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Do we need a coronavirus thread?

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  1. crowriver
    Member

    It was notable passing through Stockbridge and then Leith yesterday that restaurants, pubs and bars were very busy, and nobody wearing masks except the staff. Really folk are now behaving as though it's all over - let's hope it is for their sakes. If that behaviour is now the norm in indoor public spaces you won't be catching me eating out or going for a drink anytime soon. Also later when we went to get fish and chips (takeaway) everyone was wearing masks except a couple of young English blokes, one of whom even leant over the counter mask-less to accost the masked staff.

    Oddly enough, on the WoL path folk were social distancing, despite it being outdoors. So maybe it depends on context and the particular folk involved. Or maybe when folk are pished they forget themselves and think they're invulnerable? Or turn into DILLIGAFs.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  2. LaidBack
    Member

    @crowriver - vibe I got was that EdFest has always a high proportion of visitors and many will be totally unaware of rules here - hence the guy on phone speaking to friends in south with surprise about us wearing masks.
    Have friends in North Berwick and the Fringe by the Sea is also low on mask wearing.

    My view is that I wear a mask in crowds as the lower the proportion of masks worn, the higher amount of covid aerosol. George IV on foot high risk so mask a good idea as DILLIGAF is common. On a bike I don't bother though.

    One other factor I dislike is that mask wearing staff are working for mask non-wearers - not a nice dynamic. Has an entitled feel about it.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    @LaidBack, yeah I usually wear a mask where footway is crowded or busy. Am more wary than some as I have asthma - Covid might be very serious for me if unlucky enough to get a severe infection.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  4. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Wife was on a weeks reidential Uni summer school last week.

    Arrived home on Friday night, first case of covid reported on the Saturday, now 6 cases in the cohort including the 2 other double jabbed members of her work group. Wife has tested -ve, but it may be too early for her to be picked up as she would have been exposed on Thurs/Fri morning.

    Maybe sign of things to come when the students cone back, and general workfoce around the same time.

    I'm torn on continuing to hide, on one hand I really don't want it even though I'm double jabbed, on the other hand the world has decided to let it run so covid will be here always now, and how long do I hide for, forever? I have living still to do.

    Also we've been told we're back into the office in Sept so there will be no hiding there in the massive open plan space...

    Posted 2 years ago #

  5. crowriver
    Member

    Some Scots Covid powers 'could be made permanent'

    The Scottish government wants some emergency Covid-19 powers to become permanent, including the ability to impose lockdowns and close schools. Most pandemic powers are due to expire in March 2022, but ministers are consulting on making some permanent.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58244323

    ---

    Consultation here:

    https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-recovery-consultation-public-services-justice-system-reforms/

    Posted 2 years ago #

  6. LaidBack
    Member

    Latest Covid stupidity.

    From National (nominally!)
    Magna Carta doesn't apply to Scotland. Obviously confused as to where they were.

    Edinburgh Live was told by one eye-witness that as many as 30 people had stormed the capital landmark.

    Police Scotland also confirmed that they have a presence on the scene with officers "engaging" with those who claimed to have taken the castle.

    Edinburgh Evening News reported that the group were anti-lockdown protesters who claimed that "high treason" has been committed.

    In a 13-minute video shared by the Scotland Against Lockdown twitter account the woman filming can be heard saying: "We have seized Edinburgh Castle.

    "We're waiting to restore the rule of law. We're doing this peacefully and we're doing this lawfully.

    "We are using article 61 of the Magna Carta. We have had enough. The people of Scotland have had enough and today we claim our power back.

    "The government has been acting treasonously against we the people."

    Sharing the video, the Scotland Against Lockdown campaign wrote: "Sovereign Scots lay siege to take back Edinburgh Castle under Common Law, to remove and expose the corrupt political and admiral (??) system". It also asked for people's support.

    The police arrive later in the video and speak to those filming.

    Magna Carta, the first version of which was signed in 1215 by King John, has no standing in Scots law.

    Article 61 originally gave a set of 25 barons the right to "assail" the monarch to keep to the document's provisions. However, it was repealed within a year of being written and the clause not included in subsequent versions.

    Nevertheless, the claim that "article 61 of the Magna Carta" gives people the right to ignore lockdown regulations has been popular amongst Covid sceptics since early in the pandemic.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  7. Baldcyclist
    Member

    It is festival time...

    Posted 2 years ago #

  8. neddie
    Member

    The soundbites from the protesters that I heard on the radio this morning were incoherent and rambling. Need I say more?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  9. ejstubbs
    Member

    Also reported on the Beeb web site.

    Meanwhile, the 7-day case rate in Edinburgh seems to be edging up towards the January peak of ~240. From the latest low of 134.9 on 31st July, it was at least 186.9 on 15th August (data for that date is still incomplete). That's a 39.5% rise, cf 33.4% for Scotland as a whole in the same period (though Edinburgh's 7-day rate is still a bit lower than Scotland's overall - but for how long?)

    Posted 2 years ago #

  10. Morningsider
    Member

    Covid sceptics
    I was taught never to use two words when one would do, so I would have chosen.
    Idiots.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  11. neddie
    Member

    Meanwhile, the 7-day case rate in Edinburgh seems to be edging up towards the January peak of ~240

    Aye, and the schools have just gone back. With parents and their children having just returned from places like France, Germany, Greece, only days ago...

    What could go wrong?

    Lot of anti-vaxxers in France by all accounts.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  12. crowriver
    Member

    16-17 year olds only offered vaccine last week. How many have had the shot? No immunity for another two weeks anyway. And still no vaccine for 12-15 year olds, so children going to high school with only face coverings as some form of protection.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  13. Baldcyclist
    Member

    "The Scottish government wants some emergency Covid-19 powers to become permanent, including the ability to impose lockdowns"

    I'm not a conspiracist, but there are a few people I know of who will be in 'I told you so' mode....

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58244323

    *edit, notice link already posted.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  14. Morningsider
    Member

    @Baldcyclist - I was kind of shocked when I read about this. Then I looked at the consultation document. It doesn't include anything on imposing lockdowns. The closest it gets is asking whether Scottish Ministers should have the power to be able to direct that schools be closed in any future pandemic.

    Most of the proposals make sense - allowing for virtual meetings, the use of electronic submissions and signatures and so on in public services to replace generally archaic processes.

    Have a look here. Really not as bad as you might think.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  15. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Who's going/already back in the office?

    Senior management seem hell bent on getting us all back into the office next month for no reason, and I wondered what different sectors are doing now we are beyond level 0.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  16. CocoShepherd
    Member

    @fellowbaldcyclist

    WFH for the forseeable future with a free choice of whether or not to return to the office when it opens.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  17. steveo
    Member

    My firm has a small office we can use/not use as we like, I've started going in a couple of days a week, mostly to make it easier to work with people, partly to get some peace.

    I understand RBS is really keen to see its staff back, 2 days a month!

    Posted 2 years ago #

  18. Skawt
    Member

    My place is asking us to go in a few times to give it a go with a planned shift to expecting most people in 2-3 times a week. I’ve been and it was fine really. Oh, and it’s financial services.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  19. neddie
    Member

    Same as Skawt, but electronics, not finance

    Posted 2 years ago #

  20. Baldcyclist
    Member

    We're being expected to go in 2 days a week from a range of dates in Sept.

    I have less of a problem with the 2 days - if someeone had said pre pandemic youd only have to go into the office 2 days a week I'd have been over the moon, that said I don't miss the train one little bit.

    My issue is more timing with regard to Covid, we now seem to be in a situation where vaccine efficacy is at best 50%, and cases are running out of control in Scotland (and UK wide). We also see now in Israel who are a bit ahead of us with vaccine rollout that hospitalisations are now following cases again.

    I can't see any justification from a public health perspective for a return to office working, especially in sectors that don't have to.

    Apparantly the FM is making an announcement at 12, maybe the madness will be halted.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  21. steveo
    Member

    I don't mind that so much as there is only a few people in the office at any time. Think the busiest it's been was four bodies. (plus I cycle in so don't have to face the train)

    Posted 2 years ago #

  22. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Large open plan office for us, 90 or so in our room so don't know how many will be in on any particular day. I can schedule people in my team so that there's only one in each of our 2 blocks of 4 seats in at a time, so that should minimise at work risk at least, or the immediate area.

    My current plan is to get back to cycle commuting, though it's a 44 mile round trip and the last time I did that regularly was 7 years ago before the boy was born and 15kg ago. Essentially means I won't see him 2 days a week, but better that than being exposed on the train and never see'ing him again.

    My Covid age is currently 71, severe athsma and obese so feeling quite at risk at the moment. The cycle return should help with the obesity though if I manage to avoid a heart attack...

    Posted 2 years ago #

  23. CocoShepherd
    Member

    @baldcyclist

    Throw your work toys out of the office pram and see what your manager does?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  24. Baldcyclist
    Member

    @cocoshepherd If only, I have the displeasure of telling everyone to do something I'm really not comfortable with myself, and everyone is currently throwing their toys at me, at speed...

    (I can throw my toys about here which helps with my sanity though. :D)

    Posted 2 years ago #

  25. crowriver
    Member

    @Baldcyclist, I've been having considerable weight issues since the start of the first lockdown. I'm giving 16:8 intermittent fasting a go, so far so good. Did 5:2 fasting a few times, but 16:8 is a bit less extreme in that you can eat normally every day, just during restricted hours. That and a daily exercise plan may help me get ready for a return to building based work from later next month, which will be "hybrid" working, only in when necessary and safe to do so. Alas I can't avoid the train, Dundee's a bit too far to cycle there and back. :-) So have invested in better quality face masks, that protect the wearer as well as other folk in the vicinity...

    Posted 2 years ago #

  26. Baldcyclist
    Member

    @crowriver, I've been doing 20:4 fasting since March.. Works well, lost 7kg since then - I always skipped breakfast before starting to cycle commutex and never realised it was a thing.

    Was astounded you could cycle an hour fasted and not bonk. Have increased my cycle to 1 hour morning and night to replicate some of the commute, but finding I need more calories in the middle of the day when I do that.

    Posted here about it: http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20643

    Posted 2 years ago #

  27. neddie
    Member

    The question is, what will we do about the office guy who lets off an absolutely rip-roaring sneeze at 3 o'clock every day without fail...?

    Blasting the entire 130-people-sized office space with aerosols...

    Posted 2 years ago #

  28. Morningsider
    Member

    I was back in the office yesterday for a big meeting. First time in the building for actual work since March 2020.

    A few observations:

    In this group of people, who know each other well, and despite their best intentions, social distancing and mask wearing broke down within minutes.

    Ventilation in the office, and I imagine most other offices, is really poor.

    In spite of screens being installed and selected desks "closed". The building simply isn't designed for social distancing - too many pinch points and narrow corridors, stairs and lifts.

    There has been a mysterious outbreak of shrinking work trousers during lockdown. Beware - no-one seems to be exempt.

    That said, it was great to be there! Actually shooting the breeze with colleagues. Bit rusty on the commute though, filtered past a bus when I probably shouldn't have - which led to a hairy moment.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  29. nobrakes
    Member

    Whole family was in for PCR tests yesterday - positive results. My daughter came down with symptoms not long after going back to school

    Second time I've had Covid. Hopefully will be less severe than last time after vaccinations. Last time was quite frightening.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  30. MediumDave
    Member

    I've been back for a while (my trade is "computer janitor" and so my physical presence is often required). Commandeered an empty office (like a Bossperson) for social distancing and there's regular testing. Feels safe enough, and way more productive than working from home.

    Few others are keen to rush back.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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