The nature of the problem seems quite well explained in this short piece and of some interest is the much higher apparent overall infection level (20/25%) in Sweden than the UK (10%)


https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736 (20)31035-7/fulltext

However I can't say I want the full blown version or worse still potential be the carrier that gave it to others. Mind you I've been a miserable self-isolating old git for years so it's all second nature to me. :flowers:

Jim, interesting article. The article concludes by saying “our most important task is not to stop spread, which is all but futile, but to concentrate on giving the unfortunate victims optimal care”. That appears the same as the “flatten the curve” strategy in the U.K., which seems to be about keeping demand for hospital beds in line with supply. We don’t want very sick people dying at home or lying on the floor in a sports centre, without access to breathing aids. So the question is how to most effectively suppress the infection rate, recognising that a very low rate may not be possible, or even desirable amongst the categories of people who are at very low risk of severe illness.

This week I should have been inspecting some mines in Surrey for London Youth for outdoor centre usage.
That is cancelled.
I wonder how long it will be before we see outdoor centres re-open?
Lots of kids sharing dormitories and mines together can't really be socially distanced easily.
A lot of centres are going to go down the pan I think.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51994504 

That particular Sunday I went to Cwmystwyth to finish off the Freemans access then carried on to a digging project.

Started home on empty roads, Newtown Bypass was deserted, it looked weird, nothing all the way, empty Welshpool Bypass, then on the A5, traffic.

Shows what part of Wales they all go.

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I may be a Grumpy Old Man, but it does seem to me watching the punters punt over the years, that there really is a Crowd Culture in the UK. OK, there are packed places in the Third World, but a lot of Brits find a crowd irresistible. The Welsh pictures are just amazing. Perhaps some people need a crowd to feel "safe" and not to be sociable, but to be anonymous. The footpaths, and there are miles of them around our neck of the woods have never been busier - forget about social distancing - the Velos and the runners expect you to leap out of their way as they attempt their personal best. My wife and I found a relatively quiet towpath on a hot sunny day recently and stopped at a remote bridge over the canal which led to nowhere. Lo and behold, within five minutes a father an son duo on bikes had swept along the canal and stopped on the bridge right next to us.

The current method of operation for underground rescue teams is a problem.

Not only are you at risk from an unknown casualty but also from your team members. Masks aren't much use in this environment.

Explain how it's possible to rescue someone and still maintain social distance? Then stick us all in an enclosed space.

It's likely to be painful too as the analgesic of choice for broken bones etc. (Entonox) is not to be used for fear of promoting spray.

Oh and don't have a heart attack either - see Resus. Council Guidelines.

Afterwards we have a heap of potentially contaminated gear.

I'm not saying don't go underground, just make sure you know the risks associated with any accident. They are, thankfully rare but please be aware of the consequences.

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Your probably right

I have been giving the matter thought about this coming weekend. OK, so why does it have to be the weekend when everyone is likely to be out and about?
I am retired, but many off work anyway, so whats wrong with a weekday next week?

Just looked at one of the National Park websites, they dont agree with the governments decision but grudgingly going along. I would stay away, why does it have to be such a popular area?

Its all why, why, why. It seems the government want people to use common sense, hope springs eternal.

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:lol:Not only are you at risk from an unknown casualty but also from your team members. Masks aren't much use in this environment.

When I'm in a mine alone and take a photo with an ordinary flash I always get a hazy image with a mass of white orbs on. I've always assumed that was the light reflected on moisture droplets in my own breath? Is that indeed what it is?

I want to go underground, but I understand the risks to others, so I don't. They've just now pretty much opened up the whole surface of England to exploration again. I'm fairly sure I'm able to find something safe to do for a good while.

It scares me that someone will get unstuck down below and then when the press gets hold of it....!

When I'm in a mine alone and take a photo with an ordinary flash I always get a hazy image with a mass of white orbs on. I've always assumed that was the light reflected on moisture droplets in my own breath? Is that indeed what it is?

Yes

That and dust you've kicked up if the mine is dry.

In fact you'll find the problem can be at least partially solved if you stop and hold your breath for a few seconds.

When I'm in a mine alone and take a photo with an ordinary flash I always get a hazy image with a mass of white orbs on. I've always assumed that was the light reflected on moisture droplets in my own breath? Is that indeed what it is?

Yes

That and dust you've kicked up if the mine is dry.

In fact you'll find the problem can be at least partially solved if you stop and hold your breath for a few seconds.

Don't think breath holding for a few seconds would've dealt with this aerosol burden.

🔗103496[linkphoto]103496[/linkphoto][/link]

And there is some limited evidence the Covid-19 virus in very fine mist can float about certainly hours and possibly days, although the concentration levels fall quite quickly and become less of a potential hazard.

Jim

I did say partially solved :lol:

Then in light of that, perhaps a condition of going underground should for now, be based on your ability to hold you breath until after a rescue could be completed? :o:o:o

I may be a Grumpy Old Man, but it does seem to me watching the punters punt over the years, that there really is a Crowd Culture in the UK. OK, there are packed places in the Third World, but a lot of Brits find a crowd irresistible.

It's the 'Jesus' syndrome. Years ago I was at an all-night 'party' in a disused quarry in the Peak District (you can imagine the carnage), and as the sun came up, I decided to go and sit on a rock on my own and watch it, being a bit bored with the noise and crowd. After five minutes a woman came over and asked me what was wrong. I told her nothing, I just wanted to sit on my own for a bit. She suggested that was a bit grumpy and started chatting. Then her friend came over and sat down and rolled a joint, asking what the problem was. The woman said 'Oh this guy said I can't sit near him as he's special or something'. And they started having a conversation about me. Then two more arrived.

In five more minutes there was a crowd, all sitting around me, all wondering what was going on. I was still trying to explain my exasperation at this situation, which was steadily getting worse. I told her that the only way to ultimately resolve this was for me to reduce my communication to just two words, which I didn't want to use, and which she would find offensive, but I was running out of choices. I pointed to another rock about 50 metres away and told her that I was going over to that one now, and if she tried to join me I'd use the two words. She said "And what are they?" So I told her. And went and sat on my own, finally, though I could still hear her ranting away in the distance.

Anyway, the lesson of the story, which I realised in a 'moment of clarity' during my (ten-mile) walk home is - don't go to all-night parties, look really interesting and then go and sit on your own. It's rude :blink:

In five more minutes there was a crowd, all sitting around me, all wondering what was going on. I was still trying to explain my exasperation.....

I think you missed a trick there.
You're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty boy! :devil:

MARK

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I think you missed a trick there.
You're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty boy! :devil:

MARK

:lol::lol:

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I still live in fear that she's out there, somewhere, waiting to give me a big, sweaty goggle-eyed fifteen-minute hug for no reason at all - and then kick me in the nuts.

The icing on the cake was the return of the police, who had stated the evening before that the party was fine as long as was all packed up by 9am. It was now 10am, the party was still going (now resembling a battlefield with casualties sprawled everywhere), and I was desperately trying to revive a friend who'd chosen this very moment to fly to another spacetime continuum - though to an outside observer this resembled rolling around on the floor in the dirt with a zombie stare.

The cop said "I'm back in an hour mate, and if your girlfriend's not on her feet by then and this lot is still here, you're all nicked." I said "But she's not my girlfriend, and this isn't my party - I'm just trying to help". He just smiled and walked off, shooing away a family of day-trippers and their picnic, showing me his watch.

That's when I started walking home, over the moors instead of the road. Even the cop knew I was Jesus :angel:

PS - this is Millstone Edge Quarry near Grindleford, that does have some excellent siderite deposits on the working face - and no hippies any more.

I just remembered I have some good photos of this site, so I'll stick them up shortly 😉

I think you missed a trick there.
You're not the Messiah,

Yes, but if he had smoked enough of what everyone else was smoking, he would have eventually thought that he was

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Posted some pics - it's easy to see what it became a popular site for parties. I had to drag one guy down from that cliff when he decided to go 'free-climbing' at 3am with only a strobing UV light for illumination. That was definitely going to end in tears.

I guess I was a psychedelic park-keeper 😉

;D;D;D What more can one say? Most of them gather around you before the Whacky Baccky comes out, though!