Caerphilly in lockdown

[FranklyDearIDontRiverdance]

www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54057835

No surprise there really. The local government was all but begging people to behave sensibly in the last week or so.

Cases are definitely on a steep increase here in South Wales and a number of primary schools have reported students testing positive after returning last week.

Hoping the death rate stays as low as it has done though

I’m in the area on lockdown and tbh, it’s bad but no worse that other boroughs re distancing and mask wearing. I’ve been to Cardiff, Merthyr, RCT, Monmouth, Gwent and Neath boroughs in the last couple of months and it’s the same everywhere. I don’t understand why, if masks are important in prevention (and I think they help), they haven’t said they have to be worn in shops in all of Wales. Surely that would make more sense, to try and stop spikes happening in other counties too

Personally, I think this may be a bit of a test to see how it goes before doing the same in Cardiff...but they won’t implement that until the students are back because they will bring a boost to the local economy dons tin foil hat

I think it's time masks were compulsory in shops here. No one is SD here. Was in Asda in Cwmbran at the weekend - it was a total shit show. No one Manning the doors to control numbers, upstairs tills closed so people have to all queue in the grocery lines, if you left a space some fucker would walk through it, no masks. They are allowed 620 people in store at one time but could have been more because nobody was checking. I think we are going to see lockdown in all our big towns soon.

Very few are wearing masks in Cardiff. A couple of months ago maybe 30% were. Now it’s literally the odd one and it’s a free for all in the supermarkets.

No one is wearing masks because they're not required by law in Wales (apart from in Caerphilly now).

I don't wear one, but I will only go to places where I can keep 2m away from others.

A mask won't protect me, distancing and hand hygiene will.

The thing is, you can't make other people keep their distance. Even in shops, the staff come right up next to you and start stacking shelves - everyone has lost their fear and are behaving as if Covid has gone!

Yes I thought that, social distancing may be 2 metres but if people don't do that then mask wearing should be used in shops etc?

I have perfected an evil stare and a sharp tongue... If the first one doesn't keep someone 2m away, the second one does.

Tbh a fleeting moment next to someone, even if they have the virus, is unlikely to be a risk. It's prolonged contact, especially indoors, that's the problem.

Haha I think steely stare and resting bitch face is probably more effective without masks then!

I think possibly Rhondda Cynon Taf will follow. Cardiff cases aren't too bad at the moment (17 per 100,000 and number of cases were down last week on the week before).)

My lad just got petrol from Tesco's in Risca. He had cash so had to go into the shop. Out of the 2 staff and 4 customers he was the only one wearing a mask!!

Yep Rhondda is in second place for new cases, closely followed by Newport in third. Makes sense, as apparently loads of people don't know where they live!! (You wouldn't believe it, but I have seen so many posts on Facebook from friends who live in Caerphilly postcode but think they live in Newport!!)

I actually saw quite a few people in masks earlier when I went for a walk, a lot more than I had noticed previously.

I also had an interesting chat with a friend who asked how I was "now things were getting back to normal"?! Wtaf

@DeeDimer Apparently in the actual supermarket part in Tesco Risca, there is a security guard at the door reminding people to wear a mask. But the local facebook page is full of comments from people who are outraged at the lack of people wearing masks inside!

There also seems to be a debate from people not knowing if they are supposed to be in lockdown! Mainly because there is an area that has a Rogerstone address, yet they pay council tax to Caerphilly.

The funniest though is all the Risca people outraged that they can't go to the McDonalds in Afon Village anymore 😂Have to say it does seem a bit daft that they are not allowed to a McDonalds or Morrisons less than 2 miles away, but they can drive almost 20 miles away to Rhymney!

@EveLe funny thing my Facebook was full of maps of Caerphilly Borough last night! I went to the beauticians in Blackwood earlier and they've had loads of cancellations.
I feel sorry for them as business was getting back to normal.
When DS picked DSS up from Cross Keys college earlier he said gangs of kids were walking around outside with masks around their chins.

Merthyr and RCT look to be next, according to figures today. Everyone wearing masks in Tesco and Asda Caerphilly. I’ve realised that the farm shop in Nantgarw is technically RCT so I shouldn’t be going there, but I can drive to Rhymney which is almost 20 miles away I think it would have made more sense to have a 5 mile rule or similar

I live in RCT and I’ll be gutted if we go back in to lockdown. Although, I went to Talbot Green and popped in to Aldi and there was zero SD going on.

Ended up going to M&S where it was far more civilised (naturally £

”A mask won't protect me, distancing and hand hygiene will.“

No. Am ordinary mask won’t protect you at all. It does, however, help protect others from you if you are an asymptomatic carrier. Masks are so that we all protect each other. I don’t understand why they are not compulsory in all indoor spaces TBH. Belt and braces with something this serious surely!

@msmcc1212 I agree, and in a perfect world we should all be wearing 3-layer masks in shops/transport etc.

However, in Wales masks are not compulsory country-wide and the argument goes that wearing them causes riskier behaviour.

How many people in England wear them correctly, take them off properly etc?

@Hereinthesticks

And still the pubs and bars stay open? What will it take before any government or local authority closes a pub or bar?

People not allowed to sit someone else's garden but anyone can mix with numerous people from other households as long as it's in pub in a local lockdown area.

Not in Wales but in Aberdeen we had a 3 week lockdown. All pubs/cafes/restaurants closed. No travel over 5 mils unless for work/health care. Nobody allowed to travel into Aberdeen except for work.

We were locked down for much lower numbers. Rules were changed that all pubs/ restaurants took details, no sharing tables, only table service, face masks worn if have to leave the table.

Our numbers are now low. Schools open over 3 weeks.

It surprises me that masks are not mandatory in Wales.

’argument goes that wearing them causes riskier behaviour.‘

I’ve read that too (and at least WG have been open about that on the website) but I’m not sure I agree. I think I would like a bit more transparency about the science here. If that is the main reason they are still not compulsory, then a campaign to educate people could help with that. It’s a bit like saying we won’t make the breaks too good on this car in case people drive faster. I know it’s not the same but it feels a bit like that to me. Also it seems to contradict what WHO say now.

I’m really not keen to go back into work when I see colleagues on zoom, sharing small spaces without masks. Yes, they are 2m apart but the aerosol transmission must be a risk, surely? I’ve read a few things that would suggest that but am no expert.

There is also no discussion (that I’ve seen) around ventilation. I’ve read that it can help minimise aerosol transmission in indoor spaces but it doesn’t get a look in on the advice as far as I can see.

That said I’m very glad to have MD and WG at the helm. I’ve felt confident that the science has been followed more closely than in central government who haven’t got a good track record of following the science in my field at least!

I think I’ll still wear a mask in public indoor spaces because whilst I’m not so worried about catching it (although I’d rather avoid if possible of course) I’m really concerned by the idea of being an asymptomatic spreader. It doesn’t keep me up at night but I will feel better if I’ve done what I can to protect others but at the moment that’s just my personal preference.

Masks in shops have made fuck all difference in Bolton. Or any of the countries currently experiencing increases in infection rates. It's being spread, we are told, in households and pubs/bars - as it has since the very beginning. Wear your mask there if you think it is useful for stopping spread.

Masks compulsory in Wales from Monday after all!

‘It's being spread, we are told, in households and pubs/bars - as it has since the very beginning.‘

It would be helpful if they were more transparent about the research - for me at least. I don’t have much faith in Governments following science and experts very well as other factors get in the way. This is not just in relation to Covid but in many other areas. Particularly those that involve spending money or curbing industry/vested interests.

What I don’t understand is whether the spread in households and pubs is droplet, aerosol or surface to hand infection. I think probably a mixture of all three so to me it makes sense to do what we can to minimise all three? But my mindset is one of ‘better safe than sorry’.

There have been cases linked to aerosol infection and one, at least, linked to air conditioning.

Well, if they become compulsory at least we don’t have to use any energy making that decision for ourselves anymore.

I'm glad to see masks being made compulsory. It means we'll all be protecting each other as much as possible. And I think wearing them reminds people that this hasn't gone away - I think we were getting a bit complacent in Wales, with it being voluntary. Some people took that as meaning unnecessary.
Also it makes no sense to have a different approach to England when we too have locked down areas and people have freedom of movement to cross into either country.

Agree MrsHunt!