Brexit, for once some facts.

tommie

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 13, 2013
1,760
600
Co. Down, N. Ireland, U.K.
Today, I heard two aircraft. Not that surprising because much of the time we don't notice any aircraft at all - unless we actually think and listen out for them.
But one of them, which I didn't see but did hear, it now being said to be one of those huge C17s. Not exactly frequent round here.
That`s a bit of a coincidence......... one of those just landed yesterday at RAF Aldergrove (Co. Antrim, N.I.)
There has been speculation of the Army getting prepared to build field hospitals here.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oyster

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
I'm sure the main factor is population densities. For example London's true population of some 10.2 millions is about one sixth of the UK. But London's crowded space has about a half of all the coronavirus infected.

The population to space ratio of the other three countries means effective separation is both easy and often involuntary due to circumstances.
.
Maybe. But maybe not. Wales has a higher cases rate.

Country2018 populationTotal casesDeaths% deathsCases / pop
England
55,977,178​
76,371​
11,656​
15.3%​
0.14%​
Northern Ireland
3,138,631​
2,088​
134​
6.4%​
0.07%​
Scotland
5,438,100​
6,748​
615​
9.1%​
0.12%​
Wales
3,138,631​
6,118​
463​
7.6%​
0.19%​
 
  • :D
Reactions: POLLY

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,200
30,603
Here's an example of the futility of some separations, Waitrose in Limpsfield Road, South Croydon.

On a rather space restricted site, the staff have set up a customer queuing system in their car park similar to that in some public areas a few years ago, zig zagging in parallel rows.

So one queues safely two metres face to back behind the person in front in one direction, then reverses at the end to queue in the opposite direction alongside, face to face, and separated by only a barrier tape and one metre at most!

Someone clearly wasn't thinking!

Either that or they think Waitrose's upper crust customers couldn't possibly be as infectious as the hoi poloi.
.
 
Last edited:

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
That`s a bit of a coincidence......... one of those just landed yesterday at RAF Aldergrove (Co. Antrim, N.I.)
There has been speculation of the Army getting prepared to build field hospitals here.
I have not seen the stories myself, but a very trustworthy person said reports claimed it was operating out of Brize Norton. The only possible runway near here is Brawdy - but I do not know if it landed.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Here's an exampl,e of the futility of some separations, Waitrose in Limpsfield Road, South Croydon.

On a rather space restricted site, the staff have set up a customer queuing system in their car park similar to that in some public areas a few years ago, zig zagging in parallel rows.

So one queues safely two metres face to back behind the person in front in one direction, then reverses at the end to queue in the opposite direction alongside, face to face, and separated by only a barrier tape and one metre at most!

Someone clearly wasn't thinking!

Either that or they think Waitrose's upper crust customers couldn't possibly be as infectious as the hoi poloi.
.
Here, Lidl, Aldi, M&S, even Tesco, have more or less straight queues. Morrisons zig-zags back on itself - I say, bonkers.

Not too bad at present with pleasant weather. I really don't fancy queing outside, in the open, in pissing down rain and strong winds (the usual weather :) ).
 
Last edited:

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,200
30,603
That coudl explain why the number of cases would be much higher, but not why the death rate is.
Viral load is also a factor as Danidl has posted. but apart from that the density is still a factor in the death rate. That's because all of London is a much unhealthier place to live with very high pollution rates and much higher numbers normally dying in consequence with respiratory illnesses. And it's those with respiratory problems who are the most likely to die from a coronavirus infection.
.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Viral load is also a factor as Danidl has posted. but apart from that the density is still a factor in the death rate. That's because all of London is a much unhealthier place to live with very high pollution rates and much higher numbers normally dying in consequence with respiratory illnesses. And it's those with respiratory problems who are the most likely to die from a coronavirus infection.
.
Rhondda Conan, Taff; Blanaau Gwent; and Caerphilly are considerably worse than most of London, based on this link:

https://statistics.blf.org.uk/lung-disease-uk-big-picture
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,200
30,603
I really don't fancy queing outide, in the open, in pissing down rain and strong wonds (the usual weather :) ).
I agree and can foresee big trouble when the weather changes as it certainly will eventually. People just won't put up with standing outside in rain and a biting easterly for up to an hour.

Another Sainburys near me is ok though, their car park is under the building and the queue is underground around it and leading to the trolley escalator up to the shopping floor.
.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
I agree and can foresee big trouble when the weather changes as it certainly will eventually. People just won't put up with standing outside in rain and a biting easterly for up to an hour.

Another Sainburys near me is ok though, their car park is under the building and the queue is underground around it and leading to the trolley escalator up to the shopping floor.
.
We have extremely lmited outside covered areas - I have never understood why even recent shops on purpose-built retail areas don't have a continuous canopy. Typically, just a token one immediately over their doors.
 

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,461
32,613
80
Department of Health and Social Care

@DHSCgovuk
·
1h
Today the second NHS Nightingale hospital @NightingaleBham will officially open at @thenec

Hospital

This will create extra capacity to ease pressure on hospitals across the Midlands in response to the #coronavirus outbreak. @NHSEngland Quote Tweet




NHS Nightingale Birmingham

@NightingaleBham
· Apr 8
NHS Nightingale Birmingham, led by @uhbtrust, will open its doors soon. The hospital will provide extra capacity to local services dealing with the increased number of patients during the peak of coronavirus. https://pic.twitter.com/1XXpsWiFe1

oldgroaner@oldgroaner
Never mind easing pressure on Hospitals, what about victims in care homes being left to die?
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Woosh

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,200
30,603
Rhondda Conan, Taff; Blanaau Gwent; and Caerphilly are considerably worse than most of London, based on this link:

https://statistics.blf.org.uk/lung-disease-uk-big-picture
These hotspots are everywhere of course, I have the worst one in Europe near me, according to the EU, who have threatened to fine the UK in the past if they didn't correct it.

The trouble with London's polution is London's size, 400 square miles isn't easy to escape from for fresh air, especially when the London sprawl reaches many miles beyond its boundaries.
.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

Wicky

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2014
2,823
4,011
Colchester, Essex
www.jhepburn.co.uk
It’s crazy and it needs stopping immediately. I posted about this yesterday.

There are plenty of able bodied people who are suitable to be put to work in this industry already resident in the U.K. I saw 12 of them drinking cheap lager on a local golf course yesterday evening at about 8:00 pm

I contacted the police to report the youths and Interestingly, the fuzz did turn up, but that’s where the good news ends. They questioned my friend and his wife who where nearby on their bikes regarding whether they were from the same household. They then departed leaving the youths on the golf course, in view, still drinking! Unbelievably. I only discovered this last bit by chance, having read it on Facebook.
Funny story in my local rag of a pair of of over 70s out for a ramble and spotting and reporting some young cyclists 'gang of youngsters' - police turned up and took the elderly couple back home with a reminder that they should stay in isolation at home due to their age - lucky they didn't get an ol' fashioned clip round the ear...
 

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
20,376
16,875
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
Either that or they think Waitrose's upper crust customers couldn't possibly be as infectious as the hoi poloi.
there may be some statistical truth in that.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Department of Health and Social Care

@DHSCgovuk
·
1h
Today the second NHS Nightingale hospital @NightingaleBham will officially open at @thenec

Hospital

This will create extra capacity to ease pressure on hospitals across the Midlands in response to the #coronavirus outbreak. @NHSEngland Quote Tweet




NHS Nightingale Birmingham

@NightingaleBham
· Apr 8
NHS Nightingale Birmingham, led by @uhbtrust, will open its doors soon. The hospital will provide extra capacity to local services dealing with the increased number of patients during the peak of coronavirus. https://pic.twitter.com/1XXpsWiFe1

oldgroaner@oldgroaner
Never mind easing pressure on Hospitals, what about victims in care homes being left to die?
In Wales, temporary hospitals are not being called Nightingale.

Cardiff's Principality Stadium
Ysbyty Calon Y Ddraig or Dragon's Heart Hospital

Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Conwy
Ysbyty'r Enfys - The Rainbow Hospital

There are others but two seem enough to illustrate!
 
  • Informative
  • Like
Reactions: Woosh and flecc

Wicky

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2014
2,823
4,011
Colchester, Essex
www.jhepburn.co.uk
And on a practical Brexit note...


The first of six specially chartered flights from Romania to London will land on Thursday afternoon carrying 150 people to assist British farmers pick fruit and vegetables.

Despite a high profile "Pick for Britain" campaign appealing to students and laid-off hospitality workers to help with the harvest, not enough British workers have come forward.

The six flights were privately chartered by large UK food producers and will land between now and June.

The National Farmers Union estimates a shortage of 70,000 seasonal farm workers that has been exacerbated by the Covid 19 lockdown.

Before boarding, the prospective workers will have their temperatures checked, fill out a health questionnaire and be given masks and hand sanitiser. On arrival in the UK, they will be taken by bus to farms in East Anglia to pick lettuce.

Mark Bridgeman, the president of the Country Land and Business Association, said bringing in workers from overseas to help meet the shortfall was "the right thing to do if we want to keep the supermarkets stocked".
 
  • Agree
Reactions: oldgroaner

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
And on a practical Brexit note...


The first of six specially chartered flights from Romania to London will land on Thursday afternoon carrying 150 people to assist British farmers pick fruit and vegetables.

Despite a high profile "Pick for Britain" campaign appealing to students and laid-off hospitality workers to help with the harvest, not enough British workers have come forward.

The six flights were privately chartered by large UK food producers and will land between now and June.

The National Farmers Union estimates a shortage of 70,000 seasonal farm workers that has been exacerbated by the Covid 19 lockdown.

Before boarding, the prospective workers will have their temperatures checked, fill out a health questionnaire and be given masks and hand sanitiser. On arrival in the UK, they will be taken by bus to farms in East Anglia to pick lettuce.

Mark Bridgeman, the president of the Country Land and Business Association, said bringing in workers from overseas to help meet the shortfall was "the right thing to do if we want to keep the supermarkets stocked".
But it is NOT OK for me to go out for two shorts walks, keeping away from everyone else?
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Raaaaaabbbbbbb.....

Coronavirus UK live: No 10 claims Covid-19 crisis strengthens need for UK to be free of EU regulation after 2020

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab to lead meetings on Covid-19 physical distancing measures as sources say ministers have no lockdown exit plan
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,611
12,256
73
Ireland
Tommie, in the interests of fairness perhaps you would post an update on the allegations against the Roscommon businessman ..see todays Irish Times
For the rest of you..
1. It appears that the Roscommon businessman was also a victim and an honest broker,and is cooperating fully and voluntarily with the Gardai
2. The 1.5 million euro, has been identified and returned to its German owners .
Meanwhile the Craigavon lorry driver linked to the Vietnamese deaths near London has pleaded guilty and is in prison in the UK.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: flecc

RossG

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2019
1,628
1,646
I watched 'The Plague' yesterday on the History channel. It was amazing the similarities between the events of 1348 and now, the rich hiding away in their castles trying to distance themselves from commoners etc.
So much to learn from the past, but of course just like now it won't be.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,200
30,603
police turned up and took the elderly couple back home with a reminder that they should stay in isolation at home due to their age -
This is another example of how our idiot police anger me.

The government's website is very clear that there is no such restriction on the elderly and they can go out for daily exercise like everyone else.

This belief that all the over 70s should be in isolation at home is a fantasy, there has never been any such ruling. That advice (not law) only ever applied to the over 70s with symptoms of Covid-19.
.
 
Last edited:

Advertisers