I’d kind of welcome a highly discriminatory plague, one which specifically targets people who think whatever they do is so important that they have to do stuff like this. A Darwin Award plague. Some sort of encouraging news from Oxford University, which says the real mortality rate from the virus could be as low as 0.2%. Massive differences in testing regimes and the way deaths are recorded (in Italy everyone who dies and has tested positive is a coronavirus death, even if the cause of death was another condition). The current UK mortality of 4.4% of positive tests simply means we haven’t tested anything like as many people as we should have. Whitty reckons 1%. In worse news we are tracking at exactly the same trajectory as Italy 2 weeks ago.
That wasn't my experience of the tube this morning. I got a Met train to Baker Street at about 9.15 and it was pretty easy to keep a good distance.
We had the same thing here yesterday as the UK with people out enjoying the spring like conditions and basically not giving a toss about social distancing.....Garda had to step in and close various places. Also Garda had to assist HSE (NHS) paramedics who were called to 5 youngsters who were out at an all night party who had an asthma attack and it turned out that one of them should have been self isolating but got "bored"...….Health Minister has called on parents "to step up to the mark"...... I can see a lock down happening here sooner rather than later due to crass stupidity...….
Yeah agree. I keep thinking was the 'Herd" thing the best way? I was shocked yesterday listening to WHO when they said that isolation won't solve it... just delay.
i'm guessing the key is to have enough ventilators and equipment/vaccinations to be able to combat covid. Until we are at that level we can't just have loads of people getting exposed unless we plan on playing nhs roulette with everyones lives (no doubt the rich will probably be okay and grab a space)
agree. I thought the point of the herd was to infect all the fit people and isolate the old and vulnerable (for 12 weeks) so after the fit couldn't infect the old and after if any old got sick the NHS could deal with it... rather than the whole country. As I said I will be P'd if I have isolated/lost money/work and then get infected at a later date.
Me too. My politics is so anti-Tory BUT Boris made a few mistakes early on (no daily briefings, asking pubs to close etc.) but which PM would not make mistakes as we have never been here before. But the government learnt really quick, and are so trying to do the right thing for everyone (He hasn't cleared up the self employed loop hole, but I am sure it will be...it is obviously the most difficult one to sort out). He is informative, statesmanlike, sensible ....and bojo gimmicks or jokes, the briefings are done extremely well. The actions are now appropriate. He is doing a good job (Yes I said it!) But they (we all are) going to have a hell of a (economic) mess to clear up afterwards, and I am not sure how they will manage that. I will give them a littele leeway with that too...as it will be a @@@@strorm for generations to come. I was reading about previous pandemics: The two early Roman plagues destroyed the classical civilisations of Rome and Byzantium The BlackDeath caused a fundamental change in socioeconomics of the western world (workers being so few in numbers, they started to be able to sell their trade for worth, rather than be surfs/slaves) The Spanish Flu cause the upswing in womens rights to work and earn money, as so many who died were young and male What will this plague do to our civilisations?
Just picked up my flint tipped spear and donned my rabbit skin loin cloth (it’s an arresting sight) for a little light hunter gathering in town. Another lovely day, but very few people about on the walk in. A few more in the town centre, but most shops closed. I was expecting to be disappointed, seeing everything cleaned out by 8.00 am shoppers. Butchers has delivered on its promise, lots of fresh veg out front. Boots has marked out decent social distancing zones around its tills and has hand sanitiser (one per customer). M&S food hall has also marked out safe spaces around its checkouts, and was just about fully stocked. The big Tesco also seemed to have stuff on the shelves but no floor markings and a much more febrile atmosphere. Between the butchers and M&S I got everything I wanted and more. Perhaps we have turned a little corner. Tesco’s is, from where I stand, coming out of this very badly.
Is it useful to speculate at this stage? It’s hard not to I admit. The super rich might get it in the neck. We might get even more isolated from each other. This is a supply and demand side economic situation, not sure if we have had that recently. Can’t see it being the end of capitalism, sadly. Can see it being a boost to nativism and nationalism the ‘Chinese flu’. Already an environmental benefit, can it be maintained? Who knows we might pull together and regain some sense of togetherness. What it already is appears to be a test of morality (I don’t like this word but can’t think of an alternative which doesn’t require a tedious explanation) for all of us. As you point out the strategy every country in the world has adopted is to sacrifice the economy for the vulnerable. This will need to be paid for but also requires changes in our behaviour as individuals, even if we personally are unlikely to suffer much inconvenience from the virus. We are expected to be selfless. Are we? And can we continue to be for months on end?
Household strategy is enough in for the next three days of tasty nutritious meals. I confess we have four evening meals worth right now. And as much wine as I can carry. Just heard from my lad, who’s company might be stopping work this evening. I know (because he told me) that he had a very heavy Friday night, big lock in at the pub over the road from where he lives and where he helps out in the kitchen and mending stuff (he’s a joiner) occasionally. We’ve told him that he’s welcome to come here for the duration, but he has to do seven days isolation first, because we don’t know where he’s been, and that if he does come here there’ll be no disappearing off to see mates in the evenings. Harsh? He’s probably better off staying where he is, some of his housemates are very well connected locally, they will want for nothing. Plus they will need him because he’s the only one who can cook.
Am not anti-tory or PM He has been advised all the way by the Health experts and this was confirmed by the Health spokeswoman. People will always find fault... (not you) IMO he hasn't done too much wrong. Maybe a little clearer with regards to what exactly what we all need to do (in our own situations). I said on a previous post how his remarks were different to the NHS. However France/Belgium/Italy/Spain/Germany and the US have all done basically what we are doing and all made mistakes, we are just a bit behind (although I don't buy into that and will discuss at a later date). Blaming Boris (like I have seen on Facebook and Twitter) is wrong. Take Macron and France... last week he shut the schools on Tuesday then got everyone out to vote on Sunday only to cancel the next round on the Monday? How irresponsible was that? can you imagine if Boris had done that? The usual suspect would have a field day. In Germany Merkel is now getting criticised. In the US Trump is well... Trump . This thing is changing daily and we have to adapt to it. Our NHS staff are stars! and two very close friends of mine are nurses and are working long shifts without bitching or playing politics. Seriously, the calmness of them is amazing. Germany has helped out in northern France which I said last week had be hit badly. They have taken 11 very sick people. difference is, I have seen all these posts of 'solidarity' and how they are all helping. If that had been in the UK the usual lot would be knocking the government and NHS cuts. Boris is in a lose/lose situation and for the sake of peoples lives, I hope we come out of this better than they are saying. People want to know why Italy has been hit badly? They all kiss and hug when greeting. It's like the oldest population congregation per mile on earth. Many young spend time with family especially Grandparents. They ignored advice and still met in big groups..... More importantly, that area has a huge amount of Chinese who work in the factories and quite a few have families in..... wait for it... Wuhan.
I really despair if people saying they don’t understand the rules on self isolation.......supposedly clever people who seem to like to act thick when the need suits. If you get symptoms ( Continuous cough or fever) then self isolate for 7 days People in your household should then isolate for 14 days from the day you get sick If they then subsequently get sick then their period of isolation starts from the first day of their symptoms for 7 days It really isn’t the ****ing difficult people
I'm afraid I can't join the Johnson appreciation society on here. It seems to me that the government's reaction to this crisis has been slow, confused and contradictory. It seems to be doing the right things eventually, but too slowly, grudgingly, and only in reaction to criticism rather than on its own initiative. Of course this is an horrendous situation to have to deal with, but I'm afraid it's one that Johnson is totally unqualified for and unsuited to. Tin hat time.
Bloody hell only yesterday there were mock jokes about Harvey Weinstein getting Coronavirus... now it's been confirmed. This is one for the conspiracy thread!
I think time will tell. Once this is over we can judge him.... however I am sure even if credits due he won't get it from certain members of society.
