Coronavirus

[Rico1304]

35 minutes ago, Mudface said:

Written by some pinko-fag hippy communist, no doubt.

This fella? 
 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Hussain

 

 

[Rico1304]

1 minute ago, alles ist gut said:

Sounds like America to me.

I think so.  If it’s the person here 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Hussain

 

then he lives in America according to Wiki. Might not be him of course. 

[SasaS]

2 minutes ago, Rico1304 said:

This bit was a bit strange too...

 

In the absence of universal healthcare, and with underfunded public hospitals, lack of equipment and inadequate facilities the wealthy Western economies have disappointed their citizens. 

Yes, this is kind of why I asked. I'm sure China has a comparative advantage in dealing with a pandemic, like not being a democracy.

[Barrington Womble]

@Bob SpunkmouseSpunkmouse  .... The at thing doing its own thing then I type on my phone. Has your ex-missus just got a standard type letter or has it come from the oncologist? When they 1st announced the isolation for the over 70's and those with health conditions, I got a letter to tell me to lock down for 12 weeks. However, I got in touch with my oncologist and he told me to ignore it. I'm obviously in a different position as my treatment is over, but just thought it was worth you not being victim to an admin error. 

 

Also, I assume there's no option for you and your ex to live together for the 12 week period? 

 

[M_B]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-mps-given-extra-10-000-each-for-home-working-expenses-w0h5sx99l

 

MPs have been offered an extra £10,000 each to support them while they work from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The extra budget can be used to buy equipment such as laptops and printers for MPs and their staff, or to cover additional electricity, heating and phone bills. The money, which comes on top of the existing office budget of about £26,000 a year per MP, will be available until March.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), the expenses regulator, also relaxed rules on the evidence MPs must provide and suspended the 90-day window for claims.

[Sugar Ape]

Happy to see Priti Patel is running the Home Office as compassionately as ever. 
 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52219930

 

Staff working for Her Majesty's Passport Office believe their lives are being put at risk because of demands that they return to work.

 

Many have been asked to go back next week, despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the BBC has learned. 

 

On Tuesday, staff were told by a Home Office scientific adviser 80% of people would get Covid-19 in the end and "we can't hide away from it forever".

 

The Home Office said it was maintaining social distancing at passport offices. 

 

When and how to get staff back into the workplace are questions employers will increasingly have to grapple with across the UK.

 

Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) has centres in Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport and Peterborough. 

 

The Tuesday conference call was addressed by Myrtle Lloyd, the HMPO chief operating officer.

 

According to a transcript seen by the BBC, she said government health guidance did not mean that staff "should stay at home instead of delivering critical services". 
 

"What is also critical for us as a business is to have a manageable level of work in the system, so that when we start our recovery we are not overwhelmed by our demands," she said.

 

Sources at the Public and Commercial Services Union said up to 2,000 staff would be asked to go back in, with 500 in offices at any one time. 

 

However, dozens of staff sent messages that they were deeply concerned about returning to work. 

 

One wrote: "Your actions are going to kill people." 

 

Another said: "If my family die because you insist I need to come to work before the surge passes (having isolated until now), I will pursue a claim against HMPO / Home Office for negligence." 

 

Others questioned how they would get to work without using public transport. 

 

There are also claims among staff and their trade union that advice from a government official at the meeting was out of step with government policy. 

 

According to the transcript, the Home Office deputy scientific adviser, Rupert Shute, told those listening that staying at home was important but "we also have to keep functioning our lives".

 

"You are no more at risk at the workplace as you would be in your home or at the supermarket. It is about minimising it," he said.

 

"We are working on the assessment that 80% of us, if we haven't already, will get the virus."

 

He added: "We cannot hide away from it forever." 

 

This echoed previous government briefings that up to 80% of people would eventually contract Covid-19 and that this would help the population develop "herd immunity". 

 

However, that position was sidelined when computer modelling suggested a lockdown would be needed to reduce the infection rate. 

 

The Public and Commercial Services Union said his comments were "extremely irresponsible and totally contradicted current government guidance". 

 

'Scandalous'

 

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "It is absolutely scandalous that HMPO are suggesting our members can go back into work during a pandemic to process routine passports.

 

"The cavalier approach to our members' health and safety is shameful and ultimately puts them in greater danger of contracting Covid-19. 

 

"We have already had members die as a result of contracting coronavirus and pressured Civil Service managers in other departments to shut offices so staff can work from home."

 

A Home Office spokesperson dismissed suggestions the health of staff was being put at risk.

 

In a statement they said: "Her Majesty's Passport Office is fully adhering to public health advice across all of its offices and adopting social distancing measures to keep both its staff and customers safe.
 

"It continues to operate at substantially restricted staffing levels with a significant number of people working from home where possible, and staff are prioritising emergency cases. 

 

"Guidance is also available for people who are travelling into work.

 

"It was made clear in the meeting that the government's priority is slowing the spread of coronavirus and we all have a part to play in order to protect the NHS and save lives."

 

Passport Office staff have to handle documents and passports sent in from all over the world. 

 

One source said they and their colleagues were happy for a skeleton staff to process applications needed for ID purposes, especially when the applicants were doctors or nurses. 

 

However, they are now dealing with requests for passports before holidays over Easter, but the shutdown of most air travel meant they were no longer urgent, the source said. 

 

A key computer system they use cannot be installed on laptops and security measures make it difficult for operation staff to work from home. 
 

The Passport Office is looking for new ways to help them to do so.

[Sugar Ape]

Rupert Shute. “Scientific adviser”

 

 

[Captain Howdy]

I know two people who have died from this now a fella I used to work with and my brothers father in law. This sucks the fucking big one this.

[Pureblood]

4 minutes ago, Sugar Ape said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52219930

 

According to the transcript, the Home Office deputy scientific adviser, Rupert Shute, told those listening that staying at home was important but "we also have to keep functioning our lives".

 

"You are no more at risk at the workplace as you would be in your home or at the supermarket. It is about minimising it," he said.

 

"We are working on the assessment that 80% of us, if we haven't already, will get the virus."

 

He added: "We cannot hide away from it forever." 

 

This echoed previous government briefings that up to 80% of people would eventually contract Covid-19 and that this would help the population develop "herd immunity".

Herd immunity cunts.  They should all face criminal charges. 

[Babb'sBurstNad]

8 minutes ago, Captain Howdy said:

I know two people who have died from this now a fella I used to work with and my brothers father in law. This sucks the fucking big one this.

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

6 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

 

Jesus, fingers crossed for your sister mate, hope she makes a full recovery. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

27 minutes ago, M_B said:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-mps-given-extra-10-000-each-for-home-working-expenses-w0h5sx99l

 

MPs have been offered an extra £10,000 each to support them while they work from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The extra budget can be used to buy equipment such as laptops and printers for MPs and their staff, or to cover additional electricity, heating and phone bills. The money, which comes on top of the existing office budget of about £26,000 a year per MP, will be available until March.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), the expenses regulator, also relaxed rules on the evidence MPs must provide and suspended the 90-day window for claims.

 

Fucking hell, they just can't help themselves enough. 

[Josef Svejk]

Jesus. Sorry to hear that, BBN...

[easytoslip]

8 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

Sorry to hear that, your right all will be affected somehow or other. Hoping for best outcome. 

[Pureblood]

8 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

Hope your sister pulls through.  

 

Dreadfully worrying times for us all, as you say.  

[Anubis]

Hope your sister improves soon, BBB.

[Captain Turdseye]

10 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

That’s awful mate. I hope both her and the rest of your family get the best possible outcome. 
 

The way some people are still so blasé about this thing is fucking infuriating. 

[Bjornebye]

13 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

Sorry to hear this mate. Hope she pulls through 

[Elite]

Best wishes Babb. 

[Dr Nowt]

18 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

Really sorry to hear this mate.

[Captain Howdy]

26 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

That’s shit that mate, hope it works out

[Bjornebye]

42 minutes ago, Captain Howdy said:

I know two people who have died from this now a fella I used to work with and my brothers father in law. This sucks the fucking big one this.

Thats awful mate. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

44 minutes ago, Captain Howdy said:

I know two people who have died from this now a fella I used to work with and my brothers father in law. This sucks the fucking big one this.

 

Sad times mate, sorry to hear you've lost people you know. 

[sh#t waffle]

42 minutes ago, Babb'sBurstNad said:

Sorry to hear that. Found out this morning my sister's in an induced coma with it.

 

Can't help but feel it's going to hit everyone in some way. In the end, we'll all know someone affected by it.

Fucking hell, that is terrible news. 

[JohnnyH]

My Uncle is well into his 80's hasn't been well for a while.  He's in a hospice, and now has COVID.  There is virtually no chance he'll pull through and my poor Auntie (my dads sister) isn't allowed visit him.  So he's literally got, at best probably, a week to live, and his wife can't visit.  This is a cunt of a virus.  I just can't imagine having to suffer that if my wife were sick and her life hanging in the balance.