O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Geoff Parkstone]

To present a different perspective for balance:

Not entirely ‘the Government’ but some observations on the UK’s response to Covid having recently journeyed to and from Greece

Before departure from UK I had to present the PLF for Greece and show proof of double vaccination (these being Greek entry requirements)

On arrival in Greece there were no temperature checks and no checks on vaccination or PLF - this having been carried out prior to departure from UK.

Before leaving Greece, three days later, every passenger had to display their UK ‘Passenger Locator Form’ QR code, proof of double vaccination and a certificate from a doctor of negative PCR test.

On arrival back in the UK, I was asked to show vaccination certificates and negative covid test, but not PLF as I was clearly a returning UK resident.

There was no temperature checking of passengers whatsoever.

Throughout our stay in Greece the Greeks were OK about mask wearing, but not much different to here. Those in authority on planes and in the airport in both UK and Greece were absolutely strict on masks, particularly on the plane.

Strange how two experiences differ

[Andy_Faber]

To present a different perspective for balance:

Not entirely ‘the Government’ but some observations on the UK’s response to Covid having recently journeyed to and from Greece

Before departure from UK I had to present the PLF for Greece and show proof of double vaccination (these being Greek entry requirements)

On arrival in Greece there were no temperature checks and no checks on vaccination or PLF - this having been carried out prior to departure from UK.

Before leaving Greece, three days later, every passenger had to display their UK ‘Passenger Locator Form’ QR code, proof of double vaccination and a certificate from a doctor of negative PCR test.

On arrival back in the UK, I was asked to show vaccination certificates and negative covid test, but not PLF as I was clearly a returning UK resident.

There was no temperature checking of passengers whatsoever.

Throughout our stay in Greece the Greeks were OK about mask wearing, but not much different to here. Those in authority on planes and in the airport in both UK and Greece were absolutely strict on masks, particularly on the plane.

Strange how two experiences differ

Thank god you two weren't on the same plane

My experience in Spain was per rA and in Greece was per GP, the only extra I can add is that the only Covid denyer we met was also the only person to steal my expensive sunglasses

[ramAnag]

Thank god you two weren't on the same plane

My experience in Spain was per rA and in Greece was per GP, the only extra I can add is that the only Covid denyer we met was also the only person to steal my expensive sunglasses

Nice bit of fence sitting, AF. I didn’t think there was any animosity was there? I love him really.

My point about the mask wearing on the (BA) plane may be well illustrated by the fact that the bloke in front of me didn’t wear a mask at all...possibly because he barely paused to stop drinking...and when challenged told the steward, ‘I’m exempt’ to which the response was... ‘okay, that’s fine, sir... thanks for telling me.’ He certainly wouldn’t have got away with that in a Spanish supermarket.

Not sure about the wisdom of that...imo opinion I’d prefer a ‘no mask...no flight’ policy.

Interesting perhaps that the difference in my and GP’s experiences illustrates the point, albeit in a not particularly favourable way, that the Brexiteers’ portrayal of an all seeing, one rule for all, homogeneous Europe seems to be far from the truth.

P.S. Interesting too that on our last two visits to Spain children over there all wear masks in school and largely when out and about in the streets and playgrounds...a concept that we still seem to be struggling to reach a conclusion about in the UK.

[Andy_Faber]

Nice bit of fence sitting, AF. I didn’t think there was any animosity was there? I love him really.

My point about the mask wearing on the (BA) plane may be well illustrated by the fact that the bloke in front of me didn’t wear a mask at all...possibly because he barely paused to stop drinking...and when challenged told the steward, ‘I’m exempt’ to which the response was... ‘okay, that’s fine, sir... thanks for telling me.’ He certainly wouldn’t have got away with that in a Spanish supermarket.

Not sure about the wisdom of that...imo opinion I’d prefer a ‘no mask...no flight’ policy.

Interesting perhaps that the difference in my and GP’s experiences illustrates the point, albeit in a not particularly favourable way, that the Brexiteers’ portrayal of an all seeing, one rule for all, homogeneous Europe seems to be far from the truth.

P.S. Interesting too that on our last two visits to Spain children over there all wear masks in school and largely when out and about in the streets and playgrounds...a concept that we still seem to be struggling to reach a conclusion about in the UK.

Just entering into a bit of lightheartedness rA

My take on the portrayal is that The Powers That Be seek a homogeneous Europe, and the populace continue, and will forever continue, to frustrate that in any way that can’t be legislated (for instance the Euro COULD be legislated). That’s always been my view right through my journey from Europhile to Eurorealist

[MadAmster]

My recent trip to England for the Red Dogs game.

Schiphol:

Showed proof of vaccination, PLF and negative test result to get into the check in area
Repeated at security check
Repeated on boarding
Mask compulsory from entering the airport
Strict on mask wearing on board. The snack and a beer (ended up having a second beer) saw me able to ditch the mask for a good deal of the flight

Entering England:
Showed PLF and negative test result
Passport check

Leaving England:
Showed proof of vaccination, PLF and negative test result.
Passport check

Entering the Netherlands:
Passport check

[ramAnag]

Hence my .

Suspect your journey was from Europhile to Eurosceptic rather than ‘realist’, but the whole fear based propaganda about losing our ‘cultural identity’ was always bogus as visiting any European country clearly shows.

P.S. Have you had a look at the new BBC series, ‘Ridley Road’? The parallels between what was happening back then with what we have seen in this country over the last five years are clear if, perhaps, a little dramatically contrived. I think it’s excellent...though your anti BBC prejudice may not allow you to share that view. (!!)

[Andy_Faber]

Hence my .

Suspect your journey was from Europhile to Eurosceptic rather than ‘realist’, but the whole fear based propaganda about losing our ‘cultural identity’ was always bogus as visiting any European country clearly shows.

P.S. Have you had a look at the new BBC series, ‘Ridley Road’? The parallels between what was happening back then with what we have seen in this country over the last five years are clear if, perhaps, a little dramatically contrived. I think it’s excellent...though your anti BBC prejudice may not allow you to share that view. (!!)

No, Eurorealist. My opinion of EU for good and bad hasn’t significantly changed. The protagonists in any culture war come from without not within.

I’ll check out Ridley Road, and expect it to be class even if the subject matter doesn’t engage me. My issue with the Beeb has only ever been with its rampant political correctness, it’s breadth and depth are second to none. Edit: I note from enforced exposure to Dutch TV over the past three days that one particular form of PCness that I object to doesn't appear to be practised there, although in the past MA has stated it does - maybe the PC editors were having a day off

[MadAmster]

Latest Covid news from over here. New cases on the way up. Hospitalisations, ICU and deaths constant.

>90% of the hospitalisations are unvaccinated people.

The areas where new cases are highest are the poorer areas of the 4 large cities where most of the populace are immigrants many of whom don't speak the language and are not highly educated.... and in the bible belt. All of those areas have very low uptakes of the vaccine.

[ramAnag]

Latest Covid news from over here. New cases on the way up. Hospitalisations, ICU and deaths constant.

>90% of the hospitalisations are unvaccinated people.

The areas where new cases are highest are the poorer areas of the 4 large cities where most of the populace are immigrants many of whom don't speak the language and are not highly educated.... and in the bible belt. All of those areas have very low uptakes of the vaccine.

...and I’d imagine, MA, that those ‘poorer areas’ you speak of are also synonymous with the type of overcrowding that allows such a virus to flourish.
It was ever thus and we continually fail to learn from history, but I suspect the mantra of ‘none of us are safe until we’re all safe’ has seldom been more true.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I'm not so sure about that rA. I understand the sentiment, but if you have faith in the vaccine then it shouldn't be the case, save for new variants and vaccination expiry. Non vaxxers are an issue (whatever their reasons for opting out, be it willful or through ignorance) but if MA's figures are reflected across the globe, then the non vaxxer issue may be quite literally dying out.

Its interesting to see how the issue is being dealt with in US professional sport, where - in NBA, for example - a star player like Kyrie Irving has been sidelined for refusal to vaccinate, and similarly in the NFL Cole Beasley is largely inactive for the same reasons.

I really don't know how it should be handled, but "boycotting the non vaxxers" does seem to be a rising trend which I'm not absolutley sure I approve of.

On the subject of the value of scientific research, I note that scientists have now discovered that dolphins in waters off the west coast of Wales spek (whistle) "with a Welsh accent". Good to see that not every scientific endeavour is for a useful purpose