ciel

Bright ,sunny and cold today, wind definitely sourced from the north. Trouble always seems to occur in clusters. This afternoon, I took from the freezer a part-opened bag of peas to add to a stew, spilled half on the hall floor, and slipped on the slippery rolly contents thereafter. No major damage done, thankfully, just a silly reminder of these strange times.

A tinted sunset this evening. Great, still light at 8pm.

Nae idea HC, re the plant a,lilly or a vegetable? This one might be easier. Apologies for the poor pic. It pops up every spring with small but pretty yellow, bell-shaped flowers and fades away quite quickly..

For once in my life, I have been guided by memes/ knowledge. I have not ventured out of my bubble for a week or so, even avoiding my nice part time Edinburgh neighbours. However, I am lucky that I'm able to do so. And it is just circumstance, but to read that someone in an area of infection couldn't be bothered to test, beggars belief.

Why are you posting on on this subsidiary thread? Do you think therefore they acquire more 'gravitas' Your views might be more helpful to the discussions on the main threads.

I'm not sure that hail flurries are my favourite spring weather scenario. lol. However some ploughing has been ongoing around here. Last year it was barley. I'm actually on strike at the mo - fed up with anticipatory cooking and freezing.

Just rolls of grey cloud here at present. Actually, anything better than gales, storms, snow and rain would be appreciated. Of course a smidgeon of sun (vitD) would benefit us, the poor scots. Today, I have dusted off the violin cases, retrieved from the hinderparts of cupboards, 6 bars of nice hand-crafted bars of soap and several tubes/bottles of bath/shower gel etc from Xmas pressies from yore. and that's all before I start on the Fairy Liquid hand-wash..

Stuck under frontal cloud all day, but at least it has been dry, with a temp of 10C and a noticeable cooling SW breeze. I don't suppose there is much demand for cut flowers these days, just a few picked last week. The bulbs may be lifted later this year, but with the USA apparently being the biggest market for them, who knows? One from my once daily exercise

Spaniels are great fun, (imho anyway !). Love field cockers. Is Mrs Catch's condition improving?

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I agree, and maybe was I guilty as well last Thursday tripping up to the Glens. The roads were very quiet and at least 50% of the traffic was camper/motorhome vehicles. However, I did take a packed lunch that day and on home purchased from the very local shop, just milk and a loaf of organic brown bread (newly baked that morning) so I was told, and which the owner/manager was pressing me to buy.

Yesterday was a fine day, plenty of sun and a sharp feel. Decided to have a mini-escape to Glens Cannich and Affric before restrictions on travel come into force. Stopped off, out of interest, on the way home at a tiny Spar shop in the back of beyond. The shelves were fully stocked and picked up one or two items I that were missing from an Asda delivery. Today, frosty start, more sun, no wind, temp 4C. One for HC.

Yes,125 new cases registered in Malaysia Malaysia registers 125 new Covid-19 cases, 95 related to tabligh gathering cluster | Malay Mail WWW.MALAYMAIL.COM KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — The Health Ministry has confirmed 125 new Covid-19 positive cases have been reported today, with 95 cases linked to...

Testing for coronavirus is to be extended into Scotland's communities but there will be no routine testing of people with minor symptoms. The Scottish government said enhanced surveillance testing would provide a more accurate picture of the virus spread. Covid-19 testing expanded to monitor virus spread WWW.BBC.CO.UK Surveillance testing is extended but there is no routine testing of people with minor symptoms.

Look at the evidence. Early intervention via testing worked in SK to reduce mortality. The UK has chosen not to follow that route.

My view is that the NHS should make available testing for more. In real terms its not a great drain on resources, especially when it might reduce pressure on beds and equipment by early intervention.

You don't need that to understand. It's more simple than that.

Testing, as proposed in Scotland, involves those identified through contact tracing or with specific symptoms. As far as I know there are no proposals for 'drive through testing',here, though that might be a good thing. Why would it be better for unsuspecting vectors to be helping with health care? Testing advises the data, assists planning and protects others.

To be quite clear, the purpose of my OP on this particular topic was to report a policy change as it relates to Scotland, without speculation, posting fake news or expressing an uninformed opinion on the value of contact tracing or otherwise. I did not suggest it was a panacea. As it happens, however, I do think it is useful as a surveillance tool, identifying asymptomatic cases, the degree of community spread and ‘hotspots’. In addition, it can be helpful in identifying cases in which early supportive treatment is of benefit.

The details, I gather are published somewhere maybe on the Scottish gov. site - I haven't looked yet. From the interview, I gathered that it's not a case of turning up and demanding a test, but one might be made available after assessment and consultation from home.

There will be protocols I would expect.

A new policy regarding testing for Covid19 has apparently been announced by the Scottish Govt. this morning. Testing will be carried out in GP surgeries for people presenting with symptoms. I can’t find this advice via a search on the internet, but a Scottish prof, Devi Sridhar, on BBC ‘Politics Scotland’ confirmed and welcomed this policy change but would like it extended to those self-isolating at home. In her opinion, testing and contact tracing were essential in order to break the chain of transmission

South Korea has a quite different approach to the UK. Is S Korea's rapid testing the key to coronavirus? WWW.BBC.CO.UK South Korea is testing more people per capita than anywhere else - and could be a role model for others. Sorry,kw. posts crossed.