Off Topic Coronavirus

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sb_73 said:
Now I really do despair. Some journo just had a question, talking about the South Korean study which he said showed that people could not catch the virus twice. Professor John Newton (I’m increasingly convinced his professorship was gained via a correspondence course with the Cricklewood Campus of the University of Bumfuck South Dakota) agreed that it was a promising study, but that he would like to see it repeated elsewhere before making any decisions on immunity.

Here’s the thing. The South Korean study said nothing about immunity. It was a response to the number of cases they had of people who had seemingly recovered from the disease then testing positive again. What they concluded was that the disease does not reactivate itself (very different from catching it again) and the retesting positive had been due to faulty tests.

So in addition to the journalist not knowing what he was talking about, neither does the UKs head of coronavirus testing.

I am filled with hyper confidence that we have the team in place to really see this job through to the bitter end.
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It's really quite unbelievable that they haven't given you a call!!
 
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sb_73 said:
Prof John Newton, coordinator of the UK coronavirus testing programme, says the process of increasing testing has been a "truly extraordinary collaboration".

He says "limitless testing" at the beginning of the outbreak would have "made no difference, the decision to enter lockdown would have been the same".QUOTE]

It would probably have saved the lives of some of the
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NHS and Care workers that have needlessly died. If they had been tested and found to be positive, they could have isolated and remained safe. Similarly, they would have been aware whether it was safe to return to work. We can't quantify how many would still be alive, but the point is that they were let down by the lack of testing availability.
 
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rangercol said:
It's really quite unbelievable that they haven't given you a call!!
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Not really, it’s unbelievable that the advisors to the government aren’t on top of the data. Had he understood the study he could have wiped the floor with the journo in a ‘death of Peston’ moment which I would really enjoy.

I’m as pissed off as you were a few days ago.
 
Great news that we have the capacity to test 100,000 plus people a day. Please Mr Newton, that's not World leading at all.
As for contact, track and trace, how come it's now so very very important Mr HanCOCK but a few months ago wasnt? Just think, if we had been this prepared 2/3 months ago when we witnessed what was happening elsewhere in the world, and took heed of the warnings and steps to take, then I truly think we wouldnt be riding this high in the league table. Good work on testing capacity though, a quarter of the year after our first case.
 
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Ranger4ever said:
NHS and Care workers that have needlessly died. If they had been tested and found to be positive, they could have isolated and remained safe. Similarly, they would have been aware whether it was safe to return to work. We can't quantify how many would still be alive, but the point is that they were let down by the lack of testing availability.
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Agreed, but Professor John Newton, head of the testing strategy, says that loads of capacity in testing at the beginning would have made no difference, which is only true if you ignored the result of the tests rather than trace contacts and isolate those exposed to the virus which they did in Germany and New Zealand. This wasn’t a choice open to us because, as you said, we didn’t have enough testing capacity. This bloke’s wish to put his foot in his mouth is astounding, he really didn’t need to say anything on this, just take the applause for hitting the testing number. Perhaps he guessed that the applause would become somewhat muted when it emerged a chunk of tests had been posted but not necessarily received, let alone done and returned.
 
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Unless people can be tested on a daily basis how can they say it's safe for them to go back to work? Did I hear Newton say people have had the antibody test too?? Thought they didnt exist?!?!?
 
Turkish" Premier" Hoops said:
And you insinuate once more I am a racist it won’t just be the mods I notify, you f*cking prick.
Every time you mention me it’s insinuating racism, or bigotry or being islamaphobic, I’m done do it once more I fuc*ing dare you !!!
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You really are a tad unhinged.
I certainly have not, do not and will not enter in to written jousts with you, as quite simply, I find your written manner contemptuous.
I’m sure you must reread some of your posts in a haze of distinct pride.

Please don’t be offended, it’s just I find the persona you portray here as ugly.
Ignored herewith, suggest one doth do same.
 
Scientific point with no comment:-
They have taken 100,000 tests yesterday (well done, that is what Matt Hancock promised)
How many have they processed?
How many results are out now?
 
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Meanwhile over here, we just had our address from the stand-in Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. I have tried to summarise what he said below.

The current restrictions have to be extended from 5th till 18th May as new cases and death rates are still too high but they have improved greatly recently. Over 70's will be allowed leave their homes and end the cocooning from this Tuesday. The 2KM limit for exercising is to be extended to 5KM.

From 18th May, there will be a 5 step easing of the restrictions - 3 weeks apart up to 10th August. At any stage, we may not proceed from one stage to the next if the rate of new infections increases.

The first step involves allowing outdoor workers, construction/landscapers etc to return to work. DIY/Garden Centres/Repair businesses would be allowed to reopen then. Small gatherings of family members will also be allowed at this stage. Non contact sports would also be allowed. Schools and Colleges won't reopen again until September/October.

He didn't elaborate on what stages 2-5 would be.

Government formation talks to conclude fairly shortly. It is looking like a combination of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green party will make up the government with Micheal Martin as the new Taoiseach as nobody will form a coalition with Sinn Fein.
 
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danishqp said:
You really are a tad unhinged.
I certainly have not, do not and will not enter in to written jousts with you, as quite simply, I find your written manner contemptuous.
I’m sure you must reread some of your posts in a haze of distinct pride.

Please don’t be offended, it’s just I find the persona you portray here as ugly.
Ignored herewith, suggest one doth do same.
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**** you !!!!
You really are an arrogant fool.
I find you as as ugly and contemptuous in your written manner, you are warned one more post insinuating I’m a racist, a homophobic, or an Islamaphobe and legal action will ensue.
I will not tolerate you or your kind insinuating I am something I’m not,
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
 
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Well, I thought it was kind of odd that my Mum wasn’t on the vulnerable list when it was announced. She’s 80, and about 4 years ago had major heart surgery (on a heart lung machine while they fixed her aorta which was on course to burst). She is also frequently short of breath (undiagnosed though not without trying).

Yesterday she got a letter (posted a week ago) saying that actually she is on the list, and shouldn’t go out. Bit late, especially if she was a nervous type. Fortunately she isn’t. Her response was ‘**** that’ (a direct quote), I’ll go mad if I don’t go out. She wears her mask (fully aware that it is a placebo) in shops and has a little stroll in the open air every day. She has friends who haven’t been out for seven weeks and she is concerned for their mental health.

Any raising of restrictions which tells elderly people they are under house arrest is an affront to civilisation. Tell them the risks let them make their own decisions.
 
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