I'm ashamed to be part of the human race

For the life of me I can't understand why just for one summer couldn't people do without a holiday or even going away for a short break in the country. If people would just stay at home, wear masks when out and not mix more than they need to even if it was just for the summer it would help no end I can see no end to this crisis and it will only get worse when the winter months come.
We are living a very quiet life, just the two of us a visit with son or daughter every few weeks, trips to the supermarket at a quiet time and a mask worn nearly all the time when out. Our only indulgence is cycle rides and take away coffees and lunches. Everything we buy is ordered on line. I had to go into town on the bus the the other day to visit A&E, put my mask on and got on the bus to find two people sitting downstairs with no masks on. So I just got off the bus and phoned Mr B to take me. No one seems to be policing any of the rules and its seems to me be life as normal, but it shouldn't be. I feel so angry with these idiots.

Hate to say it, Barmyoldbat, but they'll know about it if the virus hits them. I wonder how many who died ignored the rules and said it wouldn't happen to them ?
Famous last words eh ?

I live in the town adjacent to Bournemouth and was surprised there was no spike after the beach and town were packed. It was indeed madness,people parking on roundabouts and being very aggressive towards those who tried to stop them. Maybe it was because the virus spreads less easily outdoors. I did wonder if the visitors if they did become infected took the infection back with them. We do get a lot of day visitors from the Midlands and London area. The pubs were still shut and most locals avoid the beach when busy going to quieter ones nearby etc.
As for the rest? For every group of under 40s who are seen in media in the pub I reckon I have seen endless posts on gransnet of individuals who want to get back to holidays/hairdressers/days out/hugging everybody.etc etc. I remember one gransnetter being quite thrilled as she had sneaked to a local boutique and been handed a pair of shorts that she just HAD to have! Really? We may feel the under 40s are careless/selfish. What about the over 60s who refuse to be restricted as they are fitter than most 40 year olds. I'm sorry but you can run a marathon,swim the channel and do five rounds with mike Tyson but your immune system is not as effective as a 40 year old and its effectiveness decreases with age. You could also be asymptomatic. Yes its heartbreaking and horrible, totally miserable at times. A competent government might help! The only way this virus can be controlled is social distancing, good hygiene,and an effective test and trace system. Everybody has to take responsibility and for a while accept there are things they cannot do. I think it's going to take a lot more deaths for this to happen. There are good people out there doing wonderful things and they are from all ages,races,genders strata of society. Unfortunately their self entitled counterparts seem to be winning.

Yes lemongrove, it is indeed the elephant in the room.

If people would just stay at home, wear masks when out and not mix more than they need to even if it was just for the summer it would help no end I can see no end to this crisis and it will only get worse when the winter months come

Sensible post Barmeyoldbat.

This is exactly what our family have done. We are ‘stuck’ in Spain. We haven’t seen the grandchildren since 2 March. They were supposed to be out here this weekend for a oliday.

It would have been wonderful to see them, however our daughter decided ‘no thanks’ not doing flights and maybe quarantines on return.

They are having ‘days out’ in the U.K. instead. Lytham beach, a home made picnic, ice creams then home. Safer for everyone.
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maddyone

Yes lemongrove, it is indeed the elephant in the room.

If you two are using the pandemic as a chance to make racist links, shame on you. We all know the BAME community are much more at risk from the virus.

We all know the BAME community are much more at risk from the virus

In that case GagaJo why on earth are so many people of colour putting themselves at an increased risk? I don’t mean by their employment either - I mean their choice of leisure activities.

I know I wouldn’t chance it.

Good post, Dorset.

GagaJo as the BAME community are more at risk have you any ideas why members of the BAME community were out in force in Brixton on Saturday protesting or why 300+ gathered in Ilford Lane on Friday evening?

The higher risk seems to be forgotten when they see fit?

I read that piece too Sparklefizz

It made very enlightening reading didn’t it, especially as it was written by a man who is personally involved with that particular community.

He said he had predicted what would happen and he took no pleasure in being proved right.

Of course, a lot of this seemed to start after a certain person totally broke lockdown rules but got away with it. Any sense of communal responsibility died a death that day.

I hope the government is employing the best PR experts to persuade the stupider or more selfish people to wear masks etc etc.

Actually stupid and selfish is the same where public hygiene is concerned.

lemongrove is completely right as describing it as ‘the elephant in the room’ but why should it be like that?

Why should we be reluctant to call out certain ethnic groups by their behaviour ?

Consider this - a few weeks ago around 500,000 people descended on Bournemouth beach, the majority of whom I expect were white.

They were, quite rightly, widely condemned as being stupidly irresponsible.

However it seems as if every other group is completely off limits, producing the inevitable accusations of racism if any criticism of their behaviour is mentioned.

It makes no sense, does it?

I could write a short book about all the people I know who are ignoring lockdown here in Greater Manchester, most of them middle aged and older.
They had started to socialise and go out again and see no reason to curtail it again.
One of my friends is on the verge of falling out with some of her other friends because of their cavalier attitude.
Her H is 87 and not in good health, she won’t go out and won’t have people in her garden to protect him.
Some say she is just being silly as they are”being careful”
She Is quite upset and I fear friendships will suffer.

Freyer same in Gloucestershire, estate agent told me they were inundated by people moving out of London and large cities. They'd sold 6 houses in a week and the phones were non stop busy.
Our beauty spots and open spaces are unusually busy too with camper vans and large groups. Makes me a bit uneasy.
I do wish people who keep calling this virus flu would up and off to a hot-spot and get themselves a dose so they could tell us all about it first hand. That young man in the US who went to a hoax party found out on his deathbed how serious it was!

I just don't get this thing about beaches like those at Bournemouth and Brighton. The routine of coating oneself with sun cream, getting covered with sand as soon as one lays down on the beach mat, going in the sea to wash the sand off and then starting the process all over again. All this within a few inches of other people.

During the 50s we lived between Weymouth and Portland with a beach 10 minutes walk away. The coast there comprised little sandy coves with rock pools to explore and we spent many happy hours there. When my father took his summer holiday we used to go out for days. Never to Weymouth beach, far too crowded but to small rocky beaches usually unknown to holiday makers.

Sometimes we went to South Wales and stayed with relatives at Pyle. We used to walk miles across sand dunes to Sker or Rest Bay with hardly anybody else around. Now I think the motorway goes straight over those dunes.

When we lived in Suffolk we regularly drove to the coast around 5.00pm when everyone else was leaving. I have fond memories of end of term barbecues on the beach at Walberswick - most of our friends being teachers. So, I'm not against beaches per se, just the crowded ones.

Dinahmo I feel the same. Even before Covid the thought of lying on a beach inches from strangers would make me cringe.
Now it is even more abhorrent.

The North West of England has restrictions now because of people gathering inside houses in higher numbers than the guidance allows.

I feel sorry for those who live alone and have been able to see their GCs and families and now they can't because of those who don't think rules apply to them.

Why are you worrying? As someone pointed out earlier there was no spike in Bournemouth after lots of people gathered on the beaches a few weeks ago.

Sunlight is supposed to kill the virus according to our experts.

Sunlight killing the virus is a complete myth. Look at the hot countries it's hit.

Probably no spike in Bournemouth because very few of the residents were able, or wished to, to get anywhere the beaches.

EllanVannin

Sunlight killing the virus is a complete myth. Look at the hot countries it's hit.

UV light is known to destroy the virus, but it takes time. Article I read yesterday about transmission by aerosols said that sunlight destroys the virus in 6 minutes. I suppose if you walked through a cloud of aerosols in the previous 5 minutes you could be infected, no matter how hot the country...

Also, it wouldn't apply to people in an enclosed (sunless) place. If you lived in a hot country wouldn't you try to stay out of the sun?

I think they use UV light technology for sterilising rooms and equipment.

We live near a country park and beach. The locals use neither at the moment. Every where is packed with motor homes and caravans. Best to stay home until September

I do not know about other beaches, but the very long stretch of beach in Weston super Mare is never crowded. Lots people, taking advantage of the good weather, and children happily playing - sun, sea and sand, but all in family groups sitting very well apart from each other.
National Press desperately wants to show this as over-crowded. Indeed, a local professional photographer actually followed around one from a national newspaper, sent to show the 'heaving beaches'. They used specials wide lenses which could make very well distanced groups look as if they were virtually on top of each other - that is the one shown in that paper the following day. Local photographer took pictures at same place, same time, showing no-one with about 10 or more metres of each other.
We know that fresh air does help to virus to transmit - there is also a lot of thoughts that Vitamen D is some sort of protection. And the exercise these children have in running backwards and forwards from sea to their sand castles is also so good for them.
Children and young people seem to have been largely forgotten during this pandemic. So many old people moaning about everybody and everything, whilst relying on other people going to work to bring their on-line orders direct to their doors.
If EVERYBODY JUST STAYED AT HOME.....like some on here have asked - we would be in even greater problems than we already are. AND.....for how long?
I was down on the beach today with four of my g.children and two adult children. No where near anyone else. They had a great and very healthy time -and did my mental health a wondrous boost.

Woops....should have written 'we know that fresh air does help to PREVENT the virus from transmitting........'