London moved to tier 3, think that ends any hope of us in the NE going down to tier 2

Spot on.

Faster spreading variants of Covid down here,record redundancies.what a depressing read.What does the future hold for 2021

So despite the fact Durham cases have been leveling off for months we're still in tier 3 because reasons. This literally gives people zero incentive to follow any sort of rules.

The government have routinely fawned over London for too long at every other regions expense. The fact they didn't initially enter into tier 3 is still a disgrace.

could be too little too late. going back to the original strict lockdown measure we had in spring may have been a better idea. in fact if they really want to control the virus over the most unhealthy period of the year i could live with one from now till the end of february. not as severe restrictions as the first one but more like the second. some will be up in arms as their great aunt maud cannot have christmas dinner with them this year as she is on her own. she,ll be on her own for the other 364 days a year so what. missing just one festival in someones lifetime is not a big deal looking at the wider picture.

You obviously don’t have an aunt Maud. I fully understand the rules but you obviously don’t realise how much this is hurting when your loved one is in a care home and you cannot just give them a hug. To be honest I’m absolutely in bits not seeing my wife.

sorry about your situation and i think care home visiting should actually be relaxed for those who wish to see loved ones. however this is far removed from for me for letting things all rip at christmas where really its a day for kids more than anyone else and the family in the house itself. the whole day anyway has become a glorified festival of the shops where people feel they have to do this, that and another just to really fit in with the rest. i imagine the debt people get into for 1 day of a year is quite frightening and how many other blokes are feeling like i did years ago. the dread of spending a day with the in laws looking at their watch and counting down the hours. all this plus the spread of a virus and other illnesses for the new year.

Both my parents have defied the odds to have survived the year out johnjo.One of the worst things for me has to be the fact they don't understand what's happened in the world, but do they question why their only surviving son has stopped visiting and abandoned them.

It'll be all Tier 4 talk next month.. covid meets winter flu,our first winter together..

If these journals say it the government needs to take notice and act.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... e-reversed

you do not need to be a medical expert to know than in normal times we are entering the worst time of the year for deaths and illness. just look back at your own lives may prove this for a start plus the sickness at work.

Starmer had the chance to vote on the tiers a fortnight ago but decided to sit on the fence.

Looks like Tom Cruise is a proper tough guy..anyone hear his rant on the mission impossible set..

I'm with you on this one Mr Accrington. As for Johnjo, you have my sympathies , but surely your wife will be at the front of the queue for any vaccine? although people in East Durham are up in arms at the moment as this weeks planned vaccine of those most in need, have been cancelled.

Government could of jumped on Covid about 5 months ago when the death rate was less than 20 a day.
Sacrafised a bit of people's social life's to reduce or keep the death rate to a minimum.
Just something simple like making the face mask compulsory would of saved thousands goin to the Boneyard.
Boris playing Santa over Xmas but will blame everyone but himself when the hospital's n Nightingales are rammed all over the country in February.

Everyone glad to see the back of 2020 , but everything suggests 2021 will be no better, and we have Brexit to contend with as well. The first few months of 2021 should be very interesting indeed.

I think if we had no easing at Xmas, people would have just done what they wanted anyway and the inevitable spike would have occurred. What the authorities are doing is a bit of reverse psychology by giving the impression of being sympathetic on the one hand but asking us to be sensible on the other.
If things get out of hand they'll simply say we asked you to behave as adults and use your common sense but you ignored the advice.
We always have to remember that we are dealing with politicians and, in my humble experience, they never sprint to the front of the queue when blame is being distributed.
I can never understand why people get surprised about it.

Very true Mr H.

Heard that the Astra Zeneca vaccine will be authored next week.
This is the Oxford one which will be the gamechanger in the UK.
Hopefully rolled out by the end of the year.

Can you post a link Mr Blue please. TA.

This calculator estimates where you are in the queue to receive a COVID vaccine in the UK.

It is based on the nine-point priority list released by the UK government, which you can view here.
https://www.omnicalculator.com/health/vaccine-queue-uk

Heard it from a senior NHS manager but dont tell anyone as Boris wants to announce it.

If aged 62 it says 18 million in queue with date between mid April to mid May. Is this just based on only one vaccine being available yet 2 more are imminent plus others in pipeline?
Hope we don't have to wait that long.

Mum's the word.

Drum roll.
Maybe the week after next.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ ... ine-agency

Horrendous figures from yesterday.
39000 new covid infections.
744 covid deaths.
Track n Trace
Tier systems
Lockdowns
Haven't been very good have they.
Tier 5 next!

No end in sight. Can't see much changing before Easter, other than more and more getting vaccinated, which has to be a good thing.

Still ! There is always Brexit to look forward to

Let's see how the PR of the PM handle the current issues?

' The good news is we have a trade deal and the Astra Zeneca vaccines is now approved but the whole country is into tier 4 till March
Will this be Saturday Sunday or Monday?

Nationwide lockdown on January 2nd, it even conveniently falls on a saturday. Calling it now.

Still ! There is always Brexit to look forward to [/quote]



Farage can deal with von der Leyen and Macron.Let Boris enjoy his lunch tomorrow.

As the French are apparently going forward FISH by FISH we HADDOCK very good chance of having to get our SKATES on before any sort of FINish is in sight.
On a SCALE of 1 to 10 can anyone foreCAST which way Nicola STURGEON will go.
Alex SALMONd COD give us an indication.
TRAWLING through the LINES of claptrap it appears there is a lot of FLOUNDERing and FILLETTing out of said claptrap.
We shall have to SEA.

Farage can deal with von der Leyen and Macron.Let Boris enjoy his lunch tomorrow. [/quote]

POLLOCKS to the EU's demands.

All over 60s to get the jab within weeks in Isreal.
Interesting.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-v ... e-happier/

Isreal here I come!!!

announce 981 deaths , Fookin ell !

And people still think it's a load of shit!

I was in Lidl today and everyone had masks on....apart from a black couple in their mid thirties and they are supposed to be at a higher risk. I was tempted to ask why but thought I'd be wasting my time if they don't get it by now.

Anyone watched DEATH OF 2020 on Netflix? A tongue in cheek summing up of this crazy year in a nutshell.

And a good few at that ..no class divide may i add.

https://twitter.com/nigel_farage/status ... 9314691072






No mention in the New Years Honours List mr horden?..what a absolute disgrace

its not a load of shit but there are other facts to look at. still under 400 died under 60 without other pre existing medical problems and still a 99 per cent chance of recovery after contracting the virus. the health service at this time of year have regularly been busy for norman respitatory illnesses without this virus, so what do people expect.

Getting totally pissed off by all Government decisions being made primarily with London in mind. Its about time the leaders of the other regions got together to agree and implement policies applicable to the rest of the UK. Effectively a non London de facto Government.

are other countries totally obsessed by their capital and the area around it as we are. at times you think the country ends at the M25. this seems getting worse year after year.

SNP have the right idea , get out of the farkin thing altogether

Would be interesting.

Devolution by the back door is needed. Shame the North voted against it years ago with a very low turnout as I remember. Certainly areas like the north's regions could cooperate and make their own covid rules for the benifit of the community not the politicians of Westminster.

Why does the clown need to hold a press conference at 8pm when he could make any announcement of rule changes now so people can plan. Scotland have sorted it.

No. Only Israeli citizens over-60s qualify for the jab. Palestinians living in the occupied territories can go whistle. Disgraceful of the article you cite to suggest that they are 'reluctant' to come forward. They're not covered by the vaccination plan.