This is it, the positive story of the vaccine roll-out shouldn't allow them to escape a reckoning on all they've got wrong. please log in to view this image
Pretty meaningless unless you want to show how well the Far East has handled the pandemic. More relevant to compare the UK with other Western countries
OK. Which major western countries is our death rate per million lower than? The answer is none. We have overtaken Italy again. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ Column 10.
I'm not saying our record is good by Western standards. Simply that if you want to make reasonable comparisons, you have to compare like with like. There's no point comparing Italy with South Korea. But there will be vital lessons to be learned from Far Eastern countries that have a history in dealing with killer viruses
Basically the Far East countries aren't full of deniers, protestors and other idiots who ignore the medical evidence and flout lockdowns. Their governments don't f*ck about trying not to upset people either...
Have you spent any time in the Far East? I think it’s fair to make comparisons, but probably a bit after the horse has bolted now. These countries, especially South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, are pretty similar to the west in living standards, demography (except they are more crowded in parts) and all are capitalist industrial democracies. They had some prior experience with the first SARS outbreak, and clearly learned more from it than the rest of the world. I suppose you could argue that South Korea and Taiwan are on a permanent semi war footing, which changes attitudes to authority. Taiwan is a bit warmer but the other two have similar climates to Europe, with the odd typhoon thrown in. South Korea and Taiwan moved fast and their citizens heeded the government rules, but the Japanese response has been farcical and widely criticised from within the country. Yet they have a death rate of 44 per million, compared to 1550 for us. Something very odd going on both there and here, but they have massively lucked out.
Pulling your leg a bit mate. But of course humanity’s days are numbered, either through natural or unnatural events or simply through evolution. It’s the way of all (nearly, I think cockroaches might be an exception) species.
I don't know the Far East well. I went to Bangkok and HK a few times on business in the 90's. If I was to guess the reasons for the disparity between East and West, I'd start with the following: * As you say, the East's experience of SARS and MERS. And consequent better preparedness with appropriate medical resources, ic beds, ventilators etc And of course, test and trace capability which seems to have been a particular failure of the UK govt * Acceptance of authority in the East, a more communal society compared to a more individualistic society in the West, leading to recalcitrance, violations of lockdown, failure to social distance etc * failure to properly quarantine visitors to Western countries * the difference in personal greetings - the Japanese bow and rarely touch, whereas we shake hands, and everyone seems to want to invade other people's personal space to kiss and hug... * Poor diet and insufficient exercise leading to an obesity crisis in the West, and connected to it, other underlying health problems. * BAME populations in the West which seem to be particularly susceptible to the coronavirus and possibly also large immigrant populations in the West that often involve people living in close proximity
I heard 600k yesterday which was a new record. Nearly 9m vaccinated. Fair play to the government. Played a blinder here.
Yep, the countries are different, but you can factor in for differences and still compare, though it’s probably not worth the effort unless we are prepared to learn from the conclusions. You would have thought by now that the relationship between travel restrictions and quarantine, and the speed and strictness of their imposition, and the infection rate and especially the spread of new variants would be pretty well recognised. I see that Perth has gone into a five day complete lockdown because one security guard at a quarantine hotel tested positive. There are reasons why Western Australia has had a grand total of 902 cases and 9 deaths.
Wonder when we’ll be desensitised to the vaccine numbers like we have the cases and deaths. Hopefully never as it’s good to give people positive news to keep them going.
I am sure you meant to say Ellers:- well done to the scientists who created the vaccine and to the NHS and NHS Trusts who organised the rollout, so efficiently Yes before you get on my back .. yes very well done to the government who this time got it right with the setting up of the contracts and paying for the vaccine. Their record on setting up contracts and paying for them has up to now not been their forte...but at last this time they avoided their usual acts of cronyism and SERCO.
