Coronavirus

[sandall]

We also finally got a message from Tesco saying they couldn't offer us a delivery slot for months because we are not on the vulnerable list which they were sent from HMG Westminster and only contains the details of English vulnerable people.

Is this one for your local MP? You could try one of the nationals, but it sounds like they are inundated with delivery slot questions, or maybe a personal appeal to Tesco CEO with all your supporting evidence?

[the kid]

Stay safe, Gerry. Today we got her indoors' letter from the Welsh CMO telling her to stay indoors for 12 weeks as a "shielded vulnerable person".

 

We also finally got a message from Tesco saying they couldn't offer us a delivery slot for months because we are not on the vulnerable list which they were sent from HMG Westminster and only contains the details of English vulnerable people.

 

 

 

Just seen from which that apparently if you contact local authority you can get a food box from them weekly (If you are both on the list you get 2)

 

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/04/how-can-coronavirus-vulnerable-households-get-food-deliveries/

[Stuart91]

Amazon will also do food deliveries, they seem to stock mainly non-perishable items but could be a useful way to top up. The handful of non-food deliveries that I've had are taking 3-4 days to arrive rather than the usual overnight service, but that's still probably better than waiting on a supermarket delivery slot.

[sandall]

Just seen from which that apparently if you contact local authority you can get a food box from them weekly (If you are both on the list you get 2)

https://www.which.co...ood-deliveries/

Well spotted - some useful info in there. I had been about to suggest the local Council, though it depends how organised they are. The Council won't know who is in need, but their Elections staff can easily sort out who is over 70. Our Elections people are pretty on the ball, so quite quickly got a letter out to all over-70's on the Electoral Roll saying "do you need help?" & are now running a food parcel production line.

[dbuckley]

This meme has been doing the rounds in New Zealand, describing our lockdown...

 

[kerry davies]

Do you earn 50% or more of your income from live music/touring crew or venue staff of any kind?

 

Look here!

[MarkPAman]

Looks like just for the US?

[Bryson]

So we just got a new set of rules here in Ontario. Of note:

 

"Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier is required between the audience and singers as well as players of brass or wind instruments". How much is a 40'x20' piece of Plexiglass these days? ;)

[the kid]

So we just got a new set of rules here in Ontario. Of note:

 

"Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier is required between the audience and singers as well as players of brass or wind instruments". How much is a 40'x20' piece of Plexiglass these days? ;)

 

 

and how heavy.

 

more important how do you light a sheet of glass ?

 

It was mentioned by Lloyd Webber a few weeks ago that it had been mooted to him and he "really hoped it was not a serious consideration"

[ImagineerTom]

It was a serious recommendation in early versions of the guidance...

[Ynot]

Has anyone seen any results from the ALW Palladium trials?

Last I heard it was some time in July, but seen or heard no more yet. And we're half way to August...

[ImagineerTom]

DCMS have suddenly gone all-in on Butlins for some reason. The official sanctioned trial of circus is taking place there, as is outdoor concerts and indoor performances. Expect announcements of the results early august.

 

 

Some would suggest there is no plan and the government are just making random announcements and lurching from scheme to scheme without any properly considered plan.......

[GridGirl]

So we just got a new set of rules here in Ontario. Of note:

 

"Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier is required between the audience and singers as well as players of brass or wind instruments". How much is a 40'x20' piece of Plexiglass these days? ;)

 

Plexiglass in front of brass players is an absolute recipe for disaster. There’s some interesting research starting to happen on transmission via instruments though: https://smtd.colostate.edu/reducing-bioaerosol-emissions-and-exposures-in-the-performing-arts/

[Ynot]

I think I've already expressed my (depressingly pessimistic) gut feelings here before, but may be worthy repeating.

And as I manage a volunteer run 250 seat venue, this cuts deeper than some.

 

First the general stuff...

1. The virus is going nowhere. A vaccine - even if it were announced today - would take many months of clinical trials before being available for mass use.

2. They've said that there is a second, more infectious, strain already here and other strains may follow as the virus goes around.

3. The R rate in the UK is currently 0.7 to 0.9, but in England that's slightly higher at 0.8 to 1.0.

4. Whilst the parties, demonstrations, beach crowding etc haven't (yet) delivered the feared huge spike, (which does surprise me a little) those were mainly outdoor 'things' so maybe had a lower risk factor.

5. It's perhaps more likely that the spike will come when offices, shops, bars, and hairdressers and the like start to pick up their business, despite all the recommendations for safeguards.

6. It's a well established fact that schools are literally a melting pot of germs and the kids can be very effective carriers - schools ARE being tasked with a lot of measures (wife is a primary teacher) but when they all get back in September it will (at least at first) be like trying to herd cats keeping them apart.

 

The bits that directly affect 'us'...

7. Gathering people in a seated venue with NO social distancing is probably the single biggest risk to cross-infection.

8. Audience wearing masks for shows may mitigate SOME of that risk, but unlikely to be enough. It will also be very uncomfortable for punters when they're supposed to be enjoying the event.

9. Distancing in a theatre environment is not going to be viable. Many venues have looked at this (including mine) and the MAX we can get with just a 1m spacing (ie 2 seats either side and 1 front/back) has been modelled at 35%. If we stick to 2m, that figure drops to just 19%. No venue, or production company will be able to sustain any performances at those numbers - many rely on an average of 75 to 80% just to break even.

10. Cast and crew will by definition be very hard pressed to distance, and the fact that shows are pretty much full of personal contact and in many shows literally so (romantic elements...) which puts them at higher risk immediately.

11. Even with regular testing and monitoring of cast & crew (and maybe heat sensing equipment for audience as they enter) that's no guarantee of being a carrier - it's well established that people can easily be infected but asymptomatic.

12. A national survey from Indigo with a rather high response rate of 62,000 so far showed that audience confidence in booking at the moment is low - only 17% are thinking of booking just now. The reports make interesting reading.

13. Many large west end and regional venues aren't expecting to be able to open any time soon. Cam Mac has said he won't start up until at least March, Frozen, I know start rehearsals in Feb for a March start date. The Brum Hippo has already said all shows are off until November at least and if QDOS don't get a decision on a firm plan by August 3rd, then they'll be pulling ALL their pantos.

 

None of this is of course news to many people here. And it does look very doomy and gloomy, but that's because it IS.

Many in the biz have publicly accepted and stated - "Theatre was the first to close down and will be the last to re-open" and that's pretty much the size of it. I really do feel that we are on a very long road to recovery here. Because if we CAN'T get the production and the audience back in place safely in enough numbers to warrant it, then the risks are too high for the health of all involved.

 

This magic 1.57 billion (that's partially loans, not just grants btw) has few if any details made public yet so we have no idea what it's supposed to be for, who or what will get anything and whether it might be used to extend the furlough of those currently benefiting from it til the end of August.

[timsabre]

4. Whilst the parties, demonstrations, beach crowding etc haven't (yet) delivered the feared huge spike, (which does surprise me a little) those were mainly outdoor 'things' so maybe had a lower risk factor.

 

I am getting off the point but surely this is just down to probability. Although the photos of "crowds" have been widely put about by the media, in fact it was a relatively small number of people compared to the whole population, so the chance of transmission is low.A lot of the population is still hunkered down and not going out - which seems to be enough to keep the virus under control. As people return to general circulation, that's when it could start to build again.