The post corona virus thread.

[NineBerry]

I would if I could. If you can't take a joke then fuck off, nineberry.

I'm German

[Brian Peacock]

[JimC]

People will travel from one country to the other to use the services available.

I'm sorry, Scot, but not in Oz, we're isolating from the rest of the world (with the possible exception of NZ) for years. So, you won't be able to visit your favourite place in the whole world, Queensland...

[pErvinalia]

Thank fuck for that. Imagine the whinging we'd have to put up with!

[Scot Dutchy]

People will travel from one country to the other to use the services available.

I'm sorry, Scot, but not in Oz, we're isolating from the rest of the world (with the possible exception of NZ) for years. So, you won't be able to visit your favourite place in the whole world, Queensland...

Well I will miss that How many people have passports in Ozland?

When I came here there were border patrols. My first wife and I were caught once using an illegal crossing point. The border went right through her uncle's farm. In the 50's it was used for butter smuggling.

[Brian Peacock]

You can't smuggle butter across a border by sticking up your arse that's for sure.

[Svartalf]

Well, sticking butter up your arse is a surefire way to summon zombie marlon brando.

[laklak]

I would if I could. If you can't take a joke then fuck off, nineberry.

I'm German

I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.

[NineBerry]

Giving out benefits is so unamerican.

[laklak]

I'm trying to emulate my betters.

[Scot Dutchy]

You can't smuggle butter across a border by sticking up your arse that's for sure.

It was a big trade along with cheese and pork. Hard to think about it today. That illegal crossing place we got fined at is now just an open gate. All the watchtowers are used by bird watchers. The only way to know which country you are in is the language on the signs.

[JimC]

There’s been a fair bit of crankiness shown by some posters in this thread. Some of it has been close to PA level. Please cool it, folks, and address the issues without showing your irritation at other posters.

[Scot Dutchy]

Lockdown eased: Netherlands and France plan to re-open primary schools

Youngest pupils to start classes again in May as scientists say move should not cause more hospital admissions

Several European countries are to relax coronavirus restrictions related to children, with Holland and France announcing that primary schools will reopen next month and Spain setting out how under-14s will be allowed out of the home from next week.

French children would return to school in staggered year groups, the education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer said, with no more than 15 pupils allowed in each class.

Primary pupils aged from five to 11 would be the first to go back on 12 May, one day after the end of a strict nationwide lockdown. The following week older children in selected years at secondary schools and lycée would return. All classes would be back by 25 May.

Blanquer said the aim was to have primary school children back in “small groups”, probably of “less than 10 pupils”. The plan is likely to prove challenging for headteachers in public schools, where classes of 30-plus pupils are common.

Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, announced that primary schools would reopen in the Netherlands on 11 May. The country’s infectious disease control institute found that the risk of infection from opening schools was “manageable”.

Secondary schools in the Netherlands could resume a month later if no outbreaks occurred in the intervening period in primary schools, they said. They also suggested that children up to the age of 12 could exercise without social distancing, but that the rules should be enforced for older pupils.

Dutch-style phased reopening offers a model for other European countries which have so far not significantly eased lockdown measures or allowed pupils back to school. They include Italy, Spain and the UK, all of which have had high rates of infection and transmission.

Nothing else is re-opening though in this country. My pony tail is growing nicely. I look like a 70's roadie.

[JimC]

I'll be asking Bron to wield the clippers soon...

The betting here is that, given recent good numbers, there'll be a modest move towards lifting a few restrictions in 2 or 3 weeks time. It is different from state to state - here in Victoria, schools are currently only open for either vulnerable students, or ones whose parents both have to work in essential jobs. Over 90% are doing on-line learning, which from all accounts has been fairly stressful for parents, and not easy on teachers either. The rumour is that there will be a phase in, with students back for 1 or 2 days a week, year levels rotating somehow, so classrooms and playgrounds are not overcrowded...

[Scot Dutchy]

I'll be asking Bron to wield the clippers soon...

The betting here is that, given recent good numbers, there'll be a modest move towards lifting a few restrictions in 2 or 3 weeks time. It is different from state to state - here in Victoria, schools are currently only open for either vulnerable students, or ones whose parents both have to work in essential jobs. Over 90% are doing on-line learning, which from all accounts has been fairly stressful for parents, and not easy on teachers either. The rumour is that there will be a phase in, with students back for 1 or 2 days a week, year levels rotating somehow, so classrooms and playgrounds are not overcrowded...

There has been a rise in divorce requests here but whether they will turn into divorces is another thing. It is an incredible stress of trying to work at home and looking after and teaching kids. The average Dutch terrace house or apartment is 150 sq.m. but luckily people can go out for a walk unlike many countries. For plenty of dogs there never has been so many 'walkies'. Also the great lack of rain as helped.