Main Coronavirus / Covid-19 Discussion Thread

[yxee]

Taking the positives, there's the open letter from over 200 uk-based scientists warning the government not to experiment with 'herd immunity' whereby you build up immunity in the community by letting up to 60% of the population catch the virus to supposedly protect the rest. Tho you don't need to be a rocket scientist, or any kind of scientist at all, to see that that would be a reckless, near-criminal act that would consign huge numbers of people to an early grave totally necessarily

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/science-environment-51892402

How is that reassuring?

 

[Bozza]

Taking the positives, there's the open letter from over 200 uk-based scientists warning the government not to experiment with 'herd immunity' whereby you build up immunity in the community by letting up to 60% of the population catch the virus to supposedly protect the rest. Tho you don't need to be a rocket scientist, or any kind of scientist at all, to see that that would be a reckless, near-criminal act that would consign huge numbers of people to an early grave totally necessarily

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/science-environment-51892402

Let's all hope the views of the 200 scientists, and those of just about every other civilised nation, prevail

" the 229 specialists in disciplines ranging from mathematics to genetics - though no leading experts in the science of the spread of diseases "

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

In the next 3 weeks the UK will have atleast 2000 deaths. If we act now we can contain this and keep those numbers to a minimum.

We must close borders to prevent further spread. We must enforce strict curfews and close all non-essential businesses. Other countries are doing this, why are we still in denial about the seriousness of this?

If we do all of this now, today, we will get over this. If we act in 3 weeks time we will not see the deaths from those infected then for a further 3 weeks, that will be tens of thousands, and that just keeps going up.

Act now, today - before this does anymore damage. Put our people before profit. Protect us.

Its scary of course, but on an average day in the UK 1400 people die. Thats about 10,000 every week; or 30,000 in three weeks, and that just keeps going up for ever. So...... coronavirus is going to be part of this, of course, and drive it up for a bit - but it will only be a fraction of total deaths - thus there is context to place these mortality numbers in.

 

[Baker lite]

They won’t be.

Scaremongers are asking for schools to close for a month or two or more. Behaviouralists and public health experts have made it clear that there’s no way that all kids will stay in their homes, not meeting mates and elderly relatives for such a very long period. People would not adhere to that in a free country, advice fatigue soon kicking in.

Most of us may get the virus anyway. The plan is for shorter term school closures as and when appropriate.

Italy: Population - 60m
Coronavirus cases - 21,157
Deaths - 1,441

UK: Population: 66m
Coronavirus cases - 1,372
Deaths - 35

Italy had their first confirmed case 24hrs before the UK.

The strategy is working.


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[Thunder Bolt]

Trying to do an online order to Sainsbury's for my elderly parents, I thought there may be a week wait, but there are NO available time slots for 3 weeks. So I decided to call to see if they had stopped this service altogether or arse holes were just stockpiling. They had me on hold for 10 mins listening to shite adverts and then ended the call, angry, just a tad.

Are you able to drive to Chichester to shop for them, or do they know a neighbour who will collect shopping? Quite a few parish councils are setting up help groups for the elderly in their areas, to do that.


Beware of scammers, who are offering to do shopping, and then robbing the trusting Oaps.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

How is that reassuring?

It's reassuring in that it may well force the government into changing track and taking decisive measures to halt the virus progress earlydoors. If it hadn't been for the football authorities overriding government advice, we'd have played a full set of fixtures at the weekend for example

 

[The Clamp]

This shit it still scaring me - can anyone reassure me?!

Find one reliable news source you trust and tune into it for updates 3 times a day. Do not scurry around social and multiple media sites where the standard language is that of catastrophe.
Phrases such as “dying at home”, “collapse of society” etc will only raise your anxiety levels and are not helpful.
If you are shit scared I really wouldn’t look at NSC, there far too much emotion and not anywhere near enough practical advice and reasoned analysis.

Get a plan in place;

Identify likely risks
Mitigate them as much as you can
Get some basic medicines and a good fully stocked first aid kit in. Lots of cuts or illness can be dealt with at home if you have a sensibly stocked bathroom cabinet.
Get back some control, is there an elderly neighbour or vulnerable person you could help, take some shopping over etc?

Carry on with your usual wellbeing routine. Eat well and rest, exercise and take part in any creative endeavours you enjoy. Whether this is in isolation or with others.

To summarise;
Get a plan in place
Maintain a first aid kit and medicines
Help others
Maintain a normal routine where possible or adapt it for isolation.


It’s not the end of days but it does require some planning. You’ll be fine.

 

[atomised]

And sure enough 2 teachers at my kids school are self isolating. I was already worried that due to my symptoms it was rife there. The teachers in question were in most of last week

 

[Baker lite]

That’s what is happening. If you took time to read or watch some of the explanations of why we are holding back on quarantine and lockdown it might put your mind at rest.

This is not the government sitting back and seeing what happens. It is a deliberate phase in a well thought out, very sensible response. It is the only way to stop hospitals becoming overwhelmed.
For once I actually admire Johnson for listening to medical experts and for holding his nerve despite uninformed cries for action.

Again, watch and read the explanations and try and be calm. You’re not helping anyone, least of all yourself.

Fully agreed.....


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[Kalimantan Gull]

Remarkable that this country is doing it differently to every other country in the world, it seems. What a time to go out on a limb!

Hell of a personal risk for Boris Johnson to take as well. If we are the outlier, and end up with loads more deaths than anyone else - well he is completely finished. Gives me confidence I suppose that the science is sound.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Italy: Population - 60m
Coronavirus cases - 21,157
Deaths - 1,441

UK: Population: 66m
Coronavirus cases - 1,372
Deaths - 35

Italy had their first confirmed case 24hrs before the UK.

The strategy is working.

Italy had its first confirmed case January 29th but did nothing. Britain had their first cases and put them into 14 days isolation immediately.
Britain isn't even testing now but saying let everyone get infected to get herd immunity!

 

[Bozza]

It's reassuring in that it may well force the government into changing track and taking decisive measures to halt the virus progress earlydoors. If it hadn't been for the football authorities overriding government advice, we'd have played a full set of fixtures at the weekend for example

I'm confused - why does any action matter - you were dismissing this as a fuss over nothing yesterday.

The football authorities didn't "override government advice" and were all set to play a full set of fixtures. The only reason they didn't was due to the actions being taken by clubs due to club staff/players being infected or in isolation due to suspected infection. It was nothing to do with community safety due to large crowds.

 

[Bold Seagull]

China’s coronavirus lockdown likely saved tens of thousands of lives by slashing air pollution from factories and vehicles, according to a new analysis by a Stanford University scientist...

...“Even under these more conservative assumptions, the lives saved due to the pollution reductions are roughly 20x the number of lives that have been directly lost to the virus,” Burke writes, using statistics current on March 8.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmc...lives-in-china-just-from-pollution-reduction/

Wow that’s amazing. Imagine if you start adding in accidents at work, vehicle accidents, other disease spread etc.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

This shit it still scaring me - can anyone reassure me?!

Yesterday about 1,400 people died in Britain. 15 of them were from Coronavirus. I suppose context like that can be a bit re-assuring? Shit happens and we are usually pretty good at coping.

 

[Baker lite]

Italy had its first confirmed case January 29th but did nothing. Britain had their first cases and put them into 14 days isolation immediately.
Britain isn't even testing now but saying let everyone get infected to get herd immunity!

I’d like to stick with UK method of operation..nobody knows if it is right or wrong, these are unprecedented times, the method of operation does not appear to be working on continental Europe.


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[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I'm confused - why does any action matter - you were dismissing this as a fuss over nothing yesterday.

As you kindly pointed out to me yesterday, I can think what I like. Up to and including criticising the course of action taken by our government against the course of action taken by other governments caught in a similar situation

 

[CHAPPERS]

China’s coronavirus lockdown likely saved tens of thousands of lives by slashing air pollution from factories and vehicles, according to a new analysis by a Stanford University scientist...

...“Even under these more conservative assumptions, the lives saved due to the pollution reductions are roughly 20x the number of lives that have been directly lost to the virus,” Burke writes, using statistics current on March 8.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmc...lives-in-china-just-from-pollution-reduction/

This is interesting and hopefully will be highlighted as we get out of the other side of this scary period in history.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

no country in Europe has actually closed their borders as far as i can tell.

https://www.france24.com/en/20200314-doors-slam-shut-across-borderless-europe-as-coronavirus-spreads

 

[Stat Brother]

Wow that’s amazing. Imagine if you start adding in accidents at work, vehicle accidents, other disease spread etc.

Naturally I posted that (from a Stanford Professor, published in Forbes) as it chimes in directly with what I posted a few days ago.

The shite 'we' have done to ourselves and the planet, over the last century, in my mind makes this virus pandemic more likely and I find it odd when it's discussed as if it's some kind of one off.



Recently I was well chuffed with my Chinese knock off MP3 player and earphones, that arrived within a week of ordering, for less than £100, TBH I still am.

Reading that report makes me wonder, "at what cost?"

But crucially can I honestly say I wouldn't do it all over again, in x months time - No I probably can't.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I’d like to stick with UK method of operation..nobody knows if it is right or wrong, these are unprecedented times, the method of operation does not appear to be working on continental Europe.


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The World Health Organisation and 229 scientists also say it is wrong. Who knows?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51892402