Social distancing UK style - Page 3

Spain usually welcomes 18 million Brits per year, if airlines are going to be running 40% of routes, that is 7.2 million, many of which will be heading to the Costas during July, August and September so I don't call that a few even if just 1 million Brits come this year, what about all the other nationalities who will be heading here for their holidays? I sincerely hope that however many come that their presence does go unnoticed.

 The only figures I look at are the number of deaths above normal as all countries record deaths differently. Belgium seems to have taken a battering because they record every death that is in any way suspected to be linked to Covid where others only count those tested.
There is no doubt that Spain had a much stricter lockdown than the UK. Whilst it seemed so many people in the UK suddenly discovered the cult of exercise, we were still confined to our houses, dogs being walked within metres of our homes, parks closed, no lava lamps from Leroys or a walk along the beach, we couldn't even venture further than 1 km from our homes until very recently. Coastal towns are working hard to ensure social distancing on beaches, masks to be worn in public where distancing cannot be guaranteed and  mandatory on public transport.

Tourist areas in the UK are worried, why shouldn't we be? We've been out to stock up so we can go back to phase 0 once the tourists arrive even though we live in the countryside inland.

No, Spain recorded no deaths yesterday from the virus. If the borders were to open and irresponsible people from anywhere who don't and haven't given a damn arrive from heavily infected areas the increased cases will certainly be noticed. We Know where it goes from there, we are just getting back from it.

UK does not have highest death rate in Europe. That would be Belgium.

And non-covid health has taken a back seat to covid health so the good news is that you've avoided Covid19 but the bad news is that you're going to die from the treatable cancer that was left untreated.

Was not the point I was making.

https://voxeu.org/article/excess-mortality-england-european-outlier-covid-19-pandemic 

This says different.

RayD, my statement and prediction is based purely on the theory All countries are obviously extremely anxious to kickstart their economies ASAP. Rightly or wrongly ,this alone will be the main factor that opens up the borders, and I see that happening like an out of control Steamroller from next month onwards. 

Time will tell.

LeckyLes 

Agreed.....but it was the point I was making building on the point you were making. I think that's how the forum works?

This is weekly peak variations in total mortality numbers not a cumulative measure of Covid deaths per million of population which is the best (although imperfect) measure of rate.

Hi Cheryl,

Yes some South Coast tourist area are complaining. But these same people/areas also complain just as loud when the tourists don't come and their income is badly affected. I'd venture the same is true for many on the Coatas. 

What's important is to look behind the tabloid headlines and develop practical solutions that first and foremost keep everyone safe whilst protecting the local infrastructure/ecomomy. If that doesn't happen many of these places will largely die out.

But I agree with you about numbers. Only this morning Matt Hancock has been 'slammed' by the UK Statistical Authority for "grossly inaccurate" testing figures the government has been publishing. Death rate, based only on those you have tested positive, is also very misleading. So like you I prefer to use the ONS "excess deaths" as the most accurate reference at present. This stands at ~62,000

Oh, and just for the record, I moved my May-July flights to Sept-Oct and don't intend to travel before then. I want to see what happens as governments across Europe relax the restrictions before heading to Spain; for my own safety & everyone else's. 

Take care

Paul