Why does a town in south Somerset have lowest rates?

[m0therofdragons]

I know the main reasons given are no city, no uni, no tourism, no motorway, but surely that’s not unique to Yeovil?

Whatever many of you think about Yeovil, we need to respect the fact others live there. They need and want to go about their everyday lives, work, socialising, going out for a treat. It's looking at the other factors that may help keep numbers down.

I live somewhere with fairly low numbers, people are taking it seriously around here, doing their best to social distance, you're the odd one out in the town if you haven't got a mask on in the street. Very few are mixing inside, in fact, I don't know anyone going inside (my Mum is in our support bubble, I've only been in her house twice to help with paperwork when it was raining - I sat in hall floor, she was in lounge). I see friends outside still, for a drink or walk. If they put us in tier 2, we won't notice. We've eaten out quite a few times, our two local pubs really are the safest we've been in. It all helps. We don't have a uni in our borough, but a campus on the border.

I suspect people are slagging it off to keep people out.

No doubt it's completely charming and when all this shit is over I will be coming down for a visit.

We went to Somerset in August for a week and the social distancing was impeccable. It really stood out to us!

I visited a supermarket in Yeovil briefly and was quite shocked at the rule following (compared to where I am in Cornwall). I was so impressed!

Stay safe Somerset

It seems to be the south west folk who are taking this virus seriously.

I actually wondered if it already swept through Somerset/Dorset in the 1st wave and there is some level of herd immunity coupled with sparse populations. We have a lot of 2nd home owners (Not in Yeovil obviously but near) and despite the ‘rules’ lots of Londoners flooded out down here in the lockdown and lots didn’t appear to follow the lockdown rules either. Caught one ex MP out walking in a large group of people in the midst of lockdown. I know a lot of people in the SW who had Covid symptoms in March/April and some are suffering still with long Covid. Yet it seems implausible to me that they could have all have had it without it having circulated through the population quite greatly. None of them had traveled anywhere. Probably wishful thinking on my part!

The rate is so low because even 'Rona' is understandably avoiding Yeovil.
Dire place.

I was genuinely interested in reasons rather than asking people to slag off the place I choose to live with my children. It’s not dire at all. First wave passed us by with 26 deaths locally (very sad but not the numbers others had).

@homemadecommunistrussia it’s not really a holiday destination (something I like) but for families living here there’s a lot to offer, especially for outdoorsy people with dogs or bikes.

@m0therofdragons

I was genuinely interested in reasons rather than asking people to slag off the place I choose to live with my children. It’s not dire at all. First wave passed us by with 26 deaths locally (very sad but not the numbers others had).

Oh it's just a little good natured teasing - Yeovil is the younger brother of the SW. It's because we love you, Yeovil, you ratty little scamp.

Rates are low across the SW, there was a covid-like illness which was widespread in Bristol area late 2019, perhaps this has impacted the wider SW. That and lower pop density and lower use of public transport - greater reliance on car, bike and shanks's pony.

@m0therofdragons you’re right it IS where you have chosen to live. I think because I’m local too I can slag it off.
I have seen it really decline in the last few years. The crime/gang stuff is really worrying and I would move out of Yeovil as soon as my kids hit secondary school.

@m0therofdragons

I was genuinely interested in reasons rather than asking people to slag off the place I choose to live with my children. It’s not dire at all. First wave passed us by with 26 deaths locally (very sad but not the numbers others had).

You chose to live there and I chose to move away, simple. I'm going to generalise here, but I've noticed the people of the SW don't travel well. They rely on the cars more, public transport is terrible, smaller population etc. This is probably one of the many reasons why the rate is lower.