Off Topic Coronavirus

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
kiwiqpr said:
One o'clock every day there is a briefing
Director of public health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has become the star at covid 19
He appears everyday crunching the numbers giving out advice explaining everything thing in simple terms from case numbers to ppe problems
There appears to be no hiding from anything or any question
Jacinda appears three or times a week and other minister's regularly appear
They all answer the questions asked of them which has been quite refreshing
Click to expand...

Any politician who actually answers the question directly and honestly, gets my vote.

I'm beginning to envy Kiwi and the Jacinda Government.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BobbyD, mapleranger, kiwiqpr and 1 other person
sb_73 said:
The WHO has been a force for great good in many parts of the world and has undoubtedly improved the lives (and saved the lives) of tens of millions of people over the years. But it’s role in the current epidemic has been disgraceful, in particular its toadying attitude to China, it’s refusal to challenge the Chinese on the origins of the disease and the cover up of the epidemic. This is an organisation which has as its sole purpose understanding and advising on the spread of disease. As late as 24 January it was advising that there was no problem with international travel and large gatherings of people, or going to live animal markets (let alone closing them) as long as you washed your hands a lot. Admittedly this may have been because China had lied to them, but they have never apologised or of course challenged China. I suspect this is because, although the US give WHO the most money, China controls the voting on senior appointments (top 3 WHO funders - 1.US, 2. Bill & Melinda Gates, 3. UK. All 195 members states who have paid their dues get to vote on who is leader every 4 years, in an Oscar like ceremony).

Plus it is dysfunctional and has a ‘lead’ on COVID 19, David Nabarro (British) who accused his boss, Tedros, of covering up cholera epidemics in his native Ethiopia when they were both competing for the top job. Nabarro is the man constantly issuing conflicting advice on face masks (latest we should wear them not because they work but because they are an alert to social distance - in my experience they are the reverse) and who has said it’s fine for Wuhan to reopen it’s wet markets. Nabarro also led the widely criticised WHO response to Ebola.

So Trump, odious moron that he is, does actually have a point, in my opinion, though his motivation is entirely selfish and wrong as always. We need a WHO, so I don’t agree with removing funding, but I do think that funding should be made contingent on a fundamental review of the organisation, a clear out of its leadership and its depoliticisation.

In my opinion.

According to the Chinese embassy Raab has promised not to negatively mention China in relation to the pandemic.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. It's a shame that a once-great organisation like WHO is acting like FIFA. You would have thought that they would have been impartial and to a certain degree, non-political? They have become weak like their parents the UN. There has been talk for some time regarding corruption. And the election process of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He was in China shaking hands with Xi Jinping a few weeks back and has done nothing but praise China's approach which has been lock up the ones that moan and kill the ones that complain. He has helped cover up the virus along with China. If people want to blame someone for deaths you don't need to look too far.

This opening of the wet food market is scandalous. The bloody disease started there due to those disgusting animals (yes and I mean it) for killing and selling Rat/Cats/Bats/Dogs/tortoise and other stuff which is sicking in modern society.

Trump actually did the right thing by cutting it's funding until it sorts itself out. This is not a political move by him because Brad in Baltimore won't even know who WHO are. This has been done due to intelligence and investigation. Trump called it the 'Wuhan' then the 'Chinese' disease for a reason because his advisers have told him exactly what's been going on with the corruption and cover-up. For me, this time Trump is spot on.
 
ELLERS said:
Totally agree. It's a shame that a once-great organisation like WHO is acting like FIFA. You would have thought that they would have been impartial and to a certain degree, non-political? They have become weak like their parents the UN. There has been talk for some time regarding corruption. And the election process of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He was in China shaking hands with Xi Jinping a few weeks back and has done nothing but praise China's approach which has been lock up the ones that moan and kill the ones that complain. He has helped cover up the virus along with China. If people want to blame someone for deaths you don't need to look too far.

This opening of the wet food market is scandalous. The bloody disease started there due to those disgusting animals (yes and I mean it) for killing and selling Rat/Cats/Bats/Dogs/tortoise and other stuff which is sicking in modern society.

Trump actually did the right thing by cutting it's funding until it sorts itself out. This is not a political move by him because Brad in Baltimore won't even know who WHO are. This has been done due to intelligence and investigation. Trump called it the 'Wuhan' then the 'Chinese' disease for a reason because his advisers have told him exactly what's been going on with the corruption and cover-up. For me, this time Trump is spot on.
Click to expand...
So you don’t totally agree. I suspect that many poor countries are very dependent on WHO for support and advice, cutting its funding now could make everything worse. Trump’s motivations are transparently not about anything other than blame transferral for the ongoing health and economic ****storm (20% unemployment) in the US. Typical populist tactic.

The WHO needs sorting out and does not deserve any kudos for the current situation, but this should be done in a measured rather than an hysterical way.

Also I couldn’t care less what the Chinese (Or anyone else) like to eat, as weird as it seems to me, as long as they keep and slaughter their animals hygienically and ensure that viruses do not cross over into the human population.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BobbyD, SW Ranger, Ninj and 4 others
If we are speaking of corruption, how long will it be before Boris is made to answer for handing out a ventilator contract to Tory donors Dyson. a company who have never made them before and don't have the capability to produce them in any sort of number when he ignored EU schemes and turned down other offers from companies better equipped?
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobmid
sb_73 said:
So you don’t totally agree. I suspect that many poor countries are very dependent on WHO for support and advice, cutting its funding now could make everything worse. Trump’s motivations are transparently not about anything other than blame transferral for the ongoing health and economic ****storm (20% unemployment) in the US. Typical populist tactic.

The WHO needs sorting out and does not deserve any kudos for the current situation, but this should be done in a measured rather than an hysterical way.

Also I couldn’t care less what the Chinese (Or anyone else) like to eat, as weird as it seems to me, as long as they keep and slaughter their animals hygienically and ensure that viruses do not cross over into the human population.
Click to expand...


Excellent post, spot on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobmid
We can criticise other nations, other organisations but dare criticise our own methods and the hailstorm soon finds you. Let's be honest are we any better than some of the other corruption that is seen about the world. Nobody bats en eyelid when we are spoon fed bullshit on a daily basis.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Willhoops
sb_73 said:
So you don’t totally agree. I suspect that many poor countries are very dependent on WHO for support and advice, cutting its funding now could make everything worse. Trump’s motivations are transparently not about anything other than blame transferral for the ongoing health and economic ****storm (20% unemployment) in the US. Typical populist tactic.

The WHO needs sorting out and does not deserve any kudos for the current situation, but this should be done in a measured rather than an hysterical way.

Also I couldn’t care less what the Chinese (Or anyone else) like to eat, as weird as it seems to me, as long as they keep and slaughter their animals hygienically and ensure that viruses do not cross over into the human population.
Click to expand...
That will be the problem though. How do you think these diseases start?
Unless China (in this case) makes sure that cross-contamination doesn't happen then we will have achieved nothing? But it will continue. They will open up that market and the same dirty things will happen.
I would probably agree with you about what they eat... it's not cup of tea. I would say though that rats do carry a lot of crap and preparation may always be a problem.

AS for the poorer countries needing the WHO help... maybe a rethink of where the money goes might help those countries?

"The AP obtained documents showing that WHO “routinely has spent about $200 million a year on travel expenses, more than what it doles out to fight some of the biggest problems in public health, including AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.”
 
Looking at the UK's figures against ours as of yesterday according to the Worldometers site, you might notice a difference.

Total Cases % per 1m hab Total Deaths Deaths per 1m hab TotalTests Tests per 1m habit
UK 93,873 1,383 12,107 178 382,650 5,637
Ireland 11,479 2,325 406 82 90,646 18,358
Scotland 32,855 6,358


Although our figures per 1m inhabitants are much higher, both our deaths and tests done are much lower.

Even comparing Ireland to Scotland (roughly similar populations - (Scotland has 250-300k more), Scotland has much more cases and considerably more deaths. I only have separate figures for Scotland on total cases and total deaths.

These figures might help people decide if your government over there has done a good job or not.

EDIT
Sorry the figures above are quite confusing. The important figures are, UK has 1,383 cases per 1m inhab, Ireland has 2,325.

UK deaths are 178 per 1m inhab, Ireland has 82 deaths per 1m inhab.

UK tests are 5,637 per 1m inhab, Irelands tests are 18,358 per 1m inhab.

Scotland has 32,855 cases and 6,358 deaths, Ireland has 11,479 cases and 406 deaths.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Willhoops
Judging by the two neighbours I have who are currently having extensions done builders are exempt from the social distancing rules.
 
ELLERS said:
That will be the problem though. How do you think these diseases start?
Unless China (in this case) makes sure that cross-contamination doesn't happen then we will have achieved nothing? But it will continue. They will open up that market and the same dirty things will happen.
I would probably agree with you about what they eat... it's not cup of tea. I would say though that rats do carry a lot of crap and preparation may always be a problem.

AS for the poorer countries needing the WHO help... maybe a rethink of where the money goes might help those countries?

"The AP obtained documents showing that WHO “routinely has spent about $200 million a year on travel expenses, more than what it doles out to fight some of the biggest problems in public health, including AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.”
Click to expand...

Trump has spent 200 million, just on playing golf
 
  • Like
Reactions: BobbyD, mapleranger and Willhoops
bobmid said:
This is what I've been saying all along. The construction sector hasn't been closed down. Half hearted lockdown.
Click to expand...


Most of my companies projects have been shelved, although some will remain operational due to them being vital to maintaining and ensuring the energy networks stays open, the biggest issues we have faced is ensuring that contractors health and safety standards meet our own and the supply of PPE.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobmid
Willhoops said:
Most of my companies projects have been shelved, although some will remain operational due to them being vital to maintaining and ensuring the energy networks stays open, the biggest issues we have faced is ensuring that contractors health and safety standards meet our own and the supply of PPE.
Click to expand...
They haven't officially closed the construction sector though. I've seen paving gangs going about their business. Building sites open as usual, extensions being built etc. Its half hearted lockdown like I say.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kiwiqpr
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back