The Government really never cease to amaze me. They really think we trust what they say.! There is an article in the Guardian about the unwillingness of office workers (and their employers) to return to the cities. Some will or need to. Others are working more efficiently at home and continue to do so.
I have tremendous sympathy for the small independent businesses that are suffering due to lack of trade. Do the government however really expect people to risk their health by returning to a rush hour commute? The recommendation is that you walk or cycle which is not feasible for many. I'm not sure the roads could cope with excess traffic either.
In many areas we are just not equipped to follow the safest procedures whether it be schools or public transport.
Meanwhile the government flap around contradicting themselves,their only talents being corruption and a world beating death rate but expect us to believe them when they wheel out Margaret Harries to say it's all perfectly safe
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It can be safe,but only if the conditions enable us to socially distance and we maintain scrupulous hygiene.
Meanwhile there is a tremendous amount of bickering going on regarding what we should and shouldn't be doing.
I am on another forum for grandparents which used to be quite a supportive one. In parts it still is. In the past month there is a definite divide between those who feel the government have said it's safe out there and some of these have returned to living life pretty much as pre covid with regard to social interactions, especially with grandchildren. Then there are the more cautious who are adhering as best they can to rather vague government guidelines. Should the second group pop their heads above the parapet and question the advisability of going from shielding to post school childcare theres an increasing group telling them of course they can.
Everyone's situation is so different depending on where you live,individual health,age,occupation. Increasingly however I feel I'm seeing an almost Brexit like divide on the risks of Covid!
Personally I have been very cautious since mid March. I live in one of the lowest risk areas although numbers have increased slightly. My youngest daughter lives nearby,works in care and is tested weekly. My eldest daughter lives two hours away with husband and two childeren under 5.
When both have visited its strictly garden visits and maintaining social distancing.
There have been occasions when I've felt I'm still being over cautious.
This week I made my first foray out. I dont drive so havent been able to go far. My youngest daughter and fiance thoroughly cleaned the inside of car and all wearing masks and windows down made 5 minute trip to cafe by beach. Lovely. My eldest daughter was also down last week with grandchildren. I had a socially distanced chat with them and longer socially distanced visit with daughter.
Yesterday eldest daughter messages us to let us know shes feeling unwell,clammy,sore throat,chesty. Shes very prone to chest infections but is having a test anyway.
Hopefully it is just an ordinary virus,but I'm rather glad I didnt let my guard down. Of course there was the brief car journey with youngest daughter who had hugged her sister,but we all wore masks etc.
So,its not easy even if think its relatively risk free. I remember when I was working in social care a few decades ago. We had service users who carried hepatitis B virus. Obviously you follow strict guidelines. When HIV/AIDS became an issue we were told we wouldn't be informed if someone was positive. At first we were rather surprised but then as trainer pointed out the PPE was available and effective and we should assume any body fluids were infected. Very sensible really and probably always been in back of mind with Covid.
On brighter side I did see an article on line when Boris visited a school this week and was pictured in front of a bookcase, some of the titles were very pointed
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There was also a documentary on Sky Documentaries about the hormonal pregnancy test Providos(?)which caused birth defects similar to thalidomide. It was truly shocking the fight those affected have had and the degree to which it was covered up at very high levels. It's still ongoing but did feature Matt Hancock actually admitting it was awful and apologising, he did look subdued. The campaigners had to get the permission of the Prime Minister to get an official review overturned. It was Theresa May who did listen and acted immediately. I did wonder if they would have had same response from Boris Johnson? I suppose it would depend if any of his pals were associated with Bayer