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Original poster

News conference at 5pm [titled edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

358 replies

toolazytothinkofausername · 27/11/2021 14:27

I'm watching Sky News, and they have said there will be a news conference this afternoon... but why do they never say at what time? I've also had this on BBC news too previously. It is so infuriating Angry

YANBU- It is annoying they do not specify a time.
YABU- In 2021 you should search the internet to find it yourself.

I do not know how to do AIBU polls. One day I will figure it out and add it on.

OP posts:
ColinTheKoala · 27/11/2021 19:11

@bizboz

How effective are masks? A recent study showed that mask wearing reduced transmission by 53%. here

It's a Guardian article but link to the original study published in the BMJ is there. Don't think it's been peer-reviewed yet but was a very wide-scale study.

If you look on other social media you will see that the study was apparently debunked. However, it seems like common sense to me that if you were something in front of your mouth and nose you reduce nasty things going in and nasty things going out!

And even if you don't believe it reduces covid transmission we know from last year it reduced flu and cold transmission.

MistressoftheDarkSide · 27/11/2021 19:11

@Carrotte

You will be very welcome if you fancy a pack of incense and a chunky biker style ring or two Grin

ColinTheKoala · 27/11/2021 19:12

@Silverswirl

Yeah. Not wearing masks to shop ever again. Guess what- I’m exempt now and no one is allowed to ask why so it’s all gravy.
it's all gravy - never heard that expression before. What part of the country is that from (or is it a translation from a different language?)
ColinTheKoala · 27/11/2021 19:12

wear not were!

Jellykat · 27/11/2021 19:13

Colin I'm in Wales, and work part time in a large hotel and we do.. however the 3 restaurants and cafe staff in the town where i work, dont wear masks at all.. its a legal requirement in shops, but they dont bother.. i just dont get it..

User135644 · 27/11/2021 19:15

Shits hitting the fan. Witty looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Is lockdown inevitable?

MistressoftheDarkSide · 27/11/2021 19:15

I've always looked at masks as a sort of hedging ones bets kind of thing tbh....

PhilCornwall1 · 27/11/2021 19:17

Yeah. Not wearing masks to shop ever again.
Guess what- I’m exempt now and no one is allowed to ask why so it’s all gravy.

eBay will be doing well on lanyards.

MistressoftheDarkSide · 27/11/2021 19:19

@XenoBitch

Thank you Smile Was very pleased to discover the existence of black thermals..... and yes, hot tea by the bucketful!!!

Lostmyheart101 · 27/11/2021 19:24

Wearing a mask now it’s winter is a plus for me, it makes the air warmer going into my lungs. Also my nose is always the first to get cold so I don’t mind.

Carrotte · 27/11/2021 19:25

@Lostmyheart101

Wearing a mask now it’s winter is a plus for me, it makes the air warmer going into my lungs. Also my nose is always the first to get cold so I don’t mind.
That's true actually it does keep my nose warm
chiefcha · 27/11/2021 19:27

The shops will be fine because I imagine there will be plenty of people like me, who will be far more inclined to go shopping now masks are mandatory again.

User135644 · 27/11/2021 19:28

@PhilCornwall1

*Yeah. Not wearing masks to shop ever again. Guess what- I’m exempt now and no one is allowed to ask why so it’s all gravy.*

eBay will be doing well on lanyards.

If anyone doesn't want to wear a mask in shops (I don't either) then either suck it up or shop online.
DGRossetti · 27/11/2021 19:30

@PurpleDaisies

I've got subtitles on and they're better than usual so I think maybe there was advance sight of BJ's speech, which was fed in? Normally the subbies system uses dictation software and are near-comically inaccurate.

Often no good for first language BSL users.
Pretty much every other country interprets their PM into sign pretty much any time they speak. I don’t get why we don’t.

I have a vague memory that the English reasoning was that it should be the broadcaster that provides subtitles and translations.

Which pretty much squares with the general approach that disabilities are always someone elses problem. So consistent, if not enlightened.

xxxGirlCrushxxx · 27/11/2021 19:32

So many people will be 'exempt'.... shop staff included

nether · 27/11/2021 19:34

Being 'exempt' is really shoddy, and a disservice both to the genuinely exempt and to the vulnerable

SaltedCaramelHC · 27/11/2021 19:36

@JetRocket

Hmm I’m beyond wearing masks now. I’ve done with them. I just don’t enjoy shopping with them on so I’d rather not go than put up with wearing one. Which is obviously fine and my choice…etc but I do worry that there will be many more who feel like me out there and in the new year we’ll see a massive second wave of high-street shops closing who didn’t make it through Christmas.

I suppose the likes of John Lewis/M&S/next don’t really feel the loss of a High street store as no doubt their online sales will just increase but it’s hundreds of local jobs down the toilet and people’s livelihoods. Maybe it will create more jobs elsewhere like driving and warehouse but not everyone who works in a city centre shop can do those. If you don’t have a driving license, vehicle or have disabilities these kind of jobs just don’t accommodate in the same way.

I don't suppose anyone enjoys shopping much while wearing them. But if you honestly worried that much about the high-street shops closing, then surely you'd put yourself through a bit of discomfort to shop in person? Obviously people who are vulnerable and worried about getting covid can't do that. But if it's just the objection to wearing masks because it's not much fun, well, I'd rather suck that up and be able to keep high-street shops for the future, and keep those local jobs viable. I do online shopping enough, but I'd like to be able to return to a lot more face to face shopping in the end, and I'd like those people to keep their livelihoods, so I'm willing to put up with it for now in order to try to keep some businesses afloat. It's a fairly small measure, really. I'm sick of it too, but it seems a relatively small price to pay to me to be able to keep all that for the future. Yes, it would be different if I was really seriously unable to wear a mask at all, or if the threat of catching covid in the shops gets really severe, or if I were extremely vulnerable rather than just a bit - those would change my mind and make me shop online, and risk the decimation of the high-street. But otherwise, I'd tolerate the discomfort and lack of enjoyment and horribleness of it all to keep some things normal for the future.
ktel1 · 27/11/2021 19:40

So to summarize , now wearing masks in public indoor settings and PCR tests when flying into UK?

Nothing too radical yet. I see vaccine passports on the horizon

Donenow1 · 27/11/2021 19:41

@Thewiseoneincognito

Whilst I dislike BJ and his general approach to the pandemic as a whole, I hope this forced sentiment that he’d be some National villain who cancelled Christmas does not cloud his judgment- if restrictions came back you can guarantee he’ll have explored every feasible avenue to have avoided them and they would be absolutely necessary.

Chris Whitty did seem agitated, I’m glad others noticed this too.

Face masks for shops and transport is a positive step forward, hopefully to be expanded to other settings soon too.

My guess is I wouldn’t be surprised if close contact isolation regardless of vaccination came back across the board in the next week or so which will bring with it a big set of problems once again.

Stay safe everyone.

M

Yes, I agree. I thought Whitty looked very agitated and very worried. My own personal worry is of vaccine escape and in my own humble opinion until we know more I personally would consider this new variant dangerous. Both my husband and I are CEV so we are following this closely.
MistressoftheDarkSide · 27/11/2021 19:43

@SaltedCaramelHC

Thank you for that post x as a small retailer I really appreciate that sentiment and the bigger picture point of view.

I honestly feel as though I don't know which way is up these days but am trying to muddle through, be pragmatic, resilient and proportionate in my thoughts and actions and trying to be mindful of other people's thoughts, feelings and opinions. It can be very challenging.....

Saucery · 27/11/2021 19:43

@Lostmyheart101

Wearing a mask now it’s winter is a plus for me, it makes the air warmer going into my lungs. Also my nose is always the first to get cold so I don’t mind.
God yes, I went to the farm shop today and the only bit of me that was warm was my lower face in my mask Grin

(And my feet, hand knitted socks)

XenoBitch · 27/11/2021 19:43

@ktel1

So to summarize , now wearing masks in public indoor settings and PCR tests when flying into UK?

Nothing too radical yet. I see vaccine passports on the horizon

I thought PCR tests when flying into the UK was a thing anyway. I have a friend who flew in from the EU in August, and had to do a PCR on arrival (and wait around for the results), and another on day 2..
User135644 · 27/11/2021 19:44

@ktel1

So to summarize , now wearing masks in public indoor settings and PCR tests when flying into UK?

Nothing too radical yet. I see vaccine passports on the horizon

It's a gesture to show they're doing something. They've brought in a couple of token measures that will have the least economic effect. They'll only go stronger if and when this variant proves as bad as feared.
Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/11/2021 19:45

Sorry if I’ve missed this, but why do we think Whitty seemed so anxious?

I don't know if he did or not but I wonder if he ever regrets taking on the job when so many people are so ungrateful for what the scientists are doing.

I was watching his Gresham lecture during the week and it had to be abandoned halfway through because some fuckwits (possibly including Piers Corbyn?) started heckling him. I wouldn't blame him if he said fuck it do what the hell you like, I'm done with this, but he won't because he's a decent person.

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2021 19:46

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

Sorry if I’ve missed this, but why do we think Whitty seemed so anxious?

I don't know if he did or not but I wonder if he ever regrets taking on the job when so many people are so ungrateful for what the scientists are doing.

I was watching his Gresham lecture during the week and it had to be abandoned halfway through because some fuckwits (possibly including Piers Corbyn?) started heckling him. I wouldn't blame him if he said fuck it do what the hell you like, I'm done with this, but he won't because he's a decent person.

No really?

That is shameful

He’s been the one who has been excellent throughout