The new variant has already been identified in Belgium today.
As of Wednesday - so before the new variant was announced - France is offering booster jabs to all 18+ people and the Covid pass will be invalidated if the booster is not taken up by February. OH has had his, mine was already booked for next Tuesday and we've no managed to get one for Possum in mid December.
Since early November we've had to wear masks again in public meeting spaces indoors and outdoors and also show Covid passes. Now we also have to air indoor halls for 10 minutes in every hour and cannot share refreshments tho we can take our own drinks.
I suspect Xmas festivities may be subject to restrictions again this year.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
If anti-vaxxers are duped into believing nonsense despite overwhelming contrary scientific evidence, I don’t think there is anything that one more person can add to the conversation that will sway them.
I think you simply have to come to an accommodation. Two friends of our are fox hunters; we all agree not to talk about it because positions will not switch. Similarly yesterday my wife was speaking on the phone to a friend who she’s not contacted for over a year. She was astonished to learn this friend was anti-vax and they both quickly agreed that their views could not be altered.
Couldn't agree more. I had a very good friend/neighbour years ago who regularly went fox hunting along with her 2 children. She kept her cows in my barn and her horses in my paddock. We dined regularly and went to auctions together. She knew I didn't agree with the hunting but after an initial "chat" we never discussed the issue again. I knew I couldn't persuade her to my views and she knew she couldn't persuade me to change mine. It's rather akin to political persuasions - debates/discussions are fine but one has to accept that certain subjects are best left alone when they differ so hugely.
As for the Covid ..... we went for our booster today in a town some 40 miles away. It was very efficient but I was surprised to be told we couldn't leave the building until 15 minutes had elapsed. Basically, it was a Portacabin in the grounds of the local Council Offices and when I suggested we could walk around the grounds or wait in our car for the 15 minutes, I was told No - not allowed so have to sit in a building which was quite crowded. On querying this rule, I was told that it was an "insurance " requirement. We managed 5 minutes and then left to walk around outside - seemed far safer to us. Needless to say, there was no one checking the timing at the Exit so a bit pointless really. I hadn't come across this rule before - only that you were advised to wait 15 minutes before you attempted to drive.
@philippasmith2. You must have had the Pfizer jab? I had to do that, I asked if I could sit in the car as there were people in the surgery waiting room, she said only if someone was with me. sat for 5 minutes, thought if I’d not had a reaction by then it wasn’t going to happen then legged it to the car park before they saw me.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
LG that's a bargain. Got my 3rd jab next Friday keeping my fingers crossed, tomorrow is youngest grandaughters birthday,she's seeing her Dad due to come to us Sunday week. When hubby and I had ours,we were told we could go immediately unless we felt unwell and no mention made of driving
It's a sensible precaution, if rather tedious, to wait the 15 mins in case of a severe allergic reaction. We were sat, well spaced out, in a very large canvas marquee and as the door was constantly being opened, there was enough fresh air coming in. We were given stickers to indicate when we could leave, each chair was disinfected afterwards and there was a steward on the door who opened it and checked on those leaving. However nobody can force you to stay if you don't want to as far as I know.
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As of Wednesday - so before the new variant was announced - France is offering booster jabs to all 18+ people and the Covid pass will be invalidated if the booster is not taken up by February. OH has had his, mine was already booked for next Tuesday and we've no managed to get one for Possum in mid December.
Since early November we've had to wear masks again in public meeting spaces indoors and outdoors and also show Covid passes. Now we also have to air indoor halls for 10 minutes in every hour and cannot share refreshments tho we can take our own drinks.
I suspect Xmas festivities may be subject to restrictions again this year.
But the Zoe COVID Study 'Black Friday Offer' has made me smile - get up to 95% off your risk of infection simply by getting your booster jab! 🤣
She kept her cows in my barn and her horses in my paddock. We dined regularly and went to auctions together. She knew I didn't agree with the hunting but after an initial "chat" we never discussed the issue again. I knew I couldn't persuade her to my views and she knew she couldn't persuade me to change mine. It's rather akin to political persuasions - debates/discussions are fine but one has to accept that certain subjects are best left alone when they differ so hugely.
As for the Covid ..... we went for our booster today in a town some 40 miles away. It was very efficient but I was surprised to be told we couldn't leave the building until 15 minutes had elapsed. Basically, it was a Portacabin in the grounds of the local Council Offices and when I suggested we could walk around the grounds or wait in our car for the 15 minutes, I was told No - not allowed so have to sit in a building which was quite crowded. On querying this rule, I was told that it was an "insurance " requirement. We managed 5 minutes and then left to walk around outside - seemed far safer to us. Needless to say, there was no one checking the timing at the Exit so a bit pointless really. I hadn't come across this rule before - only that you were advised to wait 15 minutes before you attempted to drive.
A case of the new SA variant has been identified in Belgium. The EU president is advising a temporary ban on all flights form southern Africa and France has already imposed one. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211126-live-eu-aims-to-halt-flights-from-southern-africa-over-new-covid-variant
I had to do that, I asked if I could sit in the car as there were people in the surgery waiting room, she said only if someone was with me.
sat for 5 minutes, thought if I’d not had a reaction by then it wasn’t going to happen then legged it to the car park before they saw me.