@Dormouse if it's any comfort, it sounds like the French are being quite cautious about relaxing regulations. I don't think face masks are about to disappear in closed spaces any time soon. Around here, I get the impression that people are so used to wearing them that they keep them on even when they don't have to.
I am currently looking into the matter for my parents, and arrivals from the UK are subject to stricter rules than other amber list countries - to avoid quarantine you must be double vaccinated AND have a negative test.
The President of the Republic is taking to the airwaves on Monday, so we'll see what happens. It's rather suspected that some rules may be tightened, especially for the unvaccinated.
I don't want to cast any nasturtiums, but when we went out to a restaurant* on Thursday night, the chap at the next table had booked under the name of Andy Capp...
As Mr S pointed out, the woman he was with was definitely not Flo!
There is little you can do other than mask wearing and hygiene, and attempting to keep some distance. It is a respiratory disease and is airborne so masks and distance are most important
Masks are important, but where cloth masks are important is on the face of the person with Covid. They are only very weakly useful on the face of someone who wishes to avoid being infected.
I know quite a few people here in the US who are happy to talk to people outside with no mask, but insist that the small number of people who enter their homes wear masks. I don't know what @Dormouse teaches, and whether insisting that their students wear masks is an option.
What can you do, in practice? You can probably choose to avoid crowded indoor places (don't frequent busy pubs etc.), but it's not in practice possible to unilaterally maintain 6 feet of distance from people in queues, supermarkets, and the like, because you can pretty much guarantee that someone will walk into your space.
And don't forget that it's not just distance - it's distance and time.
Hmm. Wearing such a T-shirt might invite a fist in the face, from some of our local covidiots, at least...
Then you'll have won the moral high ground and they're admitting that they can't argue against doing what Mr Johnson and his government have told everyone to do - to be responsible and sensible. Violence is the last resort of someone who has already lost.
Hmm. Wearing such a T-shirt might invite a fist in the face, from some of our local covidiots, at least...
Then you'll have won the moral high ground and they're admitting that they can't argue against doing what Mr Johnson and his government have told everyone to do - to be responsible and sensible. Violence is the last resort of someone who has already lost.
Quite so, but I might also have acquired a broken Nose (and mine really would not look better for it).
I know quite a few people here in the US who are happy to talk to people outside with no mask, but insist that the small number of people who enter their homes wear masks. I don't know what @Dormouse teaches, and whether insisting that their students wear masks is an option.
Dormouse is more than within her rights to insist on a mask. In France it's the law that masks must be worn in basically all indoor spaces that aren't your own home. Until quite recently they were compulsory outdoors as well. Most people are compliant (in my building everyone wears them in the lift, for example).
It is weird here. We drove across the border to New York last week and were checked by maskless border guards who were not interested in tests, vaccinations or anything - easiest border crossing ever. Going back to Canada we were supposed to have used a phone app called ArriveCan that didn't work on our phones and it was almost ArriveCan't. But something had changed that day and we were allowed a day's grace and sent through to the public health testing station. First we had to call the NY clinic where we'd had tests a few days before, and mercifully got through to a human who told us the negative results had just come through, which the official graciously accepted. The it was the up-your-nose test, and we were allowed on our way home, with the assurance that quarantine and more tests, as of that day, were no longer needed. Now we are getting daily e-mails and calls telling us to arrange for on-line supervised tests, despite one of the e-mails telling us it's no longer needed. Oy vey! Enough!
The NZ Navy has been given the task of delivering sufficient doses of Pfizer to the Tokelau Islands to vaccinate the eligible population. This will be a non-contact delivery.
I think @Dormouse can be reassured about the situation in France. The President's approach is essentially to make life as complicated and inconvenient as possible for anyone who refuses to be vaccinated at the first available opportunity. Apparently last night 20000 people per minute were connecting to the main medical booking site.
I know that some Shipmates have not been too impressed with their local Tesco store, but mine has felt reasonably safe and comfortable to use at off-peak times. Whether my village Co-Op will continue to restrict entry (just 3 customers at a time - it's a small *corner shop*) remains to be seen.
We had almost a third of our Guides off last night as they were isolating, for the second week of face-to-face meetings. The first week we had about a quarter off as isolating - slightly different group of girls each time. We did better keeping them with us on Zoom, because they could still attend.
The rates are steadily increasing in this area, went up, slowed down and are now on a steep climb, according to Zoe.
I was looking forward to attending my first live concert for months, but I have decided not to go. The venue will be fine, but I have decided the bus journey and being in town on a Saturday late morning present a risk too far. This is mainly for the sake of my husband who has health conditions. Maybe I am being too cautious, as we have had both jabs. I would readily go there in the week, but Saturday is busy, and the city will be full of the young unvaccinated.
This article claims that false positives from LFT are very low, but up to 60% of people who test positive on a PCR test show negative on the LFT.
Which means that you should assume that a positive LFT = "I have Covid", but make no assumption about a negative LFT.
The hopeful signs for our shipmate @KarlLB are that I recall him telling us that he has managed to be vaccinated, which is a good thing, and that serious complications in kids are very rare.
What we've been told re: LFTs is that because the false negative rate is so high they are useful in reducing the number of people who have the virus coming into work (those who test positive should stay home and self-isolate) but doesn't prevent someone with the virus from coming into work (because they could easily have a negative LFT). Therefore, those in work should behave as though they're in any other enclosed space - maintain physical distance, keep the windows open for ventilation, wear masks, wash hands etc. The main measures to keep work covid-secure are the latter - the LFTs provide an additional layer of security, by reducing the number of infected people entering the building by about 25%, and when a positive case does come up the tracing information comes in with self-isolation of contacts (at least until there have been proper PCR tests to confirm that the other measures did their job).
Well, Los Angeles County is going back to mandating masks indoors in public places because the rise of the delta variant . I'm not in that county but I think I'll become more assiduous of the covid niceties: masks, distance, sanitizing. Our LA Episcopal bishop has informed LA diocese churches in LA County that masks are mandatory again during worship and has asked the rest of us in other counties to go along with it in solidarity and caution.
I've just seen that one of the headliners at an outdoor one day local-ish folk festival, Folk by the Oak, on Sunday, that I've really wanted to attend has tested positive for Covid19 and is no longer performing. Selfishly, I feel a bit better about missing it now. Mind you, I'm still sun sensitive, so the forecast would be against me going too.
Another gig I'd like to have seen last (Friday) night did not sell well - I did end up tweeting one of the performers to say that I was cross I couldn't go but no indoor gigs for me until my daughter is fully vaccinated, and got a like. I guess it feels better that people would like to come but can't rather than don't want to come.
My daughter only had her first jab on Tuesday this week, so we're not looking at full cover until late September.
The C of E has issued its latest guidance, following the English government's abdication of all responsibility for public health.
FatherInCharge is being very careful and circumspect, and will review the situation in August.
Social distancing and mask-wearing are no longer mandatory, but will still be encouraged, as will the use of hand-sanitizers on entering/leaving church. Singing of hymns etc will go ahead (yay!), but people will be asked NOT to exchange The Peace physically, and to respect anyone who wishes to maintain social distancing. Communion will continue to be received in one kind only.
IOW, more-or-less what we were doing immediately before Lockdown The First...being Sensible and Sensitive.
Bayes Theorem dictates that the proportion of false +ves and -ves depends on the prevalence of the infection. In the extreme cases, for people struggling with this counter-intuitive fact, at 0% prevalence all +ves are false, and at 100% all -ves are false.
At the moment prevalence is high so a +ve is less likely to be false (as it has proven)
Fortunately I have indeed had one vaccination and so far I'm testing negative. I have a hypothesis I'm less like to catch it anyway as I very seldom get colds and many of them are also caused by coronoviruses.
The CofE document is a long 12 page read which seems to have a lot of general background stuff on risk, but is not really very prescriptive. It does clearly state that "The responsibility for making decisions about how to proceed lies with the incumbent. This applies to acts of worship, to events run by the PCC or church community, and to decisions on whether to hire out spaces or allow other events to proceed"
The CofE document is a long 12 page read which seems to have a lot of general background stuff on risk, but is not really very prescriptive. It does clearly state that "The responsibility for making decisions about how to proceed lies with the incumbent. This applies to acts of worship, to events run by the PCC or church community, and to decisions on whether to hire out spaces or allow other events to proceed"
Indeed (my bold), and that's why FatherInCharge has decided to be very careful for the next few weeks. As he says *If it all goes pear-shaped, it's My Name in the papers!*.
Seriously, though, he is consulting with his churchwarden (we only have one at the moment) and the PCC. Church-run activities in the Hall are going ahead, I think, but I'm not sure if hall bookings (it's a popular venue for children's parties) are being resumed yet.
‘Pingdemic’ another word we wouldn’t have been able to guess at the meaning of three years ago!
*Pingdemic* - yes, I rather like it...
Meanwhile, Happy Freedumb Day to all those who are making the most of it (with the exception of our leaders, of course, who are in isolation).
I braved Tess Coe earlier today, remembering to buy all the things I thought of yesterday, and was pleased to find that it was more-or-less as per usual - one way in/one way out, hand/trolley sanitizers available, staff all wearing masks, all the perspex screens still in position, and new big notices asking people to observe the *Hands-Face-Space* convention.
A few covidiots - mainly in the younger age group (those who are currently most at risk) - were exposing the whole of their visages .
OTOH, people walking about in the open air, in the High Street, and across the bridge over the river, were also mostly unmasked, which I suppose is fair enough.
An unplanned visit to Waitrose - sign in entrance asking us to care for each other, with pictures of sanitiser, masks and distancing. And people with no masks. Not the older customers, and not the staff. People in their late twenties and thirties, I would hazard.
The location of the store is in an area, parish sized, where the daily figures (for the previous 7 days) are rising from around 0 three weeks ago through the high teens a few days back to 24 yesterday. The chances of being near someone with an infection contact are high - I would hope they would be more careful, but how can I know. Popping in for things I have forgotten to order or which have been left off is not going to happen any more.
You should be so lucky - current figures here in the high hundreds, estimated 4,755 per million by the Zoe app, which I note has changed colour coding to reflect the higher rates. Neighbouring regions are running at 9,521 or 11,187 per million.
And actually shops first thing had mask wearing people, more than usual. Although that could have been how early we were, before 9am and before 10am (second shop didn't open until 9:30am).
I have no idea what the figures are for my home town, which is some miles east of Penny S's place.
I'll continue wearing the mask in shops (I don't go on buses or trains now), but will beat a quick retreat if any shop is too crowded, or has too many covidiots in it anyway.
Instructions for church from FatherInCharge, copied from his latest newsletter:
Regulations ARE changing on July 19th, but both the government AND the Church authorities urge us to be careful and considerate of others. The wearing of face masks is still encouraged, although not mandatory, and Track and Tracing will continue, so you will be invited to give your name and phone number, but only if you agree. Please DON'T rush around to share The Peace, but stay in your places to give it, and respect the wishes of those who want to retain social distancing. Communion will still be in one kind only - the Host....BUT YOU CAN SING on Sundays July 25th and August 1st, and the organ has recently been overhauled in anticipation.
Our local YMCA gym reopened today (with all the sensible restrictions) and my body is happy again. It is far too hot for serious outdoor exercise and the bugs are hungry for blood, so this is a momentous day.
Comments
The government attitude seems to be *We don't care any more. It's up to you - if you get The Plague, it'll be your own fault, whatever.*
https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/10/covid-freedom-day-clinically-vulnerable-people-face-masks-england
As you say, looks like more shielding may be needed...
I am currently looking into the matter for my parents, and arrivals from the UK are subject to stricter rules than other amber list countries - to avoid quarantine you must be double vaccinated AND have a negative test.
The President of the Republic is taking to the airwaves on Monday, so we'll see what happens. It's rather suspected that some rules may be tightened, especially for the unvaccinated.
As Mr S pointed out, the woman he was with was definitely not Flo!
* the first time in forever!
I wonder if Mr A Capp was out with someone he shouldn't really have been out with?
Masks are important, but where cloth masks are important is on the face of the person with Covid. They are only very weakly useful on the face of someone who wishes to avoid being infected.
I know quite a few people here in the US who are happy to talk to people outside with no mask, but insist that the small number of people who enter their homes wear masks. I don't know what @Dormouse teaches, and whether insisting that their students wear masks is an option.
What can you do, in practice? You can probably choose to avoid crowded indoor places (don't frequent busy pubs etc.), but it's not in practice possible to unilaterally maintain 6 feet of distance from people in queues, supermarkets, and the like, because you can pretty much guarantee that someone will walk into your space.
And don't forget that it's not just distance - it's distance and time.
Love it!
Quite so, but I might also have acquired a broken Nose (and mine really would not look better for it).
https://theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/10/public-alarm-grows-at-boris-johnsons-plan-for-covid-freedom-day
Dormouse is more than within her rights to insist on a mask. In France it's the law that masks must be worn in basically all indoor spaces that aren't your own home. Until quite recently they were compulsory outdoors as well. Most people are compliant (in my building everyone wears them in the lift, for example).
🙁
https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/13/scotland-to-move-to-level-zero-covid-restrictions-from-19-july
https://theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/15/tesco-john-lewis-ask-customers-staff-face-masks-england
I know that some Shipmates have not been too impressed with their local Tesco store, but mine has felt reasonably safe and comfortable to use at off-peak times. Whether my village Co-Op will continue to restrict entry (just 3 customers at a time - it's a small *corner shop*) remains to be seen.
The rates are steadily increasing in this area, went up, slowed down and are now on a steep climb, according to Zoe.
Oh dear, I'm sorry.
What Piglet said. That's so crummy, Karl. Hugs to the LB-let!
It's all pretty scary.
Which means that you should assume that a positive LFT = "I have Covid", but make no assumption about a negative LFT.
The hopeful signs for our shipmate @KarlLB are that I recall him telling us that he has managed to be vaccinated, which is a good thing, and that serious complications in kids are very rare.
Well stuff that for a lark - I've done a whole box of negative Innova LFTs and am now on to my second ...
Another gig I'd like to have seen last (Friday) night did not sell well - I did end up tweeting one of the performers to say that I was cross I couldn't go but no indoor gigs for me until my daughter is fully vaccinated, and got a like. I guess it feels better that people would like to come but can't rather than don't want to come.
My daughter only had her first jab on Tuesday this week, so we're not looking at full cover until late September.
FatherInCharge is being very careful and circumspect, and will review the situation in August.
Social distancing and mask-wearing are no longer mandatory, but will still be encouraged, as will the use of hand-sanitizers on entering/leaving church. Singing of hymns etc will go ahead (yay!), but people will be asked NOT to exchange The Peace physically, and to respect anyone who wishes to maintain social distancing. Communion will continue to be received in one kind only.
IOW, more-or-less what we were doing immediately before Lockdown The First...being Sensible and Sensitive.
At the moment prevalence is high so a +ve is less likely to be false (as it has proven)
Fortunately I have indeed had one vaccination and so far I'm testing negative. I have a hypothesis I'm less like to catch it anyway as I very seldom get colds and many of them are also caused by coronoviruses.
Indeed (my bold), and that's why FatherInCharge has decided to be very careful for the next few weeks. As he says *If it all goes pear-shaped, it's My Name in the papers!*.
Seriously, though, he is consulting with his churchwarden (we only have one at the moment) and the PCC. Church-run activities in the Hall are going ahead, I think, but I'm not sure if hall bookings (it's a popular venue for children's parties) are being resumed yet.
*Pingdemic* - yes, I rather like it...
Meanwhile, Happy Freedumb Day to all those who are making the most of it (with the exception of our leaders, of course, who are in isolation).
I braved Tess Coe earlier today, remembering to buy all the things I thought of yesterday, and was pleased to find that it was more-or-less as per usual - one way in/one way out, hand/trolley sanitizers available, staff all wearing masks, all the perspex screens still in position, and new big notices asking people to observe the *Hands-Face-Space* convention.
A few covidiots - mainly in the younger age group (those who are currently most at risk) - were exposing the whole of their visages
OTOH, people walking about in the open air, in the High Street, and across the bridge over the river, were also mostly unmasked, which I suppose is fair enough.
"Our aim is to keep this toilet clean. Our aim depends on yours."
The location of the store is in an area, parish sized, where the daily figures (for the previous 7 days) are rising from around 0 three weeks ago through the high teens a few days back to 24 yesterday. The chances of being near someone with an infection contact are high - I would hope they would be more careful, but how can I know. Popping in for things I have forgotten to order or which have been left off is not going to happen any more.
And actually shops first thing had mask wearing people, more than usual. Although that could have been how early we were, before 9am and before 10am (second shop didn't open until 9:30am).
I'll continue wearing the mask in shops (I don't go on buses or trains now), but will beat a quick retreat if any shop is too crowded, or has too many covidiots in it anyway.
Instructions for church from FatherInCharge, copied from his latest newsletter:
Regulations ARE changing on July 19th, but both the government AND the Church authorities urge us to be careful and considerate of others. The wearing of face masks is still encouraged, although not mandatory, and Track and Tracing will continue, so you will be invited to give your name and phone number, but only if you agree. Please DON'T rush around to share The Peace, but stay in your places to give it, and respect the wishes of those who want to retain social distancing. Communion will still be in one kind only - the Host....BUT YOU CAN SING on Sundays July 25th and August 1st, and the organ has recently been overhauled in anticipation.
I managed to resist the temptation to point out to their owners that they weren't in England.