Well done the Students of Nottinghamshire... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-55123543 Very mature. This will be the same students begging to go home for Christmas, so they can infect their elderly and vulnerable relatives.
Tables at top of thread updated; Some good news across Europe - infection rates do seem to be falling generally. Sadly the fatality rate (which lags behind infection rates by 2-3 weeks) is still rising. In the UK since the lockdown began we have had a peak of infections, but the rate is now slightly lower than at the beginning of November, and is trending downwards instead of upwards. So the November Lockdown has had an effect on infection rates, though it has taken a long time to show. Unfortunately our fatality rate in the UK is about 200% up compared to the beginning of November. In the same time period France has reduced its infection rates much more steeply, though from an extremely high peak (much higher than here). The fatality rate in France is about the same now as at the beginning of November. Germany has lost the most ground in November in its battle against Coronavirus. Its infection rates are up about 50% in the last four weeks, and fatalities in Germany are roughly 300% up, though from very low levels, which the Germans maintained right through the summer. I think on balance our Government is right to set out pretty tough new tiers for when Lockdown ends. We are only 4 weeks from Christmas now, and our 4 week Lockdown has not produced a very large decline in infections. The NHS is still under severe strain with thousands seriously ill with COVID19. We must all continue to stay as safe as we can in December.
Dork of the Day ... Rita Ora Just throw a party love, and invite 30 of your dumb showbiz mates. Coronavirus rules are just for other people aren't they...
News from Spain is improving I guess. The infection rates are coming back down again, as are the deaths, but still very high. However, there were a lot of christmas shopppers out this weekend - yes masks, but no social distancing. They are already talking about a tird wave in january. And for all those who still thimnk it's no worse than the flu, they held a memorial service in Madrid at the weekend for the 80 health care staff in the province who lost their lives in the pandemic. Can't recall that happening in a normal year with the flu.
For all the differences between Covid and Spanish flu (which actually started in America) it's remarkable how similar the progress has been between the two. Spanish flu also had a third wave, but it was much much smaller than the second wave.
Now a Government minister is taking the mickey. He says a scotch egg is a substantial meal...if they bring it to you at your table https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55129828 So presumably a sausage roll, a pork pie or a couple of bags of crisps / peanuts / pork scratchings is also a substantial meal. Or a pint of Guinness for that matter. These things (apart from the Guinness) are obviously snacks, not meals. I don't mind pubs being allowed to open if they serve snacks to tables. But why did the Government not just SAY that in the first place? Just give us clarity, for pity's sake!
That's true. None of us realised "stay home" actually meant "drive 300 miles and explore some local beauty spots". But according to Boris that's exactly what it meant. Next to that, a scotch egg being a substantial meal is small potatoes.
I hear that in Wales now all restaurants and pubs will have to close at 6pm, and pubs are banned from selling alcohol. Sure they'll do a roaring trade in fruit juice. Does everybody have to be in bed by 8pm over there yet? Or raise their hands if they want to go to the lavatory? That 17 day 'circuit breaker' lockdown really worked out well Mr Drakeford.
This is a good gesture from the Scottish Government to all health care workers north of the border; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-55124729 A £500 'thankyou' payment. The very least they deserve. Just two things for me; 1) I think it should be paid before Christmas, not the end of the financial year (end of March 2021) 2) It should be tax-free. This is apparently only possible with consent from Westminster. Let's see something similar for our English health care workers After all, a few of them saved your life Prime Minister...
Again giving rise to the question: what does having a pint or two have to do with containing a virus. In some locations sales of alcohol after 9 have been prohibited to discourage drinking at home Is this still about a virus or is the nation being steered away from social drinking?
I need to get a food serving certificate - more red tape. It is not clear whether food has to be prepared on the premises or if I can bring it in from an approved supplier. I have a scotch egg supplier - the wife of a friend makes them for the local deli. But how long am I allowed to let each one last? Can I serve several pints in the plate-life of one scotch egg? Do I have to force-feed scotch eggs to reluctant drinkers who have eaten one but want another pint? I know two other pubs out of the 5 in my town are not opening this week. I will get my spies out on the other two, one a hotel with a bar and the other being Wetherspoons.