Off Topic Coronavirus

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Our next door neighbours are self isolating (couple in their 40s), they reckon they have had it since last Wednesday and caught it from a GP friend of theirs who was hospitalised (now out) after getting it probably at the Cheltenham festival.

So now I am shopping for my house, my neighbours and an elderly couple over the road who have both been told that they are on the super at risk list. They text me random orders for tiny amounts of stuff. Today it’s a packet of granola and some lactose free cheese(FFS). I’ve told them that I am trying to do one shop a week, but don’t think it’s sinking in.....

Easy; tell them to **** off.
 
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If the rules aren't sensible, people will start to ignore them. Why, for instance, should be we limited to one exercise outing a day? If you are able to go out safely, not getting within 2 meters of anybody, why should there be a restriction on the number of times you do this?
You get it, I get it, but it only works effectively if just about everybody gets it and acts accordingly. Round here most people seem to be trying hard, but even yesterday I retreated down an alley to allow a couple with two young kids on bikes past me at a decent distance, and they went out of their way, or so it seemed to me, to avoid controlling their kids and get as close as they could to me. When I (gently, in line with new avoid conflict policy) pointed out that we were meant to be at a safe distance the response was ‘oh yeah sorry, forgot’. When you are dealing with a significant number of idiots, the rules need to be enforced. If a significant number of people act like children, they need to be treated like children, whatever Peter Hitchens thinks.

To be honest I have been walking the dog twice a day, but the late evening walk is so quiet we rarely see anyone, let alone get within 2 metres of them. Now his paw is knackered I’ll have to think of another excuse.

But there has clearly been some stupidity on the part of some of the boys in blue. Not seen any examples of it around here. A mates 21 year old son was stopped driving into town the other night, and asked where he was going, but we reckon that’s because he was driving his dads Jag.
 
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You're right in that we all have a tendency to pursue data that confirms our own beliefs. The brightest amongst us, I would hope, explore a number of avenues to challenge personal bias. You're also correct in that there's insufficient data to allow us to determine the best course of action yet, but that hasn't stopped our government choosing their course and, presumably, ramping it up in the weeks to come. Should the facts change, will the authorities admit they got it wrong, I wonder? I very much doubt it. As Hitchens has said, they will state that their actions have brought about the results without proper analysis and scrutiny.

As far as the 2016 exercise is concerned, I guess it all came down to probabilities. If the Martians attacked tomorrow we'd probably criticise the government for their lack of investment in bazookoids and phasers when the likelihood of the arrival of angry little green men was considered low.

As Prof. Bhakdi said in his open letter to Chancellor Merkel, there are a number of coronaviruses already in circulation (I checked this too before writing this garbage) so it doesn't seem unreasonable to me to have assumed a low probability of a particularly voracious one.

Back to the lack of meaningful data: unless its reasonable to assume that the 'experts' are swamped dealing with more pressing matters - which may be the case - the data must surely be there to support Bhakdi's points about cause of death and how statistics are being reported right now.

As for the Swiss Propaganda Research organisation, all they've done is translated and published Bhakdi's letter. One shouldn't make the mistake of assuming that because the outfit has 'Propaganda' in its name that its some sort of Newspeak organisation. A cursory bit of Googling suggests that its purpose is actually to call out propaganda and the like when it sees government pronouncements and policies.

I think we need a proper gander at the data.
All a bit dodgy innit? Screwed by data, lack thereof and ease of multiple interpretations likewise.

Had the government chosen not to do anything until it had better data I think that too is a choice of how to deal with the epidemic and as equally open to challenge as the course they have taken.

As always I have no answers. I like the exchange of ideas on here, in most instances. At the moment most of the opinions seem as valid as each other. My gut tells me that we have chosen a course, one which seems humane in the short term but which might lead to terrible consequences in the medium to long term (and for some, like my lad if he didn’t have parental bank to turn to also in the short term), and we should stick to that course until we have powerful evidence to change. I would prefer to trust a doctor than an economist.
 
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Uber is offering health workers a share of 500,000 free rides and 100,000 free meal deliveries. Obviously this means you have to sign up to Uber to get them, but could be worse.

Banks customer care could be going down the tubes as the lockdown in India means that their call centres are closed/limited. Tough if you need to call the bank (best not visit, social distancing doncha know!) to sort out one of these business grants/loans.
 
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If the rules aren't sensible, people will start to ignore them. Why, for instance, should be we limited to one exercise outing a day? If you are able to go out safely, not getting within 2 meters of anybody, why should there be a restriction on the number of times you do this?
The more you go out the more chance you have of contracting it or if you unknowingly have it of passing it on, the statistics say for every 1 person you might infect the outcome is a further 400 infected, then keep multiplying that and the numbers become horrendous, I know it’s draconian but surely the outcome and end of this warrants it.
Statistically the more you do something the more chance there is of screwing up, I understand your point but surely you can understand the government’s.
I’ll use last nights moronic behaviour in Derby as a result
25 people having a party, only 1 had it but now 25 do, these 25 pass it on (400 each) = 10,000, This 10,000 all give it to 400 people all of a sudden this becomes 4,000,000, see the problem here.
It’s playing roulette with people’s lives, unnecessary roulette in my opinion.
 
The more you go out the more chance you have of contracting it or if you unknowingly have it of passing it on, the statistics say for every 1 person you might infect the outcome is a further 400 infected, then keep multiplying that and the numbers become horrendous, I know it’s draconian but surely the outcome and end of this warrants it.
Statistically the more you do something the more chance there is of screwing up, I understand your point but surely you can understand the government’s.
I’ll use last nights moronic behaviour in Derby as a result
25 people having a party, only 1 had it but now 25 do, these 25 pass it on (400 each) = 10,000, This 10,000 all give it to 400 people all of a sudden this becomes 4,000,000, see the problem here.
It’s playing roulette with people’s lives, unnecessary roulette in my opinion.


Well said
 
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The more you go out the more chance you have of contracting it or if you unknowingly have it of passing it on, the statistics say for every 1 person you might infect the outcome is a further 400 infected, then keep multiplying that and the numbers become horrendous, I know it’s draconian but surely the outcome and end of this warrants it.
Statistically the more you do something the more chance there is of screwing up, I understand your point but surely you can understand the government’s.
I’ll use last nights moronic behaviour in Derby as a result
25 people having a party, only 1 had it but now 25 do, these 25 pass it on (400 each) = 10,000, This 10,000 all give it to 400 people all of a sudden this becomes 4,000,000, see the problem here.
It’s playing roulette with people’s lives, unnecessary roulette in my opinion.
I wonder why it’s described as ‘not acutely infectious’ as per govt website. Perhaps you could argue the incompetence theory, as Stan suggested, but they’ve had over a week to amend that, and haven’t.
 
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I wonder why it’s described as ‘not acutely infectious’ as per govt website. Perhaps you could argue the incompetence theory, as Stan suggested, but they’ve had over a week to amend that, and haven’t.
I think it’s stupid bureaucracy and definitions not amenable to the layman Woody. In fact, according to this chart, it’s not a very infectious disease, compared to measles for example. But that doesn’t mean it can’t overwhelm health services.
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Coronavirus is a SARS virus, it is about as infectious as the first SARS and flu, each infected person, without social distancing/isolation, infects 2.5 other people. With measles it’s 15.
 
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Business Watch

Uber is offering health workers a share of 500,000 free rides and 100,000 free meal deliveries. Obviously this means you have to sign up to Uber to get them, but could be worse.

Banks customer care could be going down the tubes as the lockdown in India means that their call centres are closed/limited. Tough if you need to call the bank (best not visit, social distancing doncha know!) to sort out one of these business grants/loans.

I used to have my account with a bank that had an Indian call centre and often had difficulty understanding the accent, now have one based in Leeds, same problem... :grin:
 
The more you go out the more chance you have of contracting it or if you unknowingly have it of passing it on, the statistics say for every 1 person you might infect the outcome is a further 400 infected, then keep multiplying that and the numbers become horrendous, I know it’s draconian but surely the outcome and end of this warrants it.
Statistically the more you do something the more chance there is of screwing up, I understand your point but surely you can understand the government’s.
I’ll use last nights moronic behaviour in Derby as a result
25 people having a party, only 1 had it but now 25 do, these 25 pass it on (400 each) = 10,000, This 10,000 all give it to 400 people all of a sudden this becomes 4,000,000, see the problem here.
It’s playing roulette with people’s lives, unnecessary roulette in my opinion.


I'm not sure the outcome will warrant it.

Not sure at all.
 
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The more you go out the more chance you have of contracting it or if you unknowingly have it of passing it on, the statistics say for every 1 person you might infect the outcome is a further 400 infected, then keep multiplying that and the numbers become horrendous, I know it’s draconian but surely the outcome and end of this warrants it.
Statistically the more you do something the more chance there is of screwing up, I understand your point but surely you can understand the government’s.
I’ll use last nights moronic behaviour in Derby as a result
25 people having a party, only 1 had it but now 25 do, these 25 pass it on (400 each) = 10,000, This 10,000 all give it to 400 people all of a sudden this becomes 4,000,000, see the problem here.
It’s playing roulette with people’s lives, unnecessary roulette in my opinion.
Only if you come into contact with others

If I cycle cross country where I live I come into contact with absolutely no-one so if I want to stay out all day why not?
 
Not sure if it was Coronavirus related but I'm sure I saw it on here.
Anyway some boxer has had his license revoked after a video.
 
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I used to have my account with a bank that had an Indian call centre and often had difficulty understanding the accent, now have one based in Leeds, same problem... :grin:
The yorkshire dialect is one of deliberately missing words. Match of the day becomes Match a day. Nowt means nothing etc etc. If you ever need a translator....
 
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Hang on,,, our deaths have gone from 260 (Sat) 209 (Sun) 159 (Mon).
This must confirm that we are not following either Italy or Spain as their figures kept climbing.
Not getting excited but a small bit of encouraging news.
 
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Only if you come into contact with others

If I cycle cross country where I live I come into contact with absolutely no-one so if I want to stay out all day why not?
The more you go out, the more you lessen the odds of bumping into or meeting someone , you’re chance of meeting someone who could affect you or you could affect, its simple maths.
If you blindfold yourself and start throwing golf balls in the direction of the bin in the corner sooner or later your gonna get one it it, that’s all it takes one, just one and the possibility of 400 being infected is now a strong probability.
It’s just my opinion that defying the government’s advice is not just stupid, it’s downright dangerous and will probably prolong the lockdown, it’s also my opinion that to drive 50 miles to walk your dog, or go out 5 times a day is just as irresponsible as the f*cking idiots who had a party last night in Derby.