Breaking News Boris press conference tonight 14/05/21

[Whichjab]

So, is Monday under threat? Change to school masks or hugs?

Thank you @AlmostSummer21. No he’s had furlough at least and some time in work but his mental health has really been starting to suffer, he’s never had mental health problems, not even during some serious family tragedy, so it’s worrying. He just wants to do his job properly. He was all set for opening on Monday and was so excited, he slumped when he heard the news.

It was me who got made redundant and a new job, wfh thankfully so been working throughout since I started.

Bella so what’s the mechanism?

You stop people as they drive in, test, make them wait then take them off to secure isolation?

They’re delivering tomatoes say, and they’d be ok with isolating here in U.K. for two weeks? Who’s paying as Aus you pay for yourself. It’s a huge operation to keep cases out of the community in Aus and it doesn’t always work, see recent Melbourne transmission.

@Letsgetreadytocrumble

The vaccine seems to be helping avert deaths there, but still...

But still... what? That's the whole point of the vaccines!

But still, they are now bringing back restrictions... But still people are landing in hospital... But still, despite having a high vaccine uptake, they are experiencing another outbreak... etc.

I think the public are owed an explanation for allowing travel to and from India. Weddings ffs. And funerals! Ones due to covid !! A disgrace.

It just makes a mockery of everything. I know cases would have probably seeped in even with a travel ban,but they would have been easier to identify and isolate. As it was thousands were coming in every day and no effective quarantine.

My family are in Italy - actually right in the eye of the initial storm. I wouldn’t have dreamed in a million years of hopping backwards and forwards there in February 2020.

The rationale for timing seems a bit weak. Pakistan v India

The MP said multiple factors, but what exactly

I’ve been in lockdowns/ restrictions since March 2020 apart from 3 weeks in July 2020.
I would not comply with a local lockdown now and I am one of the most compliant in my area.
If the whole country is in it, fair enough, but why should we suffer continuously?
I currently have Covid caught from my son who got it at school. Not from breaking the rules. So either keep the whole country restricted or not, local doesn’t work.

Ultimately if this takes off we’ll have restrictions for longer though

This works, but only up to a point because soon there'll be another variant along, and another, and another.
With so many of the elderly and CEV vaccinated, either it's effective or it's not and this seems as good a time as any to find out through continuing but careful easing of restrictions. No point either in waiting for the jabs to be tweaked as I've seen suggested elsewhere, because by the time that's done something even worse could be on its way

I'm surprised more's not been said on Boris's comment about moving towards making our own assessments/choices - because if jabs do prove less effective against this or any future variant, it may be that it's the only realistic way forward

@MmeLaraque

Otherwise, bars, restos and so on remain shut, and there's still a curfew from 7pm to 6am.

They still but bars/restos with terraces/exterior tables are going to be allowed to open up for outside service from 19th May...

www.leparisien.fr/economie/bars-et-restaurants-les-terrasses-ouvertes-a-50-le-19-mai-les-salles-a-50-le-9-juin-10-05-2021-UYJXHQR67JHULKIP5GXWFBFCFY.php

As you say curfew still in effect but that's also being relaxed..

www.linternaute.com/actualite/guide-vie-quotidienne/2520811-couvre-feu-decale-progressivement-en-france-horaire-et-calendrier/

@unwuthering

You seem to be ignoring the impact of vaccinations.

The Seychelles, with more than 60% of its population immunised, is experiencing another Covid outbreak - 33% of cases among those fully immunised.

The vaccine seems to be helping avert deaths there, but still...

How is covid affected those vaccinated people?

In America there are some 'breakthrough' covid cases in fully vaccinated people. This is to be expected with any vaccine. There are few vaccines for any disease that can prevent 100% of cases. However, in the fully vaccinated almost all cases are asymptomatic or mild cases.

So in the Seychelles how is covid affecting those who are vaccinated? What are the fatality rates? What are the hospitalisation rates? How many are seriously ill? How many are asymptomatic or have a mild case?

Cases are necessarily an issue in vaccinated people. It's how covid affects them if they do get it.

Like @Alfaix I'm in an area that has only had 3 weeks of 'freedom' in 15 months. Despite complying with all the 'rules' my entire family has had covid. My elderly relatives have all had 2 vaccinations. We as a family are no longer complying with this ridiculousness from Monday. End of.

Listen to those who we know don't lie - scientists and doctors.

Yes they do Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance went on TV and lied.

@Belladonna12

They could test and compulsory isolate freight drivers if they test positive.

Another Devil's advocate here.. what do you then do with the vehicle and potentially perishable goods on board?

[quote Delatron]@ChardonnaysPetDragon Thank you, very interesting article.

I hadn’t realised Australia had 85 cases. Hopefully they’re on top of them with an unvaccinated population.[/quote]
Australia’s cases are people who’ve arrived from overseas and are in quarantine. We are most certainly on top of it plus our vaccination program is ramping up. People in their 40s and 50s are now being vaccinated. I’m having mine next week.

@RedcurrantPuff

Thank you *@AlmostSummer21*. No he’s had furlough at least and some time in work but his mental health has really been starting to suffer, he’s never had mental health problems, not even during some serious family tragedy, so it’s worrying. He just wants to do his job properly. He was all set for opening on Monday and was so excited, he slumped when he heard the news.

It was me who got made redundant and a new job, wfh thankfully so been working throughout since I started.

Oh sorry, the memory is so foggy these days. I'm just hoping it improves again when I'm completely through menopause?! I'm hoping for a huge lifting of the fog!!😊

Is there any concern that the business won't be there for DH to go back to or is it just a matter of waiting for the restrictions to lift?

This is a nice balanced article I think. Not like some of the media headlines at the moment.

inews.co.uk/news/politics/indian-variant-vaccine-efficacy-covid-strain-modest-reduction-1001431

@Alfaix

I’ve been in lockdowns/ restrictions since March 2020 apart from 3 weeks in July 2020. I would not comply with a local lockdown now and I am one of the most compliant in my area. If the whole country is in it, fair enough, but why should we suffer continuously? I currently have Covid caught from my son who got it at school. Not from breaking the rules. So either keep the whole country restricted or not, local doesn’t work.

I understand your frustration!

I'm sorry you currently have Covid, I really hope you have a 'mild' case & don't go to hospital or suffer from long Covid!!💐

When a local lockdown 'doesn't work' we need to look at why and address the problems.
Simply making it a national lockdown won't improve things for that area snd just further impacts everyone- what's going be gained from that?

My way of dealing with this would be localised, tough ... & unpopular

Bearing in mind the kind of areas where most of the infections are, how do you feel this will go down with the minority communities?

At least in my own east midlands city there's been practically no attempt at enforcement in order not to inflame tensions; it seems to be what matters above all else, even the consequences of Covid
So how would you handle the outcry which would inevitably follow if tougher measures were adopted?

[quote loginfail]@Belladonna12

They could test and compulsory isolate freight drivers if they test positive.

Another Devil's advocate here.. what do you then do with the vehicle and potentially perishable goods on board?[/quote]
They can go to the destination, another person can remove the items and then they can isolate.

UK variant started off in SE England, India variant came from India, lorry drivers tend not to socialise much.
We got this variant so quickly because we failed to stop flights to/fro India.
Its europe that needs to be testing all UK drivers or they are going to get this variant but hopefully, their vaccine rates are now such that it wont cause another LD.

@MarshaBradyo

Bella so what’s the mechanism?

You stop people as they drive in, test, make them wait then take them off to secure isolation?

They’re delivering tomatoes say, and they’d be ok with isolating here in U.K. for two weeks? Who’s paying as Aus you pay for yourself. It’s a huge operation to keep cases out of the community in Aus and it doesn’t always work, see recent Melbourne transmission.

They are being tested already when they are drive in and those that test positive but do not have a home in the UK are given hotel accommodation. I think people for who do have a home of UK should be given hotel accommodation too rather than returning home and potentially infecting those they live with.

When a local lockdown 'doesn't work' we need to look at why and address the problems

Once again that works only up to a point, since most of the "solutions" involve long term work and Covid's here now

There's been a very measured and articulate poster who writes from Leicester, saying that much of the reluctance to engage with the process isn't so much down to ignorance or economic factors, but that they just don't wish to - simply put, the cultural importance of closeness and religious observance was said to be considered more important than Covid rules

That isn't going to change overnight (or indeed at all), so once again it would be interesting to know how folk feel the issue should be addressed

@Delatron

There will always be variants of concern. We can’t keep locking down ‘to check the vaccines work’ The scientists have said there is no reason to think the won’t work. Listen to them.

I would have liked to see stricter rules and quicker action at the borders but we seem unable to do that. I don’t think people should suffer any more lockdowns. That can’t be the strategy to deal with variants. It has to be carry on vaccinating at speed and get on with our lives.

not what a newspaper headline is saying this morning. Saying it is thought that the vaccines will not work so well. Second time I have had to write that today.

@jasjas1973

UK variant started off in SE England, India variant came from India, lorry drivers tend not to socialise much. We got this variant so quickly because we failed to stop flights to/fro India. Its europe that needs to be testing all UK drivers or they are going to get this variant but hopefully, their vaccine rates are now such that it wont cause another LD.

Exactly. Lorry drivers sit inside their vehicles all day and are not mixing much. It's not a social event for them . People are talking as if it would be practically impossible to test them and for them to be isolated in a hotel when that is exactly what is happening anyway if they are positive and not from the UK.

@Belladonna12

They can go to the destination, another person can remove the items and then they can isolate.

Ah I see a bit like the long running idea of arriving at the UK, getting home under your own steam and then confinement at home...

....and then what do you do with the now empty lorry that should be turning to (hopefully) take items across the Channel and into Europe?

Leave it outside the place of quarantine for umpteen days?

Can't see that idea lasting very long...nobody would risk exporting to the UK...

You only need one or two cases to get through for normality like Aus to be problematic.

There’s a reason they lockdown when a case escapes.

So if you were a lorry driver you’d be fine with the potential two week quarantine away from home, how much pay are you getting for that?

Your employer is ok with you being out of action for two weeks and paying your wages at same time.

You might find not many want to deliver food to U.K. I think you need to consider the practical realities of what you are suggesting.