New Petition:

To require authorization for outpatient use of Hydroxychloroquine in USA: we in UK are affected by what happens to HCQ in USA, worth signing:

Please don't miss interviews with major doctors/scientists engaged in successful use of hydroxychloroquine & trying to overcome the attempt to stop its use for cov19:

https://pandemic.warroom.org Episode 323 and Episode 324

Can everyone sign all the petitions please. I know you might think it makes little difference but the more voices the better (IMO). Thanks

Had a "response"(non-response essentially) from the government (means mind control, incidentally) to the petition to repeal the decision to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops:

You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “Repeal the decision to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops.”. To unsubscribe from getting emails about this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/88504501/unsubscribe?token=38xav5gWrcnr6WhWvIr5 Dear Xxxx, The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Repeal the decision to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops.”. Government responded: People must play their part to reduce the spread of the virus. Wearing a face covering helps this, giving people the confidence to return to shops safely, and better protects those who work in retail. The government is telling the public to play their part and wear face coverings in order to help fight the spread of the virus, enabling further easing of national restrictions. Coronavirus (COVID-19) usually spreads by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without washing your hands first. This is why social distancing, regular hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is so important in controlling the spread of the virus. There is evidence to suggest that, when used correctly, face coverings may reduce the likelihood of someone with the infection passing it on to others, particularly if they are asymptomatic. Because face coverings are mainly intended to protect others, not the wearer, from coronavirus (COVID-19) they are not a replacement for social distancing and regular hand washing. Since 11 May, the Government has been advising people to wear face coverings in enclosed indoor spaces, where they cannot easily social distance, and where they come into contact with people they do not normally meet. The wearing of face coverings has been required on public transport since 15 June. In recent weeks, some lockdown restrictions have been eased and the retail sector has reopened. As footfall increases, we want to give people more confidence to shop safely, and enhance protections for those who work in shops. The British Retail Consortium has said that together with other social distancing measures, face coverings can make shoppers feel even more confident about returning to the high street. The Government has published guidance online which sets out when the public need to wear one and how they can make their own. There are exemptions for those who are unable to wear a face covering due to age, health, disability, and other reasons. There has been an ongoing assessment as to the impacts of the Government’s policy, including on groups with protected characteristics, that has informed decision making. The Government is running a proactive communications campaign on face coverings to alert the public where they are now required to wear a face covering, who is exempt from wearing one, and how to wear one correctly. We are actively engaging with stakeholders including disability charities to communicate new guidance to their members as well as highlighting this message to the general public on social media and via broadcasting opportunities. On 31 July the Prime Minister announced that the face covering regulations will be extended to cover further indoor settings such as places of worship from 8 August. We will keep advice on the use of face coverings under review, in line with the latest scientific evidence. Department of Health and Social Care Click this link to view the response online: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331430?reveal_response=yes The Petitions Committee will take a look at this petition and its response. They can press the government for action and gather evidence. If this petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Committee will consider it for a debate. The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out more about the Committee: https://petition.parliament.uk/help#petitions-committee Thanks, The Petitions team UK Government and Parliament You’re receiving this email because you signed this petition: “Repeal the decision to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops.”. To unsubscribe from getting emails about this petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/88504501/unsubscribe?token=38xav5gWrcnr6WhWvIr5

Hi Veritas - don't let them fob you off - here's a suggested reply - send to petitionscommittee@parliament.uk Include anything else you think relevant.

Dear Petitions Committee

I have received this unsatisfactory response to petition 331430. I would be grateful if you could further respond to my comments in bold:

The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Repeal the decision to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops.”.

Government responded: People must play their part to reduce the spread of the virus. Wearing a face covering helps this, giving people the confidence to return to shops safely, and better protects those who work in retail.

I dispute your assertion that wearing a face covering gives people confidence to return to shops safely. There was no difference in the numbers of people in shops on July 23rd when face coverings were not mandatory and on July 24th when they were. Please inform me of the evidence which support this claim.

The government is telling the public to play their part and wear face coverings in order to help fight the spread of the virus, enabling further easing of national restrictions. Coronavirus (COVID-19) usually spreads by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without washing your hands first. This is why social distancing, regular hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is so important in controlling the spread of the virus.

Please note if people are asymptomatic, they are unlikely to spread droplets from coughs and sneezes. Symptomatic people with coughs and sneezes should, in any event, be staying at home. Furthermore. trapping infected droplets from coughs and sneezing in face coverings is detrimental to health. Observations of people wearing masks suggests 90% of people re-use ‘dirty’ face coverings. Touching coverings with unwashed hands is commonplace – people wearing face coverings touch their faces many times more than they would without a covering.

There is evidence to suggest that, when used correctly, face coverings may reduce the likelihood of someone with the infection passing it on to others, particularly if they are asymptomatic.

Could you inform me where this evidence is published. I note it is not conclusive and merely SUGGESTS face coverings MAY reduce the likelihood of someone transmitting the infection and ONLY WHEN the covering is 'used correctly'. The research therefore also suggests face coverings may not be effective at all.

I understand the Government is relying on research from the UK Royal Society’s Delve review of the evidence:

https://rs-delve.github.io/addenda/2020/07/07/masks-update.html

I invite you to consult this paper and apply the principles of ‘Levels of Evidence’ (eg Sackett et al) which dictates the quality of research in order to ascertain whether the findings are ‘gold standard’, strong or weak recommendations or merely opinion.

Having consulted the findings, it is clear this study is not quality research and falls far short of the ‘gold standards’ required for strong recommendations.

The Delve review relies on Observation and Modelling studies, which are considered inferior to Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) or the systematic review of RCTs. I include excerpts from the paper to support this:

Evidence continues to accrue that masks, including cloth masks, prevent onward transmission of infection. This is based on observational and modeling data in humans, on the effectiveness of masks in intercepting droplets and aerosols and on controlled studies of experimental animals. Evidence is also accumulating that masks may additionally protect the wearer.

There are no human controlled trials on the efficacy of universal mask use in stemming SARS-CoV2 transmission. It is inherently problematic to conduct such a trial on a practice that all must adhere to for it to be efficacious. Nevertheless, the cumulative multifaceted evidence on mask efficacy provides strong support for their use. Several accepted medical and public health practices to reduce the transmission of other infections are based on similar types of evidence and not on the results of randomized clinical trials.

I refer you to references commenting on the validity of Observational and Modelling studies:

Observational Studies – worthwhile or worthless?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6302806/

Reporting guidelines for modelling studies

https://bmcmedresmethodol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2288-12-168

I further refer you to Level 1 research, which finds masks and respirators do not prevent the transmission of viruses and asks serious questions regarding the negative effects:

https://www.sott.net/article/434796-The-Science-is-Conclusive-Masks-and-Respirators-do-NOT-Prevent-Transmission-of-Viruses?fbclid=IwAR06QiUKhsOAlfzQZJ6ZxUgXXEAV7rDrKOvYL3SQW8qFAp_yDuBPpzCF7Ao

Clearly an evaluation of the evidence is important. If any face covering is ineffective, then there is no point in wearing it.

Because face coverings are mainly intended to protect others, not the wearer, from coronavirus (COVID-19) they are not a replacement for social distancing and regular hand washing.

I have seen no quality scientific evidence that finds face coverings protect others from the virus. Furthermore, there is evidence face coverings may be detrimental to the health of wearers.

Since 11 May, the Government has been advising people to wear face coverings in enclosed indoor spaces, where they cannot easily social distance, and where they come into contact with people they do not normally meet. The wearing of face coverings has been required on public transport since 15 June. In recent weeks, some lockdown restrictions have been eased and the retail sector has reopened.

I am aware of the regulations.

As footfall increases, we want to give people more confidence to shop safely, and enhance protections for those who work in shops. The British Retail Consortium has said that together with other social distancing measures, face coverings can make shoppers feel even more confident about returning to the high street.

What evidence does the British Retail Consortium base their assertion that face coverings can make shoppers feel more confident about returning to shops? How many people were surveyed and what methodology was used to gain this information? I would be grateful if you could supply me with this information.

The Government has published guidance online which sets out when the public need to wear one and how they can make their own. There are exemptions for those who are unable to wear a face covering due to age, health, disability, and other reasons.

I am aware of the guidance and regulations.

There has been an ongoing assessment as to the impacts of the Government’s policy, including on groups with protected characteristics, that has informed decision making.

Please inform me of any ongoing assessments that have been carried out, that has informed decision making.

The Government is running a proactive communications campaign on face coverings to alert the public where they are now required to wear a face covering, who is exempt from wearing one, and how to wear one correctly. We are actively engaging with stakeholders including disability charities to communicate new guidance to their members as well as highlighting this message to the general public on social media and via broadcasting opportunities. On 31 July the Prime Minister announced that the face covering regulations will be extended to cover further indoor settings such as places of worship from 8 August. We will keep advice on the use of face coverings under review, in line with the latest scientific evidence. Department of Health and Social Care

I am aware of the Governments advice regarding the wearing of face coverings and exemptions. I note you will keep advice on the use of face coverings under review in line with the latest scientific evidence. Could you please inform me of any gold standard, Level 1 or quality research that has found face coverings to be effective in preventing the transmission of viruses. I have seen no such evidence and unless such evidence exists the wearing of face-coverings or masks is not worthwhile.

I look forward to receiving your further considered response regarding the petition to repeal the decision to to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops.

Yours sincerely

xxx

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/313310

cant see that this ones been posted here yeat?

Nice work Livvy.

Nice one Livvy

Is there a way to get a list without the comments, and keep it at the top of the Activism listings or something like that?

That way people can identify them quickly. It is extremely concerning how few signatures are on all of these.

Finally the Repeal Coronavirus Act gov one is over the 10000 mark. Ought to be above 100 000 by now.

I agree. Good idea Siobhan, so I've just edited my first post and added a couple more. If there are others I've missed can you reply to this and I'll add them in.

Also if we comment every now and again it'll keep the thread at the top.

Good news. The change.org petition for partners to be allowed at labour has over 300 000 signatures 👏👏👏🎉😀💕

Thanks Siabhan, can you keep commenting every now and then to keep this at the top of Activism. I will too.

I’ve made a leaflet. Basic but ...

Any feedback is welcome

Hmm not sure how to upload.