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Northern Ireland started a six-week lockdown on Boxing Day with a set of stricter measures being put in place from 12.01 am on 26 December 2020 to 12.01 am on 2 January 2021.The new rules include:
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Boris on potential, further, lockdowns:
Covid: Regional rules 'probably going to get tougher', says Boris JohnsonRegional restrictions in England are "probably about to get tougher" to curb rising Covid infections, the prime minister has warned.Boris Johnson told the BBC tougher measures may be required in parts of the country in the coming weeks. He said this included the possibility of keeping schools closed, although this is not "something we want to do". But he added ministers had to be "realistic" about the spread of the new variant of the virus. Mr Johnson said the government was "entirely reconciled to doing what it takes to get the virus down," and warned of a "tough period ahead". He said increasing vaccination would provide a way out of restrictions and that he hoped "tens of millions" would be vaccinated in the next three months. Defending his handling of the pandemic, the prime minister said the government had taken "every reasonable step that we reasonably could" to prepare for winter. But, speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, he said ministers "could not have reasonably predicted" the new, more transmissible variant of the virus that has emerged over the autumn. He also urged parents to send their children to primary school on Monday if they are open in their area, adding he had "no doubt" schools were safe. It comes after teaching unions and some councils have expressed concern about the planned reopening of primaries in most areas of England on Monday. |
Originally Posted by 13901
(Post 32933588)
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Originally Posted by ahmetdouas
(Post 32933725)
it’s funny at how they say tougher measures but they don’t specify anything except schools as they have nothing else left to close!
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Originally Posted by flashware
(Post 32933754)
Places of worship. Sports outdoors for <18. There's still other things to clamp down on.
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Hi,
Also the Scottish Cabinet is meeting tomorrow and the Scottish Parliament is being recalled so looks like Scotland may have tighter restrictions soon https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...itics-55521541 Regards TBS |
Originally Posted by KARFA
(Post 32933864)
Yes, it is clear Tier 4 rules (which are the same as lockdown 2 rules) are still more lax than lockdown 1 rules so there are plenty of businesses which could be closed and the list of reasonable excuses for leaving home could be reduced.
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Throughout the lockdowns I’ve tended to stick to the principle that outside/open spaces (not crowded) is absolutely fine (and made the best I could of the fine summer and largely mild winter), so never really understood things like golf and tennis being stopped. That said, looking at rates going up in spite of tier 4, I’m starting to wonder about my habit of going for a wander.
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Hi,
Since March , I have been able to go out for a run by myself most evenings( I hardly see anybody on my runs and if I do they are on the other side of the street) to get some fresh air and relax after working from home - I have avoided going to the gym ( when it was open) to avoid crowds and minimise shopping trips ( but wear a mask) ( it will be harder to run outdoors if it gets colder due to ice on the pavements & parks. The rate of increase is concerning but not sure if Tier 4 is having an impact ( also the effect of the christmas relaxation is likey to be starting to being felt now) Regards TBS |
From the BBC:
Covid: What could 'tougher' measures mean for us?By David ShukmanThe prime minister has said that tougher measures could be needed to help cope with a surge in coronavirus cases. He has not yet said whether we will need school closures, or even overnight curfews like those imposed in France. But clues about such measures to tackle the new more infectious variant come from the government's Sage advisory committee. The headline is that whether we see a return to the "one-hour rule" for outdoor exercise, or stricter controls on travel around the country, we'll be hearing a lot more about something already very familiar: hand hygiene, social distancing, wearing masks and ensuring there is fresh air. These may sound familiar but the advisers believe that because the new variant spreads so easily, the measures need to be applied with "a step change in rigour" - in other words, a lot more forcefully. They suggest considering a return to the two-metre rule because it's more effective than the one-metre plus guidance adopted last year. Masks need to be made of three layers, not just one, and worn in more locations than now - including workplaces, schools and crowded outdoor spaces. Reduce social contactThe key message is that it is vital to reduce social contact - being close to people, especially indoors for long periods of time, carries the highest risk of infection.So expect tier four-type bans on visiting other households to become normal. The advisers also say many people still do not recognise the key symptoms of Covid-19 - so ministers need to spell them out and help people understand why they should self-isolate. But they also say it is essential to praise the efforts made so far, to recognise sacrifices and emphasise how they've kept infection numbers lower than they would otherwise have been. Whatever new measures are picked, the advice to ministers is to offer "clear and convincing explanations" to motivate people. That could be a hint that the government's current "hands, face, space" slogan may need to make way for something stronger. Frankly, it seems to be boiling down to 'make people respect the rules' and 'make the rules clearer'... hardly a Copernican revolution. It'd be interesting, however, to see what they decide to do for masks in the open. When is a crowd too big? |
Originally Posted by 13901
(Post 32936014)
From the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55524764 Frankly, it seems to be boiling down to 'make people respect the rules' and 'make the rules clearer'... hardly a Copernican revolution. It'd be interesting, however, to see what they decide to do for masks in the open. When is a crowd too big? |
Originally Posted by ahmetdouas
(Post 32936203)
I was in London last night it was empty
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Originally Posted by NickB
(Post 32936253)
That depends where exactly in London you are and when. On Saturday afternoon, the heart of central London seemed pretty much deserted. However, driving up the A10, the pavements in Dalston and in Stoke Newington were teeming with people. It might have been less than on a pre-Corona Saturday but it nevertheless was nevertheless rather busy and substantially more so than would have been the case in lockdown 1.
I guess we're "paying" the decision of having gone to Tier 2 after the end of the November lockdown. It might've lasted only some 2 weeks in December but it must've done some damage... |
Originally Posted by 13901
(Post 32936285)
Same with Chiswick and the river in general. However, what's the level of danger in walking maskless in the open on a normal (i.e. windy) London day?
I guess we're "paying" the decision of having gone to Tier 2 after the end of the November lockdown. It might've lasted only some 2 weeks in December but it must've done some damage... will be interesting to see what they do, so far they have hinted expanding tier 4 and also only having primary schools open for the time being, again not much else they can do. even if the streets are busy, people can say they are exercising unless you want to ban that too! |
Yes the streets near me have been busy Guildford and Kingston especially, seems households mixing too walking closely together, people are weary of the restrictions I think.
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