Do councils know what we dont

[3asAbird]

2major festive events cancelled that I assume boost both cities economy

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/shambolic-decision-cancel-bath-christmas-6032017

metro.co.uk/2021/10/12/london-new-years-eve-fireworks-cancelled-for-second-year-in-a-row-15406333/?ito=facebook|social|metroukfacebook

I know media speculated October circuit break that's all gone quiet.

Just with 40k cases over 100 deaths a day we not far off jan.
Kids highest rates infections and these do leak into other age group.
7000+ in hospital
Flu and other viruses making a come back as well as covid.
What makes everyone so certain the NHS won't get overwhelmed.

Just worry after last autumn winter feels crazy out if control right now.

I know someone who organises Christmas markets (I used to work with him) and he told me they were cancelled about 3 weeks ago but he didn’t know why. I asked if he knew something we didn’t and he said no, but could be because a lot of traders are from overseas and can’t get here.

It would make sense for councils to plan ahead with this sort of thing.

We will know when we need to know.

maybe they are difficult to insure now. so not cost effective

Our xmas markets are still being advertised. I see longleat has massively downsized its offering.

What makes everyone so certain the NHS won't get overwhelmed

Don’t quote me on this, but I’m sure I heard something about some sort of vaccine that we have now. Apparently it’s really good at lowering the hospitalisation rate.

Our local lights withc on was cancelled back in the summer, as the council had to submit a road closure request back then and they couldn't say for certain the switch on would happen. Smaller events often use community centres / village halls etc. which still have maximum entry limits imposed.

Even larger markets often still have some indoor space which will be impacted but if things like the Chelsea flower show went ahead, the outdoor Christmas markets will still go ahead, presuming the sellers can get there.

I find it fascinating that no matter how many times covid is not "over" when they believed it was, some people still think it is over "this time".

Of course it isn't.

We're in the same car crash we've been in for the last 22 months. With the same people at the wheel.

The vaccines give us a huge advantage.

But the government is squandering it by creating the conditions for the second highest detected cases on earth.

Those chickens will come hone to roost.

Just as they did the last time. And the time before that.

I can confidently state our council knows very little. About anything. Been that situation for a loooong time.

The bath one is due to them being unable to staff the event eg stewards, security and speculation is that they haven't had as many stall holders book as they expected. Vacancies are at crazy high levels here, every shop and restaurant is hiring it seems, and even office jobs are getting applications

Covid is not going to be over. It will be around for ever and ever and ever. However, life seems a bit more normal than in 2020. Also, COVID had consequences like staff shortage, prices raising to make for losses during lockdown and the great resignation so that really. Have a nice day!

Don’t quote me on this, but I’m sure I heard something about some sort of vaccine that we have now. Apparently it’s really good at lowering the hospitalisation rate.

Apparently not. This is a chart from the Scottish government website. Hospitalisations and Icu cases almost at the same level as October 2020 pre vaccines.

Councils have v little spare cash. Better not to spend money organising something that might not go ahead.

@Toty

Don’t quote me on this, but I’m sure I heard something about some sort of vaccine that we have now. Apparently it’s really good at lowering the hospitalisation rate.

Apparently not. This is a chart from the Scottish government website. Hospitalisations and Icu cases almost at the same level as October 2020 pre vaccines.

Yes but that was coming off the back of a summer where cases were c. 500-1k a day. This summer cases have been consistently 30k a day for the past 3 months.

Apparently not. This is a chart from the Scottish government website. Hospitalisations and Icu cases almost at the same level as October 2020 pre vaccines

Same level of hospitalisation but with far, far more cases. So the vaccine is doing exactly what it was intended to do.

I would take anything that Somersetlive print with a mine (never mind a pinch) of salt. Exhibit "A" updated on the 29th September.

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/uk-weather-snow-hits-temperatures-5985088

@PrincessNutNuts

I find it fascinating that no matter how many times covid is not "over" when they believed it was, some people still think it is over "this time".

Of course it isn't.

We're in the same car crash we've been in for the last 22 months. With the same people at the wheel.

The vaccines give us a huge advantage.

But the government is squandering it by creating the conditions for the second highest detected cases on earth.

Those chickens will come hone to roost.

Just as they did the last time. And the time before that.

I don't think people think it's "over" at all.

However they are completely sick of existing like they did for months and have decided they'd rather take the risk of living a little.

For things like markets and local events, I imagine a big part of it is staffing. The pool of potential labour is much smaller and people who might normally work seasonally are being sucked into better-paying permanent jobs.

I'm not sure about the London fireworks. I think that might also be about the optics of having a giant expensive display when so many Londoners will be really struggling.

These large events tend to take up a lot of resources in terms of time, people, planning and cash etc.

Something like the London firework display will need to start being planned at least 12 months in advance. 12 months ago councils etc were still in the eye of the storm ref Covid.

Staff in post have probably been doing 'other things' and will basically be knackered. The last thing they want/need is a massive event.

I don't especially think there is anything sinister about such cancellations.

@Aposterhasnoname

What makes everyone so certain the NHS won't get overwhelmed

Don’t quote me on this, but I’m sure I heard something about some sort of vaccine that we have now. Apparently it’s really good at lowering the hospitalisation rate.

I work in the nhs and I hear on the grapevine that they are expecting a worse than normal flu season and are privately worried that with this and covid the wards will again become overwhelmed.

Our Covid positive admissions have interestingly jumped massively this week after being fairly stable for the last 6 weeks or so.

I'd just like to point out that my local trust and a number of others across the UK are under 'Massive Pressure' and desperately trying to discharge patients - and have been for a few months.

Before, that it was Additional Pressures - be prepared.

So actually the NHS is already under huge pressure and we are about to go into Winter Pressures on top of this.

I'm somewhat entertained at the concept that a council would

A : be privy to secret information (I've often discovered they know nothing about big changes before the rest of us in 3rd sector knew)

B: Be competent enough to plan ahead quietly to allow for them (most spend I've dealt with professionally three months planning a meeting schedule and still can't make sure the room bookings match with the schedule)

And C: could keep it quiet without Marjorie from Accounts letting her mate Tony in the Libraries know about the meeting she just overheard.

I'm mildly reassured there is such faith left.

It's likely staffing (unsurprisingly people are hesitant to work in Social and events roles after last year) or any other number of planning issues..

A Conspiracy unless it's about the amount of cakes stocked in the Council office cafeteria is very unlikely.

I don’t know about Christmas markets but a few summer country fairs we usually go to were cancelled - I understand it’s because, although the fairs weren’t until July / August, people have to start getting together to plan them months ahead.

If I were planning a Christmas market, I’d want to be pretty much ready for it by October.

One of my nearby towns has cancelled their display but cited difficulty getting hold of fireworks as the reason. Not sure how true that it and I expect there's also an element of not wanting to spend the money if there's a chance it could get called off.

News reports indicated the reason was a shortage of security guards.

I've got a dead fly on my windowsill that knows more than my local council so I wouldn't credit them with knowing more than you, no.