h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, it looks like a bunch of morons, mainly in city's especially London, are ignoring government advice, and restrictions, and going about as if there is no lock-down... sun bathing, out in the parks/open spaces, having BBQ's, etc.... so, the government will eventually be pushed to withdrawel any access to 'going outside' for the rest of the population. great

It seems quite a divided country, ATM, from what I've heard from friends, relatives living in more rural, countryside locations, villages, small towns etc, there is far greater social distancing, and obedience on display in such places.... - to some extent that was bound to be the case; fewer people, lower people density, and so easier social distancing.... but, even so... There's been a steady increase in road traffic here, it was so* loverly and quiet for a few days, following the initial lockdown, but gradually its increased, and only some of the increase is deliverys etc, there's a lot more personal cars about, and a lot more cycles going about the place, and slightly more small groups 'hanging out', mainly slightly younger adults/late-teenagers etc

Well, off for our daily hours walk soon, by the river (the only outside place within walking distance of where we live), hopefully not too crowded (it was OK yesterday), and hopefully the government won't withdrawel this one remaining exercise and opportunity to get any fresh air; already with the reduction in exercise I've got a slight return of the oedema in my feet and legs, which is hurting, and my muscles are so achy/painful without exercise of any great amount... - an hours walking is our average walking a day, to and from the gym, and shops; on days we also go to the pub, plus gym, we walk 2 hours a day, plus the hour- hour and a half exercise in the gym....

Oddly, I've not gained any weight; looks like I've actually lost about 1 KG, despite the increased water retention.. - and no I can't take 'water tablets', to remove oedema, as they can wreck my kidneys/adrenals and end me in hospital

Currently hunting through my CD collection, finding the few I've missed, over the years, and copying them to the collection on the PC, before a single, big file transfer to the new SD/MMC for my phone (after the last SD card died on me)

Probably sandwichs for lunch today, and maybe a stirfry tonight, of noodles, pork strips, and red peppers, with garlic and ginger, and maybe onion too

We are still allowed to go out as much as we please - provided we do not gather in groups of 10 or more (unless we are already living together). But laws have been passed that could reduce that number to only 2 the moment it is deemed necessary by the government.

The number of hospital admissions has fallen three days in a row now so we might lift restrictions after Easter. But very slowly. I don't think much will change until 1 May.

Sweden has a far more relaxed attitude toward Covid-19. Schools and restaurants are still open. Will be interesting to see how that experiment pans out. It is feared that hospitals in Stockholm will reach their max capacity shortly

Leggsie
I have been out every day (for my exercise) and so far have seen none of the supposed stupidity.
Plenty of people sitting around in the parks, well spaced out so they are not spreading the bug.
also plenty walking / running / playing with their children, yep somein family groups but again not going to spread anything.
Personally I don't care if they are soaking up the rays, as long as they are spaced out.
THis whole thing smells of a press / govt stitch up to impose more rules and blame ordinary people for the virus speading, when the current infections happened before the "lockdown"

It's good to see life signs of you, Baldy

So Far, So good...

Pierce
According to the Grauniad things are about to get tighter.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/sweden-prepares-to-tighten-coronavirus-measures-as-death-toll-climbs

Galveston Island (Texas) has closed all public beaches. This is very noteworthy as Texas has a legal statute called the "open beaches" act. Private beaches aren't allowed here beyond the high tide mark. All beaches are public places and access is required. This was in response to the city leaders concerns over folks gathering on the beaches. I took a ride down to the island just a couple of days before the ban and I saw people on the beaches, but no real crowding. It was mostly couples, small groups and families spread about. The locals are very upset about the closure so now the city leaders are actually considering checkpoints at all access points to the island. There are only three ways onto the island. The main access is by "the Causeway" bridge which connects to the mainland at a thick part of the island. Then on the north eastern end is a ferry service and there's another bridge on the southwestern end (it's a long skinny barrier island). The causeway and the ferry are operated by the State so Galveston may not have the authority to close them. But basically, they are blaming tourists for all incidences of folk not observing social/physical distancing.

re post 6:

This has been expected for days already, BB. People are speculating on why the Swedish experts have acted - or not acted as it were.

Beaches here are open as well, BG. With very few exceptions, like military installations for example.

It'll end in tears, I tell you. And riots on the street once the weather gets warmer.

Denmark will slowly and gradually open up come Tuesday if the current development continues says our PM. Children up to 5th grade will be the first to go back to school. Older kids and students will follow later.
Parts of the workforce will also be re-activated, but it is not yet known how. Shopping malls and the like have had their closure extended to May 1st. People are still not allowed to meet in groups larger than 10. All festivals and the like are cancelled or postponed.

This message has left a lot of people here flabbergasted, even shocked. In particular mothers and fathers of small school children. Most others trust the government and its experts to know what's best and are looking forward to the lockdown being lifted.

Bald Bloke - yes, similarly round here most people are behaving correctly, with well spacing out of people in the few open spaces we have; we've been helped mind, although a very small town (yes, Cambridge is not a city), we've benifited from the majority of the population; overseas students, and home-grown students, etc, going back to their hometowns and home-countrys as all the colleges and university's closed; this has made a big difference; listening just now, to the council recycling truck coming up the road, it is virtually empty, as so many of the houses round here are now empty as they had various students in them
One thing we've noticed is the number of 'filthy looks' me and W get when we're out for our daily walk/exercise, not sure why.... perhaps as we walk close together (well I'm being guided so that can't be helped) it seems like there are two species of people out on the streets here; the ones who've got the 'we're all in this s*** together' - cheery 'hello' etc, as we pass by, and those who're of the 'you shouldn't be outside you scum' variety, who give the filthy looks We've had a couple chance meetings with people we know whilst out, which is nice including meeting a few regulars from the local pubs we normally visit each week and a copule of regulars from our gym out for walks/runs Will just be a huge shame, if a few idiots get to ruin the little freedoms we still have, by their selfish actions

TC> "It'll end in tears, I tell you. And riots on the street once the weather gets warmer."

I am of the same opinion, which is why it is stooopid to deliberatly annoy people who are doing no harm spaced out in a park or on the beach.
They should be concentrating on getting testing underway, isolating those with symptoms and tracing their close contacts for monitoring / isolation.
Enforcing isolation on those entering / leaving the country.


I would suggest changing the rules to emphasise minimising contact outside houshold groups and keeping distance unless neccessary.
And when external contact can't be avoided making sure basic face masks are available and used. including public transport.

Getting other less essential businesses back up and running is going to have to happen, so getting rules in place about facilities,PPE, spacing of desks / counters, masks, screens etc, in place so that firms can plan how to react.

OK: theatres, Cinemas, Restauraunts, pubs etc are going to have to remain closed or operate on take away / delivery only for a long time.
Which is going to p off a lot of people

Yeh…. a lot of the problem is, whatever the rules are, or change to be, they're always going to have to be suitable to cause adherence by the factions least wanting/able to adhere... I.E., the idiots currently flouting the restrictions

Meanwhile, I've nearly finished hunting through the CD collection, for the few CDs previously that escaped being digitally captured, so almost ready for transferring the biggest folder on my computer, to the new SD/MMC card

<>
Always backup and make multiple copies of SD cards, they have a nasty habit of failing suddenly and completely when they go.

First one I ever had fail - I had all the music backed up, if nothing else the play music stuff will automatically download... - though in the future I may create a separate backup for it, especially as now I'll be having audio books on it too