Coronavirus

[Bryn]

If you are in the position where if you don't go to work you get nothing then people WILL travel to work regardless of what the government says
People need to be able to feed themselves and their families and have a roof over their heads
for many life is very precarious indeed and the distance between safety and homelessness is less than 2 weeks of earnings.

There is a simple solution to this which is to PAY people a basic income.

Quite! I note that Sadiq Khan favours a stricter definition of "essential worker" that do Johnson and co. Construction sites, in general, should be made safe and 'mothballed'. Exceptions should be made for such projects as fast-build hospital facilities, of course.

[LMcD]

YouTube has film taken yesterday afternoon at a lay-by on the Moors above Huddersfield. Large groups of youths drinking alcohol and throwing cans and bottles about plus cars full of older people doing goodness knows what (dogging?) I am afraid that there has to be a clampdown; but are there enough police to do that (anybody see 'Cops Like Us' last night on BBC1 where a Chief Constable - yes a Chief Constable - got quite clearly emotional about his struggle to keep people in Staffordshire safe). So what next - Marshall Law?

Or even martial law, which is MUCH MUCH worse!

[Bryn]

Or even martial law, which is MUCH MUCH worse!

At least it was not marital law.

[LMcD]

At least it was not marital law.

I decide what time I start the washing up!

[jarvis]

Just back from an exercise walk. People not complying. Groups of 6/7 walking their dogs. Not from same household because I know them all. 5/6 blokes sunbathing topless in the middle of the grass.

[Dave2002]

A warning from China in 2007.

If in a hurry, search for "bats" in the text.

Fascinating. I really mean that. Well - a bit, anyway.

[ardcarp]

On the martial law issue, I heard a senior flic on the radio this morning saying that the UK does not have a parallel militarised arm to the police as France and Italy do. Being a bit interested in things French, Mrs A and I Googled their police service and its various branches. We thought we knew the difference between la police and la gendarmerie. But it's a whole lot more complicated than that. I do know that one should be wary of the CRS.

[Bryn]

On the martial law issue, I heard a senior flic on the radio this morning saying that the UK does not have a parallel militarised arm to the police as France and Italy do. Being a bit interested in things French, Mrs A and I Googled their police service and its various branches. Quite confusing! All I know is that one should be wary of the CRS.

Indeed. They make the UK's SPGs of the '80s appear more like PCSOs.

[johnb]

My road has been extremely quiet today hardly any cars and hardly anyone on foot.

It's rush hour and I've just had a walk around the vicinity (my allowed exercise) - very few people, the traffic more like 7am on a Sunday morning than rush hour. Walked past two double decker buses - both had just 3 passengers on the lower deck.

[Serial_Apologist]

On the martial law issue, I heard a senior flic on the radio this morning saying that the UK does not have a parallel militarised arm to the police as France and Italy do. Being a bit interested in things French, Mrs A and I Googled their police service and its various branches. We thought we knew the difference between la police and la gendarmerie. But it's a whole lot more complicated than that. I do know that one should be wary of the CRS.

Wasn't it the CRS that was brought out to teach the demonstrating French workers and students a lesson in 1968?

[DracoM]

Certainly was. Have reason to know and recall the bruises.

[LHC]

Just back from an exercise walk. People not complying. Groups of 6/7 walking their dogs. Not from same household because I know them all. 5/6 blokes sunbathing topless in the middle of the grass.

I’m pleased to say that when we took our walk this afternoon, everyone was observing the rules, maintaining a good distance and giving passers-by a wide berth. People also seemed in good spirits and were thanking each other for moving to the side of the pavement to allow as much space as possible for others to pass.

[LHC]

I haven't seen, but I heard about TV programmes this morning showing people jammed on tube trains in London - pretty much "as normal". How is that supposed to help?

Is the idea that the 20-40 year olds in London just pretend that nothing has happened, and get infected, and put up with the resulting disease - which might not be too bad for them - and then when they eventually meet their older friends and relatives, they will pass on the deadly thing to them?

I understand that in emergencies people may do things which seem risky - indeed are risky - for the greater good - but are all the people on the tube trains really key workers who absolutely have to go in to work that way? Maybe they are - maybe there's no alternative - but it does seem odd.

The number of people using the tube has dropped by about 80%, so most are staying away. However, the tube is now running a Sunday service, so there are a lot less trains running in the rush hour than normal. There are also sadly still lots of employers telling their staff that they are expected to come in, and will only allow them to stay at home when the Govt orders them to close their offices. This includes things like recruitment agencies and accountants even though all their work could easily be done from home.

The combination of fewer trains and irresponsible employers is resulting in the continued overcrowding of the tube at certain times. I doubt very much if the people on the trains this morning would have been there if given the choice.

[Serial_Apologist]

The number of people using the tube has dropped by about 80%, so most are staying away. However, the tube is now running a Sunday service, so there are a lot less trains running in the rush hour than normal. There are also sadly still lots of employers telling their staff that they are expected to come in, and will only allow them to stay at home when the Govt orders them to close their offices. This includes things like recruitment agencies and accountants even though all their work could easily be done from home.

The combination of fewer trains and irresponsible employers is resulting in the continued overcrowding of the tube at certain times. I doubt very much if the people on the trains this morning would have been there if given the choice.

That all figures.

[MrGongGong]

The combination of fewer trains and irresponsible employers is resulting in the continued overcrowding of the tube at certain times. I doubt very much if the people on the trains this morning would have been there if given the choice.

It's not all about "irresponsible employers" though

This just posted on FB



If it's too "problematic" to pay people to stop working then they will go to work and spread the virus

Your call mr Sunak but it's clear WHO is responsible