Bonny lasses assemble for the North East support thread 2!

[PennyDreadfuI]

Shiny new thread for all your north east needs.

Hello 👋

@Snoringferret

Can someone answer me something I don't understand about the Northumbria University outbreak?

So out of 770 only 70 have symptoms, so why were the others tested??? I thought you were only supposed to be tested if you had symptoms even if you were a close contact? I thought if you were a close contact you needed to isolate but only get a test if you had symptoms?

Why are they testing asymptomatic people? And is it a case that they're finding more because they're testing more?

I'm starting to feel like Trump saying that you can't have an outbreak if you don't test that's not what I mean though, I'm just trying to figure out what's going on.

I don't know for sure but I'm assuming the testing is done privately, rather than through the NHS testing ,several universities are doing this to try and help manage outbreaks.

It is a good question though, also it would be interesting to know, if they are done privately, if/how the tests make it to the government dashboard numbers!

It's not surprising the students have it, halls of residence are basically really shit cruise ships and we saw how that went down at the very beginning of the pandemic.

I don't know for sure but I'm assuming the testing is done privately, rather than through the NHS testing ,several universities are doing this to try and help manage outbreaks. It is a good question though, also it would be interesting to know, if they are done privately, if/how the tests make it to the government dashboard numbers!

I think we really need to know because it's not a level playing field for lockdowns if we're having large numbers of private tests of university students adding to our numbers of other university towns aren't.

Today we can confirm that the total number of new cases of Covid-19 self-reported in the last seven days by our students studying at our Newcastle campuses is 619.
“These students are all now self-isolating. Their flatmates and any close contacts are also self-isolating for 14 days in line with government guidance, and have been advised to contact NHS119 to book a test as soon as possible should symptoms appear. Those affected live in different student and non-student accommodation.

This is what it says on their website so it says just to get a test if you have symptoms

This is making me feel quite ill, actually its so frustrating I feel like having a toddler tantrum.

I know the hospital admissions are rising and deaths are now at a similar level that they were in the few days before lockdown in March and were followed by a massive spike. The advisers must be very concerned that history will repeat itself. I seriously hope not.

It's hard to compare because we have no idea how many people would have tested positive back then as tests were not available, the number of postive tests could have been infinitely higher.

Surely the support bubble ommission is an error how can they keep schools and work places open without this?

Ooh a local thread! waves hello 👋🏻 I’m in Newcastle very near to a lot of students so well into dark blue map territory.

I saw someone make a reasonable point on Twitter earlier questioning whether the university numbers released today (over 1000) are included in the numbers the council is releasing which were less than that figure!

That leaked document is a bit terrifying. I’m very law abiding even when I think it’s excessive and stuck to the first lockdown completely but I don’t see how we’ll manage that again. We were relying on the childcare bubble already and would most likely make the decision to continue. Does the document seem to be saying that meeting outdoors would become illegal as well as just not advised? I really think that would be a step too far for a lot more people and just make them throw in the towel. Socially distanced dog walks are one of the things that’s been keeping me going, and there is no scientific reason not to continue with them.

What website are people using to get local updates?

@BessieSurtees I don’t think it’s an error. The document specifically says to delete the section which mentions support bubbles and replace it with no meeting outside your household in any circumstances. But that document is the recommendations from Sage, it may well be that it is significantly changed by politicians. They’ve already said their discussing whether to include leisure and that document specifically includes leisure. Hopefully there will be a similar discussion on support bubbles.

I'm hoping the government will balance the mental health and childcare implications and allow support bubbles. Bloody hope so.

Socially distanced dog walks are one of the things that’s been keeping me going, and there is no scientific reason not to continue with them.

Same. I can't have a bubble because I'm not a single adult. I love my husband dearly but he is not very sociable and meeting my neighbour for a walk is the thing that's keeping me together.

I keep hearing that the government are introducing tighter rules from Monday. Does this mean he is announcing them on Monday? Those who don’t agree with the rules will have yet another last hurrah weekend.

Why does Boris keep giving people a few days warning, why do the media persist in leaking information, have the government not learned from previous examples?

to everyone struggling during these challenging times.

@BessieSurtees all the way through this I've said that the government leak information to soften us up, so by the time they actually announce it it won't be a huge shock and we'll have got used to the idea. Every new raft of measures have followed the same pattern. Thing is, I don't think that people are going to ever get used to the idea of no support bubbles. If that goes ahead I honestly think it'll be too far for a lot of people. I wouldn't blame anyone for ignoring that rule. Leaving people alone and vulnerable over winter (over Christmas!) is too much, too cruel.

If the restrictions are as harsh as they seem to be I guarantee this won't be a banana bread/zoom pub quiz/NHS clappy sort of a lockdown. People will - quite rightly - be very fucking angry.

It will be too far for me @PennyDreadfuI my DD is a nurse and single parent and I help with childcare.

I agree the whole tone feels different this time.

Hi all. I've been away from mumsnet for a few days. Going to catch up on the thread. Hooe everyone is weathering the local restrictions ok. Just saw a BBC report of over 1k new cases related to Newcastle uni.

You are all right about the leaking of information. It is so irresponsible. I'm trying to be positive here, but flagging. DD just had her first swimming lesson back at our Local pool. She has been moved up a stage for next week. Will there be a lesson next week? Then I get home to a phone call that my Dads brother has just died. He is a man who grew up in a pit village where they all knew each other and were mates since being kids. The funeral will be a challenge owing to said folk wanting to grieve and hug each other and wanting a full knees up back at the local (whom will turn a blind eye)

You know, actually just thinking about it now. Apart from talking outside to my friend - who is also a single parent and seeing no one apart from the school run. Then I haven't got a support bubble (I guess technically I'd call this friend part of it).
It's just knowing that that 5 minutes chat (if I/she need it at any point) may not be possible without breaking the rules (or would it be the law?) that is the part that baffles me.

I'm not going to pubs, all my shopping is done online, I haven't been on public transport since the DC went back to school. I haven't had anyone in my house since before the March Lockdown and even the DC dad hasn't been round since beginning of September.

My DC go to school, they come home. Our weekends are spent either on walks, playing games or relaxing at home.
I'm missing adult company, just being able to talk to someone without having to worry about what the DC may over hear (which is the case with phonecalls) that's the hard bit.

If the restrictions are as harsh as they seem to be I guarantee this won't be a banana bread/zoom pub quiz/NHS clappy sort of a lockdown. People will - quite rightly - be very fucking angry.

This seems the case among friends and family. It will also be made much harder by the fact it’s only part of the country experiencing it. It’s easy to feel forgotten about and written off up here, there are loads of posters on mumsnet who keep asking what everyone is whinging about, isn’t 6 friends enough who have to be gently reminded that for about 15 million people it’s illegal to go to their mam’s house.

God, I've taken so many sensitive phone calls in the back garden, struggling to hear over the traffic noise, so DS1 doesn't overhear (or Ds2 drown everything out with his endless chatter)

@PickAChew

God, I've taken so many sensitive phone calls in the back garden, struggling to hear over the traffic noise, so DS1 doesn't overhear (or Ds2 drown everything out with his endless chatter)

I reached a point where I just didn't take phonecalls whilst they were awake. Ds2 always comes to find me to try find out what I'm talking about, DS1 wants to know who it is & my youngest just shouts hello who is it constantly.

@Shitfuckoh what is it with children who happily play by themselves... until we’re on the phone when suddenly they need our full attention 🤷🏻‍♀️

I am now fully recovered from my Emphysema flare up.
My granddaughter who lives with me has started a college course. Today it was cancelled as one of the students has tested positive to Covid but decided to come in because she felt well!
Fortunatly DGD was late going in today so got the message before she arrived.Otherwise she would have to go into isolation with me as I am classed as a vulnerable person.
My oldest granddaughter is in New York studying for a Master's degree.She had to go into isolation in an hotel almost as soon as she got there and it lasted a fortnight.It was because she came into the USA from another country.
I am feeling for all those students having to remain in their residences here
I went to Gosforth Asda today.I don't live there but fancied a change from my local one which is a thieves paradise.Very very quiet.

@BessieSurtees thank you, and I hope your niece is ok. It's hard as a relative but I imagine it must be very hard to work in such an environment at the moment.

I hope everyone's ok today. The shared document is terrifying - I really, really hope it's not the final version and support bubbles are included for both those living alone and those who need childcare.

Echoing what a PP said from Twitter, it does seem incredibly harsh given our numbers in the north east have been inflated slightly by the universities.

Hi from Gateshead! Full on melt down snotty tears today, Iv got a 10 week old and 4 year old and it’s just felt a bit rubbish today. I’m in a bubble with a close friend (single and lives alone) who has just lost her mum and the thought of them taking the bubble away from her at this time is horrible as visiting with the kids is keeping her going. Partners business has disappeared during the first lock down and is unlikely to get up and running again any time soon and I haven’t seen my family since the day after baby was born. I know these are small things in the grand scheme of it but it just seemed to all catch up with me today. Pleased to have found this thread and I also couldn’t get fenwicks Santa tickets-at this rate Santa will be in the grotto via zoom anyway!

Went for a drink and dinner in Durham tonight, might be the last time but also wanted to support some businesses in case of another lockdown. Really can't face the support bubbles being taken away. I think I'll carry on seeing my mum, I wfh as does DH, she doesn't go anywhere, and it would be terrible for all of our mental health