Covid-19 Failure

[JGD]

It is not the "norm" to name and shame on this forum, however Newsshopper today reports a significant systemic failure by JD Wetherspoons to implement effective pandemic measures when they were granted permission to re-open to the public.

https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/1865 ... /?ref=ebln

The failure is serious enough to make it important that these matters are made known to the wider public and perhaps particularly for our community to be made aware if they have that establishment's customers in their "bubble". It would seem that whilst the report is specific to one unnamed pub, it is reported that this lack of conformance to regulations occurs widely across the chain.

Fears are growing that overcrowding and a relaxed summer socialising will lead to a new spike in Covid-19 cases after a Wetherspoons pub in south London has been completely ignoring social distancing and track and tracing rules.

A recent investigation by the Guardian found that the JD Wetherspoons pub had not been asking customers to provide personal details as required by the Government’s track and tracing system.

In the unnamed pub, which is one of south London’s most popular with young people, customers were allowed to buy drinks directly from the bar and stand within one metre of each other without intervention.

Tim Martin, JD Wetherspoon's boss frequently blusters on main stream media expounding his views on many things including Brexit and instructing his staff to find other employment instead of furloughing them when lock-down commenced.

It would seem his PR piece about the chain's preparedness was nothing more than another example of his bluster in light of the revelation of this serious failure.

JD Wetherspoon has revealed plans to open 875 of its pubs with staff on hand to monitor social distancing and temperature checks for employees.

The chain said it was investing £11m to ensure the safety of its customers and staff when it gets the green light from the government to reopen.

It will operate with a “slightly reduced menu” and hand sanitiser dispensers will be placed around the pub, as well as at the entrance.

Staff will also have to complete a daily health assessment questionnaire and have their temperatures checked before they can work, and the chain said it would provide gloves, masks and protective eyewear.

Calls must be made to Tim Martin to ensure he understands this position cannot be permitted to endure. Perhaps he needs to close his chain down to ensure his putative £11m programme is effectively rolled out and his staff re-trained in deployment of the measures.

[Rachael]

My son went to a Spoons on Thursday to mark A-level results day. He left almost immediately and came home. It was packed, with a queue out the door. Even a 19 year-old hoping for a well-deserved night out with his mates could see it was a shit show and not worth the risk.

[JGD]

BBC report from today.

JD Wetherspoon has said that 66 of its workers have tested positive for the coronavirus but maintains that visiting pubs is safe.

The company, which employs more than 41,000 people, said the vast majority of its pubs had recorded no positive tests for the virus.

There had been one or more cases among staff at 50 of its pubs.

Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin dismissed claims by disease expert Professor Hugh Pennington that pubs are "dangerous".

He said: "The situation with regard to pubs has been widely misunderstood."

Aberdeen University's Prof Pennington said last month that pubs are "far, far more dangerous places to be" when discussing sending children back to school during the pandemic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54144130

[angela53]

Sorry but infections are rising once more in care homes and the nhs as per Kier Stammer`s wife whom is a nurse
Pubs are not to blame but tthe lack of hygeine in the general population
I worked in the nhs for 40 years and the lack of hygeine amongst nhs staff was atrocious as resulted in rise of MRSA etc etc etc

[JGD]

Sorry but infections are rising once more in care homes and the nhs as per Kier Stammer`s wife whom is a nurse
Pubs are not to blame but tthe lack of hygeine in the general population
I worked in the nhs for 40 years and the lack of hygeine amongst nhs staff was atrocious as resulted in rise of MRSA etc etc etc

I agree with everything said by angela53.

As an example, one of our local pubs, The Dolphin has one of the best of regimes in place and it provides protection and safety to both customers and staff.

Pubs are not to blame when there are these safety regimes in place. It continues to be reported that JD Wetherspoons does not have an effective system and if it does exist at all, staff in the establishments neither observe nor enforce them.

It could be argued that this country will never be able to repay the dedication, bravery, sacrifice and professionalism delivered by the staff of the NHS during the pandemic.