Crowds in the parks yesterday

[Mrgrinch]

I've been seeing pictures and videos of the amount of people gathering in the sun yesterday and I am genuinely shocked.

Has nobody learned anything in the past year?
Do they want to continue going in and out of lockdown forever?

I really do understand the people who just want their freedom back, I want mine too. But the pictures of Hyde park yesterday look like something from a music festival. Not to mention the mess left behind this morning.

Should I just shut up because transmission is low outdoors? Or is this a sign that warm weather means people ignore all the rules?

What’s actually the problem with this?

It’s the safest we’ve ever been. Fresh out of lockdown so presumably less cases in the general public due to people staying at home for the last 3 months, and also mass vaccination.

If there’s any time to socialise in a park, it’s now.

@toffeebutterpopcorn

I walk there most days - it’s outside my flat so often I walk through to get the the shops. So I know what a ‘normal’ Tuesday is like - and it was absolutely mobbed yesterday.

Just because you live closer to the park it doesn’t give you more of a right to be there?

No - I didn’t say that - I was just saying it was really really busy for a weekday. And litter all over the place (as happens when it’s very busy) as there aren’t enough bins.

@PuppyMonkey

They’ve shut two of the parks featured in the Nottingham incidents now to prevent any more crowds gathering.

When do students usually go home for Easter?

Term has finished for students last week

...and most weren’t back at uni anyway as all on line.

Sorry, I wouldn't dream of doing it.

People living little, peeing and pooing on the gras and in public.

Fighting and arguing

Yep, great examples of careful adult behaviours !

*leaving litter

@TheKeatingFive

The new Kent variant has 70% increased transmissibility

I thought they downgraded that to 30% more?

Anyway, all the ‘third waves’ have been stronger associated with indoor transmission. I don’t think there’s any evidence that the Kent variant makes outdoor meet ups more problematic.

No, 70% more contagious and 30% more likely to put you in hospital, but no more deadly than the first variant. Obviously doesn't stop anyone getting long covid.

We may have 50% of adults vaccinated, but the majority of them are the 60+ age group, not the ones crowding into the parks. You may be more likely to catch covid outdoors, but it's an airborne virus, so it's definitely not impossible.

@PuppyMonkey

They’ve shut two of the parks featured in the Nottingham incidents now to prevent any more crowds gathering.

When do students usually go home for Easter?

Many students never got back to uni this term wasting thousands on rent for empty rooms But feel free to blame them anyway.

And in the next breath moan about them travelling up and down the country spreading covid,

No, 70% more contagious and 30% more likely to put you in hospital

Nope, that’s not what I read

You may be more likely to catch covid outdoors, but it's an airborne virus, so it's definitely not impossible.

I don’t think that’s what you meant. However, I don’t think there’s a single documented case of transmission on a beach.

So what, @Paquerette ?

If healthy under 60s catch it, what will happen? The hospitals won’t be overwhelmed. So why should we still put our lives on hold for it?

Yawn.

@MinnieMous3

So what, *@Paquerette* ?

If healthy under 60s catch it, what will happen? The hospitals won’t be overwhelmed. So why should we still put our lives on hold for it?

This. The message we get fed is to protect the NHS. If you are laid up in bed with a Lemsip in your own home, how is that putting pressure on the NHS? Another message we get fed is that 1 in 3 people have Covid but with no symptoms. SO how are they putting a strain on the NHS?

This is inevitable really as the weather gets warmer, we need to get used to crowds in public outdoor spaces. There is just nowhere else for people to go and nothing else to do. Transmission is low outdoors as long as people are social distancing.

Tentatively hoping that it's onwards and upwards from now. I think a beautiful summer and the ability to mix with our friends and loved ones would be wonderful. Crossing all my fingers and toes. Tired of this constant sadness I'm forever feeling now.

@MinnieMous3

So what, *@Paquerette* ?

If healthy under 60s catch it, what will happen? The hospitals won’t be overwhelmed. So why should we still put our lives on hold for it?

Exactly this. There’s hardly anyone in hospital now. Fewer than 5,000 new cases yesterday. What happened to following the data, not the dates?

@Plumbear2

It's a hard one to judge. It was a hot day, chances are it was many small groups meeting up. Unfortunately so many small groups with the same idea soon turns into a crowd. You carnt really blame people unless they whete delibrately meeting up in larger groups or causing trouble. Maybe thete needs to be a cap on how many groups can enter the park at one time.

Noooo. Let’s not have any more nonsense Rules and restrictions Havent people had enough already 😡

@Hardbackwriter

Should I just shut up because transmission is low outdoors?

Yes

Succinct and spot on 😂

@MinnieMous3

So what, *@Paquerette* ?

If healthy under 60s catch it, what will happen? The hospitals won’t be overwhelmed. So why should we still put our lives on hold for it?

Totally this. All these lockdowns have been sold to us as 'protecting the NHS'.

If the NHS can cope, then restrictions can fuck off.

Was so lovely in hamsterley forest today.
Loads there but hey why not. It’s certainly big enough and people were being sensible..
Nice bit of normal with no snot rags on faces.
Cowslips just coming out and the gorse just starting to bloom

And no litter!

Obvious the national forests breed a better sort of person..mustve been all the over 60S out and about.😂😂😂
That last sentence is a joke, so no Pearl clutching and bosom hoiking thank you very much 😂)

The difference is that this time most vulnerable people have been vaccinated so that if someone does catch it, they are far more likely to just have a mild illness.
Looks like the young are more likely to die of suicide now than Covid

Regarding litter.No excuse no matter how many bins there are.Or whether the council sends in wardens to clean up.Wht should they ?It's totally disgusting and if someone can carry a bag full of food and drink there -or our local woods as today's filthy mess showed -why the hell can't they take it away when it's actually lighter?I really wish there was a massive campaign to bang the message out.Take your litter home or to the nearest bin you find.

I live in an area with lots of tiny parks and garden squares - mostly all tranquil and quiet. Yesterday I walked along the canal to one of the closest big parks; huge mistake, crazy busy.
Best stick to walking on pavements and sitting in small local parks

@MinnieMous3

So what, *@Paquerette* ?

If healthy under 60s catch it, what will happen? The hospitals won’t be overwhelmed. So why should we still put our lives on hold for it?

France has just gone back into lockdown. They closed non-essential shops 10 days ago, but cases have still doubled since then to 38,000 per day, and 5,000 people in ICU.

No-one (including me) is suggesting putting anyone's life on hold. Just follow the current rules. No more than groups of 6 meeting outdoors, and socially distance then too. That's obviously not what is happening now, and it's incredibly risky considering what happened in November when we were completely locked down apart from essential shops and schools being open.

France has just gone back into lockdown. They closed non-essential shops 10 days ago, but cases have still doubled since then to 38,000 per day, and 5,000 people in ICU

And? Macron’s fucked it up. Hardly anyone in France has been vaccinated and they’ve had the fear of God put into them about the Astra Zeneca vaccine. No comparison.