SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

[Sweet Square]

what a pathetic statement. Are you going to explain and give any context?

Ok just some quick examples.

• Policies made by other countries before Britain

France

The French government is expanding its “partial unemployment” scheme. It means employees can apply for state benefits during an economic crisis and that employers are banned from firing them.

Spain

The Spanish government will subsidise workers who have been temporarily laid off by giving them access to the benefits system. A range of loans and grants is also being made available to businesses

Denmark

The Danish government has said it will subsidise 75 per cent of workers’ salaries (up to a maximum of 23,000 kroner or roughly £2,840 a month) if firms promise not to fire employees.

Sweden

The Swedish government will heavily subsidise workers’ salaries. Employees will collect 90 per cent of their wages and will work reduced hours.

Why has it took Britain so long ? Another example, Germany closed it's bars, pubs etc on Monday why did Britain need until today to do the same ?

• Lack of planning

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Government documents show no planning for ventilators in the event of a pandemic

In October 2016 the UK government ran a national pandemic flu exercise, codenamed Exercise Cygnus. The report of its findings was not made publicly available, but the then chief medical officer Sally Davies commented on what she had learnt from it in December 2016.

“We’ve just had in the UK a three-day exercise on flu, on a pandemic that killed a lot of people,” she told the World Innovation Summit for Health at the time. “It became clear that we could not cope with the excess bodies,” Davies said. One conclusion was that Britain, as Davies put it, faced the threat of “inadequate ventilation” in a future pandemic. She was referring to the need for ventilation machines, which keep oxygen pumping in patients critically ill with a respiratory disease such as coronavirus.


Despite the severe failings exposed by Exercise Cygnus, the government’s planning for a future pandemic did not change after December 2016 – at least not formally. The government’s roadmap for how to respond to a coronavirus-like pandemic has long been available online, and the three key documents – the 70-page “Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy”, 78-page “Health and Social Care Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response” and 88-page “Pandemic Influenza Response Plan” – were published in 2011, 2012 and 2014 respectively. These plans were tested and failed, yet these documents were not rewritten or revised.


They share a glaring shortcoming: not one of them mentions ventilators, which are now in such high demand that Matthew Hancock, the Health Secretary, told British manufacturers on 14 March, “If you produce a ventilator, we will buy it. No number [you produce] is too high.” He urged firms from Rolls-Royce to JCB to stop what they do and to begin making ventilators.

https://www.newstatesman.com/politi...s-show-no-planning-ventilators-event-pandemic

Lack of policy for Renters, self employed and unemployed

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And just look at some of the responses by people on here, who have just been fecked over by the latest government statement.


NHS Workers

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Testing, Testing Testing

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and

Coronavirus: WHO calls for countries to test every case after British government says move 'no longer necessary

The World Health Organisation has repeated calls for all countries to find and test every coronavirus case after the British government claimed the practice was “no longer necessary”. Announcing the next stage of the UK’s strategy, the chief medical officer for England said on Thursday that only hospital patients would now be formally checked for the virus. “It is no longer necessary for us to identify every case and we will move from having testing mainly done in homes and outpatients and walk-in centres, to a situation where people who are remaining at home do not need testing,” Professor Chris Whitty added. The plan puts Britain at odds with international advice issued by WHO, which repeated appeals for efforts to track and trace all coronavirus cases on Friday.

Addressing a press briefing, director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “You can’t fight a virus if you don’t know where it is. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chains of transmission. “Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.

• Boris

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And I haven't even talked about the decade long effect of austerity which has made it extremely difficult to tackle a virus like covid19. But whatever I'm sure you've got a empty reply about how Britain is somehow different from the rest of the world and some meaningless sound bite about how the government is simply following ''the science''. Which is why I feel sorry for people like yourself, it's not because we don't agree politically(Who actual gives a shit about that during a crisis like this)it's that the tories are fecking you up the arse and you don't even know it or if you do know you're just glad they aren't using the wooden paddle.

WTF? You feel sorry for him for actually having a grasp of how things work?

See above.

 

[Foxbatt]

These pandemic like crisises will more than likely become more common. The Guardian said there is a good chance of another one in a couple of decades time. We cannot just say "let it infect everyone and then go from there." We already have had close calls with SARS, MERS and Ebola. There are only going to be more. So we have to effectively try to contain them.

We go the way of "herd immunity" every time something like this happens, economies wont function at all. You will have a ten year recession and then by the time the country and globalized economy picks up again, we will then have another pandemic again.

I think the Chinese did take their eye off the ball on this but I don't think it's going to happen again. The world stopped research on the SARS vaccine once it got under control. If they didn't we would probably have had a vaccine for this much quicker.
I don't think the Chinese will do it again.

But what gets my gall is the Americans refusing to ease the economic sanctions on Iran. They have a person dying every 10 mins and they can't buy any imported goods because of the sanctions. For the sake of humanity at least for now stop the sanctions on non military stuff.

 

[horsechoker]

In twenty years time we will be talking about Boris Johnson in the same vein as Neville Chamberlain with his "peace in our time."

Terrible terrible terrible. People who shouldnt die are now going to die. And B Johnson wont be held accountable at all.

Not sure if Boris is better compared to Chamberlain or Anthony Eden, same goes for May.

 

[Hugh Jass]

I think the Chinese did take their eye off the ball on this but I don't think it's going to happen again. The world stopped research on the SARS vaccine once it got under control. If they didn't we would probably have had a vaccine for this much quicker.
I don't think the Chinese will do it again.

But what gets my gall is the Americans refusing to ease the economic sanctions on Iran. They have a person dying every 10 mins and they can't buy any imported goods because of the sanctions. For the sake of humanity at least for now stop the sanctions on non military stuff.

Agreed.

 

[Foxbatt]

I think Jezza would be very happy now to have lost the election. At least he can't be blamed for the deaths of so many people. His conscience will be clear. That said Bojo won't accept the responsibility for this anyway.

 

[The Firestarter]

I am just trying to imagine how different the world will be after this. Somehow I recalled the tv series "The Leftovers"

 

[Kinsella]

I am across the sea in Ireland and i am as worried about the UK as i am about Ireland.

I know what one Health Trust in the North has planned to cope with the expected surge and it's pretty grim.

 

[Heardy]

I know what one Health Trust in the North has planned to cope with the expected surge and it's pretty grim.

If you say that you may as well tell us!

 

[horsechoker]

I am just trying to imagine how different the world will be after this. Somehow I recalled the tv series "The Leftovers"

*lights cigarette*

 

[RedTiger]

I know what one Health Trust in the North has planned to cope with the expected surge and it's pretty grim.

Don't be a tease man!

 

[stepic]

Surely all these like for like comparisons with other European countries is off the mark because we’re not at the same stages of the epidemic? No?

 

[Foxbatt]

Surely all these like for like comparisons with other European countries is off the mark because we’re not at the same stages of the epidemic? No?

No I don't think it has hit the UK yet as in Europe. That's why everyone is worried that the government has lost the plot. UK should be in quarantine by now. And do much more and a lot more testing too.

 

[Revaulx]

I've just been looking at our region's website, where the dead are listed by sex, age, where they died, their Comune of residence and any underlying health conditions. It's interesting data - lots of very old folk (one old dear of 99, shame she didn't get to her century), a handful of women in their 40s who all had serious health issues and one person with Down's Syndrome.

Men outnumber women 2 to 1, and the vast majority are in their late 70s or older - we have a lot of nonagenarians in this part of the world.

edit - 98.7% had pre-existing pathologies.

I’m assuming you live in one of the more rural parts of Italy? How do your numbers look against, say, Lombardy’s?

 

[Berbaclass]

Ladbrokes closing it's shops, I don't know about the other bookies. I believe it's until the end of April at the moment.

 

[Kinsella]

If you say that you may as well tell us!

I'm not sure it's appropriate. It's all worst case scenario of course but they're expecting this surge to arrive by next Sunday/Monday.

By North, I mean NI btw.

 

[SnowRoll]

Israel reports its first death, of 705 cases.
An 88 year-old with many background illnesses.
Suffered a heart-attack a few days ago.
Czechia is the country with the most cases (833) without any deaths.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

*lights cigarette*

Don't be a tease man!

Probably to prioritise younger and healthier patients for the ventilators and ICU care whilst the elderly and unhealthy will be left to die.

 

[BIGbadBOO4]

Not at all. The two countries that have dealt with it has done thru quarantine and other measures. China, Korea and Taiwan did it basically thru quarantine and testing. They have said it all along and have sent their experts to Europe where they are being welcomed.
I guess the British or should I say the British government thinks they know too much about it. Look at the Lancet medical journal, where they accuse the government on not accepting the views of the experts. The British government knew from about the 20th of January what was happening in China. That's almost 3 months notice yet they ignored the advice.
In all honesty there should be a public inquiry on the failures of the government once this pandemic is over.

Completely agree.

 

[RedTiger]

I'm not sure it's appropriate. It's all worst case scenario of course but they're expecting this surge to arrive by next Sunday/Monday.

By North, I mean NI btw.

9 days time or 3 days time?

 

[FrankDrebin]

I am just trying to imagine how different the world will be after this. Somehow I recalled the tv series "The Leftovers"

Due to my interest in all things relating to a post-apocalyptic world,however it comes about, I'm thinking more in line with the excellently depressing Docu-drama Threads.

 

[Kinsella]

9 days time or 3 days time?

9 days.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Not at all. The two countries that have dealt with it has done thru quarantine and other measures. China, Korea and Taiwan did it basically thru quarantine and testing. They have said it all along and have sent their experts to Europe where they are being welcomed.
I guess the British or should I say the British government thinks they know too much about it. Look at the Lancet medical journal, where they accuse the government on not accepting the views of the experts. The British government knew from about the 20th of January what was happening in China. That's almost 3 months notice yet they ignored the advice.
In all honesty there should be a public inquiry on the failures of the government once this pandemic is over.

This. Johnson has to be held accountable.

 

[Revaulx]

There’s five years to the next election. Lot of water to go under a lot of bridges, to say the least. I wouldn’t want to call anything right now.

Not sure he’ll last until then. I know sod all about Sunak, but the contrast between his demeanour and Johnson’s in this afternoon’s press conference won’t have been lost on influential Tories, nor their backers.

 

[Amar__]

I wouldn't look too much into a number of positive cases anymore, pretty sure many countries are now not even testing people who are in self quarantine with minimal symptoms who both hospitals and those people themselves think they have it and are doing self quarantine in a right way, probably no point of even testing them with so many potential people who aren't in self isolations needing the testing to take them off the streets or their jobs.

At leaat that's the case here, probably even smart with so little testing we do.

 

[VidaRed]

 

[Classical Mechanic]

No I don't think it has hit the UK yet as in Europe. That's why everyone is worried that the government has lost the plot. UK should be in quarantine by now. And do much more and a lot more testing too.

The UK shutdown policy is in line with numerous other European countries including Germany, France, Netherlands and Spain considering the progress of disease and spread, as far as I can see anyway.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Does anyone know if there is a way to deposite cash into your bank account without having to go into the atm inside the actual bank?

Its just i dont want to go into the actual bank in these times. And i dont want to keep too much cash in the house either.

 

[Sweet Square]

Hard to argue with this

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[Penna]

I’m assuming you live in one of the more rural parts of Italy? How do your numbers look against, say, Lombardy’s?

Marche region - by yesterday we’d had 115 deaths, which is relatively high but nothing like Lombardy, which I think is over 2.5k now. It’s central Italy and a fair part of this region is small towns and villages.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Hard to argue with this

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You posted that on the last page too. There may be some abuse of it if it’s poorly run but I do think you have a bit of a cartoonish impression of ‘fat cat bosses’. Do you even know how it will be distributed?

 

[Berbaclass]

Does anyone know if there is a way to deposite cash into your bank account without having to go into the atm inside the actual bank?

Its just i dont want to go into the actual bank in these times. And i dont want to keep too much cash in the house either.

I know you can deposit into the post office if you are with Natwest. Not sure about other banks though, sorry.

 

[Samid]

Live sports on the telly. Some shite poundland UFC in Manchester. Not sure what's worse, that fact this is even going ahead, the announcer's punchable face or this guy hugging everyone like there's no tomorrow:

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[Hugh Jass]

I know you can deposit into the post office if you are with Natwest. Not sure about other banks though, sorry.

Cheers thanks.

 

[Conor]

Not sure why people keep comparing Britain's measures to other countries further along the timeline, and saying "If you look at their timeline we've done x at roughly the same time". Being made aware of an impending disaster, and being given an opportunity to get ahead of it, relative to what other countries got, and then not taking the chance to do so is nothing to hold in high regard.

 

[Steerpike]

These pandemic like crisises will more than likely become more common. The Guardian said there is a good chance of another one in a couple of decades time. We cannot just say "let it infect everyone and then go from there." We already have had close calls with SARS, MERS and Ebola. There are only going to be more. So we have to effectively try to contain them.

We go the way of "herd immunity" every time something like this happens, economies wont function at all. You will have a ten year recession and then by the time the country and globalized economy picks up again, we will then have another pandemic again.

Actually, that is an option.

Many of the people who are most likely to die from Covid-19 are already at risk of death from other conditions, and are economically insignificant (by which I mean that they are either inactive, or their economic activity is low).

It might seem like an extremely callous viewpoint, but throwing the most vulnerable under the proverbial bus is an option. Given the damage that the present restrictions are doing both economically and socially, how long will it be before that option starts to be viewed quite favourably?

In theory, the restrictions are there to protect those who are deemed to be most vulnerable. Given how those restrictions negatively affects their lives, do they actually want that protection?

The first wave of this virus is likely to be the one with the greatest impact, so it absolutely makes sense to try to minimise that. But for how long does that remain true? If, in (say) 12 months time we still see this virus as a threat to a smaller proportion of our population, should we continue to take steps to suppress it by limiting the acivities of the vast majority who are not threatened by it? That's a very difficult question, and it is one which we are going to have to answer.

 

[Raoul]

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[Port Vale Devil]

Hard to argue with this

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Don‘t pay the workers then give them shit, pay the workers and also give them shit. WTF are they meant to do?

 

[Revaulx]

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Pretty much.

Isn't Osland the bloke who used to shout about his leftist credentials, then the day after the election wrote an article in the Torygraph saying the reason Labour lost was because it was too left wing?

 

[Port Vale Devil]

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Trump’s body is too toxic for the virus to infect it.

 

[Berbaclass]

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