Covid restrictions - are you adhering or not?

[Asian Boss]

Folk here just wear the masks coz it's the right thing to do.

You keep saying that but you don't know it's the right thing to do, Thalidomide was the right thing to take until it wasn't.

These masks seem to have become some sort of cure-all, I find it really bizarre, they're literally only useful to stop you spitting water droplets from your mouth onto someone.

Anyone that wears a mask should also wear gloves so they don't spread the virus onto anything they touch, but they don't, the gloves haven't achieved mythical cure-all status yet.

Professor Korea says masks are effective and reducing Covid transmission. At 15.50. He also explains why during the video.



Gloves could help too but are much less effective IMO.

[Horse]

Hands can be gelled or washed. Can sinuses and lungs be washed out on entering or leaving a premises?

[gremlin]

Somebody asked me about getting an exemption from wearing masks as she gets anxious wearing them. I've just looked at the govt. page here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... e-your-own

Here's what is says....

If you are not able to wear a face covering
In settings where face coverings are required in England, there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering.

Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances. Some people are less able to wear face coverings, and the reasons for this may not be visible to others.

This includes (but is not limited to):

children under the age of 11 (The UK Health and Security Agency does not recommend face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)

people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability

people for whom putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause severe distress

people speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate

to avoid the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others

police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public

There are also scenarios when you are permitted to remove a face covering:

if asked to do so in a bank, building society, or post office for identification

if asked to do so by shop staff or relevant employees for identification, for assessing health recommendations (for example by a pharmacist) or for age identification purposes, including when buying age restricted products such as alcohol

in order to take medication

So, am I right in saying you can basically self-declare yourself exempt from wearing one? Anybody could mendaciously claim that putting one on causes anxiety and distress (probably like the person who asked me plans to do). Seems a bit of a loophole.

[Tricky]

Folk here just wear the masks coz it's the right thing to do.

You keep saying that but you don't know it's the right thing to do, Thalidomide was the right thing to take until it wasn't.

These masks seem to have become some sort of cure-all, I find it really bizarre, they're literally only useful to stop you spitting water droplets from your mouth onto someone.

Anyone that wears a mask should also wear gloves so they don't spread the virus onto anything they touch, but they don't, the gloves haven't achieved mythical cure-all status yet.

Indeed.

Was interesting ( and to some extent entertaining) last month in Barbados- they have had relatively few deaths, but of course it's not that bigbut they are very strict in terms of mask-wearing, with Covid police at entrances to shops, petrol stations etc, and you get your temperature taken on entry.
In the hotel we were in, you also had to put disposable gloves on when entering the breakfast buffet area, but what really made me smile was some of the local waitresses, who wouldn't take the vaccine (AFAIK take up is only 30-odd% of the population ) and didn't wear gloves but always wore goggles as well as a mask, as apparently you catch covid through your eyes ....

[Skub]

Wearing a mask causes anxiety and catching/spreading covid doesn't?

I give up.

[DefTrap]

So, am I right in saying you can basically self-declare yourself exempt from wearing one? Anybody could mendaciously claim that putting one on causes anxiety and distress (probably like the person who asked me plans to do). Seems a bit of a loophole.

Sounds like it but then the gov theme all the way through this has been blundering through by imposing rules and then allowing a get-out. It's probably a better idea to get a note from your doctor though, that can't be too hard.

[Asian Boss]

Professor Korea says masks are effective and reducing Covid transmission. At 15.50. He also explains why during the video.

He said medical professionals are less likely to catch covid if they wear masks.
...

At 15 minutes and 50 seconds he is asked: "How effective is wearing a mask in general".

He replies: "It's definitely effective".




He also talks about the particles which leave people's mouth and nose, their varying size and how long they remain in the air.

[Supermofo]

Wear a face mask you say?

I've just had this one arrive from some 2 bit forum or other

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Slaphead

[Supermofo]

Slaphead

Who


As charged.

[Mr Moofo]

. Once again we are asking to give up our lives to save the (outdated , under performing and refusing to change ) NHS . The NHS was put in place to look after us, not the other way round.

I don't get why NHS bashing is so popular, and it seems particularly mean given the circumstances (and while the government are being given such an easy ride), but hey ....

Much of it appears to be about access to GPs which hasn't been helped by the latest jabbing plan. GPs want to do less GP'ing so they can go jabbing at £15-£20 a pop (while being paid for GP'ing) when, clearly, anyone with suitable training can jab. They've had hairdressers, pharmacists, St John's Ambulance etc etc doing it....I'd do it if I could get on the roster. All my 3 jabs, the jabber has said 'Hi, I'm Dr xyz' and I've wondered which surgery has lost a doctor.

Meanwhile our gleaming new local health centre has virtually locked the doors and I can't get to see the doctor for love or money. The ancillary staff are so fed up dealing with the front line 60% have quit. At the same time the poor sods at the local hospital are on their knees and having to deal with all the people that can't get to see a GP, acute wards are full, ambulances queueing etc etc. So, big up for the hospital people and my own personal for the GPs.

That sums it up quite nicely ...

[Mr Moofo]

. Once again we are asking to give up our lives to save the (outdated , under performing and refusing to change ) NHS . The NHS was put in place to look after us, not the other way round.

I don't get why NHS bashing is so popular, and it seems particularly mean given the circumstances (and while the government are being given such an easy ride), but hey ....

The NHS is no longer anywhere near the world class health service it tells us it is. The German, Swiss, and French systems are all way better. The NHS is better than the free service people get in the USA.

I fully accept there are many at the front end who are completely committed to giving patient care - However the NHS is not just from line hospitals and it that does not apply to our local GPs surgery - which repels patients and tells them to use an e-service that they know full well doesn't work.
The sooner people accept that "Our NHS" needs some serious revision, the better.

It's not about knock the NHS - it is just about not accepting it is the deity it thinks it is.
How am I giving up my life - well, travelling to see sister in Oz will once again be a PITa, no doubt NZ will close its doors to us all, and there was the RSA trip...

Have you seen any scientific data on the Omicron variant? I haven't

[slowsider]

Guy that checked me in for my booster was a GP, jab was done by Sharon and Tracey from Primark. Seemed a little odd.....

Sure you didn't get a piercing instead?

[slowsider]

Folk here just wear the masks coz it's the right thing to do.

You keep saying that but you don't know it's the right thing to do, Thalidomide was the right thing to take until it wasn't.

These masks seem to have become some sort of cure-all, I find it really bizarre, they're literally only useful to stop you spitting water droplets from your mouth onto someone.

Anyone that wears a mask should also wear gloves so they don't spread the virus onto anything they touch, but they don't, the gloves haven't achieved mythical cure-all status yet.

Doctors say to wear masks, so that's good enough for me.

See the news thread, where a doctor amputated the wrong leg.

[gremlin]

get a note from your doctor though, that can't be too hard.

Tried to see a UK doctor lately?

[DefTrap]

Have you seen any scientific data on the Omicron variant? I haven't

A scientist chappy said
- most of the data is from S.A
- they have a younger popultaion
- their vaccine program is very different to the UK

So, there is no reliable and relevant scientific data to say there is or there isn't going to be an issue outside of the UK.
So, in the meantime the implication is it is necessary to increase precautionary measures.

I mean it sounds sensible.

[DefTrap]

Tried to see a UK doctor lately?

Nah,

Has that particular aspect become worse then? Or is it as cumbersome as it ever was? (anecdotally I never used to bother much with UK docs appointments because by the time I got my appointment I thought I had a decent chance of getting better)

Should we be giving them some slack because of covid?

[gremlin]

Tried to see a UK doctor lately?

Nah,

Has that particular aspect become worse then? Or is it as cumbersome as it ever was? (anecdotally I never used to bother much with UK docs appointments because by the time I got my appointment I thought I had a decent chance of getting better)

Should we be giving them some slack because of covid?

Good bits and bad bits.

GPs are more inclined to do things over the phone, which previously they'd insist you needed an appointment for, wasting time for both patient and doctor. Some have taken this to the extreme (I take mine as a case in point) and are now working from home, permanently as far as I can tell.

The NHS app is ok, in that you can book appointments (usually via Zoom, never in person), get repeat prescriptions, see your entire history in the app. And of course, your covid pass.

As for slack, the front door to my GP surgery is permanently locked with a sign telling any patient to ring the bell and then not to ring it again for 10 minutes as 'the staff are very busy'.

[Count Steer]

Tried to see a UK doctor lately?

Nah,

Has that particular aspect become worse then? Or is it as cumbersome as it ever was? (anecdotally I never used to bother much with UK docs appointments because by the time I got my appointment I thought I had a decent chance of getting better)

Should we be giving them some slack because of covid?

We got a new health centre about 4 years ago (contracted out to a health company, it serves/served a wide area of villages and is sited in the biggest) it was excellent. 8 GPs, nurse etc. Minor issues, phone up, see the nurse. If they had any doubts they'd get a second opinion from a doc. I pitched up with something of an emergency (sort of drowning in my own blood type of thing) - whoosh....test, test, letter, get yourself off to the Hosp and give 'em this. Hospital people were as they were for my knee op. Wife had an arrhythmia issue...much testing and follow up etc etc. You used to be able to go on-line, check which doctor specialised in what and make an appt with them.

Covid arrives, doors slam, can't even get a phone conversation with a locum. Well, I got a phone appointment which they cancelled on the day by text and grudgingly offered another in 2 weeks when I phoned them and got through eventually. I took a look at the doctors' car parking spaces - all conveniently labelled with their names. Mostly empty. Working from home or gone jabbin'. So sure, Covid has something to do with it.

The only time the doors were open they were flu jabbin'....2 days, 2000 people, probably £30k...kerrching.

Currently their trade union, the BMA, are in negotiation with the Government about them helping with more jabbin' at £15-20 a pop (more on Sundays). BMA says they need to free up time by dropping the service to routinely monitor vulnerable patients (for which they are, of course, paid extra and which they may or may not actually be doing at the local health centre anyway) and Government must drop their demand that they offer face-to-face appointments if requested. Government are reluctant to do this because of the rising tide of anger in the population and the 'optics' aren't good.

Government promised more GPs and numbers appear to rise a bit...completely outweighed in terms of full time equivalents, because so many have gone part time (probably making enough from all the extra £s).

Between the Government, the BMA and the health companies they've broken it and most of the problems were seeded when they had to drop their pants and bend over in order to get the medics on board with setting up the NHS.

There are quite a few private GP clinics around but it irks to be effectively forced to use them.

Some good GPs must be in despair at the collateral flak they're getting and it appears some of them are retiring because of it, again reducing the increase.

Meanwhile A&E is carrying the can.

It seems the same is true at most health centres, but not all, in this area. Some are still providing a good service, so it seems it's down to the contracted company and their GPs.

Like I say, it sucks. Particularly when a trained chimp could stick a needle in an arm given half a day training. Even I could do it (and use the IT system).

[Horse]

Particularly when a trained chimp could stick a needle in an arm given half a day training. Even I could do it (and use the IT system).

IIRC it's 21 hours training (some online) with St John if you're FaW qualified.

Although... talking to someone today, person 3 in front had an allergic reaction to the vaccine, had to be injected with adrenaline etc!