Who can travel? Princes and prime ministers?

Not me, Jennifer because it wasn't the most sensible course of action, was it?

I can understand the feeling that it’s one rule for them and one for the rest of us and my initial reaction to the story was to be as cross as everyone else, until I asked myself what would I have done if I was in their situation.

I definitely read that they stayed in a separate house on the parents’ farm which seemed believable as farms often have several spare cottages.

JenniferEccles according to Mrs Cummings's story that is not what happened.

She tells of their small child nursing his sick father with fierce determination, feeding him Ribena, taking his temperature and advised other parents who are ill to do the same, allowing their child to get out their doctor's kit and help.
There is no mention of being in a separate house or an aunt looking after the child, as in later accounts.
Why the need to go, then, potentially burdening the NHS in an area away from home?

No, there are thousands who have been desperate to help their own families but have stayed home and obeyed the rules.

oopsaminty you have misinterpreted those statistics somewhat.

How so, Furret?

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/17/hospital-patients-england-coronavirus-covid-19

What would be the best course of action for two parents worried about the welfare of their child if they were ill with the virus?

They obviously couldn’t have someone staying at their house yet any parent surely would need to have contingency plans in place in case they were both too ill to care for their children.

I can’t help wondering if I would have done the same thing in his situation.

He and his family stayed in a separate house to his parents so many would feel that was the best solution in the circumstances.

How many on here baying for his blood would have helped their own grown up child and grandchild in a similar situation?

oopsaminty you have misinterpreted those statistics somewhat.

The North East now has the highest R number. I wonder why? Idiots like Dominic Cumming travelling from London may have something to do with It??? No excuse for journey at all. Who normally looks after said child? Both parents work - I’m sure “money” talks and childcare would be easy to find. No excuse. Disgraceful. My family live 380miles away and DD had suspected COVID. They have 3 children 11, 9 and 1 and live in a very small house. Somehow they coped.

Which Care home did Boris pick up the disease from “Baggs” ?
Get real !

it seems that the only ones who can travel are those that make the rules for us to follow, they are exempt it seems

They were in Durham on 31st March, which is when the police spoke to Dom.

That's not accurate. They didn't speak with DC

DC's father phoned the police to discuss security

The police then told his father that it was unwise etc etc

www.itv.com/news/2020-05-23/police-challenge-government-over-dominic-cummings-lockdown-denial/

I'm not standing up for this man at all. But just like things to be as factual as possible

Which isn't easy!

I agree with Dr Phil Hammond the well respected TV medical adviser.
“If every infected family in the UK travelled 260 miles to lockdown, imagine what the R number would be now? Social distancing is not just about a 2 m gap, it’s about not travelling long distances while infected. It puts many others at risk. A lot of shedding occurs pre-symptoms.”

Obviously, Cummings judgement was misplaced. For a man in his position I am surprised he did not seek the advice of Child Care services in London, who have been doing a fantastic job helping families in similar circumstances. Travelling such a distance whilst not well put his son, wife and self at risk and Other road users if an accident had occurred by being poorly.

And there was me thinking people went into hospital after they contracted Covid19 bags whereas you think they went into hospital then contracted it.

Sadly it's very true... and common knowledge

Up to a fifth of people who have died were in hospital with some other problem when they contracted the virus

In hospital, viruses and other illnesses spread like wild fire. Think norovirus.

We know 2 people who have sadly died, one a relative of DH, who were in hospital when they caught the virus.

And there was me thinking people went into hospital after they contracted Covid19 bags whereas you think they went into hospital then contracted it.

That's a new one indeed!

Both kings are in their 50’s, the Queen 93, she is in isolation

Sorry that should have been Morocco

What is the role of monarchy in these troubled times?

Who helped their country the most the monarch of Monaco Spain or Britain

m.youtube.com/watch?v=0MM07Bd3zWU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR36GboWpJIczdCwDcvfP90UHFhOzq0ber5GzAAYnhIoRfkvjo4ZikXdGJs

Seems to me that those who had an option to isolate somewhere rather nice did just that. Apart from those who chose to abide by the government instructions. What's a tiny fine compared to doing what you want?

Baggs Sat 23-May-20 16:45:06
I don't know, mamacaz. I'm not denying that but where's the evidence?

I think he's admitted being there, hasn't he Baggs?
It could of course be (another?) lie, but even if it was, that alone would be unacceptable from someone in his position, wouldn't it?

Like you, I would prefer concrete evidence, but right now it both looks and feels like every possible attempt is being made by DC et al to muddy the waters in respect of exactly what happened, when and why.

Whatever the outcome, I think we, the public, now need to know the truth about this. To ignore it or allow it to be swept under the carpet would just make a complete mockery of all covid-related rules/advice given by the Government and its advisors.

One rule for one and one rule for the others.
WHAT`S NEW.

c/f Matt Ridley also in Spectator, 9 May

There is talk now of this virus being a nosocomial disease, meaning most people acquire it in hospitals or care homes, not from casual contact.

The transport secretary Grant Shapp has confirmed at the no 10 briefing at 4pm that the Cummings family did indeed travel to Durham.

He made a poor attempt to field questions from journalists. Including the question about how Cummings behaviour will impact on those who have adhered to guidelines which prevented them from attending funerals of loved ones.

I’m also thinking of those who were prevented from sitting by the bedside of their loved ones in their final hours as they were adhering to guidelines.

????oh baggs you are a card????

I don't know, mamacaz. I'm not denying that but where's the evidence?

Police attended a house in county Durham and told DC he had been "most unwise to make the journey given the ethos of the government guidelines" BBC news.

The police are putting it very politely!