Don't tier the pants out of it.

[Cismyfatarse]

Thread level 47.

@Dinnafashyersel I think the restrictions are pointless now, and the law of unintended consequences will mean exactly what you say: everyone in the same places as nowhere else to go.

I don't see a realistic way to assess S4-6 grades. Any deviation from "optimistic expected progression given previous performance" has no upside. It also risks serious blowback. Stushie last year raging against the SQA's computerised algorithm was bad enough.

Glad it's not just me WouldbeGood.

can't help thinking the same compliant group is getting hit again and again, and what we need is enforcing of the rules being broken that really are perpetuating outbreaks. Except we don't know what those are as the data collection is rubbish.

So on we trudge with increasing restrictions on the people already being careful! We do need a more optimistic focus on the vaccine rollout - I'm not above a church roof fund type graphic that is increasing day on day.

The may pie chart is dismal at the minute, and there's no clear evidence that we'll get a lot of freedoms back in May.

@Iwillneverbesatisfied I wouldn't read anything into the exasperation being personal, every single person I've spoken to this week has sounded exasperated, at work, family, friends. A lot of frayed nerves.

Apparently an email has been sent to Edinburgh GPs warning of possible delayed supplies

I agree with others re the limitations of the data and the frustration with lack of information about routes of transmission.

I still believe the majority of cases are in hospitals, hospices and other institutions, driven by the need for health and social care services to be delivered and other essential services (food distribution and processing for e.g.) but it spreads into the community through these workers.

Track and trace is limited (not identifying contacts soon enough but also because of assuming the contagion period is 48 hours before symptoms start or a positive test) and people are often given no practical support to isolate or told to get into work even if their children are isolating because this is not a direct contact.

People meeting for a coffee or collecting takeaway or whatever small thing makes their life bearable isn't going to be a spreading event IMO

One thing is for sure people will not live like this forever. Its totally against human nature. And people will eventually rebel.

Re Secondary exams, I've no idea. Maybe they are as well to say no awards will be given just a merit for the course completed.
But that involves some sort of discussion with Employers, Colleges / Unis. Scotland can't be on it's own English students must be in a similar boat with GCSEs and A levels. Along with students across Europe.

I don't care if it is early days, I just care that someone is giving us a teeny tiny bit of good news.

Thanks for posting that Rae, today has been a bit shite. It's good to see something remotely positive.

Total change of subject.
Anyone else wear crocs as slippers do you have issues with static building up in your body? I keep giving my kids static shocks, they aren't amused I'm blaming the crocs
Any recommendations for slippers as comfy a crocs that can cope with running to the bin?

Jeez you lot have been busy while I was at work.

Good luck @Iwillneverbesatisfied

Oh I really hope takeaways aren't banned. It's the only thing we have that is good left. I don't want to cook for DD's birthday.

I have crocs with furry insides and I wear them pretty much all day every day now I never have anywhere nice to go to. I've never given anyone a shock as far as I know so I'm guessing you must just be very sparky @Lockdownbear

Lockdownbear I just bought new slippers this week, because my feet were too cold in my crocs. I got Sketchers Bob's. Very comfy, memory foam and a proper sole.

Shite as the restrictions are, it does mean that we're not looking at hospital carnage. Hospital admissions on average occur 13 days after symptoms start. So this next week will be from Christmas and Hogmanay.
Am not sure what will happen with take away. On one hand more grant support was announced for hospitality, leisure and retail yesterday. And I think takeaway alcohol and coffee could be stopped, but hot food by delivery only seems a step too far. Partly because Deliveroo etc can't even cope if it starts raining or gets icey and delivery isn't an option in some areas, but also for some, a takeaway is their only access to hot food. Often these people can't afford the additional delivery charges.

One issue with banning take-away coffee is your then stopping people like truck drivers who don't have cooking facilities in their cab from being able to access hot food and drinks.
That was an issue for them in March and it would be rotten to return to that for the minimal spread that take aways represent.

We have a curry on the way. We ordered extra so NS can piss as I will be eating takeaway tomorrow too!

Also, struggling to sit and teach so turned a mantelpiece into a standing desk which was amazing and made me feel rather hip and happening.

@Iwill good luck with your interviews. Was listening to JL saying up to date with Diabetic eye checks. 100% untrue as SIL was last done September ‘19 keeps getting fobbed of with soon!! Re takeaways noooo please. It’s our only treat we take turns cooking from scratch evening meals and look forward to Saturdays takeaway. Can wait upwards off 2hrs for one yet only a 5mn drive.

Interesting article on schools - especially the note that transmission risk between pupils is low.

Guardian link

@Cismyfatarse

We have a curry on the way. We ordered extra so NS can piss as I will be eating takeaway tomorrow too!

Also, struggling to sit and teach so turned a mantelpiece into a standing desk which was amazing and made me feel rather hip and happening.

Enjoy. That sounds 👌🏻

And I'd totally have ordered takeaway if hadn't already got a curry bubbling

@StatisticallyChallenged

Interesting article on schools - especially the note that transmission risk between pupils is low.

Guardian link

Good article. I think there has been a real lack of balancing risk vs harm from Covid across all sectors.

Re slippers that can go outside I wear my Bitkenstocks with woolly socks. They are more than 10 years old and still going strong. Still respectable enough to wear barefoot as sandals if the Sun ever comes out mid August - my feet not so much.

I just wear my comfy slippers and don't go outside - seems to work fine :o Nicola is definitely onto something with this.

Agree @titsbumfannythelot. There was a recent letter to childcare providers which said something like "providers have discretion to make decisions in the best interests of the child and their family" but that's kind of the challenge here - in most cases being out of school/having no access to childcare isn't going to be in the best interests of the child or their family. For the majority of children and their immediate households covid isn't a significant risk and so if you just say "what is best for child X" the answer will rarely be "sitting at home in front of the TV whilst a stressed out parent tries to work and homeschool/provide childcare too". Closing schools is a decision that has been made to benefit the overall population (I include teachers in that) by reducing covid cases which is understandably. But I don't think we can really argue it's in children's best interest.

That’s an interesting article @StatisticallyChallenged

DS and I got a collection take out lunch from our favourite little “granny cafe” today. I don’t think they’ll survive if they can’t carry on with this.