Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Billy Dean]

Weather's gotten cold now and summer is over. It's going to be shoite from now until April isn't it.

Edit: not really sure what to do now. Up until now I've been pretty strict about socialising outdoors only. Now the weather's gone I guess the choice is to stay home and do fuk all or go into enclosed bars and restaurants and catch Covid.

 

[roydo]

Weather's gotten cold now and summer is over. It's going to be shoite from now until April isn't it.

Unlike the quite fantastic 6 months we have already had.

 

[PhilM]

Weather's gotten cold now and summer is over. It's going to be shoite from now until April isn't it.

I think this can't be understated.

From the end of March up until the end of August, the weather has in the mainstay been comfortable to great for most people - lots of sun and warm days.

People who were on furlough came back with nice tans, lots of Vitamin D (good for the immune system) and had the chance to get out and exercise etc.

It'll be a differently kettle of fish when it's cold, wet and the rain is coming down; if people are isolating, they'll see little of the sun and actual fresh air.

The common cold and whatever else will be out, and I suspect public transport will become busier when people move away from walking or cycling.

 

[zzr45]

While I do not think it's the only factor and probably not even the main factor, I do suspect that it influence and may have been understated or undervalued.

My eldest daughter knows five close friends who've tested positive within the last two weeks: symptoms have been minor and mostly like a cold, which is a worry.

My wife's schools have had multiple cases of staff, children and parents, with bubbles having to be closed. All this suggests it's rife throughout schools.

Perhaps there was no evidence of transmission between children and staff and vice versa because it was either not being tested for or wasn't in that part of society.

Perhaps we shouldn't have let the headteachers dictate when the schools reopened. Perhaps they should have gone back during the summer when the climate didn't lend itself so readily to viral spread.

 

[Billy Dean]

Unlike the quite fantastic 6 months we have already had.

I fear when we look back on the summer we will see it as relatively good.

I think this can't be understated.

From the end of March up until the end of August, the weather has in the mainstay been comfortable to great for most people - lots of sun and warm days.

People who were on furlough came back with nice tans, lots of Vitamin D (good for the immune system) and had the chance to get out and exercise etc.

It'll be a differently kettle of fish when it's cold, wet and the rain is coming down; if people are isolating, they'll see little of the sun and actual fresh air.

The common cold and whatever else will be out, and I suspect public transport will become busier when people move away from walking or cycling.

Sounds grim doesn't it.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Perhaps we shouldn't have let the headteachers dictate when the schools reopened. Perhaps they should have gone back during the summer when the climate didn't lend itself so readily to viral spread.

I never really understood why this didn't happen tbh. Why when the number of cases were low did schools shut down for a holiday (after being at reduced capacity for months), and then re-open as case numbers were kicking up again. Baffling level of rigid thinking.

 

[PhilM]

Perhaps we shouldn't have let the headteachers dictate when the schools reopened. Perhaps they should have gone back during the summer when the climate didn't lend itself so readily to viral spread.

The climate throughout September has been rather comfortable, would you not say? I appreciate your point, but potentially could the impact have been negative?

We were in a period of decline, which gave the service respite and preparation for testing etc., and that could have been overwhelmed if schools are a factor.

The issue being whether schools are a factor or not.

 

[zzr45]

The climate throughout September has been rather comfortable, would you not say? I appreciate your point, but potentially could the impact have been negative?

We were in a period of decline, which gave the service respite and preparation for testing etc., and that could have been overwhelmed if schools are a factor.

The issue being whether schools are a factor or not.

It's been warmer than a normal September for sure, but there's still been examples of typical September weather and we know there tends to be plenty of colds and sniffles at the start of term anyway.

I think as a nation we became too obsessed with completely eradicating the spread rather than being a little more realistic in the realisation that it would return once we started to get back to a level of normality.

That said it would have been perhaps better to take the kids back earlier, essentially stop any summer holiday plans and have testing focused around that area before moving on to another level of normalisation.

 

[davek]

I dont get the notion that because it's autumn/winter then outdoors is out of bounds. Why?

Fair enough if you have arthritis or whatever, but if you're able bodied just get wrapped up and out for a long walk or get on a bike and go on a decent ride out. Your own body will be like a radiator when you're a mile or two into either activity...and the bonus is that there'll be less fair-weather oudoors people about to bump into.

 

[Billy Dean]

Interesting. This is Germany's most famous virologist. In German but here he's saying that the flu season in Germany ended abruptly in March and in southern hemisphere countries' (e.g. Aus and Sth Africa) winters there was hardly any flu. Also other viruses were much less prevalent (apart from Picornavirus whatever that is). In response to a question about whether the hygiene measures have had an effect on other viruses.

 

[coollino]

My lad is paying for an Open University course it seems right now.
It’s just crazy.
No face to face teaching is just awful.

The thing is the universities are losing so much due to the lack of overseas students, they are not going to cut any cost.

 

[COYBL25]

I dont get the notion that because it's autumn/winter then outdoors is out of bounds. Why?

Fair enough if you have arthritis or whatever, but if you're able bodied just get wrapped up and out for a long walk or get on a bike and go on a decent ride out. Your own body will be like a radiator when you're a mile or two into either activity...and the bonus is that there'll be less fair-weather oudoors people about to bump into.

I agree with you there mate

 

[coollino]

I dont get the notion that because it's autumn/winter then outdoors is out of bounds. Why?

Fair enough if you have arthritis or whatever, but if you're able bodied just get wrapped up and out for a long walk or get on a bike and go on a decent ride out. Your own body will be like a radiator when you're a mile or two into either activity...and the bonus is that there'll be less fair-weather oudoors people about to bump into.

I went for a walk on Friday when the weather was 'cold' and it was great, had everywhere to myself.

8-10 degrees is perfect running temp too, I'm looking forward to it.

 

[COYBL25]

I went for a walk on Friday when the weather was 'cold' and it was great, had everywhere to myself.

Same with running.

Nothing like a frosty morning somewhere really nice and not a soul about.

 

[Billy Dean]

I dont get the notion that because it's autumn/winter then outdoors is out of bounds. Why?

Fair enough if you have arthritis or whatever, but if you're able bodied just get wrapped up and out for a long walk or get on a bike and go on a decent ride out. Your own body will be like a radiator when you're a mile or two into either activity...and the bonus is that there'll be less fair-weather oudoors people about to bump into.

If you want to have something to eat or drink with your friends though without having to worry about being in an enclosed space then it's a bit of an arse.