It’s a delicate balance. Ultimately you can’t just shut down the world indefinitely, you can’t make the claim that it’s a black and white decision between people’s lives and the economy. Because a world meltdown will directly and indirectly cost an amount of lives that are impossible to determine. So the choices are: 1. keep lockdown until a vaccine comes. Impractical as there may never be a vaccine 2. End lockdown as soon as levels are at a ‘manageable’ level for NHS, keep social distancing - a ‘soft herd’ approach - how do you manage that with regards to kickstarting business and the workplace? 3. As per 2, but the ‘hard herd’ They don’t know enough about the disease it’s spread, it’s mutations, etc to make a decision, but sooner or later they’ll likely do 2 in my opinion. You’ll know it’s coming when instead of reporting the deaths in total, they start reporting the deaths over and above who would might be expected to die. In other words at the moment they want people to observe the lockdown, so it suits to report deaths of anyone who had the virus whether it was the direct cause of death or not. Scare people to stay indoors. When they are looking to end lockdown expect to see ‘net’ deaths - so we reports of how many people have died this month compared to a normal may or June etc. Headlines on new infections going down etc. Personally, I can’t see them making a decision of any kind until they have reliable sample testing to see what proportion of the population has actually had the virus. Or if we’re unable to do that at least get reliable data from countries that have been able to do that.
When there has been testing and proof of the antibody theory working then lifting the lockdown will be an option. Right now, it’s only people giving opinions Ristac just like Martin Hibberd. Last week Trump said all would be sorted by Easter Sunday. Saw severals agreeing with him. This thing is all about scientific testing which will take months, analyse the results then make the decisions. Didn’t Boris already do a u turn on his herd solution
Trouble is, this virus has now mutated into 16 different strains. They may well roll out a vaccine for the original strain that may be ineffective for the other 15. The Donald looked very worried for the first time yesterday. He went on to say a vaccine was at least a year away.
Firstly I am not condoning this or saying it is right but.... If you lived in a nasty block of flats in London with no garden would you be tempted to have a little sit in the park? This is also partly my previous point, you can't make people stay indoors for two weeks, how on earth are they going to extend it for months and throw in job losses and people having no money
I have liked much of what he has done (not everything), and I don't like him as a person but he has not been afraid to upset anyone in delivering his promotion campaign promises however, I agree, he looks like a man who knows he is on borrowed time. The economy is crashing in the USA and he is like the equivalent of Dianne Abbott taking us through this pandemic. He has no chance of winning the next election and you can see him watching it all slip away, he'll be remembered for all the wrong reasons I'm sure
here’s a piece on mutations from people who should understand them... basic message is don’t worry https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cn...lth/coronavirus-mutations-analysis/index.html we’re all going to be virus experts soon
I agree in part, but it doesn't mention anything about how mutations are hindering the scientists trying to create the vaccines.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science...as-mutated-aggressive-disease-say-scientists/ Other scientists are finding different results
T the hung about it too TC is that article is a month old. As discoveries are unfolding daily, that would be classed as an old article. One day governments want herd immunity, a week later they change course. A few days ago face masks were deemed pointless now we’re all being told to wear them. Is it any wonder large sections of the population are confused
I've never got the face mask thing, I understand the problem with non surgical, those wearing home made cotton ones are lethal. They just absorb moisture from the air you breathe and the damp cotton just attracts more bugs and gives it a landing surface to breed. Surgical ones though, if they were deemed pointless why give them to NHS staff, maybe they feared panic buying
I think the main benefit from ANY kind of face mask is that it stops you putting your fingers in your mouth whilst outside. Go home and wash your hands and you limit the risk!!
Masks don't protect you that much. However, they help stop you from breathing the virus out in to the air around you. Therefore, if you are the only one in the country wearing a mask it won't make much difference (unless you are the only one to have the virus). However, if everybody wore a mask then the virus will be largely stopped from spreading as it is getting caught in the mask before it escapes in to the air. The reason we are being told not to wear masks is because there are none. And the few we have are needed in hospitals. When we have enough masks then the advice will change and they may become mandatory when you venture out in public. In China, if you have a cold and use public transport you wear a mask to stop it spreading to anyone else. It's considered a polite thing to do. Over here if you put on a mask people think you are rude not wanting to breathe the same air as everyone else.
Just back from the supermarket. Probably 20 customers. About half wearing masks I’d say at this point in time incl ourselves. My attitude is it can’t do any harm
Been doing the supermarket run @ 9 in the evening. They start stacking the shelves at 8 and hardly anyone in there - in fact, last couple of times there were more staff than customers .
**** me, don't get me started on the shopping! We have been ordering food for delivery from local bakeries, butchers, wholesalers as they service the catering industry which is now non existent. We get deliveries fairly easily. However, had to venture in to a supermarket last Thursday morning for stuff like bleach, toilet roll,toothpaste, cereals etc. I'm trying to only go once every two or three weeks. It was heaving. Like Christmas eve heaving. Had to queue for 25 mins to get to a check out with people in and out of my personal space, mostly the ****ing staff I might add! Probably got more exposure to potential virus than I had the entire previous month! That needs sorting! Was a right breeding ground!
Spare a thought for the poor sods in South Africa. Their government had banned the sales of Cigarettes and alcohol as they are deemed non essential items.
