General Chat

Yesterday morning Johnson had a short video conference with pres. Macron. It was instigated by Macron.

The gist of it was that France has a large tourist industry which it is determined to protect and intends to have up and running sometime this year. Unlike the UK France has been successful in running down COVID with deaths now running at under 100 / day. In the Red Zone the lockdown is far tougher than in the UK. Western France is pretty well covid free. Brit tourism and holiday homes are important to France. Also large numbers of French people are married to Brits.Nissan, Airbus are French owned whole or part/ Thus an open date quarantine on UK/France travel esp ferries/Eurostar is not acceptable.

In case this was not understood Johnson was reminded of the problems that could ensue if French customs adopted work to rule at the Channel ports.

Hence the exception. Of course J. can still impose a quarantine but he will need French agreement.

France is joined up to Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Monte Carlo, Andorra, Spain all within a days' drive of channel ports.

I'm back-watching BJ now and Starmer has made some good points.

It seems that for everything he has no answer for, BJ is saying that he is relying on people's common sense.

If everyone has as much common sense as BJ and his advisers then we'll be in the soup.

I don't think you're the only one to find it unclear, Gwyn!! :-S :-S :-S

I have a feeling that the France bit was Macron putting his foot downbut not sure. Stupid idea given that they had so many cases and might well have more.

I shouldn't laugh but if Raab is as confused as he seems to be what chance do we have.

I guess there is no press conference this afternoon. I wonder why????

I haven't been watching / listening to updates information, but just found this on the BBC news site..........
I get the transport bit, but the rest is unclear..........


What is the new advice?
The government for England says people should "aim to wear a face-covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet". That would include, for example, on public transport and in some shops.

They do not need to be worn outdoors, while exercising, in schools, in workplaces such as offices, and retail, or by those who may find them difficult to wear, such as children under two or primary aged children who cannot use them without assistance, or those who may have problems breathing whilst wearing a face covering.

I also don't understand why people arriving from France are deemed to be less of a risk and will not be quarantined, but those arriving from most other places will.

Has that been explained and I missed it?

#Breaking#
Government cancels massive party in brewery, saying it would be impossible to arrange it!

(or words to that effect) :-D :-D :-D

Just watching now and now someone saying, reception, year 1 and year 7 classes first.

Has Boris simply muddied the waters?

I would say that after watching and listening to Raab, no one has any idea.

Back to bumbling Boris, I'm afraid. :-(

Maggie, you're right. On telly just seen all primary schools mentioned in phased return no earlier than 1 June.

Gradually other places to open, some not before 1 July.

D Raab seems to have put his foot into it this afternoon. :-0

Island, you're right, I know grandparents who look after three primary school children after school - they would not be happy to do so yet as one of them takes immuno-suppressing drugs for a serious condition.

We look after our younger grandson (12) after school but not every day. Our dtr has already told us that we will not be doing so for the foreseeable future as she will continue working from home using more video conferencing than she usually does as well as on-line meetings. In addition, as she has been able to deal with a variety of problems from as far away as Scotland she is confident that she will be able to handle anything that comes along.

Love that gal -mseveral years younger than her brother but nothing seems insurmountable to them.

Like me or like their dad ?????

ME !!!!!

Of course. :-D :-D :-D

I would not let any four- or five-year old use public transport at the best of times on his own, Maggie, but, granted a few parents will take them on the bus rather than walk a mile or so and for those who travel further, the usual school bus system may begin to operate.

Still wrong, in my opinion, to open schools so early.

And, yes, I hope Boris will get up close and personal with everyone in Parliament once again. :-0

Using children as carriers? I suppose it's one way to get rid of the elderly and save money. Cynical? :-|

Some will be getting school buses, or using public transport to get to school - not every child gets to go to their nearest primary school, and not every parent has a car.

Only first two Primary years then an odd secondary year, as I understood, Maggie.

Primary Guinea pigs, I think. They will never be able to stay two m apart but they won't be using public travel systems as they're too young.

I can't help feeling that the govt will keep an eye on how many take the virus into their homes after class.

As I wrote on another thread, 'I have a present for you Mum.'

Childminders - beware! :-(

I assume, if schools are to reopen on June 1st, Parliament will be back to normal too.

If it's okay for children to mix, it MUST be okay for MP's and Lords to mix, surely?

Otherwise the Government could be accused of using children as Guinea pigs.

I can't help feeling that testing arrivals is a waste of time - what will not show up at testing time may well show up six hours later. You would be immensely lucky to be able to pin down the virus in a few-minutes period out of 10,000 minutes of incubation.

In addition, when we are sending tests to the US because MK's capability is somewhat compromised or lacking, why waste tests on arrivals?

But I suppose the government wants to placate the masses so has to be seen doing something, no matter how futile it is.

What I feel is needed is not a fourteen-day period of self-imposed quarantine but a fourteen-day period of government-imposed and government-regulated quarantine - this to be pointed out at points of departure for entry to the UK.

Control the virus? :-S The virus is controlling us.
I am staying at home as I have been for weeks except for shopping.
Germany & China have new outbreaks, so will we in the coming weeks.

I can't see how anything will change for many of us.

Walking locally has been helpful for exercise and general well being and there have been times when I've wanted to go out more than once, so an opportunity to go for short walks more than once a day will be the only thing for me that might change.

I would love to be back volunteering at the local primary school, but how can you safely keep young children apart and safe and not undo all the good that has come from 'staying at home'?
It's going to be a long time yet for any normality here.

While the rest of us do under the control of an incompetent government.

oh for the open road.

The homeless find it difficult to stay at home.

I've always wanted be A Lert..