Coronavirus - General Chat - No statistics

[Clitheroekid]

The 14 day quarantine placed on people entering the UK is possibly the most stupid government decision yet. Around 20 million people have already entered the UK this year, so a more ludicrous example of shutting the stable door could hardly be conceived.

It will inflict yet more immense damage to the economy, as well as causing huge inconvenience to millions of travellers or would-be travellers.

As Priti Patel is not noted for her intelligence it’s unlikely she will listen to reason and withdraw the measure any time soon. But in that case surely it would be possible to change the rules so that everyone entering the country would have to take a test on entry. If it was negative they would then be free to go on their merry way.

From my own experience the results were through in little more than 24 hours, and it would be lot more acceptable (or more accurately far less unacceptable) for people arriving in the UK to be kept in quarantine for that length of time while they awaited the results than for 14 days.

And as many of the people arriving would be willing to pay for private tests it could be that they could get a result within a much faster time than those administered by the NHS. This would hopefully enable international footballers / racing drivers etc to enter and participate in sporting events that would be closed to them under the present regime.

[Alaric]

But in that case surely it would be possible to change the rules so that everyone entering the country would have to take a test on entry. If it was negative they would then be free to go on their merry way.

Seems pretty obvious really.

I might suspect a hidden motive, namely to give Border Force officials more power over those they suspect of entering the country with the intent either of becoming permanent residents or of working when the terms of their visa or entry permission do not allow it. Those they suspect may find themselves on the hit list for isolation investigations.

As already suggested, it could lead to an increase in traffic through Dublin and other Republic of Ireland airports.

[Lootman]

But in that case surely it would be possible to change the rules so that everyone entering the country would have to take a test on entry. If it was negative they would then be free to go on their merry way.

Seems pretty obvious really.

I might suspect a hidden motive, namely to give Border Force officials more power over those they suspect of entering the country with the intent either of becoming permanent residents or of working when the terms of their visa or entry permission do not allow it. Those they suspect may find themselves on the hit list for isolation investigations.

As already suggested, it could lead to an increase in traffic through Dublin and other Republic of Ireland airports.

If that was their motive then UK residents or nationals could be exempted from the requirement. That is what some other countries do.

[terminal7]

As Priti Patel is not noted for her intelligence

CK - you flatterer - however PP did not originate this policy. It was trailed over a week ago by the PM during his address to the nation. PP was just the mouthpiece yesterday. The PM apparently reneged on a promise he personally made to Macron to exclude the French from the policy. I think it most unlikely that PP was in any loop at that time.

T7

[tjh290633]

It appears that some in the business share your thoughts

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... e-clapping

So a NHS doctor thinks that instead of "appreciating" him we should instead just give him more money?

Fine, I propose we do neither. Wanting to profit from a healthcare crisis is profoundly unattractive.

I'm a long way behind on catching up with this thread, but was it Groucho Marx who said "Don't applaud, just throw money"?

TJH

[Lootman]

It appears that some in the business share your thoughts

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... e-clapping

So a NHS doctor thinks that instead of "appreciating" him we should instead just give him more money?

Fine, I propose we do neither. Wanting to profit from a healthcare crisis is profoundly unattractive.

I'm a long way behind on catching up with this thread, but was it Groucho Marx who said "Don't applaud, just throw money"?

That sounds about right. Anyway the issue is moot now since the person who started the whole clapping thing says it is now time to stop.

The reason she gave is that it was being politicised, which of course is exactly what I was accusing this doctor of doing.

[tjh290633]

So a NHS doctor thinks that instead of "appreciating" him we should instead just give him more money?

Fine, I propose we do neither. Wanting to profit from a healthcare crisis is profoundly unattractive.

I'm a long way behind on catching up with this thread, but was it Groucho Marx who said "Don't applaud, just throw money"?

That sounds about right. Anyway the issue is moot now since the person who started the whole clapping thing says it is now time to stop.

The reason she gave is that it was being politicised, which of course is exactly what I was accusing this doctor of doing.

For us it is a good time to socialise distantly with our neighbours. Probably the one good thing to come out of this.

TJH

[dealtn]

For us it is a good time to socialise distantly with our neighbours. Probably the one good thing to come out of this.

TJH

I think I get what you mean. We used to socialise non-distantly and that's not an improvement, but versus not socialising at all it is!

[gryffron]

The 14 day quarantine placed on people entering the UK is possibly the most stupid government decision yet.

And then..., a late entry takes it at the tape. I give you France's tit-for-tat quarantine arrangements. They're matching any quarantine arrangements inflicted against them.

Think about that for a moment. That means they're going to be quarantining people from countries which have LESS covid than themselves, and leaving the door wide open from countries which have MORE. Wow!

Anything Boris and Trump can do, Macron can do better.

Gryff

[UncleEbenezer]

The 14 day quarantine placed on people entering the UK is possibly the most stupid government decision yet.

That's a very big claim!

It will inflict yet more immense damage to the economy, as well as causing huge inconvenience to millions of travellers or would-be travellers.

No doubt about that. And I fear other ill effects may follow, like this nonsense being set up as a strawman for what a 'green' agenda would look like. Our government is clearly obsessed with making us unattractive to foreigners, regardless of the cost. And to be fair, that at least was part of their election platform last year.

From my own experience the results were through in little more than 24 hours, and it would be lot more acceptable (or more accurately far less unacceptable) for people arriving in the UK to be kept in quarantine for that length of time while they awaited the results than for 14 days.

Sounds like an obvious case for testing. Testing or quarantine could be offered as alternatives.

[Wuffle]

Yes IAAG,

but it is a similar argument to 'trickle down' economics as I see it.
Point of view IS everything.

W.

[XFool]

Coronavirus: How scared should we be?

BBC News

Coronavirus has been described as an invisible killer. What could be more terrifying than that?

[XFool]

To set out my stall, I don't have loads of spare cash but what I have would go on experiences over stuff generally.

I am suffering this encroachment to tack a short amount of time (they are already old so it HAS to be short) onto the lives of a portion (something else is very likely to get them) of a generation who basically had it all in terms of what I fancy. Carnival would not be my choice but they would be a standard bearer for what I am on about.
It would really suit me if mother nature was just left to harvest a few and I lived a life I actually want.
Disgust at my selfishness, I am fine with that.
The truth has some integrity at least.

All part of the ongoing 'Us' vs 'Them'? Which, sadly, is rapidly becoming the 'in thing', all over the world.

It was big in the '30s, so I heard, and is fashionable again.

[simoan]

The 14 day quarantine placed on people entering the UK is possibly the most stupid government decision yet. Around 20 million people have already entered the UK this year, so a more ludicrous example of shutting the stable door could hardly be conceived.

It will inflict yet more immense damage to the economy, as well as causing huge inconvenience to millions of travellers or would-be travellers.

I think maybe you have missed something here. I know I'm generally a cynical person, which thankfully has not held me back in life, but when it comes to the judging the motives of politicians it's a distinct advantage.

I think people are maybe taking this 14 day quarantine too much at face value. IMHO someone in government has made the estimation that not many visitors will be coming to the UK this summer anyway for one reason or another. As a result of the pandemic the government has handed out an unprecedented amount of money and closed down the hospitality sector for months. It seems this 14 day quarantine is intended to persuade the UK consumer to spend their 2020 summer holidays in the UK in order to re-energise the hospitality sector, and prevent them spending it to re-energise someone else's economy. It's just the kind of thing you'd expect from this government.

All the best, Si

[XFool]

Sweden 'wrong' not to shut down, says former state epidemiologist

The Guardian

Scientist who oversaw the response to Sars says country has failed the vulnerable

[scotia]

I think this 14 day quarantine for persons entering the country is a great idea but with a minor variation. Open up our hotels (particularly near airports) and turn them into quarantine reception centres - where incomers will require to stay for the 14 days at an economic cost - maybe around £2000 per person. It would inhibit unnecessary travel, and would provide a lot of welcome employment and financial relief to the hotel industry. Lots of win-win.
[edit - added "and"]

[Mike4]

Unlike Si, I see the intentions behind the new quarantine regulations as being all to do with controlling the virus. Although three months too late, that does not make it wrong to take steps to limit incoming infection now.

It is a Good Idea in particular to put a massive brake on overseas holidays to prevent millions of people coming back infected from foreign holidays and re-seeding the infection here. I'm delighted to see some bearing down on inbound infections. Even if too little too late, it's WAY better than none.

[dealtn]

Unlike Si, I see the intentions behind the new quarantine regulations as being all to do with controlling the virus. Although three months too late, that does not make it wrong to take steps to limit incoming infection now.

It is a Good Idea in particular to put a massive brake on overseas holidays to prevent millions of people coming back infected from foreign holidays and re-seeding the infection here. I'm delighted to see some bearing down on inbound infections. Even if too little too late, it's WAY better than none.

So if the UK is "more infectious" than other countries, encouraging UK citizens to holiday in other parts of the UK, instead of abroad, and coming back infected from UK holidays and re-seeding the infection "here" is not going to happen? Or it's OK?

[redsturgeon]

Moderator Message:
Unfortunately politics is creeping into the thread here. Can I remind people that this is not the place to discuss politics. I am now going back over this thread to delete any political posts. If your post disappears, you will know why.

[XFool]

Coronavirus: 'Baffling' observations from the front line

BBC News

When you talk to intensive care doctors across the UK, exhausted after weeks of dealing with the ravages of Covid-19, the phrase that emerges time after time is, "We've never seen anything like this before."

"Most people infected with the coronavirus have only mild symptoms, or sometimes none at all. But in many thousands of patients who fall critically ill, Covid-19 is a disease of alarming complexity."