Off Topic Coronavirus

Things seem to be running a bit different up here, and the devolved government has talked about exiting lockdown at a time of their choosing when they feel that it safe to do so, although it will probably be at the same time as the rest of the UK. I seem to remember we started our lockdown a few days before you did down there too, or maybe it was just some of the social distancing rules that were bought in early (so much has happened since).

Lockdown hasn't affected me too much personally, as my wife is a nurse and is still going to work, whilst I am also a key worker so am going about my business (with the odd weirdo shouting abuse at me for spreading COVID via 5G - muppets), although my son is deranged at being cooped up - ah, to be 17 again.....

Personally, I think we could (and should) have shut our borders earlier and started lockdown earlier - we had all the evidence from other nations that this was the way to stop the spread. Allowing large scale events to go ahead seems insane in hindsight, but even when in the midst of the outset it seemed a bit odd.

By the way, what was with all the panic buying? We never did any, and haven't had a problem getting most items except handwash/hand gel.

Our lockdown has been half-hearted - allowing building sites to remain open (they are all closed in Scotland, except hospital builds), people to travel en-masse on public transport, allowing in-bound air passengers all seems to defeat the purpose of our isolation. I don't see the lockdown getting lifted any time soon, and Sturgeon said in her briefing last week that it will be a long time before we return to any kind of normality. I've seen a noticeable increase in cars on the road today though,,which is worrying.

 

isn't that because the NHS has requisitioned the PPE that were going into care homes?

 

No it’s not indiscriminate Trams, you are highlighting the exceptions that prove the rule. The most at risk are the old, already vulnerable, poor. Some young people will have a bad time but proportionately very few. From reading the article it is an attempt to scare younger people to follow the distancing rules because of the risks they pose to others and the health services if they ignore them. Youth is no guarantee that you won’t get a bad, or even fatal, dose of virus, but it’s a pretty good indicator that you won’t.

 

Another eminent scientist, I'm sorry I forget his name, recently predicted that we could have possibly 500,000 deaths.

The experts disagree widely across the world on this.

 

No idea.
Source?

 

Bit harsh calling Scotland a care home, mate.

 

Because Social distancing is not everything, and is only a partial measure

Other things...
touching surfaces
handling money
Accidental encounters
Petrol stations
Walking through infected airspace
In a restricted area with one or two other people (fellow workers), becoming blase in their presence
Going to work on a bus, car a tube.

Once one shop does it, others follow...and I understand the need to put food on their tables, pay their bills

This is what I meant why the lockdown was not strict enough at the start. It is now impossible to do this. We have missed our main chance

 

My point exactly.

We either lift the lockdown and do a half-hearted social distancing experiment and see how it goes or keep the lockdown as its supposed to be with all unessential facilities remaining closed.

Dont see how you can have a mix of the two, with any business that fancies it reopening regardless. The whole lockdown idea becomes pointless (although it was done in a half-arsed fashion to begin with unfortunately)

 

Sadly with many illnesses, there are exceptions. However, the vast majority are people with underlining health problems/older people, and some that have obesity problems diabetes. Children are still in the lowest group but sadly sometimes some just cannot fight a diseases.

 

Michael Heseltine said in an interview today that the same people calling for the lockdown to be lifted will be the same people complaining if more deaths occur after. Take note Watford.

 

I’m not calling for the lockdown to be lifted. I can understand why people would but I’m in a fortunate situation and very happy with life for now.

 

Versus:
One and a half million new claims for universal credit
Four million jobs furloughed ie taxpayer funded
25% of UK businesses have stopped trading

Source: Chancellor of the Exchequer

And this is before the self employed are taken into account and loans to businesses.

So we have a COVID19 (attributed) death rate amongst the highest in the western world. We also have an unexplained spike in non COVID19 deaths.

Many people are facing actual economic challenges now, and these will only get worse. The governor of the Bank of England has backed forecasts of a 35% reduction in the size of the UK economy and warned that it will take years to recover.

The ****ing pubs are closed.

But the NHS hasn’t collapsed. Matt Hancock tells us that soon it will begin ‘restoring’ services like urgent cancer care and mental health.

 

One set of people who really are gonna suffer through this lockdown, are the kids of school/Uni age, both older ones who were meant to be doing A levels, GCSE and the younger ones who’s education is suffering.
My 2 youngest are going into ‘big’ school next year and I really think they are gonna find the transition so hard as they haven’t been able to visit their new school and get a feel of what to expect. Adding to that, my lad with ASD is really panicking already at the imminent change. Ive got some fun moments ahead I feel

 

When this first started I dug out the Business Continuity Plan that I had written for the company I worked for, written around 2002. One of the first sections I wrote states " If you are abroad at the time of an outbreak of a pandemic you must stay there, our borders will be closed. The company will provide you with a Safe House in the country you are in." It was obviously reviewed and updated regularly and that never changed before I left in 2013.

How wrong was I luckily it was never fully put to the test whilst I still worked there. Although we did stop visitors from abroad coming into the office during the SARS outbreak, some had travelled a long way without checking it we would let them in or not and we didn't.

Oh and just saying I have not left my village for over a month, it seems a smaller and smaller village as every day passes.

Stay safe everyone
Cate

 

A stricter, earlier lockdown could have cost more lives.

 

We need to start opening things up, Beth.

 

Whoopee, only two months late, thank EU...

 

First 4 Antinovs arrived today in Germany as the first batches of the EU sourcing project for assorted PPE.
That’s 1000 Metric Tonnes.
All quality checked before departure.

 

Plus, poor kids, some of whom not having internet access and/or parents who don't give a **** or are genuinely unable to help with schooling are going to be handicapped even more for the rest of some of their lives.

 

Not 2 months late at all thank you very much.
Enjoyed being a part of the project so I am biased.