Anyone in the North East?

[PennyDreadfuI]

Gateshead has just been added to the govt watchlist and Newcastle is on amber alert. Sunderland have had over 200 cases in the past seven days.

Are we next for a local lockdown? What do you think it will entail? Given Newcastle's reputation as a party city I'm guessing restricted hours for bars maybe - they were packed to the rafters over the August bank holiday weekend, which may account for lots of the new cases.

No it hasn't closed, it's been mentioned as the main one at my place of work which isn't in Newcastle. Keep trying to get a test. I think they're overwhelmed. I know that new test sites are due to be opened in other areas as that one is serving a very large area at the mo.

@Plussizejumpsuit it says no facilities when there are no slots available. Just keep trying and when they release slots it will show the locations.

It would be much less frustrating if it said no slots rather than locations, they are two different things!

@UpToonGirlah OK that's a different thing! It's still not good. But I was thinking they'd closed the testing site.

Teesside here. Applied for a test this morning, no where close available (York!). Went through the system again and immediately got my nearest test site. Keep trying I guess! This was around 10am.

As an aside from the testing scenario, I remember vividly in March and April seeing and hearing ambulances. Really noticeably more frequently (I am an aeroplane enthusiast so noticed the difference in air traffic too) In the last 7 days I've seen and heard more ambulances again. Could be coincidence. I'm certainly not trying to scaremonger. Just very noticable.

Apparently the central Gateshead mobile test centre opened this afternoon so that might make things a bit quicker

I tried to get a test this morning but no joy so not sure if it's up and running yet?! Or maybe just all booked up already

Peterlee here and struggling to get Covid test, nearest test available... Scotland

Someone in Tunbridge Wells Kent got offered a test in Aberdeen yesterday!

Unsurprisingly, the figures are down across the whole of Teesside. At least the Evening Gazette is reporting that entirely within the context of lack of testing. This situation is such a dangerous farce.

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/big-drop-new-confirmed-coronavirus-18931078

What they dont know is how many people havent been tested and are either resigned to staying home for 10/14 days, or have decided fuck it, and gone back to life as normal.

There was a woman describing the issues and what they're doing in Gateshead on world at one R4 yesterday; I'm going to try to listen again today.

Copied on to the Newcastle test thread too:

I've just listened back to the world at one on radio 4 yesterday. A PH coordinator said that a mobile unit was supposed to be deployed to Gateshead in Saturday but never turned up, 10 people did and had to have their tests rearranged elsewhere.

She said that the additional issue is that there's an older lab standing empty which could be set up to manage capacity if they were given funds to do this.

The biggest issue is that they can't contact trace anyone without those tests.

The unit was there by Sunday though.

Tbh it seems to be a problem with the system as much as anything.

They could increase testing to 20-30 thousand if that lab was set up.

@UpToonGirl if theyre in school you could try contacting your child's school and asking for a test? near us the local schools has a supply.

My partner is a primary teacher and he says him and all his colleagues reckon 2nd closures are coming so brace yourselves. He says there's no way schools can work safely regardless of people insisting they can.

Example: Yesterday he was talking to the cleaner who casually mentioned she had all the symptoms of covid but "Didnt bother kicking up a fuss" so came into work. When My husband spoke to the headmaster about this the Head shook his head saying that cleaner is an odd sort and makes things up for attention - meaning if she actually DOES have covid no one will take her seriously sigh

Another Example: My partner is constantly telling kids to stop picking their noses and other gross things primary kids do (which in normal circumstances is just kids being kids) but this additional hygiene -telling-off isn't working because the parents aren't re-iterating it at home.

Third Example: A flat near us is constantly having rowdy parties into the early hours at weekends with 10+ people. My husband recognised one of them and says he went to teacher training with him. Meaning this person clearly not giving a damn about social distancing is a teacher... :(

I honestly think to keep schools open the pubs/restaurants have to close you cant have both.

I'm concerned about both universities and the colleges all opening.

I'm sure the majority will be sensible but I also know what a lot of the flats and housing is like, where it is and how easily the extra bodies could add to the spread, especially as younger people are often asymptomatic.

Just outside Sunderland in a village that had a club with positive cases. Friend tried to get a test last week and nearest testing site was Galashiels (!)

I managed to get a test this morning after refreshing for an hour. Newcastle came up but it crashed on me, and again when the South shields ones came up. Managed to get one in sunderland at half 1

Well that’s three schools in South Tyneside that now have confirmed cases.

Getting on this to read larer

I travelled from North Tyneside to Gretna for a test on Sunday. I had managed to book one the day before at North Shields but didn’t get QR codes sent through so was turned away. After a few more hours refreshing managed to book Gretna, still awaiting results though. Friend managed to get Walkergate I think yesterday and got results today in under 24hrs. So frustrating.

Place marking. I live in Tynemouth but work in Gateshead (at the QE). No cases in my DC school yet but I have heard of several in Whitley Bay, including WBHS. Also Marden HS has had a few positive case.

I know of 4 other schools affected in NT in addition to those then.

If local government gets its way it looks as if local lockdown will involve restricted opening for bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants and takeaways, and a ban on going into others' homes (so says the Chronicle today). They're waiting for the ok for those lockdown terms from Matt Hancock, not sure if/when they'll be implemented.

For us those terms won't make any real difference (no family on either side, and no friends locally - and if we do go out we're home and tucked up in bed by 11pm!). But they'll affect others massively, including those who work in hospitality. So many hours lost.

As a side note, in Asda (Gosforth) today all the pasta and toilet roll had sold out. I wonder if people have heard the rumblings about local lockdown and have been panic buying again? Hopefully it won't get as awful as it did in March, because the whole country won't be doing it and the supply chain won't be under the same strain. And also because not being able to go to your mate's house or stay out past 10pm (or whatever they decide it'll be) doesn't necessitate stockpiling toilet paper!