Given that the Government are likely to announce in an hour or so that social distancing can be reduced to 1 metre, despite zero scientific evidence being presented to support this relaxation, I wonder what folks think on how it may impact caving, given that we'd already 'suggested' that 2m separation may not be sufficient underground. I just watched an interview with Professor David King of the Independent SAGE group on BBC News, and he was absolutely scathing about the logic behind this - i.e. we seem to be intent on rescuing some parts of the economy versus preserving overall public health. He said that if the current infection rate of 1000 new cases a day were the levels we had in March, we would have gone into full lockdown on that basis alone. As in, we should still be in lockdown. Then another scientist came on who said he was 'very nervous' about it. Probably as they'll get the blame as they're clever.
I then watched another interview with a pub owner in Essex who said that he's hoping the social distancing can be reduced so he can pack people in his pub again. He didn't seem worried about becoming a viral hotspot, but then he possibly doesn't listen to David King either. Given that drinking alcohol in close quarters will have precisely the opposite effect on social distancing that we need (it's even happened to holier-than-thou me, so I know it's true - I touched her knee at least), is this really a practical solution to a health crisis? It's good for breweries perhaps - unless they have another lockdown and have to throw it all away again.
Germany has just closed a meat-packing plant after 1500 employees have tested positive. In one company. So now everything's having to close down again in that state.
Given also that we don't know much about viral deposition within caves, and how long a load might survive (particularly in well-used caves - like Giants Hole in my area which can see dozens a day visit in summer) can anyone be reasonably confident that we aren't possibly in a situation where we might be 'dosing' caves long-term - if asymptomatic but infectious cavers do a long trip and dump it into the further reaches? And that if areas that are SSSIs are involved, Natural England may then feel obliged to permanently close down specific sites on the basis that they are now a 'biohazard'? If eliminating a virus is taken seriously, this may be considered reasoanable. You can't burn a cave like you can burn a contaminated facemask, and you can't clean one down to satisfaction either.
As a practical suggestion for my area, Derbyshire - Suicide Cave at Winnats Pass, Odin Cave just past Treak Cliff and Windy Knoll Cave are probably visited by more people in a year than anywhere else in the area - and nearly all by the general public, who often use these sites as toilets and sex venues. As sport caving hasn't happened since lockdown, it is likely that the only visits these caves have had is from the public. And so it may be worth swabbing common touch areas within these caves to see if any traces of the virus can be picked up? That's no more ridiculous than any other scientific sampling exercise might seem, and it might just give a clue, which is more than we have now, even though we're meant to offer 'advice'.
I'm not trying to be awkward here, but I'm trying to find out the best practice, based on the best science I can find, in the limited free time I have. Which pretty much means ignoring Government advice, as far as I can tell. Philosophically speaking, is it still right to balance the interests of a consumer-led service economy against long-term public health? Are they of equal weight? Should we be attempting to rebalance the economy back toward manufacturing and innovation (which can be managed with social distancing and creates long-term financial stability) or encouraging more people to eat and drink alcohol in other places than their homes (which can't and probably doesn't)? Is that truly a viable primary industry for the 21st century? Buck Rodgers is meant to be around soon, and it appears he may merely have a job as a waiter in a cafe with a face mask on instead of being a space superhero, which I would prefer really.
Ah, it's only a quarter of an hour to the announcement now. That went quick. But any thoughts? :-\
