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[Closed] Wales in lockdown for 2 weeks again

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I am assuming a 1-2hr loop from home would be OK as well @reluctantjumper. I can stay within ~40mins from home and visit some nice roads/trails, being able to nip across the border into Caerphilly (and Newport on the road) opens up a lot possibilities. Enough to keep me occupied anyhow.


 
Posted : 19/10/2020 10:45 pm
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My youngest son's girlfriend, who is 20, can't get a consultant appointment because of Covid. So her sacrifice, which might affect her quality of life for another 50 or more years, benefits people in their seventies and eighties.

Maybe the cost-benefit analysis has been done, if so great, let's publish it. Otherwise I'm going to assume it's b.s.


 
Posted : 19/10/2020 11:00 pm
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I’ve re-read it all to make sure I’m understanding it right but there doesn’t seem to be a restriction on how far you go with your exercise, just that you shouldn’t drive anywhere to start it.

I think it's changed as I'm sure it explicitly said that the local restrictions applied on top of the national ones - and it came up straight away when I googled it at lunchtime.

In any case, I've just read on the local rules that there is leeway if you have a 'reasonable excuse' and I would imagine that the fact that loads of local riding and walking crosses into Caerphilly by trivial amounts would constitute a reasonable excuse. Half of Castell Coch is in Caerphilly; the Whips car park is in Caerphilly, the top of Cefn Onn is in Caerphilly...


 
Posted : 19/10/2020 11:15 pm
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And even more routine work would have been stopped if we hadn’t taken the measures we have this year to reduce the number of covid patients.

It doesn't have to be binary - and yet for a large part of this year it has been for some interventions. Of course you can't let covid patients mix with those undergoing treatment for other issues but thankfully we have multiple hospitals.

It shouldn't be a blanket either / or. We need a measured approach to dealing with covid and preventing other deaths with a return to the provision of other interventions.

Its a complex problem requiring complex answers, not, well-intentioned, dogma.


 
Posted : 19/10/2020 11:17 pm
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 benefits people in their seventies and eighties.

Aye, because no one younger is dying or is going to have to live for 50 years with the after-effects of Covid.


 
Posted : 19/10/2020 11:24 pm
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Its a complex problem requiring complex answers, not, well-intentioned, dogma.

The dogma is that the unfortunate and damaging effects on non-COVID care was somehow a ‘cost’ of measures designed to control the COVID outcome. This is not the case. It is a cost of us living with COVID, and a cost that has been reduced by preventing COVID spreading at the rate it would have if left unchecked. The NHS simply can not cope with the numbers of covid patients that there would be if we didn’t act to restrict the virus.

Otherwise I’m going to assume it’s b.s.

I suggest listening to the accounts of people that worked in hospitals during the first peak of the epidemic, and are now dealing with preparing for the next one.


 
Posted : 19/10/2020 11:30 pm
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I suggest listening to the accounts of people that worked in hospitals during the first peak of the epidemic, and are now dealing with preparing for the next one.

I seem to recall people up here describing empty hospitals waiting for an influx that thankfully never came. Surely then some elective work could have continued in until wards were needed or admission rates increased? I'm not suggesting it could, there may well be practical reasons why it couldn't but it surely isn't beyond the wit of man to come up with something better than just sitting and hoping it goes away? If anyone wants to reply to this they should probably do so on the main thread, this isn't really a Welsh thing.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 1:24 am
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I am assuming a 1-2hr loop from home would be OK as well @reluctantjumper. I can stay within ~40mins from home and visit some nice roads/trails, being able to nip across the border into Caerphilly (and Newport on the road) opens up a lot possibilities. Enough to keep me occupied anyhow.

I've still got my map I made from the original lockdown with all the trails and roads marked out, handy to keep me riding different ways round and keeping things varied. Far too easy to fall into riding the same loop over and over!

I’ve just read on the local rules that there is leeway if you have a ‘reasonable excuse’ and I would imagine that the fact that loads of local riding and walking crosses into Caerphilly by trivial amounts would constitute a reasonable excuse. Half of Castell Coch is in Caerphilly; the Whips car park is in Caerphilly, the top of Cefn Onn is in Caerphilly…

Even under the current restrictions I've been riding up to Tongwynlais and along the ridgeway and down to Llwyn Celyn car park, I haven't dropped down towards Caerphilly or the Van Road area as I asked a police officer who was up by Castell Coch and he said as long as you drop down 'your' side of the ridge he wouldn't have an issue for solo riders. I'm pretty sure there was a piece on the BBC website that said that county border restrictions were being replaced with inside the Welsh border and staying close to home with no driving to exercise spots but that page has been updated and no longer says that. Will keep an eye on what the rules say as they refine them as I don't want to break them but also need to keep in mind my mental health. My temporary job finishes on Tuesday and I live alone so need to keep my mind fresh and stimulated to avoid any damage. There's only so many times I can research a dream build bike!

If the restrictions work along the same lines as the original lockdown rules then I should be fine even if this carries on right up until christmas.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 1:30 am
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So folk who were due to travel to Wales for their family holiday won't be able to, and inevitably they'll just go somewhere else. So this runs the risk of shifting the "issue" to another region, north yorks or Cumbria for example, with equally as over burdened hospitals due to a current rise in Covid and the fact the health service is already at breaking point... Obviously no expert, but isn't a more holistic approach and scientific modelling on people's behaviours and covid spread needed to fully estimate the impact of regional "circuit breakers" and tier restrictions required?


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 3:18 am
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^ yes, but UK government won't countenance such a thing as Starmer suggested it and loads of folk dying is more important than admitting he was right


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 6:03 am
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I seem to recall people up here describing empty hospitals waiting for an influx that thankfully never came. Surely then some elective work could have continued in until wards were needed or admission rates increased? I’m not suggesting it could, there may well be practical reasons why it couldn’t but it surely isn’t beyond the wit of man to come up with something better than just sitting and hoping it goes away?

Indeed


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 9:00 am
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Starmer suggested it

He didn’t. Sage did. Ages ago now.

I seem to recall people up here describing empty hospitals

Lucky them. Do people think that Hospitals could just turn their quarantine measures on/off over night?


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 9:11 am
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I don't know which was why I asked if there was a practical reason why they couldn't continue a limited service. Do you know or are you just arguing for the sake of it?


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 9:27 am
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My area is currently subject to local restrictions – do these continue as well?
No – the circuit breaker lockdown will apply in the same way across Wales.

This is from the faqs. The "not going out of the county" rule is part of the local restrictions, which are not, according to this, continuing.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 9:31 am
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Surely then some elective work could have continued in until wards were needed or admission rates increased?

Mrs Nobeer unit (Macular degeneration) continued on right through, as did many other elective units, they were down to about 75% numbers, due to the obvious extra checks etc, and a number of their patients shielding.

Her pal in a covid ward who's husband is a doctor in a Glasgow hospital covid ward certainly weren't waiting on folk, sounded horrendous.

Yes, it didn't get as bad as some predicted, but it's not a black and white issue.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 9:38 am
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@greyspoke - I think the reasoning being that as you shouldnt be getting in the car you wouldn't be likely to be leaving your local area anyway.
However the wording is 'we ask' people not to drive to do things like exercise. I think they should either mandate not driving to excersize or keep the local boundaries in place so its harder for the ruels to be bent. Personally, not driving for recreation is a bit of a pain - but it is only for two weeks


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 10:11 am
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We were heading over for half term - sad that we can't but not the biggest disaster for us. Real shame for the businesses that depend on tourist footfall, but I applaud the Welsh government's stance thst the bigger picture take precedence.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 10:50 am
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Mrs Nobeer unit (Macular degeneration) continued on right through, as did many other elective units, they were down to about 75% numbers, due to the obvious extra checks etc, and a number of their patients shielding.

Her pal in a covid ward who’s husband is a doctor in a Glasgow hospital covid ward certainly weren’t waiting on folk, sounded horrendous.

Yes, it didn’t get as bad as some predicted, but it’s not a black and white issue.

Thanks, it may have been yourself I was thinking of. Happy to hear from those in the know. FWIW we know a nurse in the ITU up at the QE so know it wasn't reflected everywhere.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 11:05 am
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This is the first year in 30 that I've not been to Wales. Miss it. Hope local businesses get the help they need to get though to next summer, and that we can visit on mass then...


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 11:09 am
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We were heading over for half term – sad that we can’t but not the biggest disaster for us. Real shame for the businesses that depend on tourist footfall, but I applaud the Welsh government’s stance thst the bigger picture take precedence.

That rather depends on whether you believe that the bigger picture is better served by ruining the last chance the tourist sector had to make money this year and putting people off booking future holidays that may well be cancelled at short notice, or a few more dead boomers (and sadly a few vulnerable people).


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 3:08 pm
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Sons of bitches!

I was too busy looking at the trees to notice the forest!

It's not 2 weeks, it's 16 days, encompassing 3 weekends.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 3:20 pm
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@ferrals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Welsh_principal_areas_by_population
There are tens of thousands of people in Cardiff who are a short ride/ decent walk from a county boundary. It does actually make a big difference if you live there.

ETA so I am lucky enough not to need to drive to be able to ride some decent trails and pleasant country roads. But almost all of my regular rides, even the short ones, cross into neighbouring counties.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 3:40 pm
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a few more dead boomers

What's the opposite of virtue signalling?


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 3:47 pm
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There are tens of thousands of people in Cardiff who are a short ride/ decent walk from a county boundary. It does actually make a big difference if you live there.

Yep, went on a few rides as lockdown was easing that covered 3 counties, and one that covered 4, it wasn't even that long a ride really, easy enough to do on a 160mm FS with 2.4/2.5 tyres and I'm old and fat.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 4:02 pm
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That rather depends on whether you believe that the bigger picture is better served by ruining the last chance the tourist sector had to make money this year and putting people off booking future holidays that may well be cancelled at short notice, or a few more dead boomers (and sadly a few vulnerable people).

They increased the support package too. We'll have to wait and see how effective that turns out to be.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 4:17 pm
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I’m old and fat.

Just know that Gribs would throw you to the wolves.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 4:22 pm
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What have you got?

Every year the NHS decides whether to suspend routine care based on levels of influenza. Think of the worst flu season you can imagine, and then some, for healthcare utilization. Sadly there is no redundancy built into the capacity - hence the decision is made. When all the HDU/ITU beds fill, normal operations are going to be postponed. That's no argument for more routine care, but if half your hospital new admissions need a chest CT, then there will be fewer CTs for the cancer patients. And so on...

Pharmacy is about the only thing that can continue unabated. Assuming the pharmacists aren't off sick!


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 4:37 pm
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Just know that Gribs would throw you to the wolves.

I'm not THAT old ha ha.

Actually i've got a Zoom call tomorrow that could see me part of a Covid Vaccine trail involving being infected with Covid.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 4:40 pm
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Just know that Gribs would throw you to the wolves.

I'd just not yet again help boomers to the detriment of the younger generations. They always seem to want the government/society to take care of them/their problems but don't want to contribute. I know it's not true for the whole generation but the majority have acted that way.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 4:44 pm
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I’d just not yet again help boomers to the detriment of the younger generations. They always seem to want the government/society to take care of them/their problems but don’t want to contribute.

I'm sorry, what the **** is that about?

The vast majority of boomers are just people who've worked and have now retired. That's it. This idea of grasping monsters demanding things from us is ridiculous. When people say that 'boomers caused the housing crisis' they don't mean they literally planned it and are actively executing it.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 5:21 pm
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The boomer generation has repeatedly benefitted from things and then repeatedly denied them to the following generations through their political choices. Stable jobs, pensions, education and training, social housing, secure rental accommodation etc. They're the first generation in history to actually make thing worse for those following them. That's without taking into account inflicting the shit show that is brexit on us.

Lockdowns hurt the young and are a very minor inconvenience to people who are retired.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 6:33 pm
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The boomer generation has repeatedly benefitted from things and then repeatedly denied them to the following generations through their political choices. Stable jobs, pensions, education and training, social housing, secure rental accommodation etc. They’re the first generation in history to actually make thing worse for those following them. That’s without taking into account inflicting the shit show that is brexit on us.

Lockdowns hurt the young and are a very minor inconvenience to people who are retired

Ffs at least try and apply some critical thought to stuff you copy and paste


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 9:50 pm
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The boomer generation has repeatedly benefitted from things and then repeatedly denied them to the following generations through their political choices. Stable jobs, pensions, education and training, social housing, secure rental accommodation etc. They’re the first generation in history to actually make thing worse for those following them. That’s without taking into account inflicting the shit show that is brexit on us.

Lockdowns hurt the young and are a very minor inconvenience to people who are retired.

Can't argue with that


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 10:07 pm
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Can’t argue with that

Yep. It's spot on. My late teens, early 20s were great (albeit a while ago). I'm not sure I'd have been happy to give up a year of it to largely help a generation* that had repeatedly denied me the future they enjoyed. I expect I would, as most youngsters have done, but it is a big ask.

*I know it impacts a lot of other people too, just talking majorities.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 11:07 pm
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I’m not sure I’d have been happy to give up a year of it to largely help a generation* that had repeatedly denied me the future they enjoyed.

Nobody is to blame for your failure but you.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 11:12 pm
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Whinging kids.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 11:14 pm
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Nobody is to blame for your failure but you.

We are heading off on a tangent, but that is simply not true. It is a popular belief within the old and the right wing though. There are lots of reasons for success and failure, some are within your control, some are not.


 
Posted : 20/10/2020 11:25 pm
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Wow! some spectacular **** holery in here the last few hours.


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 12:10 am
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Actually i’ve got a Zoom call tomorrow that could see me part of a Covid Vaccine trail

What vaccine to make the trails stay alive?


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 8:59 am
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The boomer generation has repeatedly benefitted from things and then repeatedly denied them to the following generations through their political choices.

Are you seriously suggesting that everyone between the ages of 55 and 75 is personally responsible for these things?

This kind of blame game is absolutely bloody stupid and also very damaging.

Do. Not. Generalise.


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 10:19 am
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Are you seriously suggesting that everyone between the ages of 55 and 75 is personally responsible for these things?

This kind of blame game is absolutely bloody stupid and also very damaging.

Of course not. Many in that generation also got screwed over by their peers but that doesn't change the fact that the young are being asked to sacrifice their futures with what appears to be very little consideration. Much more could be done to help but yet again a political decision has been made to not help them which is hardly surprising given the age profile of Tory voters.


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 1:01 pm
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Apologies @Greyspoke - I think we were talking at cross-purposes: when I said it probably made no difference, I meant that in both cases people had to stay relitively local and so, in terms of transmission, hotspots sould not spread into less affected areas easily.

Interesting to note that even last week a lot of Wales was on a slight negative trend ('on the rise' button here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/20/covid-cases-and-deaths-today-coronavirus-uk-map ) so hopefully this quick intervention will do some good and will allow less restrictive measures post lockdown


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 5:08 pm
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Are you seriously suggesting that everyone between the ages of 55 and 75 is personally responsible for these things?

You'd have to be VERY literal-minded to assume the poster was saying that.

Poor.


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 5:15 pm
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You’d have to be VERY literal-minded to assume the poster was saying that.

Surely the very definition of an STW argument is to be Very Literal Minded?


 
Posted : 21/10/2020 5:59 pm
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What I can’t understand is why they don’t call it cheese on toast like everybody else.

We do, you're thinking of an English term.


 
Posted : 22/10/2020 3:43 pm
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