I’ve heard a stop on all overnight activity has just been issued in SNI, think this will happen in other Regions or the Commandant will issue it nationally?
Indeed looking on Sharepoint this seems to be the case. SE Scotland Wing’s latest update says:
- No overnights are presently permitted for day training with the situation to be reviewed after 17 Jan 22.
Also interesting that it says:
- All staff and cadets should undertake an LFT before or earlier on the day of the Sqn parade or day training.
- This is in line with the SG guidance for LFT testing of school pupils on return and twice-weekly, and an LFT for persons meeting other households/groups.
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So… 26th Jan, looks exceptionally likely that the Govt are going to scrap all ‘plan b’ measures.
Any chance HQAC will grow a pair and remove the 1+m distancing rule?
I can put up with masks for as long as we have to on Sqn. Even if we look daft when compared to the real world. But the 1+m thing is rediculous.
Prevents proper Sqn recruitment.
Extra work for staff to enforce it.
Cadets dont really get it, as real world is not aligned.
Hampers activity.
Come on HQAC. Get a brief together now and release it following Boris’ proclamation.
Let’s get on with the show!
I imagine HQAC will feel justified in a cautious approach as many of us were calling for the relaxation of face masks, then the Govt. brought them back in - so not moving on that saved some admin time.
Being realistic I imagine we are lumbered with the current restrictions for several months after the Govt. relaxes everything.
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Personally I cannot get behind the removal of face masks.
Based on what we saw in the summer 2021 when they were “optional” the public’s opinion towards C19 changed overnight. I certainly noticed it in grocery stores where no one adhered to any kind of distancing or precautions.
I feel that wearing a masks has some unconscious influence on how we behave, or at least without the reminder on our face and thus feeling “normal” attitudes towards everything else becomes “normal” too.
I am not saying people with facemasks don’t shake hands, stand next to each other or even avoid hugging but all of that is reduced when wearing one so even if 1m+ is removed there is an unconscious distance we keep anyway be it 20cm, 50cm, or 100cm
Particularly when the relaxation of restrictions is almost certainly based more on the PM’s attempts to maintain power than on the scientific advice
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To be fair, the changes made little to no impact on the infections. I’d rather get rid of them to be honest, whenever I have to wear one I’m always itching to take the damn thing off ASAP.
We do need to make the move to living with the virus at some point, and that shouldn’t involve wearing face masks indoors.
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Spot on, it’s quite clear that the Government is using mandatory face masks to indicate to the public of things are serious or not, rather than as a serious means of lowering infection rates. As such when they come off for everyone else they should come off for us.
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It is time to lose masks and distancing. The kids are not doing it in school, the most often heard call in the corridors is “mask on”. There is no distancing at school and with the masks, it’s no wonder we are finding it just hassle at the sqn. Staff seem to struggle as much as the kids at school, it’s not automatic to put one on, when around the school.
C19 seems to following the same path as Spanish Flu, where the subsequent 2 waves in 1919 and 1920 were ‘weaker’ and eventually it became in effect a part of the endemic flu virus population, with the much touted herd immunity coming into play.
Of course in the UK we didn’t have the NHS to “protect” 100 years ago, so measures if any would have disappeared pdq.
That maybe a local issue. It’s being actively pursued around these parts.
Also, they are being maintained for RAFAC due to most squadrons drawing cadets from multiple year groups across multiple schools and, potentially, multi local authorities and health trusts.
I wholeheartedly agree that, in due course, these strategies will need to be removed. But I’m not sure that the we should be looking at that whilst we’re still seeing rates as they are. Brilliant - they are falling. Are they low? Not quite. Are we still seeing hospitals with higher levels of patients that normal? Yes. Are transport services disrupted due to lack of staff? Yes.
The government are trialling reducing isolation periods etc to see if that can help manage the employment issues. I’m not sure that sacking off masks and distancing whilst also doing that is the most cunning of plans.
Maybe we can reduce the levels a bit more before we start letting the superspreaders loose on the world again???
And no. We didn’t have the NHS when the Spanish flu happened. And how many people died back then NOT of Spanish flu? We don’t really know as there’s no data - so drawing conclusions isnt really relevant!
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Gov rules all dropped except for Self Isolation on Thursday, including Masks.
Let’s see what RAFAC does, really hope the 1m can be dropped
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Wouldn’t hold my breath if I was you
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Absolutely
I think it is very likely that we will have our rules until minimum end of February.
We won’t move before the NYA moves.
From their Twitter feed just now
We are closely monitoring today’s Covid-19 situation and are in contact with Government officials
We will update the youth sector if there are any changes to Covid-19 guidance
Herd immunity here we come!
There’s rumours of testing being stopped soon too. Can’t catch covid if you can’t test for covid!!
To quote Boris:
“We will trust the judgement of the British People”.
Those same British People:
Good luck NHS and our non-vaxinated CEVs. 
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Just in from the NYA
NYA can confirm that face coverings are no longer compulsory in the youth sector
From Thursday 20th January, face coverings are no longer compulsory in the youth sector for any ages, in any setting. Face coverings can, of course, still be worn by choice and all practice should remain Covid secure.
A full NYA Guidance update is currently being agreed and will be announced soon, please monitor our newsletters and social media channels to stay up to date on the latest guidance.
Catching it is the only way to really get immunity by developing T cells. The vaccines we have seem to prioritise antibodies (the effectiveness of which reduces over time) and not developing T cells, hence the need for boosters. There are vaccines being developed that prioritise T Cell which would be better for those who reduced immune systems.
Most vaccines we have stimulate T Cells, which hopefully means we don’t get it or if we do it’s not as bad.
We have been badgered by the media and “experts” that “herd immunity” is a bad thing. But it’s the natural way.
Thanks for the science lesson - but what you’ve missed is the bit where Herd immunity also has a substantial rate of attrition amongst the population. Couple this with the risk of swamping the NHS. The vaccines helped reduce this. They’ve done their job.
Could masks etc be held off a little longer without detriment to businesses? Yeap. Could the same be said in schools? Yeap.
Are the still a significant number of people dying and/or in hospital? Yeap. It’s reducing, no doubt. But we’re not there yet.
This morning we had two primary schools close because of staffing issues. We have a local secondary where they have 30% of year 11s out this week - 2 of which are on ventilators despite Omicron being constantly reported as a “weaker strain”. We’ve still got RLC drivers propping up the ambulance service and our local train service is running at a reduced service too.
It really does sound like the perfect time to pretend it’s a non-problem and detract from Boris’s uncomfortable week in the press!
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All CFAV’s: I hope HQ make the right call.
HQ:
Whilst I do admire a “cautious” approach, we must also align ourselves with the rest of the country at large. If we don’t, then what are we selling to our cadets to stay a part of our organisation?
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