God I've had less stressful evenings that didn't involve being in the park with 10% battery and scant information about a huge thing happening in GM, but a quick thread, now I have some battery and a little info about what I think (?) is happening

I've gleaned this from talking to people locally and not to the govt, so we will have to see what gets said today. But what I was told last night seemed to indicate that the latest measures are about curbing household transmission, as opposed to shutting everything down

So I think the idea is to say that households can't mix in each others houses, as opposed to 'you can't go to the pub'. Yes, this might seem contradictory, but that's what I was told.

The other key thing seems to be that this will be *enforceable*. In reality, are GMP going to come round your house and ask you who's in it? Unlikely. But it does mean, I think, that if you have a party and someone complains, they can do something about it legally

I honestly don't have any more detail than that tbh. I'm really not happy about the way the govt has handled this from a comms point of view, not least the fact that for those of us trying to convey their message, we've had to scrap around for info

For anyone who is instinctively critical of the way the media is dealing with this: we are TRYING. I didn't want to wake up on Friday with a load of qs. I certainly didn't want my Thurs night ruined by continual attempts to understand wtf all this entails.

I'd add that I also live here, and also have friends who are stressed out about it from a myriad of perspectives. I think, though, that this is basically an extension of what's been done in Oldham this week, but to the whole of GM (and other bits of the north with high numbers).

Finally - people are (legitimately) replying to this saying they reckon we can't meet each other in pubs. That might well be the case. I don't know. The various local figures I spoke to last night didn't seem to think that was the case, but hey, govt - give me a goddamn briefing.

The funny thing is I was on a panel on Weds am about covering the coronavirus crisis and the first q was 'what have you found challenging'. The answer is THIS shit. I accept that things were chaotic in March but we're nearly in August.

It's frankly irresponsible from a public health point of view not to brief the local media who will be trying to get this message out in a clear manner. There is a GMCA meeting and an Andy Burnham presser today, so hopefully some clarity will come from that. Not happy though.

Oh, also, I've got Transmission by Joy Division going round in my head. So much so that I've had to put it on

Oh - quick update to this. We can go to the pub, but just not with other households outside your bubble. I'm sure you all probably know this but I should have read all the info that is actually out there, as limited as it is. Brain hurting