What extra precautions should we be taking?

[Axlcat]

We’ve been told that the new variant is more transmissible and usual precautions aren’t working so what extra things should we be doing? And what exactly does more transmissible mean? Can we get the new variant just by passing someone outdoors for instance?

Unless I’ve missed it, I haven’t seen any guidance.......

Op I've notice while doing my food shop today that some supermarkets have started anti bac wiping the trollies again but I still do it myself.

I noticed Aswell that pretty much everyone shopping had their mask in the right place where as normally a lot of people either have their nose hanging out or they have it under their chin

I also noticed no children in the supermarket while I was there apart from a newborn in a body carrier where as recently more and more children have been appearing in busy places.

I've not taken my kids into a supermarket now for months

I also noticed people definitely standing further apart and not one person reached over my shoulder while practically breathing in my ear to reach anything on the shelf I was at today.

It definitely get more like it was in March/April

Just before the dc broke up from school we were quite high risk as two dc at two different schools in very large bubbles plus school transport for one dc with 60 other kids and not good mask wearing,and myself working I. Real close contact with upto ten deffierent people a day and grandparents having to fill the odd couple of hours gap on a weekly basis.

Now however we've been only walking locally seeing not many since Sunday and not been anywhere other than me to the supermarket once today so I feel our risk factor had dropped massively thankfully and I'm want to keep it that way.

We could:

1. Put a mask on whenever setting foot outside our front doors.
2. Stop meeting with one person for exercise.
3. Close garden centres.
4. Deep clean hospital corridors etc every night.

5.Stop letting employers get away with threatening job losses to employees if they self-isolate after being in contact with someone covid positive.

1. Make fines for for first offences higher - the higher of 50% of annual salary or the current fine amount if the person is claiming state benefits.
2. Automatic imprisonment for 7 days for a subsequent offence, 14 days for third offence, 28 days fir a 4th offence and 1year for a 5th offence.

50% of your annual salary for a first offence?

Yeah well we could. I’m pretty sure even our current govt wouldn’t vote for that though...

Fortunately.

We could use our common sense by not visiting places like garden centres which are clearly not essential yet still seem to be frequented by lots of people

There are more people out and about than there were in the first lockdown, where are they all going? I live on a main road. Earlier this year it was eerily quiet, now it is busy again

I’ve been cautious throughout. Wore masks before they became mandatory, get my groceries delivered, go for a walk once a day and work from home. I realise I’m extremely lucky that I’m able to to that as not everyone can. The unfortunate thing is that I have to attend a London hospital every 6 weeks and it’s unavoidable as I have to have treatment. I just think there could be more guidance on masks or extra space when distancing - should it be more than 2 metres?!

@Calmandmeasured1
I assume you claim benefits with those grossly disproportionate fine suggestions. It clearly wouldn't be appropriate to fine Jane £200 but Bob whose income is essentially the same but comes from work rather than benefits several thousand pounds. It is also nonsensical to want blanket masks outside as there are circumstances where the risks with wearing masks are greater than not doing so.

Honestly? When they say the old precautions aren’t enough I hear ‘the way people were on the whole responding to the old precautions was not enough’

So if you were already on the cautious/anxious side and not bending/stretching/turning a blind eye to the bits of guidance you don’t like then you’re probably fine.

My response was based on the OP asking what more should we be doing given that the precautions we are taking aren't working and the variant strain being more transmissable.

If what we are doing isn't enough, what more could we do? I think if people are generally complying with the laws and rules then the only thing we can do is take the most extreme measures to try and reduce transmission. That means stricter measures to protect us all and enforcement to ensure those not complying do actually comply.

@Calmandmeasured1

We could:

1. Put a mask on whenever setting foot outside our front doors.
2. Stop meeting with one person for exercise.
3. Close garden centres.
4. Deep clean hospital corridors etc every night.

5.Stop letting employers get away with threatening job losses to employees if they self-isolate after being in contact with someone covid positive.

1. Make fines for for first offences higher - the higher of 50% of annual salary or the current fine amount if the person is claiming state benefits.
2. Automatic imprisonment for 7 days for a subsequent offence, 14 days for third offence, 28 days fir a 4th offence and 1year for a 5th offence.

I hope you're joking.

@StatisticalSense

Calmandmeasured1
I assume you claim benefits with those grossly disproportionate fine suggestions.
No. I'm not on any benefits.

It clearly wouldn't be appropriate to fine Jane £200 but Bob whose income is essentially the same but comes from work rather than benefits several thousand pounds.
Mmm, I was thinking of the fines being a drop in the ocean for people on very high incomes and didn't think it through properly.

@AppleKatie

Honestly? When they say the old precautions aren’t enough I hear ‘the way people were on the whole responding to the old precautions was not enough’
I don't think that is what is being said. I think what is being said is 'What if the mutated strains of the virus are so virulent that it's not enough even if we all did comply with the precautions?'

I live in a flat hardly any delivery drivers, postmen, supermarket drivers wear masks. It’s different if your leaving on a door step and stepping back. But you are entering small lobby then using lift or narrow stairwell then walking down enclosed long indoor hallways with no ventilation. I’m not saying all the time if you are driving but surely big companies can say if you enter a building it’s indoors so wear a mask.

I’ve had someone come to fix my boiler and they removed their mask twice in 10 minutes. Had to immediately remind them to put it back. Some people act like it’s a fashion accessory.

I had to go into a shop and even though someone was checking a mask as you entered there were 4 people walking around with it under their chin. Why can’t they keep announcing mask needs to cover mouth and nose? You wouldn’t think you would need to at this point but obviously you do.

It's not been released why it's more transmissible, Porton Down are still investigating. In the meantime focus on where you are touching when out and is recommend disposable surgical masks rather than fabric at the moment

@Calmandmeasured1

We can agree to disagree. If we look at the facts though the restrictions now are in fact less tough than March.

So the effect of hyperbole from govt. about it ‘not being enough’ feeds anxiety but is ultimately toothless.

I’ve stopped wearing generic face coverings in shops and started wearing the ppe masks we wear for work which are fluid resistant. I suspect most face coverings are doing very little to stop the spread. I wash my hands and put mask on before I leave the house to shop and keep it in until I get home and can dispose of it properly and wash my hands properly.
I’ve stopped wearing contact lenses and wear my glasses now as I realised how much I touch my eyes when I gave lenses in!
Basically staying home much like the first lockdown. What else can we do!

We can agree to disagree. If we look at the facts though the restrictions now are in fact less tough than March.
They certainly are.

So the effect of hyperbole from govt. about it ‘not being enough’ feeds anxiety but is ultimately toothless.
Have the govt actually said the current measures aren't enough? Didn't they say previous restrictions weren't enough and that is why we were all put into tier 4? I would have thought they would only say measures aren't restrictive enough when announcing additional measures.

Sounds like we’re making the same point from different angles.

Cayman Islands have had no cases since
last summer. They have been so tough on their restrictions with huge fines and even imprisonment for people who do not comply!

I am sure Porton Down already know why it’s more transmissible and there may be good reasons why they do not want the information in the public domain, for our own protection. The circumstances around the initial outbreak are still highly dubious, in my view.

@Calmandmeasured1, your name is pretty ironic.

I know

I've seen scientists suggesting things like 2m everywhere (scrap the 1m plus masks); masks everywhere inc schools; support - pay - people to isolate (seems obvious to me, why not to govt I wonder...*); 10pm curfew.

• OK, I know, because it would cost them money!

it is transmittable by pigeons?
i am not joking, there was a picture in the newspaper of pigeons related to their story of how transmittable it was and that was my first thought.

it is more transmittable.

i am trying to avoid popping to the shops
i wear a mask in the shop and wash my hands

@Calmandmeasured1 I would have one first of all- government especially politicians set an example.

Press conferences not having three people from different households in the same room.

The House of Commons either entirely virtual, or the few in the chamber wearing face coverings except when speaking.
All government employees with desk jobs wfh.
Summary dismissal for rule breaches (Dominic Cummings should have gone, for example).

@peak2021
Press conferences not having three people from different households in the same room.

The House of Commons either entirely virtual, or the few in the chamber wearing face coverings except when speaking.
I agree.

It is transmittable by pigeons?
Not sure it could be but how many of us are in close contact with pigeons? Are you talking about us sitting on or touching something they have walked on?