The fact that our purported PM seems to have passed it on would appear to be supporting evidence.
Brexit, for once some facts.
- Thread starter flecc
- Start date
social distancing and lockdown work.Latest casualty report
Although getting close, Covid-19 hasn't quite reached us, so I decided to check out the supermarket experience with separation, doing a milk and bread top up at the same time.
There was the usual separated queue running around much of the large car park, but it moved quickly and was well regulated at the entrance. On entry to the store we were all being individually greeted with a pleasant smile and hello by one of the Sainburys management in a suit, quite impressive and enough to rattle Waitrose
But inside the good impression quickly melted since separation from others was impossible in this very large and busy store. A foot or so was about the best possible within bi-directional aisles, especially when there were trolleys in use restocking shelves.
The checkout experience was amusing though, the staffed ones were busy, but I headed for the self checkout area as usual. It's very large in this big store with some 20 checkout machines in the compound, usually very busy and often with queuing for the next free machine.
But today it was totally empty and unstaffed, still so when I left!
Clearly all the talk of getting contaminated from the touch surfaces of machine and keypad has really scared most people. In truth it was probably the safest area of the whole store with no-one using the machines, since it had no doubt been thoroughly disinfected at least once daily.
However, this experience added to the impossibility of adequate separation when walking for exercise in my densely populated local area, I have to conclude that the separation policy is no better than tokenism in respect of controlling the spread of the virus.
This is borne out by London with only one sixth of the UK population having half of all the confirmed cases.
Considering that 86% of the UK population live in cities and towns, all having areas of high population density, the bulk of the population isn't being adequately protected by separation.
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There was the usual separated queue running around much of the large car park, but it moved quickly and was well regulated at the entrance. On entry to the store we were all being individually greeted with a pleasant smile and hello by one of the Sainburys management in a suit, quite impressive and enough to rattle Waitrose
But inside the good impression quickly melted since separation from others was impossible in this very large and busy store. A foot or so was about the best possible within bi-directional aisles, especially when there were trolleys in use restocking shelves.
The checkout experience was amusing though, the staffed ones were busy, but I headed for the self checkout area as usual. It's very large in this big store with some 20 checkout machines in the compound, usually very busy and often with queuing for the next free machine.
But today it was totally empty and unstaffed, still so when I left!
Clearly all the talk of getting contaminated from the touch surfaces of machine and keypad has really scared most people. In truth it was probably the safest area of the whole store with no-one using the machines, since it had no doubt been thoroughly disinfected at least once daily.
However, this experience added to the impossibility of adequate separation when walking for exercise in my densely populated local area, I have to conclude that the separation policy is no better than tokenism in respect of controlling the spread of the virus.
This is borne out by London with only one sixth of the UK population having half of all the confirmed cases.
Considering that 86% of the UK population live in cities and towns, all having areas of high population density, the bulk of the population isn't being adequately protected by separation.
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To a very limited degree, and it's too early yet to be definitive. The social distancing in particular is largely failing, any gain mainly due to lockdown.
See my post above.
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my wife forbid me to go out, especially to the supermarket, but I got out once a couple of days ago.
I chose the a manned checkout because the till area is sprayed and wiped after each and every customer.
When I arrived at home (still wearing face mask and gloves), my wife took the shopping bag from me into her own cleaning station. The bag is emptied, every item washed - even the packet of biscuits (now you know why I sneaked out).
I forgot to add that I was wearing golf gloves. I don't play golf, but those gloves are made with thin calf leather so with plenty of feel.
I had them in my jacket pocket driving to the store, only putting them on after leaving the car and taking them back off before getting into the car. So those protected me from contact with the basket handle and checkout surfaces.
It's the trolley and basket handles which are the weak link, with them in rotating use by customers and I'm certain not being adequately disinfected, given their huge numbers.
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The main purpose of separation is to reduce the number of contacts (and thus reduce reproduction number, Rt). Even where it is impossible to avoid all near contact it helps that it is considerably reduced. Living in cities does mean the protection is less than in the county; just as the risks of death by pollution (maybe indirect) are much higher in cities.
p.s. I agree with your point about trolley and basket handles.
I saw many people say 7 days was inadequate for Johnson. For the sake of others, rather than himself.
Boris Johnson still has Covid-19 symptoms and may stay in isolation
PM has been self-isolating at No 11 for six days and still has mild symptoms
Boris Johnson still has Covid-19 symptoms and may stay in isolation
PM has been self-isolating at No 11 for six days and still has mild symptoms
Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock are living proof of this phenomenon.
I called in at Morrison’s yesterday morning. Queuing outside was very orderly, quick moving and well supervised.
Inside wasn’t as good. Quite a few families in there, mum, dad and grotty badly behaved children running around. There was no need for all four family members to be inside and I would support the supermarket if they took the decision to ban this sort of family group.
I wear a face mask, goggles and rubber gloves, which get binned after use. My clothes go in the washer and all packaging is cleaned with bleach before it comes into the house. Shopping is definitely the highest risk activity in my routine.
I wonder how airborne this virus is. I suspect it my transmit through the air more readily than we are being told. I also think appropriate face masks are more effective than people are saying too.
I agree, I am starting to see reports that the wearing of face masks can help reduce the spread of the virus. Some researchers in the USA think that coughs and in particular sneezing can transmit the virus a great deal further than at first thought. Perhaps as much as 6 mts.
Many of the super markets in the Asian Countries give out face masks to their customers on the way into the store and its compulsory to wear one if you want to go shopping in there. Seems like a sensible idea to me.
There is some conflicting evidence. Superficially, it looks like a no-brainer. But when you start considering the need to replace, dispose, sanitise, whatever, it becomes less clear. However, yes, I am persuaded that so long as the right advice is both given and followed, it is very likely a good idea.
Yes, I agree on all points. To pretend that face masks don't help as the government has been doing is ridiculous. For decades the populations of Oriental countries have used simple masks against spreading all the previous virus pandemics and even the common cold, to great effect.
It's no accident that they are making so much better progress against Covid-19 than we are, and I'm sure their face masks have been an important factor.
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Some people might laugh and snigger at this story. I couldn't possible comment on such childish behaviour.
BUT, it is awful that he has wasted so much fighting against HMRC. I wonder how much it has cost us to stop him getting away without paying?
Arron Banks fails to use European laws to avoid paying £162,000 tax bill
HMRC says millionaire owes money for inheritance tax liability on Ukip donations
Arron Banks, the businessman and Ukip party donor, has failed in his attempt to use European human rights laws to dismiss a £162,000 tax bill.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/02/arron-banks-fails-to-use-european-laws-to-avoid-paying-162000-tax-bill
BUT, it is awful that he has wasted so much fighting against HMRC. I wonder how much it has cost us to stop him getting away without paying?
Arron Banks fails to use European laws to avoid paying £162,000 tax bill
HMRC says millionaire owes money for inheritance tax liability on Ukip donations
Arron Banks, the businessman and Ukip party donor, has failed in his attempt to use European human rights laws to dismiss a £162,000 tax bill.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/02/arron-banks-fails-to-use-european-laws-to-avoid-paying-162000-tax-bill
Question: What is Boots?
Is it the French company Fareva who bought Boots' manufacturing? Or Walgreen Boots Alliance which owns the shops?
Hancock is outlining his five-pillar strategy:
The first pillar is swab testing in PHE labs and within NHS hospitals, to find out if you already have the virus.
The government is committed to reaching 25,000 tests per day by the end of April.
The second pillar is creating a swab testing capacity delivered by commercial partners. This will be a partnership with universities, research institutions and companies like Amazon and Boots to build a network of new labs and testing sites across the country. Trials have been completed and number of tests at this facility will significantly increase from this weekend. It will at first be solely for frontline workers and their families.
Is it the French company Fareva who bought Boots' manufacturing? Or Walgreen Boots Alliance which owns the shops?
Hancock is outlining his five-pillar strategy:
The first pillar is swab testing in PHE labs and within NHS hospitals, to find out if you already have the virus.
The government is committed to reaching 25,000 tests per day by the end of April.
The second pillar is creating a swab testing capacity delivered by commercial partners. This will be a partnership with universities, research institutions and companies like Amazon and Boots to build a network of new labs and testing sites across the country. Trials have been completed and number of tests at this facility will significantly increase from this weekend. It will at first be solely for frontline workers and their families.
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