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Post by onlyMark on Sept 20, 2020 15:36:58 GMT
Last night was in Tours, tonight in Troyes, both just have areas of compulsory mask wearing everywhere between certain times. Other than that, elsewhere is the 'normal' mask wearing in shops etc. Both cities worth a second visit if/when the situation is eased so that it is more enjoyable poking your nose in everywhere.
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Post by tod2 on Sept 20, 2020 16:19:13 GMT
Oh I am so jealous Mark! I have been to Tours on two occasions and I hope you got to see the ancient Cedar tree next to St.Gatien. We spent a lot of time sitting in the area in from of the train station waiting for our coach to take us to the hotel. Also on my second visit we visited the Chateau. Tours has a wonderful Old part to it.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Sept 21, 2020 20:39:40 GMT
At 11am today we had a briefing from Downing street on the tv, Professor Chris Whitty the chief medical officer and Sir Patric Vallance the chief Scientific officer gave the briefing. No bumbling politicians were there so it was straightforward, clear, concise and informative. They spoke in turn explaining that we are at a critical time atm, the rate of spread of the virus is increasing. Doubling every 7 days or so. Mostly in 20 - 40 year olds but rates are up in all age groups. They said that unless we get a handle on it we could have an exponential rise in numbers.
They talked about the vaccines being developed and said that a limited supply may be available by the end of the year...more likely next year tho. However they advised that for the next 6 months we will have to be very vigilant and maintain social distancing, keep staying home as much as possible, no mixing with other households etc etc...
I found it strangely comforting...
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 21, 2020 23:20:03 GMT
That would be comforting: Here is what we know, here is what you can do about it. As you say, straightforward.
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Post by bjd on Sept 22, 2020 6:33:32 GMT
I confess I still have my doubts about heavy reliance on a vaccine. Not only because of the international rush to develop one whereas we know that vaccines and all their efficiency/side effects/ etc tests take a long time. It all smells like a political scheme to get political support for whoever is mismanaging the epidemic.
The other problem is that reading any articles about longer-term effects of the Covid19 sickness, is that some people seem to drag on symptoms for a long time, some are getting it again. It is still an infection that is giving researchers and doctors surprises, so can a vaccine cover all the possible problems caused by the infection?
And last, not considering the States where Trump refuses so work with other international research, but how will it be decided who gets the vaccine? The most vulnerable, ie, old people? Those with pre-existing conditions? Young people who still have their lives ahead of them? People in rich countries because they are always at the top of the food chain anyway? How long will it take for enough vaccines to be created to cover everyone? Will the anti-vaxxers start spewing their conspiracy theories -- whether it's the Talibanish "they want to make Muslims sterile" to "it's all the fault of Bill Gates and George Soros"?
Lot of questions, no answers.
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Post by patricklondon on Sept 22, 2020 7:22:59 GMT
I found it strangely comforting... It does make a difference when the grown-ups take over
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Post by patricklondon on Sept 22, 2020 11:38:10 GMT
The other problem is that reading any articles about longer-term effects of the Covid19 sickness, is that some people seem to drag on symptoms for a long time, some are getting it again. It is still an infection that is giving researchers and doctors surprises, so can a vaccine cover all the possible problems caused by the infection? A vaccine's job is to stop the infection in the first place. No infection = no consequences of infection; but it won't do anything curative about the consequences of an infection that's already happened, and, as you say, we don't know to what degree or how long a vaccine will protect against infection. And last, not considering the States where Trump refuses so work with other international research, but how will it be decided who gets the vaccine? The most vulnerable, ie, old people? Those with pre-existing conditions? Young people who still have their lives ahead of them? People in rich countries because they are always at the top of the food chain anyway? How long will it take for enough vaccines to be created to cover everyone? Will the anti-vaxxers start spewing their conspiracy theories -- whether it's the Talibanish "they want to make Muslims sterile" to "it's all the fault of Bill Gates and George Soros"? And we're back to politics and statecraft. This is encouraging: www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/sep/21/landmark-moment-156-countries-agree-to-covid-vaccine-allocation-deal, but it's down to the political processes in every country to take the decisions and build confidence in whatever measures are decided on. And conspiracy theorists will always exist of course,
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 22, 2020 12:49:48 GMT
I watched just a few snippets of Boris Johnson replying to parliament and saw that he doesn't mind telling whoppers as enormous as the POTUS. His reply to one MP who asked how come countries like Germany and Italy are now handling the crisis so much better than the UK was that the people of the UK have a great love of freedom, which they practically invented, so it is out of the question to take away their freedom unlike the authoritarian countries mentioned.
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Post by mossie on Sept 22, 2020 15:16:02 GMT
Don't compare our Boris with the Greaterest POTUS ever. Compared to him he is just a bumbling amateur.
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Post by htmb on Sept 22, 2020 15:49:45 GMT
Half of the population in my area constantly complains about their lack of “freedom” because my county is one of the few in Florida that has required indoor masks for the past several months. It’s insane how much people b#tch. Every time the county or the local TV station posts something on social media about staying safe there is a tirade of negative comments afterwards. However, I just went to the gas station to fill up my half-empty tank for the first time in three months, and I was gratified to see everyone wearing masks, even though we were all outside.
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Post by tod2 on Sept 22, 2020 16:20:37 GMT
Well Htmb that's how it is here in S.A. you don't want to argue with the auroties…..Jail time here is a death sentence. Just do what they ask and relax at home…..altho, not always. I wear a mask in my home if the chalet maid comes to get supplies for the BnB. I don't breath in air anywhere near her except 2ft away and through a mask. I'm 76…WTF do I need Covid for?!
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 22, 2020 16:42:07 GMT
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Post by htmb on Sept 22, 2020 16:50:40 GMT
Ah, the timid. Maybe we who are “timid” are on to something!
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Post by tod2 on Sept 22, 2020 17:16:51 GMT
Is Boris really saying British people who don't conform to health requests about the dangers of Covid, are just little spoilt brats!?
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 22, 2020 17:19:51 GMT
No, he is saying that they love freedom, a concept invented by the British. If you follow the rules, you are a slave to the other side.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Sept 22, 2020 18:02:08 GMT
We have an idiocracy. Bullies, The Entitled and self important illiterate morons have the loudest voices and a ready audience on social media. Barefaced lies and corrupt nonsense touted by baskets like Farage, Johnson, Gove and others about Brexit were just accepted, even when folk KNEW that it was all rollocks they STILL voted for him (and I know that Jeremy Corbyn wasnt everybody's cup of tea but there were other parties...and good grief, he wouldn't have lasted long anyway...not with the PLP against him!)
Anyway. BoJo is on TV tonight at 8pm...he will bluster and thump the table and burble on. The man's an imbecile...presumably he will announce some ineffective 'new measures' to try to put the brakes on the second wave.
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Post by tod2 on Sept 23, 2020 7:18:28 GMT
I hear what you say Cheery. Your description of the UK Government is EXACTLY the description of the totally incompetent South African government. The difference is your members of parliament cannot (almost always) not get away with any wrong doing as you have a fairly strong opposition watching every move and waiting to pounce. Not so here. Weak opposition and radicles that go off pop ( loot, kill, burn, rob) at the slightest thing that points a finger their way. I think when you look back in history anywhere, you may find out that leaders have botched things up big time. A human failing that's bound to carry on regardless.
I watched Boris Johnson's speech to the British nation. As far as his speeches go, I think this one was fairly good. No mumbling bumbling or pounding the desk with emphasis, but instead a really genuine message that the shit has hit the fan and that it's time the UK pulled up it's boot-straps and did something very difficult but necessary to beat this incredibly dangerous virus.
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Post by mossie on Sept 23, 2020 8:18:35 GMT
Calm down Cheery, thank goodness the country chose Bullshitter Boris over that raving Marxist Dear Jeremy, or we would be Trotting behind wonderful Vladimir, with the genius Abacus Abbott as chancellor.
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Post by lugg on Sept 23, 2020 10:57:00 GMT
Calm down Cheery, thank goodness the country chose Bullshitter Boris over that raving Marxist Dear Jeremy, or we would be Trotting behind wonderful Vladimir, with the genius Abacus Abbott as chancellor. Whilst I disagree, that did make me laugh.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Sept 24, 2020 14:18:57 GMT
You do make me laugh Mossie. To be fair I think that ALL the politicians are rubbish. With infection rates rising daily our son has received a letter from the government saying that they are suspending shielding for the extremely vulnerable from October 15th.
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Post by bjd on Sept 24, 2020 14:21:18 GMT
Don't worry, Cheery. There will be another U-turn before then.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 24, 2020 15:54:34 GMT
Some parts of France are bubbling with outrage. All restaurants and cafés in the Marseille-Aix area are being totally closed again as of Saturday. And another dozen or so cities including Paris are forcing cafés and restaurants to close at 22:00.
I see no reason for outrage. People have brought this upon themselves.
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Post by lugg on Sept 24, 2020 18:16:30 GMT
With infection rates rising daily our son has received a letter from the government saying that they are suspending shielding for the extremely vulnerable from October 15th. Unbelievable, but as bjd said likely be another U - turn before then.
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Post by lugg on Sept 24, 2020 18:24:24 GMT
Some parts of France are bubbling with outrage. All restaurants and cafés in the Marseille-Aix area are being totally closed again as of Saturday. And another dozen or so cities including Paris are forcing cafés and restaurants to close at 22:00. I see no reason for outrage. People have brought this upon themselves. Its the same here in England. At the moment we can still meet indoors with family/friends as long as we keep to 6 people or below. I think this may change soon looking at the figures and also having access to local data ; selfishly I hope not as then it would become very difficult to see Enzo and I have already missed much of him. The home where my MIL lives never re-opened to visitors and now is unlikely to do so. It is now 6 months since we have been able to visit and I think it will be another 6 months at least. But on the up side the managers strict approach has kept them all safe .
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Post by tod2 on Sept 25, 2020 6:47:59 GMT
South Africa is down to Level 1. Even so, our family is treating the Covid outbreak as if it has just been announced, except for one thing - I do go to the supermarket and don't ask for home deliveries. Right now, EVERYONE is still wearing a mask inside buildings or in the street. Makes no difference. I heard a Prof on Sky a day or two ago, talking infection dangers and he emphasised verbally that mask wearing is essential. Looks like he has it correct.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 25, 2020 10:05:19 GMT
The news in France has been pointing out that Africa is the only continent with the number of cases going down and also has a very low number of deaths. Of course with the average age of Africans being so young, it should not be a surprise.
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Post by lugg on Sept 27, 2020 10:00:02 GMT
A large part of South Wales goes into lockdown from tonight due to the rising cases; about 1.5 million people ie half of the total population to give you an idea of the numbers affected. It looks as if my colleague and her partner will be separated for weeks, possibly months, for the second time this year.
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Post by kerouac2 on Sept 27, 2020 10:40:14 GMT
Yes, I saw on the news that Cardiff and Swansea were locked down.
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Post by onlyMark on Sept 27, 2020 11:04:30 GMT
We are starting to look at the difficulties of driving from Germany to Bosnia (Sarajevo) over the new year as regards needing a neg covid test no older than 48 hours. As it will take us about 48 hours to get there...... and labs will be closed for Christmas and the New Year (hoping to start the journey 31st Dec).... plus going through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, it all looks somewhat complicated. I'm sure we'll find a solution at some point.
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Post by mickthecactus on Sept 27, 2020 12:12:39 GMT
Grandson has to have a test. He’s fine but 2 girls in his flat are coughing.
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