Boris speech to Parliament

LauraNorder, I think you got it pretty much right, scientist or not!!

A landlord said that they sell a lot of drinks after 10pm. He complained that he will lose money. Better than closing completely though. There will be table service only so no crowds around the bar.
We have gone up to level 4 so just hope these new measures will stop us getting to level 5.

The pubs can only do table service.....no moving around in them to talk to other groups or waiting at the bar, doors closing at ten p.m.Same with cafes and restaurants.This will limit the number of people in the venue, as the tables have to be more spaced out, and customers cannot get in without a table being vacant.
The economy does have to be thought about....it’s highly important.

X posts AGA ?( get back to The Argy and start re-arranging the tables!)

Thank goodness it is now compulsory for all staff in retail to wear masks. Went into our local M & S foodhall a couple of months ago and was shocked by the number of staff on the shop floor, none of them wearing masks nor visors, who were not only not bothering to distance from customers but amongst themselves. Emailed M & S to complain and was told staff could wear masks if they wished.Meanwhile John Lewis, Waitrose, Boots and our local Sainsbury’s staffs have all been wearing masks. Shops that don’t do this should be closed and also the large supermarkets should be fined for allowing shoppers in without masks ( not those with medical exclusions of course). They all have managers and security staff who should be trained to deal with this. What is the point of laws if we don’t enforce them.

LauraNorder good plan, but there are some who would deliberately miss out the registering bit if it was positive ??.

Lemon you always find out when I am slacking.

Good post Curlygirl??

Of course AGA I keep an eye on you ( and the others) at all times.?

LauraNorder

Would love an answer on testing capability. We have labs that check our INR, PSA, check for diabetes, cholesterol levels, our poo, our cervical cancer checks and so much more every day. How do we magic up thousands more labs with qualified technicians to test for covid-19?
Is there any possibility that we could produce a kit, do our own swab, dip it in to the relevant liquid, it turns blue/green/red/whatever, if it's positive we register it, otherwise carry on.
Obviously I am asking from a position of total ignorance but hope some of you scientific or medical grans can throw some light on it.

I think to answer that you have to look at countries whose test and trace system is the sort of World class that Johnson is so keen to achieve.

South Korea way back at the beginning of the year set up drive throughs and walk in test centres. People got the results within 24 hrs.

This was achieved because it was underpinned by a well funded public service which had not been subjected to austerity cuts.

Germany is another effective model. It has carried out rigorous T&T since approx. January.

T&T is recognised in Germany as the basic tool to tackle covid in the absence of a vaccine. They realised initially that they did not have the staff to carry out the amount of T&T needed but quickly got over that by training clinical students to carry out the programme.

LauraNorder

Would love an answer on testing capability. We have labs that check our INR, PSA, check for diabetes, cholesterol levels, our poo, our cervical cancer checks and so much more every day. How do we magic up thousands more labs with qualified technicians to test for covid-19?
Is there any possibility that we could produce a kit, do our own swab, dip it in to the relevant liquid, it turns blue/green/red/whatever, if it's positive we register it, otherwise carry on.
Obviously I am asking from a position of total ignorance but hope some of you scientific or medical grans can throw some light on it.

I would guess that there is also a technical reason that we can’t do it ourselves. From what I read the bit of the test that goes on in the lab is fairly complicated and requires accurate amounts of chemicals, exact timing etc. I imagine that down the line it will be possible to do a home kit but we’re not there yet.
Incidentally, I test and measure my own INR with a home kit. I was on a trial in my local Health Board and now do it regularly. I had to prove to them I was able to understand the results and take appropriate action, so maybe the same thing would apply to any future home Covid test.

Does anyone understand the science behind the 10pm pub curfew? I can’t fathom what difference it will make

Closing the bars and restaurants at 10pm simply keeps people more sober. It gives them plenty of time for a meal, or a quick drink with friends after work, but means they are likely to be sober enough to remember to put on a face-covering on the train or bus home, and to be careful around elderly relatives when they get home.

A landlord said that they sell a lot of drinks after 10pm

That is why.
Behavioural science.

Or - exactly what DH said - it's just common sense.

O

Interesting Alegrias, I'll tell Mr Norder about the INR.
I wonder if covid positivity shows in urine, something like a pregnancy test kit would be ideal.

LauraNorder not sure if my husband could accurately aim at a small stick ??.

It's far more complicated than that, LauraNorder and the tests have to be conducted in safe conditions with strict methods of disposing of clinical waste.

It's not just a dip test.

Jaxjacky good point,

thanks Callistemon, didn't think about the waste

The preferred screening/testing is by Molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 by real-time RT-PCR (RdRp gene assay) based on oral swabs

If you understand that and have a laboratory at home perhaps you could undertake your own test.

Callistemon

^The preferred screening/testing is by Molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 by real-time RT-PCR (RdRp gene assay) based on oral swabs^

If you understand that and have a laboratory at home perhaps you could undertake your own test.

Well why didn't you say so.
Easy peasy

They'll all meet up after 10pm in each others houses ? A few drinks aren't enough for lots of people, especially come weekends.

For the last month or so in Scotland, all pubs and restaurants have kept details of customers' names, visit times and contact numbers.
All staff have worn face protection.
Table service only has been strictly enforced.

I assumed the same was true in England but apparently not.

6 from 2 households - much safer than 6 from 6 households.

If only Johnson had agreed to cobra meetings (or even had made an effort to communicate) with Nicola S then he might have taken in some of the common sense she has displayed throughout!

mcem

For the last month or so in Scotland, all pubs and restaurants have kept details of customers' names, visit times and contact numbers.
All staff have worn face protection.
Table service only has been strictly enforced.

I assumed the same was true in England but apparently not.

6 from 2 households - much safer than 6 from 6 households.

If only Johnson had agreed to cobra meetings (or even had made an effort to communicate) with Nicola S then he might have taken in some of the common sense she has displayed throughout!

She has taken a firmer line hasn’t she?

I suspect she will be proven right.

What about a curfew for over 12s from 6 pm.
DH works part time in the evenings at our local Co-op. The teenagers congregate outside after school and hang around all evening
I don't think that the restrictions are tough enough.

What’s wrong with their parents. At this age they should be checking on what their kids are doing, I know our son and daughter in law would. That’s what’s wrong now no family life, having an evening meal together and knowing what your kids are doing. I know it’s difficult nowadays with parents working different hours and single parents but please try. Children need a stability in their lives more than ever at the moment they are probably as confused as us.

I assumed the same was true in England but apparently not.

Yes, they were supposed to. That is how people were traced after an outbreak in a pub in Somerset.
However, unless someone from the establishment writes the names and contact numbers down they could be illegible.
And, without ID cards, people could write down anything.