For everyone who's bending the rules!

Closing pubs and restaurants (with safety measure in place) didn’t make much difference (not that I visit either).

BlueSky

Closing pubs and restaurants (with safety measure in place) didn’t make much difference (not that I visit either).

How do you know?

It's not cats, it is PEOPLE spreading it! Jesus. Talk about conspiracy theories.

FAR too much going out. Close schools (teachers have said, FAR too many children in schools even now who don't need to be), close churches. No one needs to shop daily. Once a week. STOP all external exercise for one month.

Get the army on the streets. Make passes with dates and times on them essential.

5 minutes exposure from 20 feet away with the OLD strain. The new strain is far more contagious. Cats... (shaking my head).

www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-12-09/five-minutes-from-20-feet-away-south-korean-study-shows-perils-of-indoor-dining-for-covid-19

Spookwriter23

The virus didn't come from any animals dead or alive, it came from a lab which right near the wet market,

Oh yes? How do you know that? I've read about it on conspiracy websites, but never seen any real evidence.

PS. Has anybody had better internet connectivity since people started having 5G implants?

Springychicken, I’ve been wondering about the eyes for some time and looking at some research being done. So much so that I’ve ordered some builders’ safety goggles! Not worn them out yet as I don’t go out except maybe once in three weeks to supermarket. We’ve been warned from start not to touch our eyes and surgeons and Covid ITU staff all wear shields or goggles ...... aerosols can get in through the eye (mucous?) just as through nose and mouth - less easily maybe but all the same, could this new variant be better at this?

If we all stuck to the rules we wouldn't be in half the mess we are in now . There are still people not wearing masks , still mixing all because they think it's there democratic right not to . I will bet my bottom dollar these people will refuse to have the vaccine . I think it's time every body grew up and stopped being selfish . Unless we all pull together we will be in the same situation next year .

I think a total lockdwon is the only answer.
Having said that, we live in Sweden where there hasnt been any kind of lockdown and things have been bad but not like the UK ,however the scientists here and politicians are starting to think, and have today introduced som restrictions like closing some gyms etc, face masks to be worn on public transport at peak times ie. 7-9 and 3-6pm ! incredable do they think the virus disappears from 9 until 3 and comes back again! Dont get me started.

Thanks Marydoll for clarification (hope you’re feeling better, by the way). I am not surprised that supermarket workers are vulnerable as they are with each other all day. I wonder, though, about the customers? If we social distance, wear masks, be prepared to wait our turn to get what we want from the shelves, then the risk should be low. I try and get in and out as fast as possible but remain amazed/annoyed by the number of people who treat it like a day out and block and the aisles, completely unaware of anyone else’s presence. Last time, a toddler out with his dad ran riot with his mini-trolley while dad wandered about looking at his phone. I find MandS the most Covid-aware but can’t do all the shopping there as too pricey so only an occasional top up unfortunately.

GagaJo at this stage your suggestion unfortunately seems to be the only way out, while waiting for people to be vaccinated.

I think Churches and garden centres should be closed as not much to do in gardens this time of year. Also think large shops and supermarkets should only be allowed to sell essential items. I was stood in the queue for M &S and people were browsing in the clothes and home section.

This thought will be unpopular, close schools!
Around here (ie in our street) the two people who have caught it were infected by their children. The children were both asymptomatic and at different schools but tested positive, one parent was hospitalised.
Schools should not have been opened without more safety measures, children should stop running around maskless and mixing with strangers.

Thoughtless people are only a part of the picture. What we're looking at now is partly the result of whatever happened just about three weeks ago ie people Christmas shopping for gifts in towns (not everyone has online access) and long supermarket visits for Christmas food. If you combine that with a ferociously infectious version of the virus it does a lot to explain this massive jump in numbers. I am so very glad that my daughter in law is now on maternity leave from her nursing job. Also, please don't forget that there are very many people whose jobs have remained unaffected by this pandemic. They've been vulnerable because they've been travelling, possibly on public transport, because they had no choice. They've also been exposed to infected colleagues who've come into work because what they do is essential - like my son in law's firm which produces animal feed for pigs, chickens etc. We can all buy the food we want because the food supply chain is being well maintained, possibly at the cost of some employee's health.

BlueSky

GagaJo at this stage your suggestion unfortunately seems to be the only way out, while waiting for people to be vaccinated.

It surely would also make vaccinations easier and faster. Less traffic, less footfall, safer for medical staff to travel around, to and from work.

Best wishes for a quick recovery from your horrible experience, Marydoll

As you say, places of worship in Scotland are closed and so are garden centres and homeware shops. So far the sky has not fallen in. There is talk of restricting click and collect too. I agree with those who think a firmer lockdown is required to let the NHS recover. It is much easier when there is a blanket rule that everyone should follow rather than a bit of this and a bit of that so that everyone is confused.

You wouldn't think we were all in lockdown being round here. We live at the back of a By-Pass and I have been looking forward to less traffic noise. I really do wonder where everyone was going yesterday, just normal traffic and not even a working day. We went for a local walk as Boris allows for some fresh air and exercise and we both commented on how many cars on the road still.

Our vicar has closed the church. I think it has been left up to the vicars to decide what they do ( C of E anyway), for the moment. I think it would be wiser for them all to close for the time being.
I’m not sure that there is evidence to suggest that the greatest spread has come from supermarkets!! That’s a bit to of a scaremongering comment, I think - where have you got your facts from?

spookwriter23. so she came on Loose Women show of all places did she! not on the main news then!

People still ignoring rule. With ground being frozen hard went for a walk in my local woodland park yesterday. (Normally out of bounds due to muddy cycle tracks). Could not believe the size of groups meandering about. Allowed to meet with 1 other persons outdoors. On a path and seeing a group of 5 adults 3 children coming towards me I decided I would have to go down a slippy banking to avoid them. One of the group called to me saying it looked very slippy but it didn't matter which way I went everywhere was the same. I just called back the path he was on wasn't covered in frost but I was avoiding the crowd of people he was with as there was no way I'd get past them with any social distancing. No reply and they all went very quiet.

People not breaking the rules. 1 Friends who work in supermarkets will tell you very differently. Despite restrictions as to how many are allowed in at a time it becomes a free for all once they're inside. Social distancing? No. And are the supermarkets quieter now? No chance. 2 The bolt from London just before it went into Tier 4, oh yes. Thanks for bringing it to the rest of us. 3 The mass entertaining over Christmas and New Year, oh yes, it happened. 4 This is not a lockdown like No 1, this is a Take A Chance. And those of us who have to take extreme care sit quietly indoors waiting for the vaccine.

A few hefty fines might help and lots of publicity about those breaking the rules. It worked for us. Are they really allowing people to attend church ? Find that incredible, what is wrong with Zoom?

Theories like this with totally unsubstantiated, detailed evidence could a real backlash against animals. Care must be taken as comments like this could be harmful to innocent animals.

I think not closing borders is a major factor, and can’t really understand the logic behind it. We are an island, and should have been able to keep it out.
But I think people are looking for ways round the rules.
I live along side a park. We’ve become an exercise destination. There are so many people up here it’s ridiculous. People are driving here, the roads all around us are full, if you have to go out, you’ll be lucky to park when you get back. People are coming with picnics and staying for hours.
Everyone wants to go out and meet people. But just for now I wish they’d stay in.
We need to give the nhs our support.

Marydoll

I have been shielding since March, but all efforts to keep safe and protect the NHS, went to pot on Monday night, when I was admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack.

I was put in an acute medical ward until a bed could be found in the coronary care, high dependency unit. There wasn't a single bed available in the whole hospital.
When I said I was shielding, the nurse in charge said there was nowhere to put me and no possibility of me continuing to shield, she was powerless to do anything about it.

The technician carrying out my heart scan was in tears, saying she hadn't signed up to put her life on the line.

So I am in total agreement with you Hetty

Hetty, I hope you are OK now

Sorry meant Marydoll

It is so easy to blame someone else, e.g. 'the Government' but it is so easy to be clever and have the answers just standing on the fence. We can all be brilliant dancers watching Strictly for instance, but put into practice - no such luck. I feel sorry for any country's politicians - whatever colour flag they fly - to have to deal with the awful crisis that covis has caused. If 100° of people did what they were asked to do it may help everyone to have a brighter outlook and future.