How are all these folks catching Covid ?

[Desert Region]

You can't say that. Tory supremacy is life, don't you know. No matter how they screw up the country, how they rob the coffers, how they are totally devoid of any morality whatsoever.

Blind Tory supremacy to the point of attacking Marcus Rashford for wanting poverty stricken children to, well, eat. Or attacking Andy Burnham for trying to keep businesses alive and people in jobs.

There's dedication to the Tory cause, and there is casting aside every shred of humanity to make the Nasty Party as vile and obscene as possible.

All for a Cabinet of incompetent despots who see their little followers as gullible northern morons that they would cross the street to avoid.

Even Thatcher (may she never rest in peace) would be entirely sickened by them.

I used to enjoy the banter. Now it's just abject horror that there isn't a grain of decency left. If Johnson slaughtered a pregnant woman in broad daylight, they'd excuse him by saying he was doing his bit to help the NHS.

Vile.

I haven't been impressed by some of the recent Labour opportunism, and I have to smile at the notions that the Daily Mail is now completely forgiven simply because it suddenly seems to be more favourable to Labour, and at the "Even Maggie wasn't as bad as..." lines coming out.

However, I'm also deeply unimpressed at the resistence to extending free school meals. The country is facing the Autumn-Winter version of this pandemic. It actually doesn't matter if there's an element of virtue-signalling in what Marcus Rashford has been saying (although he seems genuine enough) - the fact is that he's right. I didn't hear a cogent argument against the proposal. I haven't heard one. Some of the Government's counter comments have been woeful and risible. And of course it's right that free meals outside of term time should obviously be extended through the Christmas break as well, as there's no reason why a child will be less hungry during the pandemic in December-January than October-November.

Aside from all of that, the Government is scoring another ridiculous own goal, and has made for an incredible quirk of the times when a multi-millionaire footballer is looking more like Robin Hood every passing day.

[Alikado]

We have lost some more of our liberty a holiday and cannot travel out of Greater Manchester still I am relieved the decision for tier 3 was made.


Quote
"It suggested that Greater Manchester’s hospitals are quickly heading towards being overwhelmed by the sheer number of people with Covid needing emergency care to save their lives, in the same way that those in Liverpool have become in recent weeks. By Friday 211 of the 257 critical care beds in Greater Manchester – 82% of the total supply – were already being used for either those with Covid or people who were critically ill because of another illness.


Greater Manchester hospitals admitted 110 new patients with confirmed or suspected Covid in the 24 hours before the spreadsheet was produced and shared with NHS bosses on Friday, illustrating the intense pressure they are coming under. That took the total number of Covid cases they were dealing with then to 520.
The revelation came as the impasse continued between the government and Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, as well as many other local leaders and MPs. Ministers have designated Greater Manchester a tier 3 area, requiring the toughest sort of local lockdown, but Burnham said this can only happen with greater support for businesses forced to close such as pubs, and those left without income."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...s-already-full

There is nothing to stop you travelling, in fact the Government have removed the Canaries from the No Go Zone just in Time for Half Term.
82% occupancy of Intensive Care beds is actually low, at this time of year it runs at around 85%. Andy Burnham was only after what was required which matched what Liverpool was offered, the £90m was for 6 weeks because he realised that a 4 week review would not only be a 4 week lockdown, the figures work out Liverpool received £25 per head and now GM have received around £22, you've be done up like kippers.

[Lamparilla]

To answer the original post, I can quite clearly see how people are catching it.

The other day I went to collect a prescription. Only 2 people are allowed in the shop at one time, but there were 4 people in there from some sort of contractors, doing something to the shelving.

I hesitated in the doorway (it's a very small shop and you would have had to brush past them) but none of them moved. The lady behind the counter waved me through, but I said I'd wait until I could get through and still keep a distance. Reluctantly the men moved back to let me through.

After I collected my prescription, I turned to go out, and 2 of them were standing in the doorway, a few inches apart, having a natter. Their boss said to me "Are you done now?" as if I was causing him a great inconvenience, and I said "I will be when I can get out". He only then noticed the men in the doorway and told them to move.

I blame the chemists for allowing this to happen during working hours, but to watch these men you wouldn't have believed that there was a pandemic, or special rules in place. Only 2 of the 4 were wearing masks.

Multiply that over the hundreds of thousands of shops in the country, and you can see why so many people are catching it.

The main problem, I think, is that people just don't get the 'asymptomatic carrier' thing. They seem to think that if people aren't staggering about coughing and spluttering, then they must be OK because 'they haven't got it'.

[Desert Region]

To answer the original post, I can quite clearly see how people are catching it.

The other day I went to collect a prescription. Only 2 people are allowed in the shop at one time, but there were 4 people in there from some sort of contractors, doing something to the shelving.

I hesitated in the doorway (it's a very small shop and you would have had to brush past them) but none of them moved. The lady behind the counter waved me through, but I said I'd wait until I could get through and still keep a distance. Reluctantly the men moved back to let me through.

After I collected my precription, I turned to go out, and 2 of them were standing in the doorway, a few inches apart, having a natter. Their boss said to me "Are you done now?" as if I was causing him a great inconvenience, and I said "I will be when I can get out". He only then noticed the men in the doorway and told them to move.

I blame the chemists for allowing this to happen during working hours, but to watch these men you wouldn't have believed that there was a pandemic, or special rules in place. Only 2 of the 4 were wearing masks.

Multiply that over the hundreds of thousands of shops in the country, and you can see why so many people are catching it.

The main problem, I think, is that people just don't get the 'asymptomatic carrier' thing. They seem to think that if people aren't staggering about coughing and spluttering, then they must be OK because 'they haven't got it'.

Yes, many people's lives have been untouched by it, and until it is, they won't take it seriously.

It's amazing how some people won't believe something until it's been cinematically expressed in front of them. The underlying presumption of that attitude is that if they can't immediately see it then it doesn't really exist - an attitude that should really have become less certain around the time of the invention of the microscope.

[Hamble]

I haven't been impressed by some of the recent Labour opportunism, and I have to smile at the notions that the Daily Mail is now completely forgiven simply because it suddenly seems to be more favourable to Labour, and at the "Even Maggie wasn't as bad as..." lines coming out.

However, I'm also deeply unimpressed at the resistence to extending free school meals. The country is facing the Autumn-Winter version of this pandemic. It actually doesn't matter if there's an element of virtue-signalling in what Marcus Rashford has been saying (although he seems genuine enough) - the fact is that he's right. I didn't hear a cogent argument against the proposal. I haven't heard one. Some of the Government's counter comments have been woeful and risible. And of course it's right that free meals outside of term time should obviously be extended through the Christmas break as well, as there's no reason why a child will be less hungry during the pandemic in December-January than October-November.

Aside from all of that, the Government is scoring another ridiculous own goal, and has made for an incredible quirk of the times when a multi-millionaire footballer is looking more like Robin Hood every passing day.

There can be no question providing school meals in term time for children in need is a must.

The problem is the Government system as it would be of any political stance.

Family's first have to qualify.
The vouchers do not always provide good hot meals as on offer in School term time.
Infants in the family do not qualify.
Schools often have to intervene to help parents with the application and
collecting.
Vouchers cause shame particularly anything considered a gov handout.

The logistics are massive particularly since Covid.

Mostly the solution needs a long term answer not a battle every time the last gov grant runs out.

I believe the request for free school meals should be gov funded in school term time with schools confirming eligibility not the receipt of certain benefits.
In school hols it should come from schools and be charity funded and include the younger infants in children of junior school age.

Estimate of free school meal need in term time is 2.4 million.
1 million more applications since covid.

[Hamble]

There is nothing to stop you travelling, in fact the Government have removed the Canaries from the No Go Zone just in Time for Half Term.
82% occupancy of Intensive Care beds is actually low, at this time of year it runs at around 85%. Andy Burnham was only after what was required which matched what Liverpool was offered, the £90m was for 6 weeks because he realised that a 4 week review would not only be a 4 week lockdown, the figures work out Liverpool received £25 per head and now GM have received around £22, you've be done up like kippers.

1.The holiday was in the British Isles.
2.Tier 3 we are not allowed to travel outside of the Greater Manchester area.

You have your calculations wrong.
Burnham asked for 3 months upfront.

Some boroughs of Manchester are wealthy.
The need should go proportionately.

[Toodles McGinty]

I haven't been impressed by some of the recent Labour opportunism, and I have to smile at the notions that the Daily Mail is now completely forgiven simply because it suddenly seems to be more favourable to Labour, and at the "Even Maggie wasn't as bad as..." lines coming out.

However, I'm also deeply unimpressed at the resistence to extending free school meals. The country is facing the Autumn-Winter version of this pandemic. It actually doesn't matter if there's an element of virtue-signalling in what Marcus Rashford has been saying (although he seems genuine enough) - the fact is that he's right. I didn't hear a cogent argument against the proposal. I haven't heard one. Some of the Government's counter comments have been woeful and risible. And of course it's right that free meals outside of term time should obviously be extended through the Christmas break as well, as there's no reason why a child will be less hungry during the pandemic in December-January than October-November.

Aside from all of that, the Government is scoring another ridiculous own goal, and has made for an incredible quirk of the times when a multi-millionaire footballer is looking more like Robin Hood every passing day.

Agreed.

On the newspaper front, I'd say it's more a case when of the Daily Star seems the most vociferous critic of the government, you know we've gone very wrong. As for the Mail, when a newspaper is so blatantly anti-immigrant, anti-benefit claimant and anti-Labour, it's impossible not to have an opinion, for or against. Whatever the reason you read it, or the Sun or Mirror, it's your quid or however much it is.

The 'even Maggie wasn't as bad as..' lines are true. I loathe her with every fibre of my being, but I'd genuinely rather she was PM right now. I'd rather there was a whole cabinet of Thatchers right now than the shitshower we currently have.

One trying to kill off miners, one trying to kill off minors.

I think they covered the Rashford situation quite well on QT last night. The talentless Nicky Morgan's retort of 'well Labour should be more polite in the Commons' (paraphrasing) when asked how she could let kids go hungry was quite telling. As Bridget Phillipson said "So, kids go hungry this Christmas because you don't like the parliamentary process?". Prime whataboutery from Nicky lickspittle. A poor representative of the government, given the situation.

Good input from the panel and audience, really. The Nobel laureate twice using the word 'unconscionable' at the governments handling of the economy and the virus. The children's commissioner was tactful, but supported Rashford.

Whatever his reason for taking on this issue, though it seems he's from a poor background and saw the struggles of hungry kids himself, it is beyond my comprehension that anyone would argue with him, or belittle his efforts. Sure, it's ultimately down to parents to feed their kids, but a decade of austerity has taken its toll. Poverty is at Victorian levels and rising. Workers have to claim benefits. Some are homeless. We are a wealthy country. This simply should not be an issue.

[gsgsgs]

To answer the original post, I can quite clearly see how people are catching it.

The other day I went to collect a prescription. Only 2 people are allowed in the shop at one time, but there were 4 people in there from some sort of contractors, doing something to the shelving.

I hesitated in the doorway (it's a very small shop and you would have had to brush past them) but none of them moved. The lady behind the counter waved me through, but I said I'd wait until I could get through and still keep a distance. Reluctantly the men moved back to let me through.

After I collected my prescription, I turned to go out, and 2 of them were standing in the doorway, a few inches apart, having a natter. Their boss said to me "Are you done now?" as if I was causing him a great inconvenience, and I said "I will be when I can get out". He only then noticed the men in the doorway and told them to move.

I blame the chemists for allowing this to happen during working hours, but to watch these men you wouldn't have believed that there was a pandemic, or special rules in place. Only 2 of the 4 were wearing masks.

Multiply that over the hundreds of thousands of shops in the country, and you can see why so many people are catching it.

The main problem, I think, is that people just don't get the 'asymptomatic carrier' thing. They seem to think that if people aren't staggering about coughing and spluttering, then they must be OK because 'they haven't got it'.

I agree, I would say 60% of customers who come into my place work have no mask! Some realise and leave to get one from their car, some apologise and hold their hand over their mouth/nose, some will tug their top over their mouth/nose (just what either of those are meant to do is beyond me), some just carry on as normal oblivious.

We get a mix of customers, from school kids through to the elderly by far the worse offenders are the builder/contractor type 20 - 30 age group. We have one regular who challengers people, he's told to F off frequently I have brought this up with my bosses and have been told it's not down to us to police it.

What is the answer?

[said]

There can be no question providing school meals in term time for children in need is a must.

The problem is the Government system as it would be of any political stance.

Family's first have to qualify.
The vouchers do not always provide good hot meals as on offer in School term time.
Infants in the family do not qualify.
Schools often have to intervene to help parents with the application and
collecting.
Vouchers cause shame particularly anything considered a gov handout.

The logistics are massive particularly since Covid.

Mostly the solution needs a long term answer not a battle every time the last gov grant runs out.

I believe the request for free school meals should be gov funded in school term time with schools confirming eligibility not the receipt of certain benefits.
In school hols it should come from schools and be charity funded and include the younger infants in children of junior school age.

Estimate of free school meal need in term time is 2.4 million.
1 million more applications since covid.

Sorry - totally disagree. Why do parent's need the Government to pay for a school meal for their child in this day and age?

The Welfare benefits for a couple with two young children, paying £750 rent a month are according to the Welfare Benefits calculator £18, 800 per annum. This is far more than a man working in service work for six hours a day, with his wife working part time while looking after two young children - their income would be £15, 550 and they would be paying their own rent out of this. A pensioner would receive around £7000 per annum, and a young person would receive £4,500 on job allowance. These benefits are the highest they have ever been in the UK.

In the seventies, poor children would have dripping sandwiches for lunch - they survived. Today, you can get a loaf of bread for 5p -10p, a pot of jam for 50p and a tub of margarine for 75p and two children could have lunch for a full week on less than £2.

If children are starving in the present times, then surely the parents must also be starving? If this is the case, and providing those parents are not alcoholics, illegal substance users, do not have the latest electronic equipment, do not own pets and do not own a car - then I will cook them their meals myself!

As for all the political announcements being made about children's meals - it is no more than point scoring which has apparently taken priority over the pandemic issue.

[Hamble]

Sorry - totally disagree. Why do parent's need the Government to pay for a school meal for their child in this day and age?

The Welfare benefits for a couple with two young children, paying £750 rent a month are according to the Welfare Benefits calculator £18, 800 per annum. This is far more than a man working in service work for six hours a day, with his wife working part time while looking after two young children - their income would be £15, 550 and they would be paying their own rent out of this. A pensioner would receive around £7000 per annum, and a young person would receive £4,500 on job allowance. These benefits are the highest they have ever been in the UK.

In the seventies, poor children would have dripping sandwiches for lunch - they survived. Today, you can get a loaf of bread for 5p -10p, a pot of jam for 50p and a tub of margarine for 75p and two children could have lunch for a full week on less than £2.

If children are starving in the present times, then surely the parents must also be starving? If this is the case, and providing those parents are not alcoholics, illegal substance users, do not have the latest electronic equipment, do not own pets and do not own a car - then I will cook them their meals myself!

As for all the political announcements being made about children's meals - it is no more than point scoring which has apparently taken priority over the pandemic issue.

Look-I would agree to feed the parents as well so don't go there with me!

Children go hungry or/and get poor food for a variety of reasons.
The best option is hot school lunches for children cutting out parent involvement.
Charities (some) provide that out of school term time.

[Toodles McGinty]

Pubs and cafes step in to help after MPs reject hungry kids.

"Cafes, pubs and restaurants across the country have stepped up to offer free school meals for local children during half term, after MPs rejected a campaign started by footballer Marcus Rashford.

A vote on the measures was backed by Labour and made its way to Parliament this week, but it was defeated by 322 votes to 261.

Now dozens of hospitality businesses have shown they "stand with Rashford, not the 322", by supporting families during the school holidays."

Not clueless attention seekers and their fantasy dripping butties. Not heartless, soulless government apologists for whom the Tories can do no wrong, so they take a swipe at a young man (and his profession) for actually trying to feed hungry kids. Not backbench gutless sycophants terrified of a whip-wielding Cabinet of ghouls and their puppet master. These people. Probably already struggling themselves under insufficient support measures. Small businesses, run by ordinary decent folk, doing right regardless of their political leanings.

Local councils with their funding already cut to the bone.

This gladdens my heart. This makes me proud of this country.

And completely, sickeningly ashamed of this government.

Edited: On Rashford's Twitter feed more and more businesses and councils are offering help. Oldham, Rochdale, Doncaster and more by the hour. Brilliant.

[silver fox]

Sorry - totally disagree. Why do parent's need the Government to pay for a school meal for their child in this day and age?

The Welfare benefits for a couple with two young children, paying £750 rent a month are according to the Welfare Benefits calculator £18, 800 per annum. This is far more than a man working in service work for six hours a day, with his wife working part time while looking after two young children - their income would be £15, 550 and they would be paying their own rent out of this. A pensioner would receive around £7000 per annum, and a young person would receive £4,500 on job allowance. These benefits are the highest they have ever been in the UK.

In the seventies, poor children would have dripping sandwiches for lunch - they survived. Today, you can get a loaf of bread for 5p -10p, a pot of jam for 50p and a tub of margarine for 75p and two children could have lunch for a full week on less than £2.

If children are starving in the present times, then surely the parents must also be starving? If this is the case, and providing those parents are not alcoholics, illegal substance users, do not have the latest electronic equipment, do not own pets and do not own a car - then I will cook them their meals myself!

As for all the political announcements being made about children's meals - it is no more than point scoring which has apparently taken priority over the pandemic issue.

Usual BS from you, you do realise I hope, that there are more in work benefit claimants than simply unemployed, low pay, zero hours contracts, plus of course the current pandemic all contributing to financial hardship.

Get it through your head, there are many now in need of assistance who have never claimed benefits in their life, but of course they are no longer entitled to goods they purchased previously, don’t need a decent meal, bit of bread and dripping with possibly a few baked beans as a treat

You make me sick.

[Toodles McGinty]

Many local businesses joining in too.

Fylde Fish Bar, Remedy, Play Town, La Tabella.

I'm sure many more will offer.

Wonderful people.

Edited: Have a look at Rashford's Twitter feed and the support he's getting: https://twitter.com/MarcusRashford

Brought tears to this old cynic's eyes.

[Hamble]

Pubs and cafes step in to help after MPs reject hungry kids.

"Cafes, pubs and restaurants across the country have stepped up to offer free school meals for local children during half term, after MPs rejected a campaign started by footballer Marcus Rashford.

A vote on the measures was backed by Labour and made its way to Parliament this week, but it was defeated by 322 votes to 261.

Now dozens of hospitality businesses have shown they "stand with Rashford, not the 322", by supporting families during the school holidays."


Not clueless attention seekers and their fantasy dripping butties. Not heartless, soulless government apologists for whom the Tories can do no wrong, so they take a swipe at a young man (and his profession) for actually trying to feed hungry kids. Not backbench gutless sycophants terrified of a whip-wielding Cabinet of ghouls and their puppet master. These people. Probably already struggling themselves under insufficient support measures. Small businesses, run by ordinary decent folk, doing right regardless of their political leanings.

Local councils with their funding already cut to the bone.

This gladdens my heart. This makes me proud of this country.

And completely, sickeningly ashamed of this government.

Edited: On Rashford's Twitter feed more and more businesses and councils are offering help. Oldham, Rochdale, Doncaster and more by the hour. Brilliant.

Good.
Local charities helping local schools.

Free school meals in the holidays funded by the government is not sustainable long term.

Look at the figures.
1 million extra requests for free in term school meals in term time since 2019.

84,700 more children in the school system since 2018 and will continue rise as more children enter secondary school.

Need is going to increase whilst we live with Covid.


https://assets.publishing.service.go..._Main_Text.pdf

[said]

Usual BS from you, you do realise I hope, that there are more in work benefit claimants than simply unemployed, low pay, zero hours contracts, plus of course the current pandemic all contributing to financial hardship.

Get it through your head, there are many now in need of assistance who have never claimed benefits in their life, but of course they are no longer entitled to goods they purchased previously, don’t need a decent meal, bit of bread and dripping with possibly a few baked beans as a treat

You make me sick.

Covid, is it?

Those on low pay receive Universal Credit - previously tax credits and child benefits. Those in work before being furloughed have received 80% of their pay from the government - most of whom will now have to sign on unemployed. The greater majority of these according to the BBC are those under eighteen years of age.

As I have offered -if there are any parents in genuine hardship - I will personally help them out. OK?

You rely on your imagination and media speculation - I will rely on my experience and knowledge - fair enough?

Have you ever worked in deprived areas?