UK beach town raises alarm as huge crowds ignore COVID advice and flock to the coast

[webfact]

UK beach town raises alarm as huge crowds ignore COVID advice and flock to the coast

 

FILE PHOTO: A message reading 'Save Lives' is seen on Bournemouth Pier as people enjoy the hot weather on the beach, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Bournemouth, Britain, June 2, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Authorities in Bournemouth, a popular beach town in southern England, declared a "major incident" on Thursday over what they called the irresponsible behaviour of crowds who had ignored public health guidance on coronavirus and badly overstretched local services.

 

The declaration came after visitors arrived in very large numbers in a spell of hot weather, resulting in gridlock on the roads, illegal overnight camping, excessive waste, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled fights.

 

"We are absolutely appalled at the scenes witnessed on our beaches, particularly at Bournemouth and Sandbanks, in the last 24-48 hours," said Council Leader Vikki Slade in a statement.

 

"The irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people is just shocking and our services are stretched to the absolute hilt trying to keep everyone safe."

 

Social distancing measures have been in place in Britain since March to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, although the rules are due to be significantly relaxed from July 4.

 

With pubs still closed, many people have been heading to parks and beaches to meet friends and drink alcohol, in some cases ignoring advice to keep 2 metres apart.

 

In Bournemouth, roads were obstructed by illegal parking, crews were abused as they attempted to empty overflowing bins and 33 tonnes of waste had to be removed from the stretch of coastline in and around the town on Thursday morning.

 

The emergency response will involve extra police patrols, security to protect rubbish collectors, additional parking enforcement, evictions of unauthorised campers and signage on approach roads warning people not to come.

 

"We strongly advise members of the public to think twice before heading to the area," said Sam de Reya of the local police force. "Clearly we are still in a public health crisis and such a significant volume of people heading to one area places a further strain on emergency service resources."

 

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-25

 

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[Dmaxdan]

A little bit of sunshine in Britain is all that is needed for certain people to engage brain dead mode.  

[Maverell]

It is quite simple really. It is a matter of principle. The decent British people will not sit back and accept one rule for them and another rule for protesters and minority groups who can do anything they want. Very simple.

[stephenterry]

England will probably go down in history as being the first to attain herd immunity without any vaccine and have the highest per capita death rate in Europe, second only to the USA. I just hope our NHS will be able to cope with the government's failure to ENFORCE lockdown, even if it means closing ALL the coastal access roads. 

 

As for the beachlovers...  

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

18 minutes ago, Maverell said:

It is quite simple really. It is a matter of principle. The decent British people will not sit back and accept one rule for them and another rule for protesters and minority groups who can do anything they want. Very simple.

He who shoots himself in the foot. Let me have my right to do the same. 

The stupidity of westerners is amazing. I’m glad I’m living in Thailand where people don’t put their and other’s health at risk because of “principles”.  
 

Let’s just hope they don’t spread the virus to anyone else than each other. 

 

 

Edited June 26, 2020 by welovesundaysatspace

[Rookiescot]

Was always going to happen. People looked at Dominic Cummings getting away with it and decided its OK for them to do the same.

[welovesundaysatspace]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They probably understand who is actually at risk and know it's not them. Good to see the populace rebelling against government dictat.

Look to Sweden to see how it should have been done.

- Sweden is now the number 5 country in Covid-19 deaths per 100k people. 
- In April and May significantly more people died than would normally die based on the historical average. 
- Most European countries were able to “flatten the curve”. Only two were not: The UK and: Sweden. They constantly have 500-600 newly infected people per day. 
- Even their Chief disease expert admitted that it would have been better to lockdown more and earlier. 

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

- Sweden is now the number 5 country in Covid-19 deaths per 100k people. 
- In April and May significantly more people died than would normally die based on the historical average. 
- Most European countries were able to “flatten the curve”. Only two were not: The UK and: Sweden. They constantly have 500-600 newly infected people per day. 
- Even their Chief disease expert admitted that it would have been better to lockdown more and earlier. 

When they gain herd immunity who will be laughing? Lockdowns only postpone the infection till lockdown is eased. Meanwhile economies and lives are ruined.

Edited June 26, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[Bkk Brian]

23 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They probably understand who is actually at risk and know it's not them. Good to see the populace rebelling against government dictat.

Look to Sweden to see how it should have been done.

Lets wait and see, the jury's still out on that.

 

New cases of the coronavirus rose in Europe last week, for the first time in months. The increase was driven by 11 countries that have had a “very significant resurgence”, Hans Kluge, head of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, said today. If left unchecked, such outbreaks will “push health systems to the brink once again”.

The countries and territories with notable increases in cases are Sweden, Armenia, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Kosovo, according to a WHO spokesperson.

Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-cases-rising-in-europe-following-eased-lockdowns/#ixzz6QR3Jkcsm

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Lets wait and see, the jury's still out on that.

 

New cases of the coronavirus rose in Europe last week, for the first time in months. The increase was driven by 11 countries that have had a “very significant resurgence”, Hans Kluge, head of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, said today. If left unchecked, such outbreaks will “push health systems to the brink once again”.

The countries and territories with notable increases in cases are Sweden, Armenia, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Kosovo, according to a WHO spokesperson.

Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-cases-rising-in-europe-following-eased-lockdowns/#ixzz6QR3Jkcsm

Increase in infection rate is only to be expected. To say lockdowns solve the problem is to be naive. They only postpone it. It's not possible to stay in lockdown indefinitely, ergo the infection rate will increase.

I'd rather we did the 1918 solution and just got on with it, even though I'd likely be a casualty myself.

[JonnyF]

Should have worn their BLM t-shirts.

 

Then the BBC would have been gushing about how it was a totally peaceful protest and the police would have been 'taking the knee' before them in deference. ????

[welovesundaysatspace]

10 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When they gain herd immunity who will be laughing?

When will that be and how many people will have died until then? The infection rate as per May is just 4-7% — they are far from any herd immunity. 

[PremiumLane]

20 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When they gain herd immunity who will be laughing? Lockdowns only postpone the infection till lockdown is eased. Meanwhile economies and lives are ruined.

ahh the old 'herd immunity',... to get this you would have have 50-70% of the world's population getting Covid (based on current research), now think about the death toll that would take. And that is not even factoring in if it will actually work.

 

It is very easy throwing around the phrase 'herd immunity', like it is some magic cure-all. However, if you look at diseases, some only died out because of prevention management and vaccines. Take measles, you need 90% of a population to be immune to stop the spread of it - you going to risk those kinds of numbers? Prepared to sacrifice a lot of people for your famed 'herd immunity'?

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

When will that be and how many people will have died until then? The infection rate as per May is just 4-7% — they are far from any herd immunity. 

How many die from car accidents, but they don't ban cars. How many drown in the sea, but they don't ban swimming etc etc etc.

More to the point how many will die from common flu? Life is fleeting and not fair.

Given a vaccine is not even guaranteed and will take a long while before all 8 billion on earth are given it, seems reality has to be accepted eventually. The longer before that happens will see even more lives lost to poverty caused by lockdowns- young lives, not those that have lived long and prosperous lives.

[PremiumLane]

1 hour ago, Maverell said:

It is quite simple really. It is a matter of principle. The decent British people will not sit back and accept one rule for them and another rule for protesters and minority groups who can do anything they want. Very simple.

 

I would rather think that having a government that is utterly inept at this time, sending mixed messages and letting one of their own off the hook and lying through his teeth has more to do with why this is happening, than some protests.

And please, the 'decent' shtick is laughable

[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

ahh the old 'herd immunity',... to get this you would have have 50-70% of the world's population getting Covid (based on current research), now think about the death toll that would take. And that is not even factoring in if it will actually work.

 

It is very easy throwing around the phrase 'herd immunity', like it is some magic cure-all. However, if you look at diseases, some only died out because of prevention management and vaccines. Take measles, you need 90% of a population to be immune to stop the spread of it - you going to risk those kinds of numbers? Prepared to sacrifice a lot of people for your famed 'herd immunity'?

How many vaccines developed for the same sort of disease as Covid 19? NONE. Don't hold your breath waiting for one for this variety.

I'm saying 1918 policies, but what is your far better plan? Lockdown for years? What else is there?

 

now think about the death toll that would take

I'm thinking about all the young lives that will be lost to poverty if the current policies are continued. There isn't any easy out on this one. How many young lives are you prepared to sacrifice? Corona apparently doesn't kill young people except in some few cases.

 

Take measles

I did. I was deliberately infected as happened to many back then. Measles vaccine hasn't been around that long.

 

Anyway, it's pointless saying we should all lockdown indefinitely. The populace won't accept it and the economic catastrophe would be too horrible to contemplate. Life will return to some sort of normality and some will die.

 

Edited June 26, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The declaration came after visitors arrived in very large numbers in a spell of hot weather, resulting in gridlock on the roads, illegal overnight camping, excessive waste, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled fights.

Ah, summertime in england. 

[stephenterry]

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

How many vaccines developed for the same sort of disease as Covid 19? NONE. Don't hold your breath waiting for one for this variety.

I'm saying 1918 policies, but what is your far better plan? Lockdown for years? What else is there?

 

now think about the death toll that would take

I'm thinking about all the young lives that will be lost to poverty if the current policies are continued. There isn't any easy out on this one. How many young lives are you prepared to sacrifice? Corona apparently doesn't kill young people except in some few cases.

 

Take measles

I did. I was deliberately infected as happened to many back then. Measles vaccine hasn't been around that long.

 

Anyway, it's pointless saying we should all lockdown indefinitely. The populace won't accept it and the economic catastrophe would be too horrible to contemplate. Life will return to some sort of normality and some will die.

 

You do realise that following your death path to herd immunity, global economies would be decimated owing to lack of working populations... 

There is no simple answer, albeit world governments could experiment by dismantling the world we know today, with globally sealed country borders. That's containment resolved.  

Edited June 26, 2020 by stephenterry
correction

[PremiumLane]

37 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

How many vaccines developed for the same sort of disease as Covid 19? NONE. Don't hold your breath waiting for one for this variety.

I'm saying 1918 policies, but what is your far better plan? Lockdown for years? What else is there?

 

now think about the death toll that would take

I'm thinking about all the young lives that will be lost to poverty if the current policies are continued. There isn't any easy out on this one. How many young lives are you prepared to sacrifice? Corona apparently doesn't kill young people except in some few cases.

 

Take measles

I did. I was deliberately infected as happened to many back then. Measles vaccine hasn't been around that long.

 

Anyway, it's pointless saying we should all lockdown indefinitely. The populace won't accept it and the economic catastrophe would be too horrible to contemplate. Life will return to some sort of normality and some will die.

 

That is the point, we need vaccines, and until then there needs to be measure to stop the spread - hear immunity is not a strategy.

The economic impact, well that just shows how neo-liberal capitalism can't cope with crisis, I don't see what that has to do with herd immunity? Or are you saying sacrifice old people so young people won't go broke, I think there is a better way than that.

 

[473geo]

England gets on with opening up as the danger and death rates subside - media needs stories and predictions of doom

 

Life is good

[473geo]

1 hour ago, Rookiescot said:

Was always going to happen. People looked at Dominic Cummings getting away with it and decided its OK for them to do the same.

Ha Ha most people at the beach are enjoying a day out, only you need to fashion an 'excuse'. Get over it most everybody else has!

[Rookiescot]

15 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Ha Ha most people at the beach are enjoying a day out, only you need to fashion an 'excuse'. Get over it most everybody else has!

Ah the old "move on" cry from someone who thinks Johnson can do no wrong.

[473geo]

7 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Ah the old "move on" cry from someone who thinks Johnson can do no wrong.

Oh please wake up to yourself! I take note of the past, but live in the present, people have already moved on - to the beach!!! You appear to be stuck in yesterdays peat bog!!

 

[BKKBike09]

1 hour ago, stephenterry said:

You do realise that following your death path to herd immunity, global economies would be decimated owing to lack of working populations... 

Economies are being decimated quite effectively through lockdowns. The data make it quite clear that the 'working population' would be largely unaffected - see the Office for National Statistics data for last month, when Covid was really raging in UK - https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19englandandwales/deathsoccurringinmay2020

 

[Rimmer]

Some and off topic posts have been removed

[tiocfaidh]

It took over 200,000 years of human history for the world's population to reach 1 billion, and only 200 years more to reach 7 billion.

 

The population of the world needs thinning out and miserable old gits would be a great place to start ????

 

One silver lining is the ecology of the world is improving.

[sevenhills]

5 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

He who shoots himself in the foot. Let me have my right to do the same. 

The stupidity of westerners is amazing. I’m glad I’m living in Thailand where people don’t put their and other’s health at risk because of “principles”.  
 

Let’s just hope they don’t spread the virus to anyone else than each other. 

 

 

Thais don't have a choice under a defacto millitary Government, or had you not noticed that?

[BritManToo]

When a government acts against the wishes of the people, it's time for an election and a new government.

Nobody cares about COVID, apart from a few nutters, let the people decide on the risks they want to take.

If they want to visit the beach, why not, if you want to cower in fear in your home, you are equally welcome.

What one decides, does not affect anyone else.

Edited June 26, 2020 by BritManToo

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, Syduan said:

You've got to be brain dead if you believe in this scamdemic. 

Now now, can you articulate what your theory is rather than trolling, a slice of evidence behind any of your thoughts would be beneficial to your cause

[dunroaming]

5 hours ago, Rookiescot said:

Was always going to happen. People looked at Dominic Cummings getting away with it and decided its OK for them to do the same.

Try tracking and tracing that lot!  

 

Many of those people will have sat in traffic for hours to get to the beach, many of them expecting to be able to adhere to the social distancing rules when they got there.  After all Bournemouth has miles of sandy beach and is rarely over crowded at the best of times.  I think the biggest problem here was that everyone gravitated to the centre of Bournemouth rather than further down the beach towards Boscombe where social distancing was easily achievable.

 

So once you had found a place to park (always a nightmare in Bournemouth) and dragged the kids and the sunbeds and beachballs down to the beach, how many of us are going to say "Sorry Kids we have to give this a miss today".