When I felt that ,apart from a few prats, we were all in this together.I felt positive about beating the virus and that limiting my social life was worthwhile. I don't feel that way now and it's depressing. I will continue with the stay safe 'guidance' for now. Cummings in particular and other 'important ' people have caused this change in attitude but I can't help but feel that the press are in some way responsible. Of course they should have reported it but this frenzied attack is counterproductive. It takes the focus off other important issues that should be making the headlines.
1) He was asked why people can't visit family members who have been isolating, when they can, if social distancing, meet people outside. The reply, mainly from the medical officer, was that the issue was being 'indoors' and transmission posed a problem.
OK - Cummings, who know the rules states that he was trying to protect his son. His idea of protection was to put his son in a confined space with a suspected virus carrier. How does that fit? Secondly Cummings stated that his concern was that his child may be unsupported if BOTH him and his wife contracted the disease. And guess what, he then went out of his way (obviously not in a navigational sense as he knew exactly where he wanted to go), by travelling in a confined space with a suspected carrier, to engineer exactly that. 260 miles in a space that's smaller than a small thing - with a suspected carrier. BUT you can't visit some poor sod who's been isolating even if you keep 2m apart - even if both parties are showing no symptoms.
2) Shortly, the gov will be introducing track and trace. This is the thing they will rely on to control the virus. The question was then how this will work - and Hancock and the MO basically said (and Hancock went to great lengths that the rules weren't to protect him - but to protect the people in general. Protecting others - not just you and your family) that if the track/trace detected that you'd been in contact with a known carrier, and even though you may not have any symptoms yourself, you will be instructed to isolate for 14 days. This will not be advisory.
Now oddly, 'most people' already took their social responsibility seriously and did what the rules said anyway. They isolated. They put up with hardship. Now apparently, you will be told that you have to follow the rules.
Do you not see that Cummings' actions were absurd? He was scared that him and his wife would bothy get the virus, then does the very thing to ensure they both got the virus. He used 'instinct' and 'common sense' to decide.Common sense says that driving in an enclosed space with a suspected carrier for hours would most likely infect everyone in that space. Isn't that what point 1) was saying?
Then, what chance track and trace, if people do as Cummings did? What do you think the gov will rely on? Isn't this going to be even harder to swallow - you will be contacted saying that you may have the virus. You may have no symptoms at that point. You have to isolate at home for 14 days. Would Cummings do it? Should others do it? This may occur in the summer months - when holiday homes are empty. Should the people who can then drive, get on a train, fly - whatever - to their holiday home and stay there? Should they even isolate?
This was and is not about protecting Cummings and his family - that was what Hancock was banging on about yesterday - that track and trace is to protect the public in general. But that was always the case. The point of locking down in your home was about saving OTHERS - not being a selfish, arrogant git and just thinking about 'me'.
Edited: It wasn't class warfare at all. I repeat, I am Tory - I have voted Tory my whole life - until the last election. But it makes no sense to watch someone doing something 'wrong' - simply because they 'have' and 'can' when others don't 'have' and 'can't' - irrespective of political bias - and to say nothing. If the person involved was Kier Starmer or Alastair Campbell, or The Queen or Ken Clark Or the Dali Lama or my brother or my aunt or....it would still be wrong.
Also, what if you left home after 14 days of isolation, only to get flagged up as having been in the proximity of another person with the virus. You would then have to isolate for another 14days and then you left home and ......
I travel on public transport and work with the general public every working day so just imagine how often I will come into contact with people who may have the virus without symptoms so surely if I have to self isolate for 14 days each time it will be impossible for me to survive financially. I don’t see how that will work for most people? As this has been my situation for the whole of “ lockdown” what has now changed? I have been potentially exposed constantly without any symptoms so why self isolate now? I would be happy to be tested after potential exposure but not self isolate unless I tested positive.
I travel on public transport and work with the general public every working day so just imagine how often I will come into contact with people who may have the virus without symptoms so surely if I have to self isolate for 14 days each time it will be impossible for me to survive financially. I don’t see how that will work for most people? As this has been my situation for the whole of “ lockdown” what has now changed? I have been potentially exposed constantly without any symptoms so why self isolate now? I would be happy to be tested after potential exposure but not self isolate unless I tested positive.
@debs64 wait and see. I think there has to be a degree of sustained nd close contact for starters. One would also hope that there would be an obligation for employers to ensure individuals who are asked to isolate receive full sick pay if they can't work remotely.
If that's the case I really do hope you reconsider your position particularly, as you say, if you have regular contact with the general public. You'd have no justification for not doing so.
From what I have read about the track and tracing, it realies on people being honest, reporting symptoms, which may or may not be the virus, Mu husband and I dont have smart phone, a lot of my elderly neighbours dont either. What about people who are asymptomatic? There was a pol in the paper the other day, 60% admitted to breaking lockdown. I have neighbours in their 90s who still go to the shops, walk dogs. We have seen the beaches and lakes, I guess if none of us ever ventured outside again, the virus would stop, is that it.
No measure is going to fully stop transmission, I think track and trace is a way of keeping the numbers as low as possible while allowing a bit of normality to return.
I think its a good strategy, when its properly thought out and well organised. I'm not entirely confident that will be the case here!
I would need a lot more information before considering it and of course there is no possible way for it to be compulsory. I don’t know anyone who would agree to it at the moment but maybe once all the questions have been answered that may change.
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Cummings in particular and other 'important ' people have caused this change in attitude but I can't help but feel that the press are in some way responsible.
Of course they should have reported it but this frenzied attack is counterproductive. It takes the focus off other important issues that should be making the headlines.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If that's the case I really do hope you reconsider your position particularly, as you say, if you have regular contact with the general public. You'd have no justification for not doing so.
I think its a good strategy, when its properly thought out and well organised. I'm not entirely confident that will be the case here!