Off Topic Coronavirus

[sb_73]

Matt Hancock will have some explaining to do. Apparently yesterday they tested 12,000 less than last week and already they are starting to changing the wording of the 100,000 a day.
What did I say at the time... quote a low figure and if you do more then fab stuff.

They are talking about ‘home testing’ ie getting people to swab themselves at home and sending it off for analysis. As, for this test to work, the swab has to get right to the back of the throat where a good scrape is taken, triggering the gag reflex in most, I somehow doubt that self or family administered swabs will give accurate results. But it will get the numbers up!

 

[ELLERS]

They are talking about ‘home testing’ ie getting people to swab themselves at home and sending it off for analysis. As, for this test to work, the swab has to get right to the back of the throat where a good scrape is taken, triggering the gag reflex in most, I somehow doubt that self or family administered swabs will give accurate results. But it will get the numbers up!

Exactly and you just know there will be problems with the post... some will go missing or be contaminated. I was hoping the easy pregnancy style kits from South Korea would be available. You then recorded the findings on the net and it's done.

 

[Totallyqpr]

Is Finland and Norway counted differently

Most probably not. These countries have a smaller and more spread out population which obviously helps.
The general opinion here is that we are coping well and nearing the herd immunity levels on course.

 

[kiwiqpr]

Most probably not. These countries have a smaller and more spread out population which obviously helps.
The general opinion here is that we are coping well and nearing the herd immunity levels on course.

I really do hope that's true
Stay safe

 

[qprbeth]

Nightingale hospital in London opened on 7 April. So far it has treated about 41 people, with 30 still on site, 7 discharged to other settings and 4 deaths. About 50 patients, all of whom had been intubated and were on ventilation, have been turned away because the Nightingale had insufficient staff to care for them. There has been a genuine lack of demand as the expected regular tripling in rates of infection just hasn’t happened, and expanded critical care in regular hospitals plus cancellation of just about all their regular treatment has worked, together with (I think) protocols restricting access. Really redundant of me to add any comment, source The Times, although I would say that if ether facility didn’t exist we would be screaming about it.

I have to agree with you Stan...the Nightingale it seems and I truely hope, was an exagerated response. Are they still building them? Major Tom opened one in Yorkshire yesterday didn't he?

However, I am not going to berate the government too much about this as I can see that if the levels had risen, they would have been blasted for not doing it. If we had had scenes like Italy of sick people in the corridors .....!!!!!

I was always really worried about how they would be staffed, and I think that worry was in fact true.
For that I will berate the government, because they really do not seem to have been able to rationally plan.
They make great gestures:-

We will build a 5000 bed hospital (how you going to staff it)
We have enough PPE (where does it come from)
We will test 100,000 people a day (logistically how)
We will have an antibody test (It has not been created and tested yet)
We will have a vaccine (but no Corona virus vaccine has ever been made yet, it may not be that easy)

Heading off to PMQuestions now..

 

[ELLERS]

Be prepared to hear the word "capacity" a lot when it comes to testing numbers. That won't go down very well.

 

[Staines R's]

Most probably not. These countries have a smaller and more spread out population which obviously helps.
The general opinion here is that we are coping well and nearing the herd immunity levels on course.

What are your thoughts mate ? As someone living in the country ?

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

I think there have been ample opportunities to knock the government up to date. Today is just another day to do so. Absolute incompetence. Do we still have a prime minister? I've forgotten.

St George’s Day tomorrow so I expect he’ll come back to a grossly sycophantic welcome as the only man who can possibly save us and taking absolutely no responsibility for the monstrosity of a response his government has overseen before and during his absence brought about by his own ****ing arrogance.

Maybe.

 

[Sooperhoop]

There's an idea, Lord Adonis (who isn't one) batting for his master...

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[ELLERS]

There's an idea, Lord Adonis (who isn't one) batting for his master...

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He had his turn and cocked up.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

He had his turn and cocked up.

Putting your devotion to the cause aside, he’d be a better bet for this unique situation. As would Major, Brown, May, the ghost of Thatcher, Kiwi etc.

 

[ELLERS]

Putting your devotion to the cause aside, he’d be a better bet for this unique situation. As would Major, Brown, May, the ghost of Thatcher, Kiwi etc.

Watford you are the voice of doom mate... I bet you are a bundle of laughs at a party! It's a ridiculous thing from Adonis. We need to let the team in place get on with the job not dig up poisonous figures like Blair.

 

[Star of David Bardsley]

Watford you are the voice of doom mate... I bet you are a bundle of laughs at a party! It's a ridiculous thing from Adonis. We need to let the team in place get on with the job not dig up poisonous figures like Blair.

I’d probably be less critical if we’d had a few fewer deaths in fairness.

I think they’ve had adequate opportunity to get on with the job and have completely ****ed it. Obviously no one else is going to be put in charge, unfortunately.

 

[ELLERS]

I’d probably be less critical if we’d had a few fewer deaths in fairness.

I think they’ve had adequate opportunity to get on with the job and have completely ****ed it. Obviously no one else is going to be put in charge, unfortunately.

From what I have gathered from all sides is that we are slowly just starting to get our act together. Agree it seems to have taken its time but vaccine trials start tomorrow. They have now appointed someone else to sort out PPE. New cases seem (a small seem) to be slowing and plenty of beds and ICU places... which we were told at the start that the NHS would never cope, and it has. Still plenty of bad news and criticism to come but I think we may be seeing a corner turning soon. Agree it won't help the poor souls that have died though.

 

[ELLERS]

Just on the PPE. I think we all need to be realistic. Before this 235 NHS trusts needed PPE. Now 58,000 organisations want it. It's a mammoth task and a logistical nightmare. Other countries are also struggling. I just read an article on France and they have taken a kicking and are supposed to have a much better health service?

 

[qprbeth]

Just on the PPE. I think we all need to be realistic. Before this 235 NHS trusts needed PPE. Now 58,000 organisations want it. It's a mammoth task and a logistical nightmare. Other countries are also struggling. I just read an article on France and they have taken a kicking and are supposed to have a much better health service?

There is a lot about the PPE situation that needs investigating.

Hancocks initial statement that we are very well prepared, and we weren't.

The fact we sold a batch to China, why? ...It is said they reciprocated, but I have seen reports that it was substandard and not usuable.

The story that a lot of the PPE reserve was out of date and had not been refilled, due to austerity and it was something the NHS Trusts thought/hoped they wouldn't need quite yet (I actually understand that arguement and really cannot entirely quibble ...)

The fact theat we did not join the EU procurement early rounds, and so missed out on EU bulk buying

The fact that the Care homes often had their own standing orders (possibly not enough I grant you) but thy were diverted to the NHS, without an option.

Even though this figure of there were 230 trusts now there are 58,000 sites wanting it...is nota solid arguement: the 230 NHS trusts cannot get enough, even when the flow to the care homes is diverted.

The number of UK firms that say they have made an offer and the government have not even contacted them.

The whole debarkle over the Turkey shipment. We say it is coming over weekend, and the Turkish people saying it was not even ordered until Sunday. By the way the well publicised RAF carrier with it on actually only had half the consigment on board.

I said this before so before I am accused of bias. I do feel a little sympathy for the government. It had only been in power for 1 month. They were nearly all new (all Brexit people, thinking they only had one job to do). Very few long term career politicians in government. They did not bed in with the Civil Service...in fact the Home Office was in meltdown. They did not have a very stable base to work from. And then Boris gets injured in action too!

That is why I too would wonder what Cameron or Blair or Major would have done

 

[ELLERS]

There is a lot about the PPE situation that needs investigating.

Hancocks initial statement that we are very well prepared, and we weren't.

The fact we sold a batch to China, why? ...It is said they reciprocated, but I have seen reports that it was substandard and not usuable.

agree

The story that a lot of the PPE reserve was out of date and had not been refilled, due to austerity and it was something the NHS Trusts thought/hoped they wouldn't need quite yet (I actually understand that arguement and really cannot entirely quibble ...)

I heard we had an assessment by WHO and UK was deemed to be okay in case of an epidemic.

The fact theat we did not join the EU procurement early rounds, and so missed out on EU bulk buying

I would hold fire on that because there seems to be a conflicting argument there.

The fact that the Care homes often had their own standing orders (possibly not enough I grant you) but thy were diverted to the NHS, without an option.

Even though this figure of there were 230 trusts now there are 58,000 sites wanting it...is nota solid arguement: the 230 NHS trusts cannot get enough, even when the flow to the care homes is diverted.

I have heard a different story about care homes and the greedy people that run them.

The number of UK firms that say they have made an offer and the government have not even contacted them.

Okay do you actually know how hard this is? I heard a health bod (3/4 could have been 5 days ago as time is weird at present) that said it is not the case that "Daves T-Shirt business" can suddenly say "I will make the stuff. I will make 1000 bits a day". For starters, It's specialist material that has to be tested for quality. To sort this out they need experts to visit the site and control, make checks, and see if this is viable. She said some of the bigger producing manufactures were a better option... maybe even imported stuff. So they say thanks but sorry Dave. Dave then tells everyone that he wanted to help but the government said no... this gets through to Starmer who brings it up with Raab who says Not everyone is suitable for this mammoth task.
When it comes across like that you can understand why the government hasn't got back to some.

The whole debarkle over the Turkey shipment. We say it is coming over weekend, and the Turkish people saying it was not even ordered until Sunday. By the way the well publicised RAF carrier with it on actually only had half the consigment on board.

I agree I don't know what happened there.

I said this before so before I am accused of bias. I do feel a little sympathy for the government. It had only been in power for 1 month. They were nearly all new (all Brexit people, thinking they only had one job to do). Very few long term career politicians in government. They did not bed in with the Civil Service...in fact the Home Office was in meltdown. They did not have a very stable base to work from. And then Boris gets injured in action too!

I agree I know as I am a Tory voter. This team is young and one for the future. It has some great people like Rishi who is tipped to be leader after Boris's 3 terms of office

That is why I too would wonder what Cameron or Blair or Major would have done

mmm. quit while you're ahead.

 

[Sooperhoop]

Interesting take on the subject of ventilators...

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[ELLERS]

Bloody hell they brought out Nick Carter... I wouldn't 'dis' him. He will nuke you.

 

[ELLERS]

Interesting take on the subject of ventilators...

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There was a story a while back saying the same. Also, a video that got taken down from YouTube. Both I remember came from frontline doctors.