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Nathan, I fully understand your point. In my opinion it was European Football that got Corona started in Europe. If you look at Spain and Italy, the two countries with the most cases and also with the best weather that allows fans to go out to a stadium and even spend some time together before and after the game. It can’t be just pure coincidence.
Cheltenham took place when the giant snowball was already gathering huge momentum. It would be interesting to find out how many Festival related cases we detected during the past 5-10 days.
pervading sense of self-entitlement in many parts of society, no more evident than with the selfish, irrational stockpiling of goods from supermarkets
Apparently the government were making contingencies for the imposition of Martial Law in the event of civil disorder following a ‘no deal brexit’. It’s likely that similar contingencies are being made now as it appears that a significant minority are still refusing to refrain from herd behaviour, be that ‘panic buying’ at supermarkets or exploiting the – in my opinion foolhardy – loophole of takeaways being permitted to remain open. The sight on BBC news yesterday of folk sitting cheek-by-jowl in shopping malls stuffing their faces with junk food was shocking; and although one does feel sorry for publicans who’ve been forced to close, they shouldn’t be permitted to exploit the loophole either by selling ‘takeaway beer’
Now that loss of earnings for affected food/drink/hospitality/leisure businesses and employees have been underwritten by the government there should be wholesale shutdown of them, the exceptions being heavily policed supermarkets and pharmacies
The abuse I expect many ‘lowly’ checkout staff at supermarkets are being subjected to, being expected to self-police rationing, is both intolerable and way beyond what can be expected of them, especially given they’re largely on minimum wage
Command economics and authoritarian governments do have their time and place. The time and place being now in the UK, thanks to the behaviour of an ignorant selfish minority who are keen to continue exercising their democratic rights but choose to ignore their democratic responsibilities when the going gets tough
I’d like to say sorry to Ruby Walsh (not impossible he reads here?!) and particularly to the people who appreciate him here
Possibly he really is the great racing expert many people see in him
, at least he has been in this business for so long to gain a rich treasure of knowledge 
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cheltenham-defends-festival-going-ahead-21807262
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Does the Mirror Newspaper want people to think it’s all this Conservative government’s fault?
That article talks about “symptoms”, Nathan. I had a chest infection in December, showing many Corona-virus symptoms… And if people actually had the virus there is no knowing where they got it from.
Some racegoers might want to believe they caught it from the Festival because (subconciously) they can blame the government/someone else/a faceless figure. The blame culture.
If they did catch the virus then:
If two freinds got it after working at Cheltenham then imo just as likely they (one or both) got it from their freinds and/or one caught it from the other.
If a raceegoer who thinks he/she got the virus from the Festival lived in the heart of a big city… just as likely – at that time – to get it from there.
If a racegoer who thinks he/she got the virus from the Festival frequented pubs or clubs that week… just as likely – at that time – to get it from there.
…And if a racegoer who thinks he/she got the virus from the Festival went shopping… just as likely – at that time – caught it from there.
By the laws of averages… Had the Cheltenham Festival not taken place many “non-racegoers” would’ve got the virus (or just “symptoms”) from where they’d gone instead.
By the laws of averages… Some of those coming back in good health from the Cheltenham Festival would have got the virus had they spent those four days with freinds and family or at a pub or living in the heart of a big city or shopping. You could say – Cheltenham Festival saved them from getting the virus.
Value Is EverythingYes, agree Ginger.
I went up on the Thursday, binned train tickets and drove up instead, it was my choice, I knew the risks and if I had caught the virus would have no one to blame bar myself. Apart from a brief chat with David Cormack and a close look at Faugheen, Samcro and later on a close look at Paisley Park I kept out the way near a small stand head on to the straight.
What I find unfair is Cheltenham themselves getting a lot of stick. There was no government plan at the time and if anything talk was more about herd immunity. I have seen a few reports from the Liverpool v Atletico Madrid game which took place on the Wednesday that they allowed the Spanish in for that very reason and possible although only a conspiracy theory the same for Cheltenham in allowing a mass gathering.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I do think we should’ve closed our borders to Spanish fans – foolish letting Champions League games go ahead (at least letting in away fans). Cheltenham Festival was basically Britain v Ireland – two countries with at that time very few Corona cases – admittedly plus a few French for the X country.
Conspiracy theories are rarely worth the paper (screen space) they’re written on. The herd immunity thing was more about a future solution… And even then included (all about) keeping the virus away from the old. Racegoers are generally an older brigade so letting Cheltenham go ahead wouldn’t fit in to that conspiracy theory.
Value Is EverythingI don’t blame anyone for doing to Cheltenham or Cheltenham for holding the festival. The Government have in my view underestimated the power of Covid 19. The herd immunity approach has flaws which I will expose but I would have gone with it if they had ” locked down
” the elderly and vulnerable and closed schools for non essential workers’ children, and made care homes safe. The big unknown is the numbers who are asymptomatic. With other corona viruses the immunity doesn’t last that long, and when this ” fantastic test ” the antigen test which can detect the virus before antibodies form and very early essentially through DNA and tell if the virus has been present at an earlier time – it will take around six months of repeated testing of infected individuals to confirm the immunity response. The herd approach assumes this immunity will work for some duration. The Government were concerned about a critical outbreak possibly in November and NHS capabilities. I am pleased they took heed of the Imperial College report that exposed their experts. Trump also took heed of the projected 500,000 UK deaths with no action and up to 250,000 with current measures in place and 2.2 million in US if left to run its course. This is what herd immunity in fettered and unfettered form spelled out.I am pleased the Govt took heed. Bergamo is one of the epicentres of Covid in Italy and four of the five team workers were killed by the virus. They will be testing all those who attended the game to see the effects but this will take time. Mardi Gras attracts 10 million and the results are very sadly evident to see.
Nathan yes you were sensibly careful to protect yourself but this misses one of the big mistakes – you could have been an asymptomatic carrier and possibly infected others.
The Government are wrong on mask use America is spot on. The Government tell you to repeatedly wash your hands but they do not tell you why. You can easily bring the virus in on your clothes or shoes from outside. They were spraying the streets in Iran and sanitising the homes of the bold found dead in their homes. When I come in from outside I put my shoes and all of my outside cloths in a black sack to be re-used next time I go out. I sometimes shower particularly if I haven’t been wearing a beanie which goes vin the bag. I spoke to a nurse yesterday who works in a private ward in London and she PPE but told me they are dying like flies.
The Government would prefer everybody to stay in and possibly become a Yogi and contemplate the awfulness of their outside actions if they breach others space. I thoroughly enjoyed Cheltenham from the confines of my winged armchair and respect the varied views in here. Not everybody is right though.
Martha where are my damned clothes ? Did you not hear the bin men ?
I will not be happy but not surprised if the government ban outdoor exercise. I do not class going for a walk and then taking a break for a bite to eat exercise or 20/30 year olds strolling along at about 1 mph exercise either. OK I do a little more than the one hour’s guidance (although nothing has been stated about the length of time you can exercise) but at least I do not stop and now take my own food/water so I don’t have to visit shops. As for these eejits visiting parks and sunbathing – if they weren’t fined, why not? And don’t get me onto the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland
Nathan yes you were sensibly careful to protect yourself but this misses one of the big mistakes – you could have been an asymptomatic carrier and possibly infected others.
Would that be possible though if I’m classed as high risk.??
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
They do not say it but they would rather you exercised indoors – the instruction is to placate the young and prevent some others going
flatcapgamble – you can exercise in the gaff by lifting a disconnected toaster above your head several times and shouting out P O W
Well Nath Covid infects people in different ways and the severity will often approximate with viral load and is the reason nurses and doctors are at higher risk of a bad infection. There are lots of strange symptoms and some just lose a sense of taste and smell ( more the younger ones ) Some possibly may just have a headache or mild flu symptoms or possibly none. Apologies for pulling your name out of the hat Nathan and your actions at Cheltenham were well thought out and considered. I think those with underlying health conditions are possibly less likely to be asymptomatic but you if I am not mistaken are relatively young so if you contacted it that might lead to a lesser symptomatic Covid than say me – who is a slowly rotting relic.
flatcapgamble – spare a thought for the out of work burglars everyone ain’t gone to the moon.
I believe the advised time was 20-30 mins exercise
There is no written guidance on this. Gove mentioned half an hour and then changed is mind to about an hour but it was his own opinion. In other words he probably does or did about half to an hour. Some of us like to do more and as long as we practice social distancing then I don’t see a problem with this. It’s when people do unnecessary travel i.e. drive their car a few miles and then exercise which is definitely not allowed. I see plenty of people doing this on my travels…sorry whilst doing my exercise
Well Nath Covid infects people in different ways and the severity will often approximate with viral load and is the reason nurses and doctors are at higher risk of a bad infection
Spot on gamble.
I think those with underlying health conditions are possibly less likely to be asymptomatic but you if I am not mistaken are relatively young so if you contacted it that might lead to a lesser symptomatic Covid than say me – who is a slowly rotting relic.
Spot on again gamble. It showed an interview with George Alagiah who has been living with bowel cancer for the past six years who contracted the virus. One would have thought with his health issues he would have suffered quite badly and perhaps even died. But he described himself as only having mild symptoms and was just about back to his normal self when interviewed.
So you’re fine with yourself walking for longer than recommended as long as you self distance
But somebody sunbathing who is also self distancing isnt ok
I fail to see a difference
I personally like to take a golf club and a handful of balls with me when I walk round the park and hit a few if its empty
As long as people are staying apart and not spending too long outside I don’t think it matters at all what they do
If somebody or a family wants to lay on the grass for 30 mins to get some fresh air then go home I fail to see how they are possibly doing any harm
Going outside is as much for mental health as physical health
But somebody sunbathing who is also self distancing isnt ok
This is not on the list of why you can go out so no it’s not OK. But if they were the only ones sunbathing the police may have a quiet word but it would be harsh if they fined the person/people from the same household.
I personally like to take a golf club and a handful of balls with me when I walk round the park and hit a few if its empty
I think that should be OK as it’s a form of exercise. Make sure you clean your (golf) balls just in case you inadvertently hit someone in the face as this could pass the disease on
, at least he has been in this business for so long to gain a rich treasure of knowledge 
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