CORONAVIRUS

[Placido]

Last night on the BBC 7.30 pm Coronavirus Update the question of "just going out for a drive" was answered:

Fergus Walsh, the BBC Medical Correspondent, said (and I quote verbatim): "You cannot just go out for a drive. All non-essential travel is off the cards at the moment."

Following that info up through Government guidelines I find that the rationale is that you might have an accident when someone has to come and rescue you from your crimped car and take you to hospital for treatment thereby putting themselves at risk and giving the hospital yet another job to do.

Yesterday I received a letter from the NHS telling me that I have been identified as someone at risk of severe illness if I catch u-no-wot and safest is to stay at home at all times for at least 12 weeks.
So, I have the same dilemma - how long can you keep a car immobile (maybe I should start by removing the battery) before it seizes up entirely. I don't know .

[Kev]

Start the car every 10 days. If you can, back off the driveway and go back on or something similar and let it warm up a bit before turning it off. I wouldn't have thought going round the block would be a big problem but it depends where you live I guess. Depending on the car, taking out the battery can sometimes be a bad thing such as losing the radio ID number.

[Kev]

I went to Tesco this morning. Wasn't too bad. Super quiet and the shelves are pretty well stocked (no loo roll obviously). They have a limit of people in the store (at a guess 30-40) and when they count 5 out they let 5 in.

[Placido]

Start the car every 10 days. If you can, back off the driveway and go back on or something similar and let it warm up a bit before turning it off. I wouldn't have thought going round the block would be a big problem but it depends where you live I guess. Depending on the car, taking out the battery can sometimes be a bad thing such as losing the radio ID number.

Every 10 days ?? I can do that.
The radio's a wind-up anyway; it only gets the Light Programme and the Home Service. (You wouldn't understand )
Backing off the drive might be a good thing 'cos that would remove the possibility of the tyres always being in the same spot.
Thank you, Kev

[Kev]

Going up the road might be off the cards unless it's really quiet....

Anyone continuing to break coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and faces arrest.
People ignoring tougher restrictions on movement could be hit with a £60 fine initially and another for £120 for a second offence.
New powers given to police in England mean no-one will be allowed to leave their home "without reasonable excuse".
People are only allowed to leave the house for specific reasons:

Shopping for "basic necessities", as infrequently as possible
One form of exercise a day such as a run, walk or cycle
Medical reasons, to provide care, or to help a vulnerable person
Travelling to and from work, but only if it is "absolutely necessary" and cannot be done from home

[Jacksparrow]

If you start the car and don't travel far or not at all you risk running the battery down. You can counter that by buying a cheapo charger and giving the battery a little charge. It only needs a light charge not for hours and hours. Alternatively a little trip around the block to visit a vulnerable friend,nod,nod,wink,wink,say no more would help the engine and circulate the oil.
If stopped by the Constabulary enquiring of your mission just play the dotty old dear who'd no idea it wasn't allowed any more. Adopt pitiful look and say sorry and I'm sure your collar won't be felt.

[Placido]

Thank you both, very much indeed for the advice. Actually, given the NHS letter I received (detailed above) I'm not going out at all, at all. Tooooo risky.
Will scurry to the car, if the coast is clear, and try the "Start it up once a week" thing and see how it goes. 3 months is a long long time.

And another thing - I have to confess that I'm a secret fan of Japanese sumo wrestling. No, 'onestly, I am.
All sports, everywhere, are banned/postponed until about 2094, but the latest basho, in Osaka, went ahead in its entirety but with no fans . The massive hall was empty except for the seemingly endless number of supporting staff - it seems that no sumo tournament can go ahead without at the very least 94 staff. No idea what they all do apart from tripping over each other, particularly in a completely empty hall.

Maybe this is a template for all sports, globally - go ahead and play the sport but behind closed doors. No fans, at all, except t.v. camera-persons in protective suits. It's already been mooted in footie, and another particular sport which I won't mention .....
After all, it doesn't get much closer and more personal than sumo. (Hakuho won again )

[Willpar]

Doing social distancing at the supermarket this morning. And only letting in a few at a time. Got all I wanted, and got home a quarter of an hour later than normal, so not to bad. But the buses change next week, by running a reduced service. I see the one I usually catch down there on a Saturday is not running at all on the Saturday. Either I catch a different later bus or walk down. Coming back seems ok as that's a different bus.

[Jacksparrow]

I went to visit my old uncle today who is definitely in the "at risk" category. I did the same journey last week and the difference in traffic was marked.There were a lot fewer cars and vehicle about this week which would suggest most people are taking notice of the government advice. I did encounter 3 motorcycles which I would suggest were out on a pleasure trip rather than a mission of mercy
PS Uncle was well and in good spirits. Having lived alone for the last 30 months self isolating is a breeze.

[Jacksparrow]