Coronavirus

[ardcarp]

On the news this morning I think I heard that 'military boats' are going on patrol just offshore of beaches. Are they going to open fire???

[MrGongGong]

On the news this morning I think I heard that 'military boats' are going on patrol just offshore of beaches. Are they going to open fire???

I heard that some police were going to inspect our shopping to make sure that it's all "essential"
luckily I stocked up on anchovies yesterday.. though buying 3 tins might be "hoarding"

[jayne lee wilson]

I heard that some police were going to inspect our shopping to make sure that it's all "essential"
luckily I stocked up on anchovies yesterday.. though buying 3 tins might be "hoarding"

Will they confiscate wine....? Whats the weekly allowance for that?
Cognac will mark you out as...degenerate...

"The people are the heroes now....."... but we still need our various opiums.....

[Serial_Apologist]

I heard that some police were going to inspect our shopping to make sure that it's all "essential"
luckily I stocked up on anchovies yesterday.. though buying 3 tins might be "hoarding"

That really is outstepping their brief - I heard that on Today this morning - surely it's up to shops to determine number of items as being the sole criterion of essential? Next they'll be laying down what constitutes outdoor exercise and what doesn't. Tai-Chi, anyone?

They won't catch me on my bike!

[LHC]

I heard that some police were going to inspect our shopping to make sure that it's all "essential"
luckily I stocked up on anchovies yesterday.. though buying 3 tins might be "hoarding"

You'll be pleased to hear that everyone's favourite Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has confirmed that the Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable who made these comments has got it wrong, and he has since had to backtrack (she said "this is not the guidance, and that his comments that police would be inspecting people's shopping were not appropriate").

So your anchovies and wine are safe for the time being.

[LezLee]

I heard that some police were going to inspect our shopping to make sure that it's all "essential"
luckily I stocked up on anchovies yesterday.. though buying 3 tins might be "hoarding"

Oh dear, I already have 3 tins of anchovies in my cupboard! Hope no-one comes checking.

[John Wright]

On the news this morning I think I heard that 'military boats' are going on patrol just offshore of beaches. Are they going to open fire???

Don’t be silly, they’re the only boats available.

[MrGongGong]

You'll be pleased to hear that everyone's favourite Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has confirmed that the Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable who made these comments has got it wrong, and he has since had to backtrack (she said "this is not the guidance, and that his comments that police would be inspecting people's shopping were not appropriate").

So your anchovies and wine are safe for the time being.

You expect me to believe a word she says ?

[MrGongGong]

Don’t be silly, they’re the only boats available.

I love the bit in one of Abdullah Ibrahim's long solo improvisations where he breaks into "shrimp boats are a-coming"
if only

[johnb]

They won't catch me on my bike!

That reminds me of something that happened when I was a teenager.

I was cycling up to an extremely quiet junction where there was hardly any traffic and very good visibility all round (very quiet "back" roads). I slowed and checked for traffic but didn't actually stop and put my foot on the ground.

I noticed there was a policeman on a bike some 300 yards away or so. Some time later an out of breath policeman caught up with me and booked me for not stopping at a stop sign.

A few months later I attended the hearing at Strangeways (Manchester) and was fined 15 bob.

[Bryn]

Oh dear, I already have 3 tins of anchovies in my cupboard! Hope no-one comes checking.

Fear not, the Tesco ruling is up to three.

[Dave2002]

Flawed approach; that "critical number" to invoke full-blown reponse will vary from person to person owing to wildly different levels of robustness between people's immune systems. And then younger people tend to have more nimble metabolisms, and so benefit from a more rapid response to becoming infected.

The question was meant in all seriousness. If the critical number is 1, then that would imply that just picking up a single viral fragment would be bad news, but if there is a degree of tolerance, then keeping contacts low, and avoiding people who have a high viral loading, would be reasonable - and imply that it might be possible to relax the lockdown rules and permit a little more social contact. It might also permit a slightly more flexible approach for medical workers - for example asking them to stay away for periods to keep fit and not let their immune systems get hammered.

If there is no such tolerance, then absolute care would be needed at all times.

As you say though, if there is a critical threshold number greater than 1, it may well vary significantly from person to person.

I think this is still unknown territory.

[oddoneout]

The question was meant in all seriousness. If the critical number is 1, then that would imply that just picking up a single viral fragment would be bad news, but if there is a degree of tolerance, then keeping contacts low, and avoiding people who have a high viral loading, would be reasonable - and imply that it might be possible to relax the lockdown rules and permit a little more social contact. It might also permit a slightly more flexible approach for medical workers - for example asking them to stay away for periods to keep fit and not let their immune systems get hammered.

If there is no such tolerance, then absolute care would be needed at all times.

As you say though, if there is a critical threshold number greater than 1, it may well vary significantly from person to person.

I think this is still unknown territory.

Even if credible scientific advice suggested this was a possibility I think it would be foolhardy given the current inconsistent compliance. If people still think it's OK to have gatherings/go visiting under the current system better to leave things as they are?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Don’t be silly, they’re the only boats available.

'Military boats' sounds like the army. Have I missed something and they've taken over the Royal Navy? Next I suppose, they'll be resuming their control of the Royal Flying Corps (as was)

(Sorry if this breaches whimsicality rules on this thread.)

[Bryn]

'Military boats' sounds like the army. Have I missed something and they've taken over the Royal Navy? Next I suppose, they'll be resuming their control of the Royal Flying Corps (as was)

Both the Royal Navy (as against the Merchant Navy) and the Royal Air Force are military organisations, as is the Army.