Off Topic SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19

I may be wrong but I don't think that the distinction can be made under the current system. A more accurate estimate of deaths will be revealed through comparison with average death rates over a long period of time (the so-called excess deaths).
The true number of deaths caused or accelerated by the pandemic probably won't be known in full for several years because of the collateral deaths resulting from the suspension of some investigations, chemotherapy sessions and cancer screening tests.
I notice that some people have commented on the absence of any spike in deaths from heart disease and cancer recently - this was hardly going to be noticeable immediately. Delayed treatment and screenings will result in deaths further down the line and will only show up in months or even years.
The fact that so much vital work has been surrendered is an indication that the NHS has indeed been pushed well beyond its capacity so, although we are told that the NHS has not been overwhelmed, it probably has.

 

Oh to be an actuary... there's a lot of it about on the speculation list...

 

Another thing that complicates matters is the seeming tendency for people to be cleared of the virus and then succumb to something else within two or three days.

Both survived, fortunately, but the two people I know who have required hospital treatment following COVID recently were both tested and found to be clear of the virus (but had definitely had it) when they succumbed to sepsis and acute heart arrhythmia respectively very soon after otherwise starting to recover. Had either died I don’t know what would have been recorded.

And in terms of the state of the NHS to cope, the one with heart issues was assessed in A&E and then sent home because the staff who should have given her more treatment in Cardiology were all working on the COVID wards instead.

 

I knew that could only be Scotland before I even played it

 

True - the long term effects of some viral infections can be catastrophic and, in the case of COVID-19, these remain unknown. One example I quoted earlier in the thread was the Human Papillomavirus which initially causes an apparently transient wart like infection that is often so mild as to not present noticeable symptoms. However, residual protein deposits remain within cells and, with certain so called "high risk" strains of the virus, go on to promote squamous cell cancers 5, 10 or 15 years down the line.

 

That’s a very good point - I was referring specifically to the almost immediate incidental health issues here, but if my mother in law’s newly developed heart issues go on to kill her in 6 months, 2 years, 5 years then what has she died of?

She’d never had heart problems until now and is an otherwise healthy 70 year old. But then she IS a 70 year old, no one would be surprised or think it out of the ordinary for her to suffer heart problems at about this time of life.

 

You two are in an upbeat mood this morning.

 

Very quiet on here today, has everyone taken Boris's advise and gone back to work?

 

Bit breezy at the seaside today.

 

Anyone watching / watched the Sky News program Killer in the care homes, it's rather damning of what's gone on.

 

I think the care home situation will come back and bite him at some point.

 

Maybe he was in a hostel and choose to leave.

Maybe he refused to go into a shelter.

Maybe he was travelling from a hostel, to beg on the street in a city.

Maybe this isn't what it appears to be.

 

Nah. Boris has personally ordered he be flogged in public.

 

Not cheerful start to the day really, although some good news that excess death rates are going down a little.
Bit desperate bothering to say we’re not the worse in Europe...because Italy haven’t released their figures yet!