With the the ongoing debacle over testing, I reckon the Covid-19 daily infections must be a lot higher than is being recorded. You only have to look at the jump in serious cases and rise of those on ventilators, in one day, to see something is wrong with them.
Testing station are almost empty because the online booking system has fallen apart. If the company the government gave the contract to aren't up to the job, give it to someone else.
If they can't sort it out now, what on earth will be happen when the colder weather returns amidst the continued prediction of a second wave. People won't want to be sitting outside to eat out, or when part of your bubble visits for a coffee and a chat.
In our village, I am pleased to say, for the most part, even whilst out for a walk, people still cross the road to give you space. In the local shops, masks are worn and again, people stand away from you. If we meet someone we know and they want to chat, we still maintain our distance.
Come winter, having to queue outside for the pharmacy, or wait outside the surgery to be called in won't be much fun, but we will wrap up and get on with it.
Shopping in the supermarkets can be a bit dicey as people are starting to stand too close, or barge past you at freezers and counters.
We have enough so called single use masks, hand sanitizer, and soap. They are used in an emergency when we forget our home made ones and they are steamed clean to be used again. When they are not fit, the nose clip and elastic ear bits are cut off to be reused somewhere else.
I tend not to use wipes much, for anything, as that is becoming another problem in itself. Most wipes are anti- bacterial, Covid-19 is a virus so I am not sure they are effective. If I wash food items, or door handles etc, I do so with soapy hands, rinse then dry.
So sorry Government, I am afraid you are failing in your duty to protect your people. You have had more than enough time to get on top of things. Instead you try to razzle dazzle us with words, such as world beating. If the systems you have set in place for testing are failing, your latest crazy idea of testing everyone in the country as often as needed, just will not happen.
Cut the jargon, cut the crap, knuckle down and sort it out!
Until you do, we shall keep ourselves to ourselves, maintain social distancing, wear masks and ido all in our limited power to keep virus free and safe.
Your village sounds very much like here. People are giving each other lots of space. I use a mobility scooter which makes it more difficult to evade others but everyone moves out of the way for me and I am for ever saying "Thank you" and meaning it. I think we are lucky in that there is a lot of space for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced by the official numbers either. In the "first wave" I heard of no-one that I know even needing to be tested but at the moment it seems like every day I hear of someone having been in contact with someone who has tested positive and so having to isolate. For myself, I have pulled up the drawbridge!
I think that is all we can do. We desperately want to see our granddaughter ASAP just in case it all goes bad again.
DeleteI think you are very wise. Things do seem to be a wee bit chaotic in the UK with all the chopping and changing of rules.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a bit of an uptick this past week so we've been warned - we won't move to stage 4 reopening for at least another month - and only if the numbers come back down. And some areas, such as my city many find things rolled back a bit. Although, tone fair - we don't have general community spread at the moment - a couple of bars and a family wedding that broke the rules seems to be the main source at the moment.
The province has been testing about 25 to 30,000 per day but there has been an uptick in demand with kids going back to school so lineups are back to about 3 hours long. The premier announced yesterday that he is working on a deal to have some pharmacies pick up the slack - which would really help in the downtown core but of course, logistics do have to worked out. I fully expect to live under some sort of restriction for at least another 6 months - and I must wear a mask practically anywhere indoors!
If we are indeed entering a second wave, heaven help us. If the people the government have paid are incapable, then they need to look elsewhere. It is unreasonable to expect people to pay for a private test when so many are not at or in work.
DeleteYou know my feelings about the way this has been handled!
ReplyDeleteWe've been in local lockdown for about 6 weeks. Case numbers are rising, up by a huge percentage this week compared to the week before, but there is only one covid patient in our hospital, according to the latest figures J gets at work.Unfortunately, that doesn't mean people aren't ill with it or left with long term problems, even though the hospital stats look good. We still take every precaution we can, whilst trying to live as normally as we can.
Wonder how long the hospital stats will be low. Certainly the government figures for English hospitals are indicating an increase from 633 to 782 for admissions and a rise from 70 to 101 on ventilators in just 4 days.
DeleteJ said there are 3 in hospital according to today's figures. It will be interesting to see how they change between him finishing tomorrow and going back on Tuesday.
DeleteI saw on the local news that in Bolton it's middle aged men who are being admitted. Thank goodness we have walk in testing centres run by our council so that people can get tested quickly, or things could be even worse.
That’s good news about the council run test centres. Hopefully the results come back soon.
DeleteLess than 48 hours for us to get our results. J told me last night that our test centres are running out of kits. It's a complete shambles, and there are huge amounts of taxpayer's money being given to incompetent companies without a tendering process. It's corrupt and it stinks.
DeleteEvidently a lot of the people working in the labs on the tests have themselves now gone back to university thus leaving the labs unable to cope. Veronica
ReplyDeleteWell that makes sense when you think about it. Same as student nurses being used in the first wave.
DeleteThere has been so many u turns I'm positively dizzy. Couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery comes to mind. Like you it's a case of protecting yourself as much a possible.
ReplyDeleteI think that’s all we can do yet they are still talking about letter small audiences into rugby and football matches!
DeleteOur numbers are rising again as well. Yet people still complain about wearing masks and following arrows. I am just so tired of the constant bombardment of people saying those of us that follow the rules are brainwashed. Look at the numbers people!!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It is a shambles, I agree, and personally I trust neither the 'statistics' nor the government.
ReplyDeletexx