Is that it?

[NiknicK]

So pubs closing at 10 and no spectators at sports events. Seriously I stayed at home to watch that. I’m not saying I want more to be put in place and I’m under local restrictions in my area so can’t see friends and family, but the impression I got a the very least I was expecting BJ to say the rest of the country wouldn’t be allowed to meet with friends and family too. Like I said I don’t want that at all but I can’t believe all the hype of this speech just for that.

I can’t believe all the hype of this speech just for that.
Who/where did all the hype come from? Tabloids? MN posters?

I’d love to hear some announcements in parallel about how we’re increasing intensive care capacity and ventilators (don’t think I missed them). Because the extent and length of time the rest of us have to be under measures for is directly related to our capacity to treat the disease. The more capacity we have to deal with sick Covid people the more we can risk the spread. Yet I haven’t seen a lot of information about how we’ve used the last six months to really expand our capacity after the farce that was the nightingale hospitals...

@OhYouBadBadKitten

Is this the speech that was supposed to be at 8pm?

I think there's a pre-recorded message at 8pm. This was him announcing the measures to the commons.

Presumably because they got their arse kicked by the speaker for announcing the last set on Twitter.

@OhYouBadBadKitten i think it's been parliamentary speeches during the day and public briefing on TV this evening

I have 2 local pubs within walking distance of my house. One has been strict in taking customer details, not allowing people to switch tables and table service only. The other has been paying lip service to the guidance and in the last few weeks it's become a free for all with people clustering at the bar and big groups at tables. These tighter measures are a good thing if it means pubs and restaurants can stay open, saving jobs and allowing people to socialise in a controlled environment.

@PimlicoJo I have noticed many places more relaxed than at the outset not just pubs but restaurants too.

@swabthenose

Regarding working from home. Confusing advice. I work in an office where productivity is better when people are in (call centre). So we don’t want people working from home. The office is Covid safe and everyone is 2 meters away from each other. This will just cause resentment from staff I think that we will make them still come in.

It's really not confusing advice and appalling that you're actually planning to still make people come in to do a job that can be done from home. I hope you lose people to other employers if this is how you treat them. If they're underperforming then point that out and set targets. Don't drag everyone into an office during a pandemic as some kind of punishment FFS. Group situations will NEVER be as safe as people's own houses so the 2m blah blah doesn't actually matter. It's in the air. It's in the shared toilets. And it's on their commute to work.

This, when will people realise that the WFH epidemic was also spreading before Covid-19, this virus has just accelerated it and started to show up those "presenteeism for presenteeism sakes" bullies for what they are

@OhYouBadBadKitten

Is this the speech that was supposed to be at 8pm?

Same question from me. Can anyone confirm if anything over and above what’s been announced In parliament will be announced at the 8pm speech?

BJ loves to blow smoke up the media's ass, so the chat this morning was his starter for ten, let the media run riot, then chuck in some last minute additions at 8pm

What about gentle exercise classes for adults which take place in village halls?

thanks for the clarification :)
Just wondered if GBBO was moving. Think we should move Johnson instead.

@FatCatThinCat

Is it true that he's bringing in the military to support the police? If so that's really bloody scary.

He slipped this in quietly towards the end. This is significant and chilling.

Is he giving the military police powers? Currently they can only ask you to do something, not make you (remembering my days if politely requesting people didn't wander across live firing ranges...)

@Eckhart There seems to be this belief that 'they' somehow can see into the future and are hiding the truth from us.
Hiding the truth from us? Like politicians have never, ever done before? There's no shortage of precedent for that. They can "see into the future" in that they know what they have planned, and we don't. So it might be that there is already harsher stuff planned, and they know it.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Is he giving the military police powers? Currently they can only ask you to do something, not make you (remembering my days if politely requesting people didn't wander across live firing ranges...)

No, the military will take over non-public faxing bits to free up the police.

I was surprised that mixing households wasn't banned.

For me none of it makes any difference. I wfh anyway, am not in a pub after 10pm, I wear a mask in shops. It sounds like you might now have to wear a mask in a restaurant when walking through to a table? Fine.

So no change for me, and I suspect no change for a lot of people. So I suspect no change for the virus. So all a bit pointless.

Believe me I don't want a full lockdown again so part of me things great, they haven't gone too far. But part of me worries they haven't gone far enough and we'll now end up with a lockdown.

If there is a another presser soon I hope someone mentions Boris's ' all over by Christmas' talk not that long ago!
I'm glad the retail staff have to wear masks although I know they are horrible to wear and it's not easy for any of us.
My theory is that this will be the norm for a few weeks , then a review of the R rate and maybe a 'mini lockdown ' for a while and so it goes on till the spring/ vaccine is rolled out.
Let's see if people comply this time. The troops on the street won't happen ;
maybe a few around in the big cities but there isn't capacity for every town or road! It's all hot air, although people are rightfully concerned of course. It's just scare tactics , is my take on that one.

It's the whole frog in a pan of boiling water scenario.

Chuck it straight in the pan of boiling water and it will just straight out. However put it in a pan of cold water and slowly bring it to a boil and it will quite happily sit in there with out noticing until it boils to death!

@fortyfifty

What about gentle exercise classes for adults which take place in village halls?

I'm interested in this.

I ran a class (not exercise) for adults this morning. Under the 'old rules', we're not subject to the rule of 6 (for educational purposes) but facilitate social distancing and turned people away after it got to 12. Not sure what to do from next week...

@wanderings We have been clearly told that they will bring in harsher measures if these don't work. Nothing is hidden.

I'm not trying to back up politicians as honest, far from it. I completely agree that they lie and manipulate. I just don't think that anybody knows how this pandemic will play out. They can't give us all the possibilities of future restrictions, there's too many variables.

@Forgone90 What do you think their goal is?

Probably of little interest to many on here but I wonder how many football league clubs, with decades and decades of history, are going to go bust in the next 12 months. No fans = hardly any income. Unless the richer clubs higher up the pyramid help out, it could be dire.

I actually think that getting the army involved could be very sensible if used correctly. In Australia, they had Army doctors going into care homes to administer care. Obviously it would be better if the government hadn't cut police numbers to the extent that they need extra support but it is what it is.

Everyone who wants stricter lockdown should just stay at home.

@notalwaysalondoner i don't think ventilators are used for all cases now and we got quite a lot last time
Its more the staff that i suspect would become the issue