How much will Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact Aston Villa's season?

[Brazilian Villain]

Wales has the worst case rate and the worst death rate of the nations that make up the UK.

Labour government, innit?

[Chris Harte]

I'm one of those who cannot believe that our game on Boxing Day (as it stands) is going ahead. I was very much tempted to not attend, and now barmy Boris has said it's okay to go I definitely won't be.

[N'ZMAV]

I think last wednesday they needed to cancel last weekends and the boxing day games - that would have given the league a 10 day break.

[algy]

Is it not a myth that Wales and Scotland have fared better than England during Covid?  I don't have stats to hand etc, but given the population density and international nature of London would skew figures, do the Welsh and Scots really have anything to shout about here?

Wales has the worst case rate and the worst death rate of the nations that make up the UK.

Don't really want to get in to a big politics discussion on a non-politics thread, but ...

Not sure that's a helpful comparison though. Healthcare outcomes are strongly influenced by things like income (average wage in Wales is significantly lower than almost all English regions  - ONS). There's also geography to consider, it's not uncommon for someone in Wales to be 30miles+ away from the nearest A&E department (e.g. Bala's nearest is Wrexham Maelor, 30miles away - Llandrindod is 40+ miles to Hereford ... And these are obvs not along motorways, so you're looking at 1hr+ journey time each way).


But one thing that is noticeable is that, at least from the folk in Wales that I know - is the general feeling that the English approach has been at best poor, at worst a disaster. And this isn't highly political, one side group of folk - this is across people who are pro & anti Brexit in roughly equal measure, who vote Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, and Plaid between them. It can hardly be considered anti-English sentiment when near enough half that group are English.

[Risso]

Is it not a myth that Wales and Scotland have fared better than England during Covid?  I don't have stats to hand etc, but given the population density and international nature of London would skew figures, do the Welsh and Scots really have anything to shout about here?

Wales has the worst case rate and the worst death rate of the nations that make up the UK.

Don't really want to get in to a big politics discussion on a non-politics thread, but ...

Not sure that's a helpful comparison though. Healthcare outcomes are strongly influenced by things like income (average wage in Wales is significantly lower than almost all English regions  - ONS). There's also geography to consider, it's not uncommon for someone in Wales to be 30miles+ away from the nearest A&E department (e.g. Bala's nearest is Wrexham Maelor, 30miles away - Llandrindod is 40+ miles to Hereford ... And these are obvs not along motorways, so you're looking at 1hr+ journey time each way).


But one thing that is noticeable is that, at least from the folk in Wales that I know - is the general feeling that the English approach has been at best poor, at worst a disaster. And this isn't highly political, one side group of folk - this is across people who are pro & anti Brexit in roughly equal measure, who vote Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, and Plaid between them. It can hardly be considered anti-English sentiment when near enough half that group are English.

Overall healthcare outcomes might be, but the biggest factor in Covid is surely population density and spreading it to others. I've got family in deepest darkest Gwynedd, and the remoteness is a positive factor in stopping the spread of Covid, not a factor that helps it.

But anyway, I don't think any major country in Europe can really say they've coped with the pandemic well.

[waringpongo]

I moved to Wales 35 years ago and amongst my close friends who are a mix of English and Welsh the consensus is that Drakeford looks at saving lives whereas Johnson looks at saving himself. Also we all think that independence from Westminster will be better for Wales. There are however people I know who think Drakeford is a power hungry arsehole and Johnson is doing his best.

[Ads]

Drakeford hasn't done a very good job of it then has he.

[PaulTheVillan]

Drakeford hasn't done a very good job of it then has he.

Not really paid attention to Wales & Scotland. Has Drakeford done worse that Johnson? That would be an achievement.

[waringpongo]

The thing is Drakeford would not put friends wealth before the health of a nation and that makes him a far superior leader and person no matter what the scores on the crem doors are. The fact as the other poster put is that because of infrastructure, localities and an aged nation you can’t compare like for like. Add in a mass influx of tourists after the first lockdown all thinking it was all over and you have a Kevin Friend type of result.

[adrenachrome]

I've decided to give it a miss, and I was very much looking forward to this game.
My usual mode of transport in the cross city rail line from Selly Oak, Northfield or Bournville to Aston. Many of these will be cancelled and the carriages are a pox spreader at the best of times. As my sister put it, may as well fly economy to Malaga if you want to be poxed up double quick time.

 

[Ads]

The thing is Drakeford would not put friends wealth before the health of a nation and that makes him a far superior leader and person no matter what the scores on the crem doors are. The fact as the other poster put is that because of infrastructure, localities and an aged nation you can’t compare like for like. Add in a mass influx of tourists after the first lockdown all thinking it was all over and you have a Kevin Friend type of result.

Ah so the Welsh having the worst death rate is the fault of the English. Righto.

[Chris Smith]

I've decided to give it a miss, and I was very much looking forward to this game.
My usual mode of transport in the cross city rail line from Selly Oak, Northfield or Bournville to Aston. Many of these will be cancelled and the carriages are a pox spreader at the best of times. As my sister put it, may as well fly economy to Malaga if you want to be poxed up double quick time.

 

No trains at all on Boxing Day.

[adrenachrome]

I've decided to give it a miss, and I was very much looking forward to this game.
My usual mode of transport in the cross city rail line from Selly Oak, Northfield or Bournville to Aston. Many of these will be cancelled and the carriages are a pox spreader at the best of times. As my sister put it, may as well fly economy to Malaga if you want to be poxed up double quick time.

 

No trains at all on Boxing Day.

Of course! Should have remembered taxi rides of the past. 

My brother is going in my place. He got poxed up this time last year and is a hardy individual. On the downside he has lost his sense of taste and has developed an aversion to all spicy foods.

[Villafirst]

I see the Government are cutting the isolation period from 10 down to 7 days with negative lateral flow tests on days 6 and 7.

[Sexual Ealing]

I see the Government are cutting the isolation period from 10 down to 7 days with negative lateral flow tests on days 6 and 7.

That'll help, I'm sure.