as they were when they were introduced. And yes, everything you have listed is what was agreed with PHE etc as being sensible measures for a supermarket.

It's not that I personally "don't feel safe" as I've probably got more chance of crashing the car and dying on the way there than dying of COVID caught there, it's that the overall figure (and whether it's decaying or growing) is really, really important.

I don't know we can conclude that cases are on the rise because people are getting slack, and not just because of the continuing relaxation of restrictions.

It might be the way the government would like us to think - then any reimposition of restrictions can be blamed on us for being bad, not their handling of the situation.

But otherwise I agree completely - but I think the idea that going out now gives a very low risk of infection but we should take all these precautions because otherwise that will change rapidly is too subtle for some people. Especially those who don't understand the impact and dangers of exponential growth.

(I do NOT put people who think that we're trying to hold back the tide and all we are doing is going through misery to postpone the inevitable in that category).
 

Bletchleyite

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(I do NOT put people who think that we're trying to hold back the tide and all we are doing is going through misery to postpone the inevitable in that category).

That could become the case if something happens that conclusively proves no vaccine is possible[1]. However, it presently looks good for a vaccine within 6 months to a year, and therefore it's not "putting off the inevitable", it's just keeping deaths to a reasonable minimum until one of the vaccines is ready to go.

[1] However it's likely, if that happened, that herd immunity would also not work, as they work on a very similar basis. So then you move to a rather different scenario - a possible extinction event (over time, as you might be asymptomatic once then get a serious case the next time, say, or the third) vs. social distancing forever. That isn't nice to contemplate, but even if you need a jab every 6 months it does seem unlikely we'll be in that position at the present time.
 

Jayden99

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I've made it pretty clear on here that I'm a little bit more keen on restrictions than most. But at the ticket office queue in Victoria they've given one of the pink vests a megaphone and he was making very liberal use of it to remind us all to stand on the blue dots "for your safety. No one is social distancing in this queue find a blue dot and stand on it." At least someone is having fun I guess.
 

AdamWW

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[1] However it's likely, if that happened, that herd immunity would also not work, as they work on a very similar basis. So then you move to a rather different scenario - a possible extinction event (over time, as you might be asymptomatic once then get a serious case the next time, say, or the third) vs. social distancing forever. That isn't nice to contemplate, but even if you need a jab every 6 months it does seem unlikely we'll be in that position at the present time.

I think that if immunity doesn't last well enough to prevent re-infection, then it's much less likely to be serious second time round.

Or in my ignorance am I just being too optimistic here?

I've made it pretty clear on here that I'm a little bit more keen on restrictions than most. But at the ticket office queue in Victoria they've given one of the pink vests a megaphone and he was making very liberal use of it to remind us all to stand on the blue dots "for your safety. No one is social distancing in this queue find a blue dot and stand on it." At least someone is having fun I guess.
 

Bletchleyite

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I think that if immunity doesn't last well enough to prevent re-infection, then it's much less likely to be serious second time round.

Or in my ignorance am I just being too optimistic here?

I think that's one of the many unknowns (it would be the case if partial immunity rather than full immunity is conferred).

I think however full immunity for a period of time is likely. It would be very, very useful to know how long, as that could create a scenario where we could burn it out by letting it run openly but where a vaccine might not work. If it's 6 months or more then a vaccine is workable (though would need to be given repeatedly). Something like 2-5 months and "letting it burn through" could actually kill it off. Under 1-2 months and we're back to a potential extinction event.
 

AdamWW

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I think that's one of the many unknowns (it would be the case if partial immunity rather than full immunity is conferred).

I suppose I'm hoping that the worst likely case is that there is very limited partial immunity but enough for it not to kill you the second time round.

If the explanations that Covid-19 is so serious because it's completely novel to us are correct, this suggests that second time round should be better.
 

superjohn

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The problem comes when the enforcemen isn’t targeted. The management where I work are now in the habit of wandering round shouting “two meters please guys!” regardless of where people are standing. They consider this job done but it just makes people tune them out and the effect is lost. The first couple of times people will look around themselves and think “I’m nowhere near anybody!”, after that they won’t bother reacting.
 

Mojo

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Apparently a lot of schools have banned lunch boxes or reusable lunch bags and are insisting that any food storage is disposable.

I’m on a Facebook page for supermarket bargains and someone just posted a link to some paper bags for sale on eBay (the brown paper bags you usually get if you go to an independent sandwich shop; the same shape and design as from on-train buffets but just unbranded); most of the several hundred comments are from parents that have said their school has the same policy.
 

Domh245

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I fail to see why disposable food storage will be necessary? I can see the rationale behind not allowing reusables at coffee shops and similar, but there's no similar risk in schools, surely?
 

Mag_seven

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Are we now to throw away all our environmental initiatives (reusable lunch bags, coffee cups etc) on the alter of COVID? We seem to be allowing COVID measures to dictate absolutely everything.
 

C J Snarzell

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Although I have commented on this on another thread - the wearing of facemasks in cinema theatres is a little OTT if safe distancing is maintained in seating areas. I appreciate some forum members will disagree with me here.

If people wear masks, they can't eat food or drink during the film. This is going to have a massive impact on cinemas as their revenue is made up of sales from refreshments as ticket sales go straight back to the film makers.

I also believe the number of cinema goers will drop if people are expected to wear face coverings for a full two hour film viewing.

CJ
 

Richard Scott

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I think however full immunity for a period of time is likely. It would be very, very useful to know how long, as that could create a scenario where we could burn it out by letting it run openly but where a vaccine might not work. If it's 6 months or more then a vaccine is workable (though would need to be given repeatedly). Something like 2-5 months and "letting it burn through" could actually kill it off. Under 1-2 months and we're back to a potential extinction event.
A potential extinction event? Of what? Human race? The beings that managed to survive other viruses and bacteria? I know with casualties but after many thousands of years we're still here. What a ridiculous statement.
 

Mojo

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Are we now to throw away all our environmental initiatives (reusable lunch bags, coffee cups etc) on the alter of COVID? We seem to be allowing COVID measures to dictate absolutely everything.
That is exactly my concern; the tiny gains made in the past year where it comes to awareness of plastics has probably been reversed and exceeded in the wrong direction in the past few months with customers being forced to buy unnecessary plastic-wrapped masks and other items. Many shops have removed tongs and pre-bagged bakery and other fresh goods, although the worst of that seems to be over now. Many shops have replaced more environmentally friendly packaging with plastic, citing “supply chain issues.”

I was pleased to see at the forum meet to Bekonscot Model Village that they have retained the free drinking water bottle refill points. Many organisations have switched these off in the name of Covid; no coincidence that the shops are charging in some locations £2 for a bottle of water.
 

matt_world2004

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I tried to go to a pub recently on lunch break and we had to fill out contact tracing forms however they would not give out pens to fill out the form because of the coronavirus risk so we couldn't go as none of us had pens on us
 

Skimpot flyer

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My employer has installed paper cone dispensers next to the water fountains. For obvious reasons, people are told not to drink directly from the fountain (leaning in close to the tap). They have also warned people not to refill any water bottles directly from the tap, and ‘if anyone is seen doing this, the facility will be disconnected’.
Leaving aside that it’s probably illegal to not provide access to drinking water, when questioned if someone filled a cone, poured the contents into a bottle, re-filled the cone, poured it into the bottle etc etc, they said this would ‘be ok’ !

(When using the fountain yesterday, I realised as I drank from a cone, that the button I pushed to operate it had presumably been touched many times already that day anyway)
 

Crossover

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Are we now to throw away all our environmental initiatives (reusable lunch bags, coffee cups etc) on the alter of COVID? We seem to be allowing COVID measures to dictate absolutely everything.

I’ve been pondering that for a while now. Right from the get go, there has been a push back towards items being packaged that once were loose etc
 

island

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Are we now to throw away all our environmental initiatives (reusable lunch bags, coffee cups etc) on the alter of COVID? We seem to be allowing COVID measures to dictate absolutely everything.
We already have. Disposable face coverings are also a huge source of non-recyclable waste. Doesn’t matter though, if it’s not Covid it’s irrelevant :|.
Although I have commented on this on another thread - the wearing of facemasks in cinema theatres is a little OTT if safe distancing is maintained in seating areas. I appreciate some forum members will disagree with me here.

If people wear masks, they can't eat food or drink during the film. This is going to have a massive impact on cinemas as their revenue is made up of sales from refreshments as ticket sales go straight back to the film makers.

I also believe the number of cinema goers will drop if people are expected to wear face coverings for a full two hour film viewing.

CJ
I am on the way to the cinema now by bus (wearing a face shield). There is no way I will be going in a week’s time if the regulations require face coverings in the cinema; I will stream films (legally) at home until the nonsense stops.
 

Bletchleyite

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My employer has installed paper cone dispensers next to the water fountains. For obvious reasons, people are told not to drink directly from the fountain (leaning in close to the tap). They have also warned people not to refill any water bottles directly from the tap, and ‘if anyone is seen doing this, the facility will be disconnected’.
Leaving aside that it’s probably illegal to not provide access to drinking water, when questioned if someone filled a cone, poured the contents into a bottle, re-filled the cone, poured it into the bottle etc etc, they said this would ‘be ok’ !

(When using the fountain yesterday, I realised as I drank from a cone, that the button I pushed to operate it had presumably been touched many times already that day anyway)

I've seen this pre-COVID. To be fair, people do put the bottle they've gobbed all over touching the tap when filling it, so it is fairly nasty. The notices I saw did indeed ask that you used a cup to fill your bottle if doing that.

If a means of drinking the water is provided (the cones), they are not "not providing access to drinking water". There would be no obligation to allow you to fill your own bottle, nor to even allow you to bring your own bottle onto the premises.
 
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