Forum Topic

So much for the UK's vigilance against the Coronavirus!

My boyfriend, who is half Iranian, just told me that an aunt arrived on a flight from Iran this evening. All the passengers just happily sauntered off the flight. No-one stopped them, advised them, gave them any warning information. Nothing at all whatsoever. They were all just allowed to walk out and go on their merry way onto whatever public transport was needed to get them home. His aunt took the train. I found this quite unbelievable. And somewhat concerning. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Jill Merrett ● 2428d43 Comments

I'm beginning to suspect that Johnson wants the virus to hit us hard, so that he can do a Churchill act, standing firm in the face adversity, calling on the Dunkirk spirit, exhibiting his stiff upper lip and at the same time letting the virus whittle down the social care budget.

Ken Munn ● 2428d

Interesting yes. Surely there should be some screening from a covid-19 hotspot such as Iran 
If I understand correctly, she was very lucky to get a flight. I was told by Iran Air there were a very limited number of flights arriving from Iran at present. 

Angela Knight ● 2428d

Terminal 3 arrivals today 12/03/20 https://www.airport-london-heathrow.com/lhr-arrivals-terminal-3michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 2428d

The flight landed at 3.00 pm this afternoon.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 2428d

Qatar Airways via Doha stop over is the route to take But the cost of a ticket has trebled in the last week

Julian Pavey ● 2428d

Other route seems to be Aeroflot to moscow and BA to LHR

Julian Pavey ● 2428d

This is what happens when you have a government driven by ideology rather than evidence. The UK economy had already ground to a halt in January. It is not in Johnson's self interest to control the spread and disaster of the pandemic.  It is a distraction, and gives him the perfect cover story for the economic chaos of Brexit.

T P Howell ● 2428d

Gee,ive not come accross the B word for ages,but saying that we do have TP to pop back at any given chance. Get over yourself TP,you need to self isolate for another few months.

Julian Pavey ● 2428d

Should anybody be interested, I happened across the coronavirus isolation pod at the West Middlesex yesterday. It's accessed by the back of the hospital (near where there is a mobile MRI scanner) and just inside the door to the hospital and immediately on the right.Out of interest, I don't know whether 'one' could self-present there or have to be referred. Does anybody know?

Anne England ● 2428d

Well, that's Brexit appearing on a coronavirus thread. Now we await someone linking cycling and CS9 to the virus.

Richard Greenhough ● 2428d

Indeed, and I`m surprised that Huw and Alan Clark have not suddenly reappeared as well blaming everything on Brexit as well

Paul Fisher ● 2428d

I believe that only those being admitted to hospital are being tested at the moment.

Clare Gittins ● 2428d

I think that how the government responds to this crisis will determine the result of the next general election. Yes, it's a long way off but it's widely believed that the Conservatives lost the 1997 election from the moment they bungled the ERM crisis in 1992.

Susan Kelly ● 2428d

Don't you just long for those days..?

Keith Iddon ● 2428d

It would be better if people having to visit Doctor or Dentist were tested before entering the building.

Janice Evans ● 2428d

Anyone know what the test involves?

Keith Iddon ● 2428d

Julian Pavey ● 2428d

lol

Keith Iddon ● 2428d

😂 best one yet Julian.

Janice Evans ● 2428d

Agreed.

Brian Coyle ● 2428d

Julian Pavey ● 2428d

Cannot find much info on the testing for corona virus, they take swabs from nose and throat but no info on how long this takes, but taking someone's temperature is a good fast way to detect it and stop people entering buildings.

Janice Evans ● 2428d

Yesterday I will be bbc Featured article on all the testing process and it was a simple swab. Test results took five hours

Sean Wales ● 2428d

Thanks Sean, thought it must take sometime for the result of a swab.

Janice Evans ● 2428d

went to our local surgery this a.m.Plastered with signs sayingAbandon hope all ye who enter hereor something like that The only good news is the fury of our European neighbours over the ban on all Schengen countries visiting US.

James Roy ● 2428d

"I think that how the government responds to this crisis will determine the result of the next general election. Yes, it's a long way off but it's widely believed that the Conservatives lost the 1997 election from the moment they bungled the ERM crisis in 1992."A lot of it was also due to the Labour Party having a leader who didn't scare the horses and appeared a credible Prime Minister. Whether Herr Starmer will fill that role remains to be seen.

Richard Greenhough ● 2428d

There is a call for free parking all over London so that people can self isolate in their cars and drive to work in comfort and not pick up all the germs of others on public transport. Sounds like a plan.The Government should now nationalise all private parking enterprises over London and make it free for all.

Steve Taylor ● 2428d

There's definitely an air of abandonment of diligent coordination between parties.

Philippa Bond ● 2427d

Cant get into the GP surgery, Telephone appointments only.So you ring up for an appointment and you get a GP ringing you back in about seven days.I think you will need to have a smart phone or something similar, if you need to show the GP what your rash looks like.

Bernard Allen ● 2427d

They want everyone to phone for appointments now so they know if they have a cold and prevent them visiting the surgery, it took me 3 weeks to get an appointment it was constantly engaged.

Janice Evans ● 2427d

A lot of people don't have or can't use smartphones.

Philippa Bond ● 2427d

Lots still don't have Internet.

Janice Evans ● 2427d

95 percent of population have a mobile and 90% have internet access. That figure drops to around 60% for people over 65. What i found interesting from other data supplied was that over 55s were around 40% of the pupulation using online shopping with the other 60% devided into two age brackets. The uk has the highest smart phone ownership in the world by population at around 87% which is bigger than i thought it would be. Dont forget that figure is percentage not numbers. All the above tells me that technology and usage cant be held back for the small percentage that dont. But within 20yrs that percentage will be around 98% 99%. I think tech has to move forward and those who done or more importantly cant will have to be helped from friends and family. I would imagine those who dont have friends and family and dont have or cant operate will be very small in numbers given the high percentage of ownership or paid services.

Julian Pavey ● 2427d

All true, Julian, but as a councillor I encounter people, often but not always elderly, who have the technology but either cannot or choose not to use it.It can be quite daunting to come to terms with new technology if you haven't had it gradually catch up with you via work etc.I agree you can't hold it back, but not everybody has a friend/relative to help and we need as a society to be mindful of that, and offer support for those who need it.It's not as if the tech companies are much use (said from current annoying experience with a cheap but paid for app from Microsoft which has now decided I didn't pay for it)

Guy Lambert ● 2427d

I agree with much you say Guy.But what im about to say is not becasue i want to come up with something to have a negative reply for the sake of it.ButIt certainly does not help when the basics of communication with a council and not just your council in most cases consists of pressing a selection of numbers and then being told we are busy ring back later or even being disconnected. In summary its hard for some just to talk to someone over the dog and bone,the very basics of communication.

Julian Pavey ● 2427d

Many elderly people live alone and have limited vision, you have to consider those people think about  if we're you in that situation Julian.

Janice Evans ● 2427d

Not exactly my point of ignoring such people Janice. You just cant hold back switching to tech minded technology becasue a percentage are not capable of using such. That is when help from people and organisations is needed. We had issues raised when the state pension was removed by way of a book and recieving cash from the post office. We even had issues raised when cash payment for travel was removed. But we all slowly made the switch and understood what one has to do.

Julian Pavey ● 2427d

No they just got left behind and stop participating,

Janice Evans ● 2427d

It's also less secure for them, my neighbour has to trust another neighbour with his PIN number and personal details because he cannot see very wellAnd cannot remember them, it's not ideal.

Janice Evans ● 2427d

.... a friend and her husband arrived back on Saturday from a 3-week holiday in Cambodia and Vietnam. All allowed through without any checks whatsoever - unbelievable! When is the UK going to get a grip?

Jill Merrett ● 2424d

That is quite shocking, Jill.  Such laxity puts us all at risk.  Maybe it deserves a question in Parliament.  Have you thought of contacting your MP?

Alastair Banton ● 2424d

Vietnam has 61 cases and Cambodia has 12.  You’re at greater risk from people arriving from Wales.

Viv Griffiths ● 2424d

In any case, tests are only a snapshot in time.  A person can have a clear test and within minutes be sneezed on by a coronavirus carrier.  Tests don't show up the carriers.

Viv Griffiths ● 2424d