Hey
@oneforthebristolcity. I come in peace, I promise.
Interested to hear your response to Reliant Robin's question, but also wanted to share some of the experiences of the people that I know working in the NHS, in contrast to the end of your post just there. I've mentioned before about my own Mum working at Southmead, and while she hasn't experienced anything quite as bad as has been in the press, they've definitely felt the pinch. Constantly overworked, not enough staff, plenty of whom are off with the illness themselves.
London was probably the worst affected over Christmas, and my friend who's an army nurse was drafted over there as they couldn't cope. Unused floors of their hospital have been emptied and then filled with beds, purely to address the rise in numbers of those getting it severely. Interestingly until recently they were seeing more severe cases in the 30's age group, which is pretty unusual.
I know they are just 2 anecdotes that I can provide but they do tie in with the numbers. You predicted back in October that excess deaths (sorry I know!) might go down over the winter. Instead they went up even more. And to be fair, you do have a point to some degree when you question whether people died of covid, or with covid, but to some extent does it really matter? Firstly, excess deaths go against that argument, and secondly, don't you think it's a bit wrong if we say a death is 'okay' just because they might have died anyway a year or 2 later? At what point do we stop considering a death 'okay' because they probably would have died soon anyway?
I'm interested to know your endgame as per the post above really. What should we do? Free reign? Keep locking down? Open Ashton Gate but close the Mem?
We are in peace brother!!
Don't want to get in the argument regarding excess deaths, as we have done it to death (punned!!, but per population percentages, we have had worse years..but you could say that's down to the measures in place.....but those measures may well contribute to more deaths in the future, i.e suicides, alcohol related and of course other life threatening illnesses such as cancer & chronic heart conditions ....but these are
unlikely to be shown by main stream, cus that's the way it works....
now it's all about the virus!!
Also, I've read, (can't remember where now, but could probably find it) that a lot of these tests are not very accurate, specific for Covid 19 or Coronavirus....most not conclusive, but that's another subject, although important knowing if the death was with Covid and if should be part of the stats.
Answer to your question.....Defo close the mem...full of nasty things there!!
I have a long answer to the question, but the short one is.....The country can not go on indefinitely with lockdowns, if we do, then the virus will be insignificant compared to the damage it will do to the general population as a whole...
We have closed schools, but I've seen loads of children mixing in parks etc (top spreaders)....so that must be for the benefit of teachers and it's unions!! as unconcerned about the spread of the virus?? it's mad. Even walking the dog, I've noticed that the social distancing is out the window compared to 1st lockdown and that's just what I've witnessed on my outings!!
Children under 16 will not get vaccinated, so with that theory the virus won't go away..
The so say vaccines are not 100% and not proven of transmission after.....(I don't believe what their saying about the Astra-zenica, which their pushing as it's easier to store) !!
Peace of mind says to me....vaccinate the ageing & vulnerable. whom will be as safe as we are able. We then need to open back up businesses and get kids back to school. IMO we do not have to wait for the rest of society to be vaccinated, so long as the vulnerable are continuously dosed up.
The majority of people that are healthy & fit will have none or little effects from the virus and will develop antibodies and will become immune.
It won't long, when those with businesses etc will start ignoring the rules set and opening back up as a pact (as some parts of Italy)..We are becoming to easily controlled....
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