IOM Covid removing restrictions

[Roger Mexico]

3 minutes ago, Banker said:

If it had been a protest over public sector pensions & wages & government wastage the March would have been stopped fairly pronto with ring leaders straight to Jurby!

No it wouldn't - don't be silly.  Though if you think such a protest is needed, please don't let us stop you organising it.

The restrictions were going to be lifted in about a week's time anyway, so any attempt to stop it would have looked petty.  And because they organised in groups of ten (which were legal) it would have been very difficult to prosecute successfully.

Given that it ended up being the only correctly socially-distanced and be-masked event going, if they had tried to break it up the police would have looked ridiculous and it would have made the Island look worse in the eyes of the outside world.

[Banker]

4 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

No it wouldn't - don't be silly.  Though if you think such a protest is needed, please don't let us stop you organising it.

The restrictions were going to be lifted in about a week's time anyway, so any attempt to stop it would have looked petty.  And because they organised in groups of ten (which were legal) it would have been very difficult to prosecute successfully.

Given that it ended up being the only correctly socially-distanced and be-masked event going, if they had tried to break it up the police would have looked ridiculous and it would have made the Island look worse in the eyes of the outside world.

It was a joke 😀although a protest about MHK pay may get a few on streets!

[AcousticallyChallenged]

9 hours ago, Utah 01 said:

I suggested this last week and received nothing but 'confused' emojis from the usual COVID tin-foil brigade. 

I likened our situation to that of an Amzonian tribe never before exposed to western diseases - the first missionary turns up laden with (virally) whatever and the tribe is wiped out.

We can either live in splendid isolation and ultimately perish or we can begin exposure to something that is not and will not go away - ever!

 

Didn't the antibody testing initially estimate around 2k people that had been exposed to the virus? That's suggesting it's reached the Manx shores more than the figures say by a reasonable amount.

The real problem is, you can't keep the virus in one population without it bubbling over. There is simply too much cross-over, unless you get all the support staff to lock themselves in with the vulnerable. But then, there's all the other supply chains for that, do they too then isolate away from those given the plague?

If there was an ethical, safe way to put up a bunch of young'uns in their 20s into the mount murray, let them all get it, swap them out and repeat, there could be some value there. Pay em a few grand a pop, students do it for 'flu camp' quite happily. But even that is quite dangerous, still the odds of a few over time getting long-COVID or gnarly complications. There are papers suggesting long-term damage from the virus, even in younger populations.

[Cambon]

49 minutes ago, AcousticallyChallenged said:

Didn't the antibody testing initially estimate around 2k people that had been exposed to the virus? That's suggesting it's reached the Manx shores more than the figures say by a reasonable amount.

The real problem is, you can't keep the virus in one population without it bubbling over. There is simply too much cross-over, unless you get all the support staff to lock themselves in with the vulnerable. But then, there's all the other supply chains for that, do they too then isolate away from those given the plague?

If there was an ethical, safe way to put up a bunch of young'uns in their 20s into the mount murray, let them all get it, swap them out and repeat, there could be some value there. Pay em a few grand a pop, students do it for 'flu camp' quite happily. But even that is quite dangerous, still the odds of a few over time getting long-COVID or gnarly complications. There are papers suggesting long-term damage from the virus, even in younger populations.

Pay them? You are joking! They would jump at the opportunity! 

[Max Power]

Our borders are safe and well controlled...

[John Wright]

7 hours ago, AcousticallyChallenged said:

Didn't the antibody testing initially estimate around 2k people that had been exposed to the virus? That's suggesting it's reached the Manx shores more than the figures say by a reasonable amount.

The real problem is, you can't keep the virus in one population without it bubbling over. There is simply too much cross-over, unless you get all the support staff to lock themselves in with the vulnerable. But then, there's all the other supply chains for that, do they too then isolate away from those given the plague?

If there was an ethical, safe way to put up a bunch of young'uns in their 20s into the mount murray, let them all get it, swap them out and repeat, there could be some value there. Pay em a few grand a pop, students do it for 'flu camp' quite happily. But even that is quite dangerous, still the odds of a few over time getting long-COVID or gnarly complications. There are papers suggesting long-term damage from the virus, even in younger populations.

1. We don’t appear to have had the final figures from the antibody testing that finished end August. Between 5k and 10k,

3. not even with closed borders? But they beg the question of what happens when you finally open.

3. isn’t that what is practically happening with Manx uni students.

[John Wright]

6 hours ago, Max Power said:

Our borders are safe and well controlled...

Day 9 of quarantine. Still no contact or check up, physically or by phone.

[Banker]

30 minutes ago, John Wright said:

Day 9 of quarantine. Still no contact or check up, physically or by phone.

We were never contacted once and no one I’ve spoken to who has travelled was contacted either.

Howie is relying on public to inform on others

[The Dog's Dangly Bits]

Christmas will be interesting with all the students back.  Plenty of snitching potential there.

[Escape Artist]

In the UK, a recent study concluded, only 20% of people isolate when requested by tracers, and only 20% quarantine following return from international travel.

Former prime ministers are no more compliant than the general public (just more arrogant about it). The implication is that we, and those living in Guernsey, are the only British people that been forced to comply in practice; the other jurisdictions being so rigged with loopholes.

Just read the following this morning. Note the conclusion:

"As of last month, police forces have only issued 38 fines from over 4,000 referrals from public health authorities."

 

Tony Blair accused of breaking quarantine rules with US trip

Former prime minister pictured at Mayfair restaurant 10 days after White House visit, having 'not been given exemption'

Tony Blair was last night accused of a “flagrant” breach of Covid-19 restrictions, after failing to self-isolate for a fortnight after a two-day trip to the US on a private jet.

In pictures obtained by this newspaper, the former prime minister is seen leaving a restaurant in Mayfair 10 days after his return from Washington DC last month.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that Mr Blair appealed to Whitehall ­officials for special dispensation from the Covid-19 rules, but that he was not issued with the formal exemption letter he would have needed to avoid the 14-day isolation period.

The Telegraph is not aware of any other exemption for which Mr Blair could qualify. He claims he was advised to follow rules on attending “international conferences”, having travelled to the US for a ceremony at the White House at which Israel signed agreements establishing formal relations with Bahrain and the UAE.

But the “international conferences” exemption to the rules applies to ­diplomats, staff at international bodies such as the UN and formal representatives at international conferences who have been “granted privileges and immunities”.

Mr Blair is considered a private ­citizen, having stepped down from his post-No 10 role as Middle East envoy in 2015.

Those taking advantage of the exemption require “an exemption letter to show at the border”.

A spokesman for the former prime minister said he was invited by the US government because of the role he played in the agreement between Israel and the UAE – describing the ceremony as a “diplomatic conference”.

The spokesman also insisted Mr Blair “posed no risk to anyone” as he was tested before his departure, on arrival at the White House, and again several times since returning to the UK.

Mr Blair has been a vocal advocate of an airport testing regime to cut quarantine times. The spokesman added: “We believe he followed all UK and US ­government guidelines as advised.”

David Jones, a Conservative member of Parliament’s public administration committee, said it was “hard to see” how Mr Blair could rely on claiming he had been tested “when we haven’t got a testing regime”.

“It sets an appalling example to ­travellers if a former prime minister appears to flout the rules in such a ­flagrant manner,” he said.

Mr Blair, 67, flew to Washington DC on Sept 14. He was pictured with other guests on the South Lawn of the White House, holding a face mask in his hand as he posed for pictures with US political figures including Frank Luntz, the veteran pollster, and Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives.

Mr Luntz said: “Tony Blair was a rockstar at this event. People were lining up for photos with him.”

He then returned to the UK on Sept 16. Ten days later on Sept 26 he was seen leaving Harry’s Bar in London’s Mayfair, which boasts of being “one of the most elegant and sophisticated private ­members’ clubs in London”.

Mr Blair is believed to have travelled on a Falcon 7X jet, accompanied by a team of Scotland Yard protection officers, whose salaries and expenses are funded by the British taxpayer. The going rate to hire a Falcon 7X is about £7,000 per hour. He had recently returned to the UK from Italy.

In June, Mr Blair gave an interview in which he said UK coronavirus rules, including those around quarantining, were “not very clear”.

He told CNBC: “The main thing is to have the rules clear, and some of them, frankly, like the ones of quarantining when people come into the country now, are really not very clear.”

Last month, Mr Blair urged the Government to bring in mass coronavirus testing at airports and cut quarantine times to five days as an “alternative” to the blanket 14-day quarantine, saying it would have “significant benefits both to individuals and the economy”.

In July he also warned there was a “50/50 chance” the virus would surge again in this winter, saying: “My anxiety about the Government at the moment is that it has still not really put in place that infrastructure of containment that is going to see us through a resurgence of the disease if unfortunately that happens.” 

Rules introduced in June require anyone arriving in the UK to isolate for 14 days, unless they are coming from countries on the official “travel corridors” list, which has never included the US. Official guidance states: “Self-isolating will reduce the chance of a second wave of coronavirus in the UK.

“It can take up to 14 days for you to develop coronavirus symptoms after you catch the virus and in this time you can unknowingly pass it on to others, even if you don’t have symptoms.

“Self-isolating will reduce the chance of a second wave of coronavirus.”

Those failing to follow the rules on self-isolation could be liable for a £1,000 fine, or potential prosecution.

Mr Blair’s spokesman said: “He was not refused exemption by the UK Government. He was told to follow the guidance on international conferences, which he did; the US Government had cleared the visit because it was for the diplomatic conference at the White House.

“Mr Blair was tested for Covid before departing the UK, on arrival at the White House, when he returned to the UK and has been tested several times since. All tests have been negative.”

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The FCDO provides travel exemptions to diplomats travelling on business relating to the interests of the UK, ­representatives of international organisations, and their families and dependants. Those issued an exemption will not need to self-isolate.”

As of last month, police forces have only issued 38 fines from over 4,000 referrals from public health authorities.

[Nom de plume]

We are threatened with prison because our Government have essentially shit the bed with hysteria.

Its something out of George Orwell’s 1984.

My friends across the water cannot believe it - they are astounded.

[Escape Artist]

And those who support the border restrictions on this island don't seem to have an idea how long they will need to continue.

The governments of Australia and New Zealand have tacitly admitted that they own borders are not likely to reopen until the end of 2021.

The difference is that Australia and New Zealand are "countries", while on this island we have the population of a medium size town... I don't need to explain the implications of that.

 

[Nom de plume]

2 minutes ago, Escape Artist said:

And those who support the border restrictions on this island don't seem to have an idea how long they will need to continue.

The governments of Australia and New Zealand have tacitly admitted that they own borders are not likely to reopen until the end of 2021.

The difference is that Australia and New Zealand are "countries", while on this island we have the population of a medium size town... I don't need to explain the implications of that.

 

You’ve said everything there.

Its a shambles. Howard Quayle cannot reasonably expect to imprison an Island indefinitely.

 

[Debbie]

9 minutes ago, Nom de plume said:

You’ve said everything there.

Its a shambles. Howard Quayle cannot reasonably expect to imprison an Island indefinitely.

 

What I find unsettling is that the debate among MHKs has mostly append being closed doors. They must have debated the implications of cutting off the outside world for so long. We haven't heard much of it. When we heard something, it was only regarding specific and quite minor aspects of the policy.

 

[Nom de plume]

1 minute ago, Debbie said:

What I find unsettling is that the debate among MHKs has mostly append being closed doors. They must have debated the implications of cutting off the outside world for so long. We haven't heard much of it. When we heard something, it was only regarding specific and quite minor aspects of the policy.

 

Debbie.

The MHKs are petrified of saying anything publically as they have been suckered in by the Facebook pitchfork brigade too.

They wouldn’t want to jeopardise their re-election hopes.

Weak fuckers.