I have mentioned before that I believe the Government has let us down with their handling of the Corona Virus. Hundreds of people are still dying every day, yet they still haven’t closed our borders or put checks in place, or insisted on a two week isolation period, seemingly they are still ‘thinking about it.’
People can still fly into the UK from a variety of countries. One thing to think about is that if people are leaving a country to come to the UK, then that is fewer people for that country to worry about, even if that number is a tiny proportion of their population, but why would they stop them leaving? But surely it is up to us to stop them, or at the very least control it.
Another failing as I see it is that they have been quite poor with what we can and can’t do. My wife and I are not the smartest people in the country, but I like to think we are not stupid either, I believe our jobs can vouch for that if nothing else! But we were both surprised yesterday to find that the Government may soon allow us to leave our house more than once a day to exercise. We were surprised as we thought that was already in place!
We had listened to a TV programme a few weeks ago discussing this, and from that, we understood that we could go out, pretty much as often as we wanted as long as we were socially responsible. And I get that; it is being socially responsible that is important, not how often we go. As mentioned within 5 minutes of leaving our house we are out on our country walk hardly seeing anyone, so why can’t we do this five times a day if we wanted to (we don’t, we go once). But it is a lot safer than going to the shop for sure.
My wife was standing in a socially responsible queue the other day with everyone two metres apart and being good until the man behind her walked right up to her to within a few centimetres and asked if there was a cash machine nearby! And I will keep saying this is where the problem is – people. I certainly don’t get that when I am out walking in the country!
All sorts of systems can be put in place. With the right equipment made especially for them, I believe I could get barbers up and working again quite safely, but I will keep that one to myself at the moment, but it could be done. I could get nail technicians working too; they are already selling the screens on an electronic selling site, and I will do the safe systems of work, risk assessments and supply COSHH assessments for them and others. Most workplaces can introduce safe working systems; it is getting the people to comply with them that is the issue. After all, some can’t stand two metres apart in a shop and ask a question; they have to be up close and personal!
But back to our Government. Why don’t they produce a specific list of what we can and can’t do? It should be displayed everywhere; at the daily brief, during news programmes, during commercial breaks, in newspapers and on the front page of a search engine and even posted in towns and parks in specific areas. It can be amended and updated every time the guidelines change, and importantly there is only ever one list and not a version that the daily blurb wants to put together.
And my example is this snip showing a list that includes not being able to go out and buy paint and a brush for DIY purposes, but in the same paper, there was a photo of a guy buying a hot tub! No wonder people are confused! If you can go to a DIY store, which we can, then why can’t we purchase paint and a brush?
So it is simple, we can either visit a DIY store or we can’t, and we know we can, but please don’t try to tell us what we can and can’t buy when we are there. After all, DIY, whether it be painting or installing a hot tub is a great way to keep us at home, which is what the Government want us to do! Sorry but all I see is weak and somewhat confusing leadership, and that is not what we need during these times.
Dos and Don’ts please, not if’s, but’s and maybe’s, with a touch of confusion thrown in!