Riding our Scooters Again?

[Data]

Good point wightegi. Public Health England hasn't detected even one case of influenza either this year. Just shows how good a lock down is against transmittable diseases. And let us not forget that much of europe is going back into lockdowns due to idiots spreading the disease about again. So far it's looking good for us with the vaccination program outpacing every other country in the world. Riding our scooters (legally) is just around the corner.

[MrGrumpy]

Have you had the `common cold` over the last year ?

Not a lot of it about which shows that distancing and face covers work .

Interesting that you say that....I've had a chesty cough off & on for a while, which suddenly got much worse when I got what seemed to be a cold. Eventually managed to discuss this with my GP, who said no-one's getting a cold, it may have been Covid! Bit sceptical of this as I had none of the normal covid symptoms. Since then, almost everyone I've spoken to has said 'Well, I've had a cold' - so there's either a lot more colds around that we think (after all, its not a matter to hassle GPs with), or half the country has had Covid without knowing it!! Either way, these sneaky germs aren't ones to let social distancing and face coverings put them off spreading!!

[Data]

Oh yes Grumpy. Many in the country have had or still have Covid without knowing it as they have no symptoms. They just spread the disease. The latest testing carried out by Public Health England shows that 42% of the population that has been tested randomly across the country, has, or carries the Covid 19 virus without knowing it. That's not half the population of the country, just the population that has been tested. Although the extrapolation they make is that it will be half the country. This is what makes going out so dangerous and why we have a lockdown. You just don't know who has it and must assume everyone is carrying the disease. In my town 1 in 12 people were infected at one point.

On the point about you catching Covid. It's not normal to get a runny nose with it so it's unlikely you have had Covid. My symptoms were the usual loss of taste and smell, slight temperature and a feeling of fatigue and no appetite. I recovered after a week or so but it did leave me feeling generally unwell for a bit longer. My wife suffered a sore throat with the usual Covid symptoms as well but no temperature. She was very ill for 3 weeks. Because she has had two brain operations very recently she was tested for Covid as was I. But it does affect folks differently. My neighbours both were hospitalised with blood clots and heart attacks cause by Covid. Both tested positive. Both survived but both have now been damaged by Covid and will likely die early because of it. It makes me giggle that most of the EU has suspended vaccination with the AZ vaccine because of the tiniest number of blood clot cases without evidence to support that. Don't they realise that many people die from blood clots if you catch Covid anyway? One of the first things that happens is your blood thickens. I say thank goodness we are not part of their chaotic approach to vaccination, but it's the usual Brussels cock up. We have relatives all over 'urop' and not one of them can get a vaccination.

One thing is for sure. Riding our scooters is way more fun that catching Covid. I've done both!

[wightegi]

Funny about people not knowing they hd it ,when this all started a year ago I was working in the local hospital going round the wards selling newspapers sweets all sorts gin prosecco cigs .. weel not all of it but I sold a lot of cough sweets to staff there were a lot of persistent coughs about I even had one . And that was the end of my job furloughed and then redundant in October last . I am just back again as a volunteer but also am a member of the National Coastwatch so use the Scooter to go to the Needles , I have a letter that explains I am a member of HM Coastguard and a key worker and allowed to travel .
During lock down I also did the Amature radio foundation exam and now have a licence ,it is easy to do online if you look for Essex Ham you can sign up for free .

73 from M7MTN

[MrGrumpy]

Well, if half the country has had Covid (with or without knowing it), and the elderly have been vaccinated, then we really ought to be at or close to the fabled herd immunity!

[Data]

Yeah Grumpy, sadly it doesn't work like that. If someone carries the disease without knowing it they just spread it, but they can eventually become vulnerable themselves to new variants. In addition any anti-bodies they develop that may protect them from the initial infection doesn't last very long. In testing some who carry the disease seem to become fully vulnerable again and can fall ill. It also means the more the virus spreads the more variants will develop so it's hugely important that we as a population follow the covid rules without deviation until we get vaccinated (source: BBC news and my cousin who is a microbiologist and virologist).

[Data]

Funny about people not knowing they hd it ,when this all started a year ago I was working in the local hospital going round the wards selling newspapers sweets all sorts gin prosecco cigs .. weel not all of it but I sold a lot of cough sweets to staff there were a lot of persistent coughs about I even had one . And that was the end of my job furloughed and then redundant in October last . I am just back again as a volunteer but also am a member of the National Coastwatch so use the Scooter to go to the Needles , I have a letter that explains I am a member of HM Coastguard and a key worker and allowed to travel .
During lock down I also did the Amature radio foundation exam and now have a licence ,it is easy to do online if you look for Essex Ham you can sign up for free .

73 from M7MTN

Envious of you being able to ride up and down the coast! Good on yer and well done!

[Whatsisname]

Apparently some are roaming free! Our Dorset Doc Bike coldn't save this one. RIP

[Data]

Yeah, that's a sad story.

Another point to be aware of is that if anyone is out driving or riding without a good reason, if you have an accident or are stopped by the police your insurers have reserved the right to alter, reduce or withdraw your insurance cover because it is illegal to be out during lockdown. This is according to the ABI and repeated in other mags and coered on the tv.

[smeghead]

I have just taken this from a Q&A page on ABI website. Link here: https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-iss ... insurance/

Q If I drive during the lockdown period, will my insurance be invalidated?
A Your cover will not be affected if you drive during the lockdown period. However, all motorists should follow Government advice and avoid non-essential travel.