General Chat

It appears the UK's oldest identical twins, Lilian Cox and Doris Hobday, aged 96, have caught covid.

"In a Facebook update, Lillian and Doris – dubbed the Tipton Twins – revealed they had contacted coronavirus despite “sticking to the rules” and spending most of their time indoors."

They wrote: “We are both in shock... we have been inside for most of 2020 sticking to all the rules and being careful, now this has happened and we can’t work out why or where we’ve picked it up from."

I wish them both well <3

But then, there's the question. How did they pick up the virus - have they secretly been to a rave? :-D

From a contaminated surface like their post or food deliveries? Then the one infected the other?

Or have they. Had a tradesman in the house, or had groceries and not disinfected them?

RTR - They live next door to each other in sheltered accommodation - that is alone in their own flats - though they did live with Lilian's daughter during the first lockdown, but moved back in July.
I'm sure, when the weather was nice, they sat outside, however, they live in Tipton - where apart from the temperature being below zero - they have snow!
Are you seriously suggesting a 96 year old, living alone, should have their windows open in minus temperatures, let alone go for a walk on icy pavements?

The truth is, as Kucinta and Ann have suggested, possibly from a contaminated delivery box. Perhaps they shouldn't get groceries or food delivered - that would lessen their chances of catching covid even more. I mean, when you're dead of starvation, I don't believe you can catch the virus.

RTR - you say "The chances of picking up the virus from delivery boxes and other surfaces are extremely low- otherwise supermarkets would have to nake massive changes " (your spelling)

Official advice: A person can catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
As for supermarkets making changes - haven't you noticed the hand sanitizer and sterilizer at the door? Do you actually go shopping?

I'm sure, if the twins had a carer, they would have worn PPE and a mask, as would visitors.
But no doubt you know better!

As for your other 'advice' and ramblings - strangely we can all read what the scientists say, and I prefer to listen to them!
I'm sure we all have theories and can compare the situation to something else, but most of us don't want to bore everyone with them.

Oh yes, and it's Priti Patel.

dunno about rollo but the typos I've seen have I guess apparently have been made by texting on phones....

Doesn’t explain why you nicked the Dunkirk idea from David Blunkett.

On the 4th September 2019 they said they both enjoy doing their weekly shop at Asda, they enjoyed chatting to the staff as they went around and were well known to the staff and had a hot chocolate and bacon buttie in the cafe after. There could be opportunities for covid there and maybe they actually went out more than they realise. Some people only count going to the cinema, bingo, meeting with friends etc as going out.

I don't see why, if you stay at home, no-one else comes in your house and you shop online you need to keep your windows open?

What I don't get is all this elbow nudging instead of handshaking as you have to get closer than 2 metres to do it. Surely a little wave or nod would do. Boris was doing it indoors the other day. He did have a mask on which would help, but still closer than 2 metres. Journalists have their mikes on long poles, so what do some of them do, hold it halfway up and lean forwards to get closer to who they interview.

I agree, Ann. A wave or a nod ought to be enough.

Boris ended the year with a shocker - yeh, get together on Xmas Day and beggar covid. If I were anywhere near suspicious, I'd say he wanted to kill off those oldies who got together with grandchildren because he said they could! (Less pension money being paid out - sorry, the doubting Thomas in me rears its head too many times at present,)

He then started the new year with a shocker, go to school then about ten hours after school started - don't go to school.

I wonder if his Dad could help him out NOT! His Dad's attitude is probably the only thing that makes me feel a little sorry for Boris.

As far as Boris thinking he is immune - it is my understanding (memories of school biology sixty years ago - so I could be wrong) that if he's carrying antibodies he still needs to be careful because there could be a build-up in his body every time he came into contact with covid so, yes, he still needs to be careful.

I agree with you, JoyLouise, about killing off, or at least not giving a damn about the older generation, and yes, the pension they worked for would certainly help rebuild the Government coffers. I mean, how many £billions has he wasted on his 'jobs for the boys' schemes?

'Closing' the schools has had financial ramifications too.
School kitchens, and firms that supply meals to schools had got in enough to feed millions of pupils for a week - now that will be thrown out.
Because of the one day at school, many grandparents will no longer be able to look after children. Teachers had prepared face to face lessons, now they'll have to prepare 'Zoom' lessons.

The children of front line workers, those in overcrowded accommodation (like the families living in converted offices - 1 room for a family, and those children without a laptop/PC/tablet - yes the Government said they'd provide one for every 'poor' child, but their interest waned when they realised just how many children are living in dire poverty - will still go to school, but so far, there appears to be no urgency to get school workers vaccinated.

As for Stanley Johnson - why should he help?
Boris is (allegedly) a grown up, he's made his own decisions.
It was his decision to not attend 5 COBRA meetings dealing with the virus.
He invited other Party leaders to a briefing about the virus in April 2020, but decided to 'go it alone' (with the help, no doubt, of Cummings).

As for his immunity - well, it appears he may not be totally immune from covid, but he seems to be immune from any long lasting repercussions due to lying!


Here's an article about them, if anyone's interested!
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/21/boris-johnson-lies-marcus-rashford-prime-minister

And what pray does Hestletine know :-|

"there are things we know, there are things we don't know....etc..."

As there Are items I and several others will not buy from Tesco because they are such poor quality, I wouldn’t trust them to do it.

Stone the crows!

That and the awful way they treat their staff and their drivers

Supermarkets are very good at substitution when they’ve run out of an item.

Supermarkets are very good at substitution when they’ve run out of an item.

The virus can live for a very long time on some surfaces but this still is being examined, so it's possible they did catch it from a surface. It's more likely that someone gave it to them by accident either not wearing their mask correctly - we've all seen the nose out of the mask people- or not washing their hands correctly.
If your supermarkets are like ours then your distribution centres are full of the virus as are your stores so, in theory, anything from a store whether you shop yourself or it's delivered could hold the virus.
How ever they caught it is now of little matter I just hope they both pull through.

Unfortunately, Doris has died :-(

RIP Doris <3 <3