Author Topic: 24/05/20  (Read 3415 times)

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Offline Maik

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24/05/20
« on: Sunday, 24 May, 2020 @ 08:34:10 »
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You're more likely to get coronavirus in Yorkshire than Greece... so a mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals into the UK is bonkers, say DAVID DAVIS and DAVID BLUNKETT

The Home Secretary's policy is a devastating blow for anyone hoping to holiday abroad this summer, for the airline industry and for British international businesses.

Priti Patel argued that it was right to introduce the measures from June 8 rather than at the beginning of the lockdown because this would be when 'it will be the most effective'.

This does not make sense. If ever there was a right time for travel restrictions, it was at the beginning of the pandemic when it could have flattened the curve.

In February, the World Health Organisation gave guidance on the effectiveness of travel restrictions.

It said such measures 'may only be justified at the beginning of an outbreak, as they may allow countries to gain time, even if only a few days, to rapidly implement effective preparedness measures'.

But the UK decided not to go down that path, unlike countries such as Australia and South Korea, and Hong Kong, which banned travel from the Hubei province in China and then imposed restrictions on inbound travellers from all countries as well as a strict 14-day quarantine on anyone entering their country.

Not only is the timing of the Government's announcement odd, but the effectiveness of the strategy is questionable.

Greece has said international flights to tourist destinations will start to resume gradually from July 1.

But not many British tourists will fly to Greece if they have to undergo two weeks' quarantine after they come home.

This will be particularly true for those who've scrimped to pay for what is certainly not the kind of 'big, lavish international holiday' referred to by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Also, who'll pay any cancellation fees? It won't be the Greek hotel or the airline – as it's not their fault.

Will the Government pay? After all, it is their fault. We doubt it.

Here's betting it will be families who have to scrap their holiday.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8351279/A-mandatory-14-day-quarantine-arrivals-bonkers-say-DAVID-DAVIS-DAVID-BLUNKETT.html

Even if the UK drops the quarantine requirement it's questionable whether Greece would admit UK arrivals from 01 July.

Offline Maik

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Re: 24/05/20
« Reply #1 on: Sunday, 24 May, 2020 @ 08:38:07 »
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Coronavirus: UK holidaymakers face bans from Mediterranean sun spots
‘Sick man of Europe’ image grows as France launches tit-for-tat quarantine from 8 June

British travellers hoping to reach parts of the Mediterranean this summer face new barriers – partly in reaction to the government’s imposition of quarantine, and partly due to the high incidence of coronavirus in the UK.

The French embassy in London has tweeted: “France will reciprocally ask travellers arriving from the UK to go into #quarantine.”

The move follows the announcement that all visitors to the UK from 8 June will be required on arrival to spend 14 days in self-isolation at home.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/coronavirus-uk-holiday-quarantine-france-cyprus-travel-ban-a9529721.html

Offline Maik

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Re: 24/05/20
« Reply #2 on: Sunday, 24 May, 2020 @ 08:46:23 »
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Coronavirus: Dominic Cummings 'made second lockdown trip'

The prime minister's chief aide Dominic Cummings is facing fresh allegations that he breached lockdown rules.

He and the government had said he acted "reasonably and legally" by driving from London to County Durham while his wife had coronavirus symptoms.

The Observer and Sunday Mirror are now reporting he was seen in the North East on two more occasions, after recovering from his own Covid-19 symptoms and returning to work in London.

No 10 said the story is "inaccurate".

Ministers have said Mr Cummings and his wife had chosen to self-isolate at a property adjacent to other family members in case they needed help with childcare.

Speaking to reporters outside his home in London on Saturday, he said he would not be resigning and had done the "right thing" by travelling 260 miles with his wife and young son to be near relatives when she developed Covid-19 symptoms at the end of March.

However, the two newspapers said witnesses have reported seeing Mr Cummings in Barnard Castle, more than 25 miles from Durham, on 12 April.

On 14 April, he was seen in London. According to the reports, he was spotted again in Houghall Woods near Durham on 19 April.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52786206

Offline Maik

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Re: 24/05/20
« Reply #3 on: Sunday, 24 May, 2020 @ 13:30:47 »
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Man fined for animal cruelty and not wearing face mask after wrestling with bear at Polish zoo
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/poland-zoo-face-mask-animal-cruelty-bear-zoo-warsaw-a9529816.html


Offline Maik

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Re: 24/05/20
« Reply #4 on: Sunday, 24 May, 2020 @ 19:54:26 »
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Boris Johnson announces schools will reopen on 1 June as UK enters phase 2 of lockdown exit

The partial reopening of primary schools will go ahead as planned on 1 June as part of phase 2 of the lockdown exit strategy, Boris Johnson has announced.

The announcement was made in the face of widespread opposition from unions and councils, who have voiced concern about the risks of allowing reception, year one and year six pupils back into the classroom. Early-years settings such as nurseries will also reopen from 1 June, while in secondaries, years 10 and 12 will start having sessions with teachers from 15 June, said the prime minister.

It came as Mr Johnson attempted to move on from the controversy over his senior aide Dominic Cummings’ apparent breach of lockdown rules.

The prime minister made clear that he was not sacking Cummings, who travelled 260 miles across the country to a house near his parents home in Durham at a time when his wife was already sick with coronavirus.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-exit-strategy-stage-2-boris-johnson-a9530651.html

Offline Maik

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Re: 24/05/20
« Reply #5 on: Sunday, 24 May, 2020 @ 21:59:16 »


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'Arrogant and offensive': Civil service's official Twitter account reacts to Boris Johnson's vocal defence of Dominic Cummings
Tweet is removed after 10 minutes, but not before almost 40,000 people have 'liked' it

Following Boris Johnson’s defence of Dominic Cummings at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing, the official UK Civil Service Twitter feed sent out the message: “Arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these truth twisters?”

The tweet was removed within about 10 minutes of first appearing on the micro-blogging website, but not before it had been shared by around 25,000 users and liked by almost 40,000.

And Harry Potter author JK Rowling offered to donate a year's salary to whoever was responsible.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-dominic-cummings-tweet-civil-service-arrogant-offensive-a9530706.html