The big Coronavirus thread

Longshot

While I was out on the bike yesterday I got the distinct impression that there are generally more people out and about. Cars/walkers/cyclists. Not sure if people are getting bored enough to take a risk and venture out more.

DeVlaeminck

Given Chris Witty has confirmed what we all knew - that social distancing is going to have to remain in place once the "lock down" has ended - what kind of measures are we looking at do people think?

On a personal level I run a women's football team - everyone in that hobby is busy planning for next season, already recruiting players etc.
To suggest that the 20/21 season may not happen to the vast majority is like suggesting the world is flat - the response is somewhere between surprise and being dismissed as trolling.

You would think the govt would be looking at economic activity as the priority then non economic activity that poses little risk. Amateur and semi pro sport - so club runs and chain gangs - seem to me to fall into the category of things that might be off the table for some time.

Other stuff - I think John80 mentioned solo sailing, maybe fishing, etc I can't see why they shouldn't resume. At the moment things that are actually pretty safe are banned because it's easier just to enforce a blanket ban than a more nuanced one. For me over time to make this tolerable we need to move away from "stay at home" to go out if you want but stay away from unnecessary contact with people. Could that work - can people be trusted with that responsibility? I think so but I've seen others disagree - though it's always others that can't be trusted not themselves.

rick_chasey

It will be things like heavy restrictions on number of people in shops, cafes - no standing drinking allowed, only seated and with people you live with 4m from everyone else, trains 1/4 full, offices only staffed 1/3 full and only then if they have actual windows they can open. Cinemas 1/5th full if they means they can still sit at a distance from each other.

That kind of thing.

You can kiss things like sports or concerts or clubs goodbye.

surrey_commuter

DeVlaeminck said:

Given Chris Witty has confirmed what we all knew - that social distancing is going to have to remain in place once the "lock down" has ended - what kind of measures are we looking at do people think?

On a personal level I run a women's football team - everyone in that hobby is busy planning for next season, already recruiting players etc.
To suggest that the 20/21 season may not happen to the vast majority is like suggesting the world is flat - the response is somewhere between surprise and being dismissed as trolling.

You would think the govt would be looking at economic activity as the priority then non economic activity that poses little risk. Amateur and semi pro sport - so club runs and chain gangs - seem to me to fall into the category of things that might be off the table for some time.

Other stuff - I think John80 mentioned solo sailing, maybe fishing, etc I can't see why they shouldn't resume. At the moment things that are actually pretty safe are banned because it's easier just to enforce a blanket ban than a more nuanced one. For me over time to make this tolerable we need to move away from "stay at home" to go out if you want but stay away from unnecessary contact with people. Could that work - can people be trusted with that responsibility? I think so but I've seen others disagree - though it's always others that can't be trusted not themselves.

I think they have scared people too much. If they ended all restrictions tomorrow I don’t think it would go back towards anything resembling normal.

I would already have eased restrictions on non-essential businesses in an effort to breath some life into the economy and encourage a mindset of a return to normality.

Using a sample size of one, I have no intention of getting on the Tube for the foreseeable future but would happily have gone to a garden centre over the weekend

rick_chasey

surrey_commuter said:

I think they have scared people too much. If they ended all restrictions tomorrow I don’t think it would go back towards anything resembling normal.

I don't really understand how the second sentence is bad?

Isn't that literally the point?

kingstongraham

Normality will not be what happened before. Not this year.

Pross

First, and hopefully last, funeral under Covid restrictions done. Quite a surreal experience but at least we got to say our farewell whereas many others haven't.

TheBigBean

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

rick_chasey

Pross said:

First, and hopefully last, funeral under Covid restrictions done. Quite a surreal experience but at least we got to say our farewell whereas many others haven't.

Sorry to hear that Pross. It's pretty weird, isn't it? Much more a solo experience

Longshot

rick_chasey said:

It will be things like heavy restrictions on number of people in shops, cafes - no standing drinking allowed, only seated and with people you live with 4m from everyone else, trains 1/4 full, offices only staffed 1/3 full and only then if they have actual windows they can open. Cinemas 1/5th full if they means they can still sit at a distance from each other.

That kind of thing.

You can kiss things like sports or concerts or clubs goodbye.

Public transport will be the biggest issue bar none when it comes to social distancing. In order to meet a 2m rule on SD my usual trains would need to be 1/20th of their usual numbers.

As we all know and acknowledge, not everyone can work from home. Managing that will be a nightmare - I'm not sure it's possible when companies are going to be trying ot get back to some form of normality.

kingstongraham

Longshot said:

rick_chasey said:

It will be things like heavy restrictions on number of people in shops, cafes - no standing drinking allowed, only seated and with people you live with 4m from everyone else, trains 1/4 full, offices only staffed 1/3 full and only then if they have actual windows they can open. Cinemas 1/5th full if they means they can still sit at a distance from each other.

That kind of thing.

You can kiss things like sports or concerts or clubs goodbye.

Public transport will be the biggest issue bar none when it comes to social distancing. In order to meet a 2m rule on SD my usual trains would need to be 1/20th of their usual numbers.

As we all know and acknowledge, not everyone can work from home. Managing that will be a nightmare - I'm not sure it's possible when companies are going to be trying ot get back to some form of normality.

I used to get the Victoria line - to maintain 2 metres they would need more trains than there is track.

tailwindhome

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

What's causing difficulties?

TheBigBean

But for the time zone difference, and I doubt the quarantine is much fun, moving to Korea is becoming increasingly tempting.

Edit to add flights are probably a pain at the moment, and income tax would be a headache as well.

coopster_the_1st

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

coopster_the_1st

rick_chasey said:

It will be things like heavy restrictions on number of people in shops, cafes - no standing drinking allowed, only seated and with people you live with 4m from everyone else, trains 1/4 full, offices only staffed 1/3 full and only then if they have actual windows they can open. Cinemas 1/5th full if they means they can still sit at a distance from each other.

That kind of thing.

You can kiss things like sports or concerts or clubs goodbye.

So the Swedish approach then...

rick_chasey

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

I wouldn't, but that so far is quite unlikely.

pangolin

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

Well of course he wouldn't, what an odd question.

TheBigBean

rick_chasey said:

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

I wouldn't, but that so far is quite unlikely.

Who is hiring anyone at the moment?

pangolin

DeVlaeminck said:

Given Chris Witty has confirmed what we all knew - that social distancing is going to have to remain in place once the "lock down" has ended - what kind of measures are we looking at do people think?

On a personal level I run a women's football team - everyone in that hobby is busy planning for next season, already recruiting players etc.
To suggest that the 20/21 season may not happen to the vast majority is like suggesting the world is flat - the response is somewhere between surprise and being dismissed as trolling.

You would think the govt would be looking at economic activity as the priority then non economic activity that poses little risk. Amateur and semi pro sport - so club runs and chain gangs - seem to me to fall into the category of things that might be off the table for some time.

Other stuff - I think John80 mentioned solo sailing, maybe fishing, etc I can't see why they shouldn't resume. At the moment things that are actually pretty safe are banned because it's easier just to enforce a blanket ban than a more nuanced one. For me over time to make this tolerable we need to move away from "stay at home" to go out if you want but stay away from unnecessary contact with people. Could that work - can people be trusted with that responsibility? I think so but I've seen others disagree - though it's always others that can't be trusted not themselves.

I'm in two minds about this. Some people would behave very sensibly I think. But even during lock down there are such a huge number of oblivious people once you are somewhere in close proximity to them like the supermarket. Outside they abide by the queue to get in, but once in the completely ignore the one way aisles, brush right past others, lean over you to grab something etc.

I guess the question is how many would fall into each camp - are there enough oblivious people to cause a problem once they were given other opportunities to mingle.

rick_chasey

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

I wouldn't, but that so far is quite unlikely.

Who is hiring anyone at the moment?

Big firms need leaders, regardless of what markets are doing.

(have won quite a bit of business this month - has helped my mentality a lot)

coopster_the_1st

pangolin said:

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

Well of course he wouldn't, what an odd question.

So everyone is comfortable to trash the economy as long as they are economically comfortable? Look how their view changes when they are not ecomonically comfortable!

surrey_commuter

rick_chasey said:

surrey_commuter said:

I think they have scared people too much. If they ended all restrictions tomorrow I don’t think it would go back towards anything resembling normal.

I don't really understand how the second sentence is bad?

Isn't that literally the point?

I really believe that the vast majority of the British public are rule takers who can be trusted with an easing of restrictions.

TheBigBean

tailwindhome said:

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

What's causing difficulties?

In descending order no childcare, young kids, having to work quite hard, limited prospects of that turning into money, lack of sleep, inevitably of economic disaster and lots and lots of deaths, not being allowed out, society getting to the point where everyone is scared of each other.

rick_chasey

coopster_the_1st said:

pangolin said:

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

Well of course he wouldn't, what an odd question.

So everyone is comfortable to trash the economy as long as they are economically comfortable? Look how their view changes when they are not ecomonically comfortable!

You were happy to trash the economy in the name of some vague sovereignty, so forgive me if I don't take you seriously.

pangolin

TheBigBean said:

tailwindhome said:

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

What's causing difficulties?

In descending order no childcare, young kids, having to work quite hard, limited prospects of that turning into money, lack of sleep, inevitably of economic disaster and lots and lots of deaths, not being allowed out, society getting to the point where everyone is scared of each other.

I do think that people's enjoyment of lock down is closely tied to whether they have any toddlers or not.

rick_chasey

pangolin said:

TheBigBean said:

tailwindhome said:

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

What's causing difficulties?

In descending order no childcare, young kids, having to work quite hard, limited prospects of that turning into money, lack of sleep, inevitably of economic disaster and lots and lots of deaths, not being allowed out, society getting to the point where everyone is scared of each other.

I do think that people's enjoyment of lock down is closely tied to whether they have any toddlers or not.

It's easier if only one if you has a job (like in my instance). I like her but my 18 month old is a royal pain in the arse at the moment.

I'd love it if she could stop constantly falling over and screaming.

surrey_commuter

TheBigBean said:

tailwindhome said:

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

What's causing difficulties?

In descending order no childcare, young kids, having to work quite hard, limited prospects of that turning into money, lack of sleep, inevitably of economic disaster and lots and lots of deaths, not being allowed out, society getting to the point where everyone is scared of each other.

Round here the scared thing started happening a few weeks ago.

I agree with not releasing plans in advance but they should start loosening things off

rjsterry

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I am not having a good lockdown.

Sorry to hear that, TBB. Toddlers are hard work at the best of times.

bradsbeard

I think some of these government scientists live in Michael Bentine’s Potty Land.

Society as we know can’t afford to hide away for 18 months. That will break society.

Surely we have accept the inevitable if we want to maintain living standards as we know?

As long as the NHS has the capacity then life needs to open again.

Protect the vulnerable. Isolate the infected.

It has always been known a pandemic like this would come about but heads were stuck in the sand.

If there’s one thing to send the human race into a tizz then it’s mortality.

I beg please open barbers shops ASAP.

Stevo_666

TheBigBean said:

rick_chasey said:

coopster_the_1st said:

rick_chasey said:

Stevo_666 said:

coopster_the_1st said:

Dogbert makes a good point

https://dilbert.com/strip/2020-04-22

Wise advice for some regulars on this thread

Hand on heart, I am less stressed and healthier than I have been in absolutely ages.

Cycling every day (in the garden), lost a stone, work is going really well, lot of time with the family.

I wonder if you would be saying that if you knew you were going to lose your job in June.

I wouldn't, but that so far is quite unlikely.

Who is hiring anyone at the moment?

Not hiring, but at least avoided having anyone in my teams furloughed as they are all at least as busy as pre-crisis.

However we are acquiring other businesses - good time to be going out buying, whether that be due to prices being lower and/or because we can move our business mix to relatively more 'COVID-proof' profile. In fact, we are putting our foot on the pedal with acquisitions now.