|
Post by mustafapoint on May 30, 2020 8:45:34 GMT
Too early in my book. The attached includes such an opinion by two members of the SAGE committee, both scientists, who state it's a political not a scientific decision. The Government has a plan for staggered easing of the measures. Nowt wrong in principal, but the start is too early. We are moving to stage 3 but, on the Government's own admission, we're not there yet, but we are releasing society as if we were. June 1st will mark 10 weeks since the lockdown on 23rd March. Many countries have done at least 12 weeks. Spain extended its lockdown, even though it had fewer than 100 deaths. Our population is roughly 50% higher than Spain's, so even with 150 we should be cautious yet our seven day average is well above that. Personally I would have postponed the plan for three weeks, is have one more and (for the time being) final lockdown. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52858392
|
|
|
Post by bigmartin on May 30, 2020 9:00:58 GMT
Too early in my book. The attached includes such an opinion by two members of the SAGE committee, both scientists, who state it's a political not a scientific decision. The Government has a plan for staggered easing of the measures. Nowt wrong in principal, but the start is too early. We are moving to stage 3 but, on the Government's own admission, we're not there yet, but we are releasing society as if we were. June 1st will mark 10 weeks since the lockdown on 23rd March. Many countries have done at least 12 weeks. Spain extended its lockdown, even though it had fewer than 100 deaths. Our population is roughly 50% higher than Spain's, so even with 150 we should be cautious yet our seven day average is well above that. Personally I would have postponed the plan for three weeks, is have one more and (for the time being) final lockdown. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52858392Those scientists will find themselves thrown under a bus if and when this all goes wrong. Those in charge can't blame Labour for this. They'll have to find another target. For what it matters me and Mrs Bigmartin are staying locked down to as great an extent as possible because we agree with you, it's too early, politically driven, and they're going to kill people. Sad as we have a grandson on the cusp of talking. But such is life. I noticed last night though there were at least a couple of very noisy BBQs in our vicinity. Certainly more than the guidelines now supposedly allow. But to be honest, if I were that way inclined, after recent events I think I'd probably be inclined to "follow my instinct"
|
|
|
Post by malc on May 30, 2020 9:03:10 GMT
Britain's population isn't 50% higher than Spain's. 63M (last time I looked) vs 46M. Spain is about 3 times the size of Britain and has nowhere near the population density.
In answer to your question though. Yes. Far too early.
Many of us here, myself included want flights from Britain to remain suspended. We haven't gone through the lock down we've gone through - and are still going through (masks compulsory in supermarkets) only for people to come here from countries where some (not all) of the population have been behaving very irresponsibly.
The Cummings factor is very much in play here now.
I hate to say this and I hope I'm wrong, but if the predicted 2nd wave does come, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Stay safe peeps.
|
|
|
Post by mustafapoint on May 30, 2020 9:10:01 GMT
For us to have a population thrice that of Spain, ours would have to be 138 million, ie 46 million x 3. Given the figures you have stated (UK 63 million, Spain 46 million), ours is 37% higher.
|
|
|
Post by mustafapoint on May 30, 2020 9:12:21 GMT
Apologies, Malc, I misread your comment. You were talking about land mass, I believe, having just reread your comment. I will put on my dunce's hat.
|
|
|
Post by bigmartin on May 30, 2020 9:13:08 GMT
Britain's population isn't 50% higher than Spain's. 63M (last time I looked) vs 46M. Spain is about 3 times the size of Briain and has nowhere near the population density. Stay safe peeps. 63m is pretty much 50% higher than 46m mate. Agree with everything else you said. I've never been to Spain. Didn't realise how large it was in terms of land mass. Blimey. Stay safe yourself Malc.
|
|
|
Post by bigmartin on May 30, 2020 9:14:57 GMT
For us to have a population thrice that of Spain, ours would have to be 138 million, ie 46 million x 3. Given the figures you have stated (UK 63 million, Spain 46 million), ours is 37% higher. No I think you were correct to be fair. Spain's population is more or less 2/3rds of ours. But our population, by those figures, is pretty much exactly 150% of their's, therefore "50% higher"
|
|
|
Post by mustafapoint on May 30, 2020 9:18:42 GMT
I do agree that you should be able to someone's garden as I presume most folks will take this to be your children's, grandchildren's or parents' garden. As long as you socially distance of course. Every Saturday morning I've been getting the shopping for the in-laws, and then Mrs Mustafa and I go to her parents' house in the afternoon and take them their shopping. They open their porch door, retreat to the end of the hallway, we sit in the porch and then we have a chat for about an hour.
|
|
|
Post by suedehead on May 30, 2020 9:40:27 GMT
I do agree that you should be able to someone's garden as I presume most folks will take this to be your children's, grandchildren's or parents' garden. As long as you socially distance of course. Every Saturday morning I've been getting the shopping for the in-laws, and then Mrs Mustafa and I go to her parents' house in the afternoon and take them their shopping. They open their porch door, retreat to the end of the hallway, we sit in the porch and then we have a chat for about an hour. I think a lot of people will see it as a green light to have their mates over and crack on as usual. I suspect buying charcoal, firefighters, burgers etc from supermarkets today will be almost impossible.
|
|
|
Post by mustafapoint on May 30, 2020 10:49:00 GMT
I fear that will be the case, Suedehead. The idea is of course that you can see your nearest and dearest.
|
|
|
Post by David Schofield on May 30, 2020 10:58:21 GMT
It's madness.
We have a deadly virus for which there is no vaccine; no effective treatment; and no cure...
What has changed?
If my Son & I had to be Shielded 10 weeks ago, why are we safe now?
|
|
|
Post by bigmartin on May 30, 2020 11:22:05 GMT
It's madness. We have a deadly virus for which there is no vaccine; no effective treatment; and no cure... What has changed? If my Son & I had to be Shielded 10 weeks ago, why are we safe now? You're/we're not. They are literally just casting the dice and hoping they don't land on 7 or 11 Four senior scientists in this SAGE group have thus far stated that the science is saying 'no'. Johnson has launched on. Begs the question who exactly he's listening to. This is all about Cummings. It's a nice weekend. People who have been craving the sun will all be out. End of the weekend they'll be cheerful again, smile, and say "I know what Cummings did was wrong but on the whole they're doing a good job". And of course, if and when it goes wrong, "we were following the science". Always blame someone else. Conservative Rulebook 101. Can't blame Labour this time (they would if they could)...the scientists will have to do this time The other thing. Call me a cynic. But things have calmed down quite a lot in London by comparison to elsewhere in the country. As usual, the life and well being of a Londoner is worth more than someone outside?
|
|
|
Post by DaveLong79 on May 30, 2020 11:52:21 GMT
Yeah, far too early to be easing things. We'll see the effect of the good weather and the prevailing relaxed attitude in a few weeks.
|
|
|
Post by The Real Exile on May 30, 2020 12:04:49 GMT
Agreed, again only a theory but the plan seems to be not to overwhelm the NHS resources and tackle this in waves, herd immunity without admitting it, politicians playing with people's lives.
|
|
|
Post by BWScarf on May 30, 2020 12:07:13 GMT
I do agree that you should be able to someone's garden as I presume most folks will take this to be your children's, grandchildren's or parents' garden. As long as you socially distance of course. Every Saturday morning I've been getting the shopping for the in-laws, and then Mrs Mustafa and I go to her parents' house in the afternoon and take them their shopping. They open their porch door, retreat to the end of the hallway, we sit in the porch and then we have a chat for about an hour. I think a lot of people will see it as a green light to have their mates over and crack on as usual. I suspect buying charcoal, firefighters, burgers etc from supermarkets today will be almost impossible. In fairness, people have essentially been green-lighted to do just that anyway, so they won't be breaking any rules if they're staying 2m apart from one another. I can't bring myself to be annoyed with people who, for example, meet up in small groups today as long as they stay apart, even though the guidance is from Monday. Because in reality, if it's safe then, it'll be safe now. I think there has to be an element of common sense in it. Whether that is in fact the case, we'll see, but a lot of the expert opinion seems to suggest it is too early.
|
|