Lockdown effect on fishing ?

[Peter Jacobs]

When it comes to making rules in times such as these it is worth remembering that there will always be those who think that they can find some "wiggle room" to support their chosen view . . . like;

"I can sit on my own and fish and never come into contact with anyone else"

A new rule or regulation has to be all encompassing, otherwise it will never be followed (and thereby be self defeating). . . is that such difficult concept to accept?

I saw this elsewhere and thought it sums up the position so very well . . . .

The effectiveness of lockdown depends on two main principles:

1. How dense the population is, and

2, How dense the population is . . . . .

 

[Krang]

People should also follow the guidelines on keeping themselves physically and mentally healthy though.

Here they are:

Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK

 

[steve2]

I have got to renew a club membership shortly(days)at the cost of £60(i dont qualify for an oap ticket as you have to be a member for five years),im not sure with the virus problems at present if I want to pay that for what may end up being six months or less fishing,if I survive,better to pay the membership that starts from June the 16th for my other club,im too practical for my own good...

My clubs have suspended all memberships for the time being and the season will start when we are told it's once again OK. They have already decided that next years 2021 close season on club lakes will be cancelled if the ban isn't lifted before June.

 

[laguna]

Gov advice (order) Stay at home, essential travel only!
Why not make some freezer baits for when we all get out to play again? You know like we used to do before commercial baits became the lazy option for the lazy man's sport... just an idea!

That is a very interesting point. I have never heard this mentioned before by all those giving advice on the box. I wonder if this is the reason for the amazingly speedy spread of it across continents.
On the face of it this would seem more to the point than the 6 feet rule.

Anyone know for sure from scientific studies if it can spread like that on the wind?

Yes John, the virus like all viruses can carry in the wind and has the potential to infect anyone downwind from you - for however many miles it can travel before it dies*.
4 hours at 12 miles per hour for example = distance of 48 miles.

Not that it's actually alive. It is neither alive nor dead - viruses exist in the form of independent particles, or virions. They are alternative life forms for all intents and purposes. They are replicators, parasites.

How big is this covid-19 virus?
About one hundred nanometres across... that's one ten thousandth of a millimetre... or put another way - a pin head of 2mm across can fit 20,000 viruses all lined up side by side with room to spare!

Will wearing a mask stop the virus particles getting through?
Only the more specialised fitted masks are effective. If you were to hold up a cheap paper mask to the light you would be able to see right through it. The gaps between the fibres on such a scale are huge in comparison - allowing thousands of particles through at a time.

The infectious dose is thought to be just 20 particles!

Stay indoors.

 

[no-one in particular]

Will wearing a mask stop the virus particles getting through?
Only the more specialised fitted masks are effective. If you were to hold up a cheap paper mask to the light you would be able to see right through it. The gaps between the fibres on such a scale are huge in comparison - allowing thousands of particles through at a time.

The infectious dose is thought to be just 20 particles!

Stay indoors.

My home made mask is a tea towel with a piece of polythene taped in side it. Fold over and tie round the mouth and nose. I change it every couple of days and disinfect the old one in a bucket of bleach and tape a fresh bit of polythene in the new one, throwing the old bit away.

 

[nottskev]

I posted links to lab tests which concluded that even home-made masks provide a worthwhile degree of protection. Those who have talked down their usefulness for virus-free people nonetheless state they are effective in preventing spread by infected people. Since reducing both catching and spread are two sides of the same coin, I don't see what the case against masks is, particularly since, if generally worn, they might prevent people who don't know they're carrying from spreading.

There are arguments that mask-wearing might breed a false sense of security, and mask wearing prompts some to keep putting hands to faces to re-position etc. Well, people - you'd hope - can learn, and maybe seat belts and crash helmets promote faster, riskier driving and riding in some; the benefits are still considered to outweigh the risks.

I'd add that wearing masks is a visual signal that reminds people that things aren't normal and helps maintain the understanding that caution and keeping distance are required.

 

[Krang]

I posted links to lab tests which concluded that even home-made masks provide a worthwhile degree of protection. Those who have talked down their usefulness for virus-free people nonetheless state they are effective in preventing spread by infected people. Since reducing both catching and spread are two sides of the same coin, I don't see what the case against masks is, particularly since, if generally worn, they might prevent people who don't know they're carrying from spreading.

There are arguments that mask-wearing might breed a false sense of security, and mask wearing prompts some to keep putting hands to faces to re-position etc. Well, people - you'd hope - can learn, and maybe seat belts and crash helmets promote faster, riskier driving and riding in some; the benefits are still considered to outweigh the risks.

I'd add that wearing masks is a visual signal that reminds people that things aren't normal and helps maintain the understanding that caution and keeping distance are required.

Japanese wear masks all the time and they have it pretty under control relative to most places. Also, even before this they had hand sanitiser at entrances to many buildings. When you go into an 'izakaya', which is like a pub/restaurant, everyone gets given a wet towel to clean their hands.

Them using masks so often, basically when ever they have a cold, means that they're normal everyday items so all the shops there hold sock. Sadly not the case here. The 'masks don't work' message is most likely due to the shortage. Common sense dictates that if they protect a nurse against the virus they would protect anyone else too.

 

[nottskev]

With masks and other precautions, it's easy to fall into seeing one side of an interaction. My local hospital has long discouraged people from coming in unless they had a very good reason. I thought it was so visitors wouldn't catch things from all those sick people! In fact, it was primarily to protect the patients from people bringing in their infections.

The city I live in has a large population of Chinese students. They often, in pre-virus times, wear masks in the streets. I used to think it was either a bit paranoid or a sarcastic comment on the air quality (apparently it's not great here, anyway) but I now realise it was thoughtfully keeping their own germs to themselves.

 

[Krang]

Maybe after this its a cultural norm more countries will adopt. People probably should think more about the transmission of illnesses more generally. Flu kills people too and sick people wearing masks would also prevent the transmission of flu. I bet the police with with their facial recognition cameras aren't very keen on that idea tho.

 

[108831]

Japan is in a state of panic at the moment,things are worsening after an announcement by their prime minister...yesterday i believe...

 

[Krang]

Japan is in a state of panic at the moment,things are worsening after an announcement by their prime minister...yesterday i believe...

They have a lot of elderly people due to such a long average lifespan, so it could potentially be quite nasty there. It seems they're trying to prevent rather than mitigate an outbreak, and so putting in restrictive measures earlier than most other countries. They closed schools about a month ago.

I'd be interested to see the announcement you're talking about if you could post a link.

 

[nottskev]

Someone else can comment on the situation in Japan. I'm seeing that in Ireland, 7.4 people per 100,000 are dying of the virus; in UK 17 people per 100,000. Why are we dying at more than twice the rate of our neighbours?

When they were cancelling St Patrick's Day celebrations, we went ahead with a 250,000 festival of horse-racing, to the horror of many, but not our government. When the Irish were closing schools and universities , we were being told to wash our hands.

 

[Aknib]

When they were cancelling St Patrick's Day celebrations, we went ahead with a 250,000 festival of horse-racing, to the horror of many, but not our government. When the Irish were closing schools and universities , we were being told to wash our hands.

Got to admit Kev that when I saw on the news that Cheltenham was going ahead I shook my head, half in disbelief and half in despair.

There was the usual interview with some big wig to do with the event but even that seemed painful to watch, with an awkward transparency which seemed to confirm that they were 'following government advice' but really knew at heart that it wasn't a good idea.

I think somewhere therein lies the answer.

££££££££££££££££££££££££'s.

Quite ironic really that, had we adopted sensible measures in a sensible time line, it would probably have cost a fraction of what it is now likely to cost and that's just money.

Human life is the greater cost.

 

[mikench]

We are being led by science but are we being led over a cliff?

It's difficult to say more without delving into politics but the very nurses and doctors who are dying to help us in our hospitals are either immigrants or their children. Priti Patel should hang her head in shame. The Pm has thanked by name two immigrant NHS staff who looked after him and to whom he owes his life yet belong to a group he and his party have vilified.

Remember that the science is the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE) which has as a member Prof Jeremy Farrar, he of the " we may be the worst affected country in Europe" quote. So how did we get here . I continue to despair.

I still consider we are very badly governed. If the science , like a stupid satnav, leads us off a cliff we are doomed.

 

[nottskev]

"Following the science" is a phrase that needs to be examined, not swallowed. There is no one scientific view; many eminent scientists disagree with and dispute the views of the particular group of scientific advisers the government employ. They can be seen to have shifted their position, to have under-estimated the consequences of their early advice, and the government ignored some of it in further playing down the danger in the early stages. Governments of every country claim to be led by science; why should ours be less effective than than "science" helping other countries to manage the virus at much lower cost to the population? Governments can take advice, but they can't hide behind it.

 

[mikench]

I repeat we are badly governed.

 

[nottskev]

I repeat we are badly governed.

I entirely agree, Mike - just unpacking that phrase they trot out in defence of decisions.

 

[mikench]

I know Kev. I believe it's called passing the buck.

 

[108831]

They have a lot of elderly people due to such a long average lifespan, so it could potentially be quite nasty there. It seems they're trying to prevent rather than mitigate an outbreak, and so putting in restrictive measures earlier than most other countries. They closed schools about a month ago.

I'd be interested to see the announcement you're talking about if you could post a link.

I believe it was on an early morning news bulletin on the BBC,so sadly I cant im afraid...

 

[108831]

British governments always have passed the buck,what I find incredible is how people on a fishing forum know more from google than the govts army of medical and science experts,surely we must accept each country has different lifestyles,ethnic variations,person per household variations,,population densities where outbreaks occur,,thats without the realisation that figures from China must be lies,or at best poor data,do they register all deaths in India,China,I certainly dont know the answer to that,the data for every variation in population must affect infection rates and death rates,we love to blame our governments,but Donald Trump is going to get punched and bored on that basis,the country is talking about going back to work without any real slowdown,as it seems it hasnt reached all parts of the country yet....