blandford_cherry
UTC Legend
When I suddenly see a massive morgue being created on a London playing field it makes me realise the magnitude of this crisis that is worsening by the day
Non - Pandemic
- Thread starter blandford_cherry
- Start date
red_house
UTC Legend
Yes, we appear to be on a slightly steeper curve than Italy now. We still have a fully functioning Heathrow letting everyone in from anywhere and a busy tube network purpose built to spread a virus.
Its amazing that only two weeks ago we were looking at similar figures from Italy in some kind of disbelief. Its now happening here .
RobTrent
UTC Legend
And there is no testing of people coming in.
Toronto John
Fans' Favourite
@SlowDownDerek posted this comment in the Brexit thread, and it really got me to thinking ..........
"The push back against restrictions on liberty and damage to the economy have come from across the political spectrum from what I can see".
To the extent that most people are trying to comply with the restrictions, I am starting to get a sense that the politicos everywhere are falling into a herd mentality. Each one from Mr. Trump to our local mayor seems to want to be seen as the "man who saves thousands of lives". Now, saving lives is certainly a high priority, notwithstanding that today's children and their children will be paying in huge tax increases as the same governments stretch to reduce the deficits that they are creating. Meanwhile, individuals face short-term economic pain, mental distress, and all the inconveniences that we are seeing. I saw one projection that suicides and increases in drug use may result. OK, fair enough, this is something like we have never seen. But ...............
If saving lives were their #1 priority, would they ban all smoking? Would save thousands of lives. How about a ban on all sugar? Would reduce obesity and heart attacks and diabetes. Homelessness. Drug abuse ........ the list goes on and on. So if these liberties were taken away, would citizens let it happen?
I'm not sure what point I am exactly trying to make ...... but for whatever reason I get the sense that I am somehow getting played??
Second, a small anecdote ....... The wife decided that we should move up to the cottage for a bit. Social distancing in a way, we go from overcrowded Toronto to a smallish town of about 40,000 people, open spaces, etc. So we took the cats up there a few days ago, and settled in. When we went up, it was about F40 degrees and raining. The highway was as uncrowded as I have ever seen .... really remarkable. I came back to Toronto today to do some work around the house that is best done without the cats underfoot. F50 degrees and sunny. There were at least triple the number of cars on the road. This suggests to me that as the weather gets nicer, the government has to relax at least some of the restrictions, because people are going to give them the
Finally, per the "pay cut" thread, I am already of a mind that restrictions on small shops have to go. For example, I buy my Keurig coffee from a guy who has a shop that is less than 1000 sf. Father owns it, son and daughter run it - Russian folks. I go there every week, and have never seen more than 2 customers in there at a time. Why the f*** should he be closed down. He is exactly the type of person who needs to keep it going to make ends meet. There are many such examples on the "pay cut" thread. Governments have taken a sledge hammer to this, which may have been necessary at the outset. But they have to now get surgical on closures.
Anyway, I think I'm ranting .............
"The push back against restrictions on liberty and damage to the economy have come from across the political spectrum from what I can see".
To the extent that most people are trying to comply with the restrictions, I am starting to get a sense that the politicos everywhere are falling into a herd mentality. Each one from Mr. Trump to our local mayor seems to want to be seen as the "man who saves thousands of lives". Now, saving lives is certainly a high priority, notwithstanding that today's children and their children will be paying in huge tax increases as the same governments stretch to reduce the deficits that they are creating. Meanwhile, individuals face short-term economic pain, mental distress, and all the inconveniences that we are seeing. I saw one projection that suicides and increases in drug use may result. OK, fair enough, this is something like we have never seen. But ...............
If saving lives were their #1 priority, would they ban all smoking? Would save thousands of lives. How about a ban on all sugar? Would reduce obesity and heart attacks and diabetes. Homelessness. Drug abuse ........ the list goes on and on. So if these liberties were taken away, would citizens let it happen?
I'm not sure what point I am exactly trying to make ...... but for whatever reason I get the sense that I am somehow getting played??
Second, a small anecdote ....... The wife decided that we should move up to the cottage for a bit. Social distancing in a way, we go from overcrowded Toronto to a smallish town of about 40,000 people, open spaces, etc. So we took the cats up there a few days ago, and settled in. When we went up, it was about F40 degrees and raining. The highway was as uncrowded as I have ever seen .... really remarkable. I came back to Toronto today to do some work around the house that is best done without the cats underfoot. F50 degrees and sunny. There were at least triple the number of cars on the road. This suggests to me that as the weather gets nicer, the government has to relax at least some of the restrictions, because people are going to give them the
Finally, per the "pay cut" thread, I am already of a mind that restrictions on small shops have to go. For example, I buy my Keurig coffee from a guy who has a shop that is less than 1000 sf. Father owns it, son and daughter run it - Russian folks. I go there every week, and have never seen more than 2 customers in there at a time. Why the f*** should he be closed down. He is exactly the type of person who needs to keep it going to make ends meet. There are many such examples on the "pay cut" thread. Governments have taken a sledge hammer to this, which may have been necessary at the outset. But they have to now get surgical on closures.
Anyway, I think I'm ranting .............
northstandmark
UTC Legend
What a horrible letter.
Check the replies for the explanation
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-wales-52117814?
In Wales I see. The evil old people killing Tories do not run the NHS in Wales, if we want to pedantic.
red_house
UTC Legend
Someone can travel to the UK from anywhere, waltz into the country, navigate Heathrow, jump in an Uber , jump onto a tube, jump onto a train, travel the length of the country. Yet Mrs Miggins is shamed for driving her pooch 5 miles down the road to walk it at some beauty spot (in other words a place where locals go to walk but taken over by the National trust or promoted by some local council with a fancy name to attract tourists)....
northstandmark
UTC Legend
Seems mad that all over the country people are making sacrifices, whilst the UK's current hotspot for the virus keeps the aircraft coming in and the tube network running.
There's a reason it's the hot-spot. Absolutely disgraceful given the price in blood being paid.
blandford_cherry
UTC Legend
Its a free for all. People getting off tube trains like they have been sardines in a tin. ‘We have told employers to stagger start times so they don’t all have to travel at the same time’ said an MP on tv this morning
Kenya Cherrie
UTC Legend
Heathrow is 90% closed. Emergency repatriation flights and cargo is about all that is flying in and out.
https://www.flightradar24.com/51.47,-0.45/13#
red_house
UTC Legend
Theres an Alitalia A320 leaving for Rome as we speak and an Qatar flight to Doha just left. ..BA still operating to numerous places as are Singapore Airlines Emirates. Qatar, Delta
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/lhr/arrivals
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/lhr/departures
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SlowDownDerek
UTC Legend
Surely that horse has bolted. There's potentially millions infected in this country so flights are a drop in the ocean. Flights need to be restricted once we have the thing under control.
blandford_cherry
UTC Legend
Which wouldn’t be a problem, if there was testing or a quarantine process in place, but on that flight tonight and onto the London Underground tomorrow. The government just need to tell anyone coming back from abroad to self isolate for 7/14 days. Simple. These people are happy enough to have actually got a repatriation flight home.
Horrible letter and appalling phrasing. But this conversation is better had before patients pitch up to ED and get turned away for lack of capacity. In our area we are being advised frail patients won't be getting critical care. And frail is not that frail. Someone who needs help with cooking or shopping..
The scary thing is if you need a ventilator you have a 50% chance of dying, obviously the older you are and if you have preexisting illness, the odds are even less good
Kenya Cherrie
UTC Legend
Like I said 90% and Emergency repatriation flights.
Kenya Cherrie
UTC Legend
I think they should be forced, but you can't do that.
The UK is hoping people will be sensible and follow instructions, but we all know that just isn't possible. Since I came back from Kenya I have been out the house 3 times shopping, I really don't want to be catching any virus at my age. I have enough things to do around the house and garden to keep me busy. Visiting friends can wait. we keep in touch through Whatsapp.
RobTrent
UTC Legend
Unless you know people having to bring these passengers home.
red_house
UTC Legend
You said Cargo and repatriation flights are all thats flying about....look at tomorrows scheduled arrivals board. I can still book a Turkish airlines flight from Dubai to Heathrow next monday. These airlines will operate for as long as possible if its commercially viable.
RobTrent
UTC Legend
Why cant people stay where they are for lockdown?
