356 posts
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Post by properjob on Nov 1, 2021 22:10:41 GMT
I think the problem with getting people to wear masks was a failure to come up with a proper exemption scheme. I.e. a government issued card showing you are exempt (but not why as that is private) in the same way as blue badge parking. Without such a scheme it was impossible to enforce. Who would have arranged it. GP’s would have likely have refused to the added workload as the rules would have likely contained a clause giving GP’s discretion and they would have faced lots of difficulties over that. In Turkey they simply banned those exempt from even going shopping but I doubt that would have survived a legal case here in the Uk. It would have to be GPs. It clearly wasn't something that could be set up early in the pandemic as they were too busy. To my mind it is certainly something that should be a lessons learnt and sorted out after this pandemic is over and in advance of the next one. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 2, 2021 23:07:12 GMT
I can see the Supreme Court in the USA outlawing a lot of the vaccine mandates in the coming months empowered by the rise in republican support in the USA despite polls showing vaccine mandates have majority support.
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Post by lynette on Nov 3, 2021 15:02:30 GMT
We manage disabled parking ok so same kind of admin can organise mask exceptions. But agree, must be sorted ahead of next time we need it. ( it won’t be of course)
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 3, 2021 15:32:24 GMT
We manage disabled parking ok so same kind of admin can organise mask exceptions. But agree, must be sorted ahead of next time we need it. ( it won’t be of course) Blue Badge Pakeing uses eligibility for benefits and council officers to make the decisions rather than GP’s signing forms. And the system is somewhat unpopular. Plus during a pandemic it be even more chaotic trying to do things over zoom or the phone when medical issues really don’t work well when discussed virtually. |
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Post by southstreet on Nov 3, 2021 16:10:34 GMT
Seriously, there is only a really small proportion of people where the exemption should be used anyway and the absolute vast majority of them will have pre-existing conditions, be it physical health or mental health conditions, so in most cases it shouldn't be so difficult for the GP to confirm exemption.
Because there being some slight discomfort or mild anxiety in wearing the masks is not enough reason IMO to not wear one and put other people's health at risk when it's mandated that masks need to be worn to keep everyone safe. If masks aren't mandated, like at the moment, it's a different matter, but the amount of people I saw that were exempting themselves from wearing them for pretty phony reasons and also not wearing a visor was really irritating me because next to nobody enjoys wearing those damn things, so it's not like people wore or wear them for fun.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 3, 2021 19:15:53 GMT
Seriously, there is only a really small proportion of people where the exemption should be used anyway and the absolute vast majority of them will have pre-existing conditions, be it physical health or mental health conditions, so in most cases it shouldn't be so difficult for the GP to confirm exemption. Because there being some slight discomfort or mild anxiety in wearing the masks is not enough reason IMO to not wear one and put other people's health at risk when it's mandated that masks need to be worn to keep everyone safe. If masks aren't mandated, like at the moment, it's a different matter, but the amount of people I saw that were exempting themselves from wearing them for pretty phony reasons and also not wearing a visor was really irritating me because next to nobody enjoys wearing those damn things, so it's not like people wore or wear them for fun. Some generally exempt people reported asking their GP’s for letters so that they could carry it around last year and their GP’s mostly refused to give one - or even said they would do so but for a charge. |
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Post by southstreet on Nov 4, 2021 8:28:39 GMT
Some generally exempt people reported asking their GP’s for letters so that they could carry it around last year and their GP’s mostly refused to give one - or even said they would do so but for a charge. Totally not denying that this happened and it's bloody awful that people that wanted to prove their genuine exemption weren't able to. This obviously would have had to be organised from the top down and then a simple letter template just stating patients name and dob that is easy to print out with the surgery's letterhead should have sufficed, as someone mentioned before, the reason for exemption is only for the patient and GP to know. So it shouldn't have been a huge deal and other countries clearly coped, but then there are certain things that just get made into a way bigger deal than is needed in the UK. Like don't get me started on ID cards, as a German, I just don't understand what the big deal is about having one. And as a non-driver, it's a bloody pain having to carry my passport around every time I need to prove who I am. But I digress! LOL |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2021 10:12:02 GMT
So it shouldn't have been a huge deal and other countries clearly coped, but then there are certain things that just get made into a way bigger deal than is needed in the UK. It's the British Disease: instead of just getting on and doing something we'll spend twice as much money and time on feasibility studies to determine whether we can or should do it, and then we'll sullenly grumble about the problems we still have while glaring resentfully at the rest of the world that actually did it. |
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Post by lynette on Nov 4, 2021 19:51:46 GMT
Some generally exempt people reported asking their GP’s for letters so that they could carry it around last year and their GP’s mostly refused to give one - or even said they would do so but for a charge. Totally not denying that this happened and it's bloody awful that people that wanted to prove their genuine exemption weren't able to. This obviously would have had to be organised from the top down and then a simple letter template just stating patients name and dob that is easy to print out with the surgery's letterhead should have sufficed, as someone mentioned before, the reason for exemption is only for the patient and GP to know. So it shouldn't have been a huge deal and other countries clearly coped, but then there are certain things that just get made into a way bigger deal than is needed in the UK. Like don't get me started on ID cards, as a German, I just don't understand what the big deal is about having one. And as a non-driver, it's a bloody pain having to carry my passport around every time I need to prove who I am. But I digress! LOL The ID card is something the UK public will never accept. It is illogical and unreasonable and causes all sorts of difficulties but is is because of past fairly recent history you are well aware of. It could be overcome with using say NHS number which now we are all using for the testing palaver. Needs a creative genius to sort out and we are very far from having one of those in government circles. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 4, 2021 20:45:47 GMT
You see people with those green sunflower exemption laniards around their neck, then the same people either smoking or vaping, think come on, they’re not just content to kill themselves but potentially other people, through their disgusting habit.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 4, 2021 21:23:16 GMT
You see people with those green sunflower exemption laniards around their neck, then the same people either smoking or vaping, think come on, they’re not just content to kill themselves but potentially other people, through their disgusting habit. I have supported smokers with getting a face mask exemption pass. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2021 21:55:04 GMT
You see people with those green sunflower exemption laniards around their neck, then the same people either smoking or vaping, think come on, they’re not just content to kill themselves but potentially other people, through their disgusting habit. I have supported smokers with getting a face mask exemption pass. Why? Smoking isn't an illness, they shouldn't be pandered to. They are just selfish. I'm in France at the minute and have had to produce my vaccine pass even to get into McDonald's. Plus mask wearing is about 99%- and 97% of that is people wearing them correctly. Makes me even more angry about the self-entitled idiots who don't bother in the UK, and wishing our government had the same backbone and would just ban unvaccinated people from everywhere social and fine people who don't wear masks. There is no excuse. |
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Post by theatreian on Nov 4, 2021 22:15:05 GMT
Makes me even more angry about the self-entitled idiots who don't bother in the UK, Have to agree. The British somehow feel they have a God given right to act as they please. Well some brits anyway, not painting everyone the same but we really do not help ourselves. |
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Post by talkingheads on Nov 4, 2021 23:31:38 GMT
You see people with those green sunflower exemption laniards around their neck, then the same people either smoking or vaping, think come on, they’re not just content to kill themselves but potentially other people, through their disgusting habit. I have supported smokers with getting a face mask exemption pass. Why on Earth would smokers need an exemption pass? It's the same ridiculous logic that dictates smokers gets three or four extra breaks during the work day just because they smoke. |
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Post by isabel on Nov 5, 2021 1:17:58 GMT
You see people with those green sunflower exemption laniards around their neck, then the same people either smoking or vaping, think come on, they’re not just content to kill themselves but potentially other people, through their disgusting habit. I have supported smokers with getting a face mask exemption pass. Well that is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2021 6:57:01 GMT
Although there may be psychological reasons for not wearing a mask I'm struggling to think of any physical reason for exemption. Smoking certainly isn't one. Masks have almost no effect on how easy it is to breathe so if your breathing is so restricted that a mask makes a significant difference then you probably shouldn't be hanging around where there are other people in the first place, because if a mere mask is a difficulty then that's nothing compared with the problems you'll have when the coronavirus does a number on your lungs.
I can't find it now, but a while back I saw a post from a doctor talking about how it feels to be struggling to breathe when you have Covid-19. The gist of it was: breathe in as much as you can. Hold it for a few seconds. Now try to breathe in a bit more. When you have a serious case of Covid-19 every single breath feels like struggling to take that extra gulp of air. Masks are nothing.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 5, 2021 7:46:32 GMT
I support adults who are diagnosed with a learning disability.
Some clients have no or very little understanding of covid and social distancing and would not tolerate any form of mask wearing. Generally I would say these people are diagnosed with Autism
Others do understand aspects of Covid and just can not wear a mask for psychological reasons. some of these are also smokers. This group are perhaps in the category 'hidden disabilities'
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Post by isabel on Nov 5, 2021 12:24:14 GMT
I support adults who are diagnosed with a learning disability. Some clients have no or very little understanding of covid and social distancing and would not tolerate any form of mask wearing. Generally I would say these people are diagnosed with Autism Others do understand aspects of Covid and just can not wear a mask for psychological reasons. some of these are also smokers. This group are perhaps in the category 'hidden disabilities' That’s understandable. I apologise for the comment I made. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 5, 2021 14:51:31 GMT
Pfizer's Covid treatmeat Paxlovid is 89% effective which is great news. The UK has already ordered courses but it's really impressive that we have two antivirals that can treat Covid without needing to go to hospital,
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Post by lynette on Nov 5, 2021 15:52:40 GMT
It is amazing and wonderful that we now have a tablet that will treat people. ‘What a piece of work is a man?” Eh? But remember the tamiflu tablets? People hoarded them because there was a seen to be a shortage. So they got them from all sorts of sources, ‘just in case’. The same will happen with these. I heard on telly box that Gov has ordered half a million courses. Nowhere near enough.
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Post by Jon on Nov 5, 2021 15:57:57 GMT
It is amazing and wonderful that we now have a tablet that will treat people. ‘What a piece of work is a man?” Eh? But remember the tamiflu tablets? People hoarded them because there was a seen to be a shortage. So they got them from all sorts of sources, ‘just in case’. The same will happen with these. I heard on telly box that Gov has ordered half a million courses. Nowhere near enough. I imagine the distribution of these antivirals will be limited to at risk people at first before expanding it to the general population. |
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Post by NeilVHughes on Nov 5, 2021 16:09:04 GMT
These will be classed as a prescribed medicine, if not expect to pay £100’s pounds per treatment which may deter hoarding.
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Post by Mark on Nov 5, 2021 17:35:09 GMT
Or maybe only given directly after a covid diagnosis after having been admitted to hospital? Surely it would just be for those who have symptoms and are suffering rather than those with very mild illness?
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Post by zahidf on Nov 5, 2021 19:04:01 GMT
PLAN B NOW
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Post by isabel on Nov 5, 2021 20:01:52 GMT
But cases seem to be going down ...... I’m not sure what help Plan B will be really |
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