Wandered down to the village shops this morning to see what was happening on "Freedom Day". 

Couple of buses passed, about 2/3 of passengers wearing masks. People going into the doctors surgery were masked, as that's still compulsory, of course.

Next call, Post Office which was shut for months as they all had Covid and were hospitalized.  So slipped the mask on to go in there which was appreciated. I think I would use it in there anyway, as it's quite cramped and not well ventilated.

Then to the local Co-op store, which had dropped all distancing and signage and replaced It with "Please feel free to wear a mask". Had a chat with the staff and asked how they felt about it, never mind the rules. Only one of the staff was masked, they all said do what you feel comfortable with. As its spacious and well ventilated I won't bother, but if it happened to be packed or there was someone in there I knew to be vulnerable or very nervous, I'd probably slip the mask on.

A matter of "play it by ear" until things settle down I guess. Will probably visit one of the bigger supermarkets - Tesco or Sainsbury's - later in the week and suss that out.

 

I hate the name. Should be "Personal responsibility day". 

 

1 minute ago, Guy Heaton said:

I hate the name. Should be "Personal responsibility day". 

 

Yes, that's catchy LOL I'm afraid with many years as a 'marketing manager' behind me, that wouldn't pass muster... 🤣

Couldn't get to Sainsburys this morning but have been to Tesco instead...

Literally only saw one or two people without masks on there.  Main difference was that they've removed the 'queue' fencing outside and the and one way fencing inside the entrance...  Although that's been replaced with pallets of items so it's still technically one way inside.  Sanitising stations still in place and people were still using them.

What was weird is how quiet it was!  I can only assume people have better places to go today!

35 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Couldn't get to Sainsburys this morning but have been to Tesco instead...

Literally only saw one or two people without masks on there.  Main difference was that they've removed the 'queue' fencing outside and the and one way fencing inside the entrance...  Although that's been replaced with pallets of items so it's still technically one way inside.  Sanitising stations still in place and people were still using them.

What was weird is how quiet it was!  I can only assume people have better places to go today!

I think some actually enjoying wearing a mask.It’s like a comfort blanket.😀

I ***** loved lockdown, no queues in the shops, no stinking strangers standing two inches away from you.

I might pretend it's not over, like those Japanese soldiers they find in the woods every now and then.

Where did you find a shop with no queues in lockdown!? 😮

 

6 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Where did you find a shop with no queues in lockdown!? 😮

 

1st lockdown, a nice long orderly queue was compulsory 😀

4 minutes ago, williamweb said:

1st lockdown, a nice long orderly queue was compulsory 😀

LOL, I followed the advise in my shielding letter and stayed away from pretty much everybody. I discovered that my local CoOp opened at 7am, so this was the time I did my weekly shop. Consistently, I was the only person in the store (apart from staff!). I love it that other folk preferred to have a lie in!

I'm going to keep pretending lockdown is still on. I enjoy the extra hour in bed in the morning from not having to commute. 

Yep outside the supermarket the queue was long but nicely spaced.  Inside the supermarket the checkout queues were short.  And nicely spaced.  🤣

2m separation isn't nearly enough for me to feel comfortable!

 

28 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

2m separation isn't nearly enough for me to feel comfortable!

 

You could always try wearing an explosive vest, I suppose, that might keep people away!😀

More seriously, looking at some of the scenes from midnight onwards where crowds were pouring into night clubs was rather worrying.

Here we all are thinking carefully about going into spacious well ventilated supermarkets, when hordes of unvaccinated people are packing into clubs that are anything but. Pretty obvious where any surge is going to come from. According to today's government briefing, 35% of 18 - 30 year olds are still unvaccinated.

9 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

You could always try wearing an explosive vest, I suppose, that might keep people away!😀

More seriously, looking at some of the scenes from midnight onwards where crowds were pouring into night clubs was rather worrying.

Here we all are thinking carefully about going into spacious well ventilated supermarkets, when hordes of unvaccinated people are packing into clubs that are anything but. Pretty obvious where any surge is going to come from. According to today's government briefing, 35% of 18 - 30 year olds are still unvaccinated.

I think spreading natural immunity around  the younger, generally healthier population is good a thing.Hopefully many returning home to their double jabbed parents.

18 minutes ago, williamweb said:

I think spreading natural immunity around  the younger, generally healthier population is good a thing.Hopefully many returning home to their double jabbed parents.

That was certainly the theory. It's now being reported though that the majority of hospital admissions are in the younger age groups, particularly 19 - 29, many of whom are yet to be vaccinated of course.

Also in today's briefing - they're making vaccine passports compulsory for entry to clubs from late September.

6 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

That was certainly the theory. It's now being reported though that the majority of hospital admissions are in the younger age groups, particularly 19 - 29, many of whom are yet to be vaccinated of course. 

That’s not surprising.What will be surprising is if most don’t make a full recovery.I haven’t looked at the numbers going into hospital,I might later.

Again, the media (particularly the BBC), are not giving death statistics the proper context.

131 people died of Covid in the whole UK last week

In England & Wales alone, the same week saw 8808 registered deaths in total.

(Figures taken from the government Office of National Statistics)

We have got to get Covid into perspective considering what it is doing to the country's economy - a poor country has not got the ability to improve public health...

1 hour ago, williamweb said:

That’s not surprising.What will be surprising is if most don’t make a full recovery.I haven’t looked at the numbers going into hospital,I might later.

742 today, 4317 in last 7 days. Yes, I'm sure (and certainly hope) the mortality rate amongst that group will be very low, the issue that concerns me is taking resources from those missing out on other treatments.

As we have said on here several times it's the National Health Service not the National Covid Service, so I want to see them concentrate on matters like cancer care, etc, not spend resources on people who could have a vaccination but can't be bothered.

 

1 hour ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

742 today, 4317 in last 7 days. Yes, I'm sure (and certainly hope) the mortality rate amongst that group will be very low, the issue that concerns me is taking resources from those missing out on other treatments.

As we have said on here several times it's the National Health Service not the National Covid Service, so I want to see them concentrate on matters like cancer care, etc, not spend resources on people who could have a vaccination but can't be bothered.

 

Why didn't/ don't  the Government use the Nightingale hospitals for all Covid patients and leave the NHS Hospitals for everyone else that needs them.

11 hours ago, Guy Heaton said:

I hate the name. Should be "Personal responsibility day". 

 

I thought it was "Cross your fingers and pray day"

 

1 hour ago, Wino said:

Why didn't/ don't  the Government use the Nightingale hospitals for all Covid patients and leave the NHS Hospitals for everyone else that needs them.

Simple , there is and never was anyone to staff them, you would have to take staff from a hospital to put in the Nightingale, and thus have to close hospital wards due to lack of staff.

Just a very expensive PR exercise

4 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

 

Also in today's briefing - they're making vaccine passports compulsory for entry to clubs from late September.

Don't fall for that one, it'll never happen.  It's a ploy to encourge the young to get the vaccine (which is good), come September the Government will be saying THEY have done such a good job there's now no need for the passports.

Government have previous said in a report that Covid passports are a waste of time and won't work.

7 hours ago, Mark-UK said:

Government have previous said in a report that Covid passports are a waste of time and won't work.

Israel introduced them, and have just withdrawn them due to massive issues of passport falsification, and being impossible to police...

Yeah that's a waste of time.  I saw the boss of Silverstone on the TV say yes, you'd have to have a negative test results but that they'd just take your word for it.

Like that job application question, have you ever been a terrorist. 🤣

10 hours ago, Mark-UK said:

Don't fall for that one, it'll never happen.  

I'm keeping an open mind on that one, certainly good if it encourages take up.

Funnily enough we received our NHS Covid Passes yesterday, so we should be ok for a spot of clubbing, whatever!😀