So this new mask mandate...

[NickFaulks]

I do develop a certain irritation with the large number of bio/public health folk with habits of taking exponentials (which arise from solving a linear equation) and blithely extrapolating them without considering the non-linear effects that always come in.

Ah, you're sounding like a boring scientist. The Government knows that will never get onto the front page of the Daily Express, so much prefers to take its advice from "social scientists" who neither understand nor have any time for such technicalities.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Its very possible that Omicron emerged some time before it was actually "discovered", no?

Which makes the "its still too soon to see any major bad effects emerge" argument a bit more problematic.

[Chris Goodall]

Its very possible that Omicron emerged some time before it was actually "discovered", no?

Which makes the "its still too soon to see any major bad effects emerge" argument a bit more problematic.

Not really, you could say the same about SARS-CoV-2 in general.

[Roger de Coverly]

The information I'm getting from the Community Centre where we meet is

From Friday 10th December (tomorrow) it is a legal requirement to wear face coverings in community buildings

Exceptions apply to the bar (a separate room) and exercising or singing.

I could imagine most venues used for serious play would be classified as "community buildings".

It goes on to say

The capacity of the Community Centre is not large enough to trigger any of the thresholds for the requirement for people to have to use the NHS Pass. Therefore NHS Pass is NOT required for any activities at the Centre.

I'm not sure what that level is and whether any Congress or 4NCL venues would exceed it. Excluding the bar area, maximum seating capacity at our venue would be around 150 over two rooms.

[Nick Burrows]

I'm not sure what that level is and whether any Congress or 4NCL venues would exceed it. Excluding the bar area, maximum seating capacity at our venue would be around 150 over two rooms.

While the original plan B envisaged only vaccination being allowed, Johnson said people will also be able to show evidence of a recent negative lateral flow test – some MPs and ministers were known to be wary of vaccine-only certificates.

These will be mandatory for nightclubs or other large crowded spaces. They will be needed for all unseated indoor venues with a capacity of 500 or more; all unseated outdoor venues of 4,000 or more; or any venue, seated or not, which contain 10,000 or more, meaning they will be needed for football stadiums and other mass sports venues.

[Stephen Westmoreland]

Looks like it is OK for seated areas under 10,000 people. If no seats, passports are needed for over for 500 people. That is a little ridiculous (chairs prevent COVID for under 10,000 people) but at least I don't have to wear a mask if I sing during my game (unless I play in a pub, then I do not need to sing).

[Roger de Coverly]

They will be needed for all unseated indoor venues with a capacity of 500 or more

Cue arguments about which set of rules an indoor venue which sometimes has seating would follow. Conference centres, sports halls, school halls and exhibition spaces are also used for larger chess events.

[MartinCarpenter]

Singing? Basically a truly terrible idea right now, sadly. Amazed the various things aren't clearer about that.

Scotland is saying to cancel Xmas parties and similar things, I see. They're the people I've been tending to pay more attention to - they've always seemed much closer to making coherent sense.