Stealth Omicron

[irie]

Infections and hospitalisations through the roof here, presumably Omicron, but not sensing much panic.

I'm going out and about tomorrow in case a lockdown is imminent ...

With (iirc) about 30% of the French population having had booster jabs I fear you won't have long to wait.

[DefTrap]

Infections and hospitalisations through the roof here, presumably Omicron, but not sensing much panic.

I'm going out and about tomorrow in case a lockdown is imminent ...

With (iirc) about 30% of the French population having had booster jabs I fear you won't have long to wait.

Doesn't seem to be a shortage of vaccine, or places to get it (I was able to book my booster at the local main vaccine centre, and before I could take it up was also offered at local pharmacy and also local GP and additionally there was a village dropin at the sports hall).

So four opportunities this month, three of them walking distance, the other a 15 minute drive.

So unless other regions aren't pulling their weight?

But it's probably reluctant bellends.

[irie]

Blimey!

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-base ... any-warns/

Eurotunnel is warning British citizens living in the EU that they cannot travel through France by car to get home from the U.K.

“Following a French Government decision, on 28/12/2021, unless they hold French residency, British citizens are now considered 3rd country citizens and can no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU,”

[Horse]

Why is everybody panicking over all these new cases overwhelming the NHS?

Can't they stick covid cases in the Nightingale facilities?

Yambo speaks, they listen!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59823652

Coronavirus "surge hubs" are to be set up at hospitals across England in preparation for a potential wave of Omicron admissions, the NHS has said.

The eight temporary "Nightingale" units will each house about 100 patients, with building starting this week.

There are also plans to identify sites for a further 4,000 beds if needed.

Record Covid case numbers were reported in the UK on Wednesday and NHS medical director Prof Stephen Powis said the service was on a "war footing".

The NHS is often required to deploy extra beds over winter, but hospitalisations in England with Covid have risen above 10,000 for the first time since March.

The Nightingale hubs will be located at:

the Royal Preston hospital in Lancashire
St James' University Hospital in Leeds
Lister Hospital in Stevenage
St George's Hospital in Tooting
William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent
North Bristol Hospital
Solihull Hospital
University Hospitals Birmingham
University Hospitals Leicester

This is not a revival of the Nightingale hospitals set up at the height of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.

Back then, large venues such as conference centres were pressed into service for an anticipated surge in seriously ill Covid patients.

But they were little used as major hospitals preferred to hold on to staff to deal with Covid pressures rather than lend them to the Nightingales.

This time temporary structures will be set up in the grounds of hospitals so staff, equipment and emergency departments are close at hand.

Only those patients who are close to being discharged and need minimal support will be cared for at these facilities.

Creating extra surge capacity is a familiar policy in winter months. But this is on a much bigger scale.

[Noggin]

Blimey!

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-base ... any-warns/

Eurotunnel is warning British citizens living in the EU that they cannot travel through France by car to get home from the U.K.

“Following a French Government decision, on 28/12/2021, unless they hold French residency, British citizens are now considered 3rd country citizens and can no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU,”

Why is that a surprise? Doubt they would let any 3rd country citizen transit France if they weren't allowed into France in the first place. Kinda the Brexit goal? Independence from the EU = third country citizens without the travel rights of the EU citizens


Currently places like the Netherlands have 'sort of' locked down but they are allowed to travel. So they are coming here for ski holidays

[Horse]

Well, it seems that the much-maligned French have decided to show some sympathy for the beleaguered, taking back control (= giving up access, to and from), Brits returning to their EU homes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59832076

UK nationals will be allowed to travel through France if they are going to their home in an EU country during the festive period.

France suspended its Covid restriction after UK travellers faced difficulties reaching their country of residence.

Eurotunnel, which had earlier issued warnings to customers, said it was "delighted" by the move.

People from the UK are still largely banned from going to France unless they have a compelling reason.

[irie]

Blimey!

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-base ... any-warns/

Eurotunnel is warning British citizens living in the EU that they cannot travel through France by car to get home from the U.K.

“Following a French Government decision, on 28/12/2021, unless they hold French residency, British citizens are now considered 3rd country citizens and can no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU,”

Why is that a surprise? Doubt they would let any 3rd country citizen transit France if they weren't allowed into France in the first place. Kinda the Brexit goal? Independence from the EU = third country citizens without the travel rights of the EU citizens

Currently places like the Netherlands have 'sort of' locked down but they are allowed to travel. So they are coming here for ski holidays

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

[Pirahna]

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

I seem to remember reading that EU citizens traveling home from the UK were unaffected. If you are desperate to get to France you can go via Ireland. All EU countries are on France's green list, there's ferries operating between Ireland and a couple of different French ports.

Edit: the French have changed their mind and Brits can now drive through France.

[Noggin]

Blimey!

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-base ... any-warns/

Why is that a surprise? Doubt they would let any 3rd country citizen transit France if they weren't allowed into France in the first place. Kinda the Brexit goal? Independence from the EU = third country citizens without the travel rights of the EU citizens

Currently places like the Netherlands have 'sort of' locked down but they are allowed to travel. So they are coming here for ski holidays

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

At one point, no. If you stayed in the uk whilst going to your home in the EU outside France, you couldn't transit France (Pretty sure that was right).

I don't really see why you are surprised. Essentially France has the UK on red, so if you come from there you have to have specific reasons to travel.

Tranisting whilst going to a different EU country isn't necessary - might be easier/cheaper but there are other possibilities.
Coming back if you are a residents has always been allowed
Coming for holidays isn't allowed - although many brits are ignoring that and finding ways or just risking landing in Geneva and transiting into France


And no, don't for one minute think I'm happy about it. My livelihood and those of most of my friends depends on British Tourists. But the UK 'got Brexit done' and is now a 'third country' so is no longer treated the same as the other EU countries. Which is why I fail to understand the surprise when Brits get treated differently??

[Mussels]

Why is that a surprise? Doubt they would let any 3rd country citizen transit France if they weren't allowed into France in the first place. Kinda the Brexit goal? Independence from the EU = third country citizens without the travel rights of the EU citizens

Currently places like the Netherlands have 'sort of' locked down but they are allowed to travel. So they are coming here for ski holidays

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

At one point, no. If you stayed in the uk whilst going to your home in the EU outside France, you couldn't transit France (Pretty sure that was right).

I don't really see why you are surprised. Essentially France has the UK on red, so if you come from there you have to have specific reasons to travel.

Tranisting whilst going to a different EU country isn't necessary - might be easier/cheaper but there are other possibilities.
Coming back if you are a residents has always been allowed
Coming for holidays isn't allowed - although many brits are ignoring that and finding ways or just risking landing in Geneva and transiting into France


And no, don't for one minute think I'm happy about it. My livelihood and those of most of my friends depends on British Tourists. But the UK 'got Brexit done' and is now a 'third country' so is no longer treated the same as the other EU countries. Which is why I fail to understand the surprise when Brits get treated differently??

If travelling through France isn't necessary and puts them at risk then why is it ok for a Spaniard traveling to their home in Spain but not a Brit traveling to their home in Spain?
France seems to repeatedly forget that Ireland is in the EU and their attempts to cut off the UK from the mainland also cuts off Ireland.

[Noggin]

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

At one point, no. If you stayed in the uk whilst going to your home in the EU outside France, you couldn't transit France (Pretty sure that was right).

I don't really see why you are surprised. Essentially France has the UK on red, so if you come from there you have to have specific reasons to travel.

Tranisting whilst going to a different EU country isn't necessary - might be easier/cheaper but there are other possibilities.
Coming back if you are a residents has always been allowed
Coming for holidays isn't allowed - although many brits are ignoring that and finding ways or just risking landing in Geneva and transiting into France


And no, don't for one minute think I'm happy about it. My livelihood and those of most of my friends depends on British Tourists. But the UK 'got Brexit done' and is now a 'third country' so is no longer treated the same as the other EU countries. Which is why I fail to understand the surprise when Brits get treated differently??

If travelling through France isn't necessary and puts them at risk then why is it ok for a Spaniard traveling to their home in Spain but not a Brit traveling to their home in Spain?
France seems to repeatedly forget that Ireland is in the EU and their attempts to cut off the UK from the mainland also cuts off Ireland.

Southern Ireland (Yes, I know Ireland is correct!) is in the EU and you can travel from there - pretty sure you have to sign a declaration that you haven't travelled from the UK first, but haven't looked it up).

As for the highlighted bit - because Spaniards are not third country nationals and France doesn't consider their covid levels to be as risky as Britain's levels (I haven't looked to see how bad it is TBF).

All EU nationals are (currently) allowed to travel into and through France. Britain is no longer an EU member, so Brits are no long able to travel in the EU in the same way.

I don't understand why that is so offensive or difficult to understand for so many (not particularly here, but on FB too). If Africa was put on a red list, then no one coming from Africa into France would be able to visit/transit. But no one would be upset about that cos it's obvious - Africa isn't in the EU

[slowsider]

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

At one point, no. If you stayed in the uk whilst going to your home in the EU outside France, you couldn't transit France (Pretty sure that was right).

I don't really see why you are surprised. Essentially France has the UK on red, so if you come from there you have to have specific reasons to travel.

Tranisting whilst going to a different EU country isn't necessary - might be easier/cheaper but there are other possibilities.
Coming back if you are a residents has always been allowed
Coming for holidays isn't allowed - although many brits are ignoring that and finding ways or just risking landing in Geneva and transiting into France


And no, don't for one minute think I'm happy about it. My livelihood and those of most of my friends depends on British Tourists. But the UK 'got Brexit done' and is now a 'third country' so is no longer treated the same as the other EU countries. Which is why I fail to understand the surprise when Brits get treated differently??

If travelling through France isn't necessary and puts them at risk then why is it ok for a Spaniard traveling to their home in Spain but not a Brit traveling to their home in Spain?
France seems to repeatedly forget that Ireland is in the EU and their attempts to cut off the UK from the mainland also cuts off Ireland.

Theres more than one route that avoids the Landbridge.
These are just freight, but theres a couple of passenger links too.

[irie]

My half joking (hence the ) point was about quid pro quo, or rather lack of it.

Does this also apply to EU citizens travelling through the UK to get to their home in the EU? Now there's a thought, eh?

In any case, given that according to Worldometer yesterday the UK had 189,213 cases whereas France had 206,243 cases, France is trying to do a King Canute with Omicron.

As is Olaf Schulz in Germany.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory ... 2-82010213

Scholz to Germans: Let's all help to defeat COVID in 2022
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is urging Germans to pull together to defeat the coronavirus in 2022 and promising to react “quickly and decisively” to the advance of the omicron variant

Good luck with that!

Edit: quo

[Horse]

France is trying to do a King Canute with Omicron.

In the story, Canute demonstrates to his flattering courtiers that he has no control over the elements (the incoming tide), explaining that secular power is vain compared to the supreme power of God.

[Saga Lout]

France is trying to do a King Canute with Omicron.

In the story, Canute demonstrates to his flattering courtiers that he has no control over the elements (the incoming tide), explaining that secular power is vain compared to the supreme power of God.

Mind you, there's a lot of Cnuts in government around the world.

[Mussels]

At one point, no. If you stayed in the uk whilst going to your home in the EU outside France, you couldn't transit France (Pretty sure that was right).

I don't really see why you are surprised. Essentially France has the UK on red, so if you come from there you have to have specific reasons to travel.

Tranisting whilst going to a different EU country isn't necessary - might be easier/cheaper but there are other possibilities.
Coming back if you are a residents has always been allowed
Coming for holidays isn't allowed - although many brits are ignoring that and finding ways or just risking landing in Geneva and transiting into France


And no, don't for one minute think I'm happy about it. My livelihood and those of most of my friends depends on British Tourists. But the UK 'got Brexit done' and is now a 'third country' so is no longer treated the same as the other EU countries. Which is why I fail to understand the surprise when Brits get treated differently??

If travelling through France isn't necessary and puts them at risk then why is it ok for a Spaniard traveling to their home in Spain but not a Brit traveling to their home in Spain?
France seems to repeatedly forget that Ireland is in the EU and their attempts to cut off the UK from the mainland also cuts off Ireland.

Theres more than one route that avoids the Landbridge.
These are just freight, but theres a couple of passenger links too.

And there's more than one route from the UK to the mainland but they aren't very convenient. Why would an EU citizen travelling through France from England be any less of a risk than a Brit?
France seems to be great at making announcements only to change it when the Irish ask if they have thought it through.

[irie]

It's largely to do with April 10-24, less than 4 months away.

[slowsider]

France seems to be great at making announcements only to change it when the Irish ask if they have thought it through.

Would that the UK was as good at reflecting and revising

[irie]

Good grief, 6 year olds!

https://www.politico.eu/article/france- ... -year-old/

Children as young as six in France will have to wear masks outdoors and in most public spaces from Monday, according to details published by the French government Saturday.

The new precaution comes after the country recorded more than 230,000 new cases of COVID-19 for December 31, the most recent data available, and as France tries to slow down the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Emmanuel "King Canute" Macron strikes again.

[Horse]

https://www.politico.eu/article/france- ... -year-old/

Children as young as six[/b] in France will have to wear masks outdoors and in most public spaces from Monday, according to details published by the French government Saturday.

Emmanuel "King Canute" Macron strikes again.

Perhaps not understanding Canute strikes again?

In the story, Canute demonstrates to his flattering courtiers that he has no control over the elements (the incoming tide), explaining that secular power is vain compared to the supreme power of God.


Unless the post was intended actually to compliment Macron, noting how he is deliberately implementing a measure to prove its ineffectiveness?