Social distancing

Social distancing

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Don't get me started on this on. Check my rant . keep safe.

try the Southbank at the weekend, insanity!

Brulysses Wrote:

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> try the Southbank at the weekend, insanity!

I've started to remain at home weekends, too crowded out

It's everyone's choice whether to go outside or not but (and I have posted it before) I found this article reassuring.

https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-55680305

We are now conditioned into feeling anxious by the presence of other people and it will take a while for that to change

Thanks, this is reassuring.

It's hard (not just for me) to suddenly lower the defence mechanisms that have been drummed into us on a daily basis.

I'm hearing friends say the same.

binkylilyput Wrote:

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> It's everyone's choice whether to go outside or

> not but (and I have posted it before) I found this

> article reassuring.

>

> https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-55680305

>

> We are now conditioned into feeling anxious by the

> presence of other people and it will take a while

> for that to change

Yes I completely agree siousxiesue, it is hard not to feel alarmed by other people being around us or passing us even when outdoors. We have all been bombarded to constant messages of threat for the last year. It is difficult to accommodate updated messages that have arrived with new knowledge about transmission.

It will take even longer for us to feel comfortable again with being indoors with other people!

They're standing at least 3 feet apart in an outdoor space, some with masks on. They are likely mostly to be mainly young, reasonably affluent and professionals (ie. not in any subgroup that is especially badly affected by the pandemic). I think this is OK. I get that people will feel awkward because of the incessant pleas for us to keep apart but if you are outdoors and spaced apart, so be it. (I would not join a queue but go back another time or do without, but for those poor souls who must have their ?3 coffee and ?6 loaf, well, it's up to them!) Even in a time of great plenty and no disease would I join a queue to buy a hot (usually warm) ?3+ beverage that will be drunk in less time than it took to line up but that's our modern economy and people have free will, so each to their own. I would be more concerned about the flow of air in the shop - the front door should be open but is the back door also open to allow a good current of air to pass through? It's easy to look at the big queue and forget other concerns.

It is worth noting that this 'flu season' there have been no reported cases (!). This suggests 2 things. Firstly that vaccination, social distancing, isolation, mask wearing and handwashing protects from flu - good news! - and secondly that people who suggested Covid-19 was 'like' or 'no worse' than seasonal flu are clearly wrong - people have been catching Covid (in droves) and dying from it whilst of seasonal flu there has been no sign.

I am not sure that in future I will not be following some form of continued social distancing - or at least eschewing crowds in unventilated areas. Or at least cutting back from past social activity.

There is an interesting report from HK by epidemiologists there which says taht after school lockdowns and still with distancing, reduced hours, ventilation, hand washing, masks, etc. the common cold really took off. Schools had to shut because they were not sure whether it was Covid or not as some symptoms are similar. This also spooked staff and parents, as well as the children, whose education was again disturbed. They say it could happen elsewhere and should be monitored as they expected the rhinoviruses that cause some colds to have been thwarted by the anti C-19 measures.

https://www.statnews.com/2021/02/23/schools-may-see-a-burst-of-the-common-cold-when-they-reopen-research-suggests/

Crowded bars, pubs, restaurants and shops, etc. I generally avoid anyway and I yank open windows on the bus but I will be being even more cautious in the future, at the risk of dried hands and a feeling a bit cooler on the top deck.

Yes unfortunately sneezing is quickly becoming socially unacceptable. Bad news for hayfever sufferers.