COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[dave_blue12]

In line with The Times estimate. So sad.

 

[jitsubluedan]

Different approach here from the BBC. Quite a good article because it challenges your preconceptions. Is this the start of a new propaganda campaign, or just a one-off different perspective?

I think the strategy is going to evolve so that we use new technology (mass, fat testing for antigen and antibodies) to protect the old and shielded population whilst the rest of the population get on with it. So far the old have not been adequately protected anywhere in the world where there has been a significant infection. Could it be done properly? We probably will have time now to implement much better procedures now if we wish to do this.

I switched disciplines from physics to bio-physics and there are a lot of biologists who hold these views. I think because this was the main-stay of epidemiology but does testing and new technology provide a way out. The argument I have heard is that South Korea and Germany show that mass-testing can work but it isn't an exit strategy. The world is international and you could eradicate it like New Zealand but once it's out it will always be there. Mass-testing buys you time at best. If there's a vaccine then this is the way to go. If there or it really does take 18 months then I am guessing that we are going to hear a lot more of the like you may read below.

The intellectual framework is now changing as we move from lockdown to post-lockdown. And we have a re-assessment of risk. That's how I read it. Or it could just be a kite.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52543692

As it’s the BBC that is running that story I’m inclined to ignore it; they’ve got form for peddling the governments latest strategies and it’s clear, the intention is to change the public’s perception that the lockdown measures are only necessary for the more vulnerable in society.

Whilst it may be true that the vast majority of people who contract the virus will suffer mild symptoms - if any at all, there are cases where those that are not in the vulnerable groups have caught the virus and almost lost their lives and sadly, some have died. I know of at least one case where this has happened.

As no one knows how the virus will affect them if they are unfortunate to catch it, then basically, people are playing Russian roulette if they think they can return to mingling in bars, restaurants or any other place where the public gather to socialise. That includes sporting events.

It’s up to them if they choose to do that and it seems, some are desperate than others to be able to go back to them.

I fully understand that we cannot continue indefinitely with the lockdown as it’s crashing the economy and whether it’s deemed ‘wealth over health’ some form of easing of restrictions is needed - when this is right.

However, we should not forget that those who are classed as not being vulnerable and are therefore deemed to be likely to contract the virus with mild or indeed, no symptoms will be the carriers who inadvertently (or not for those who don’t care about anyone but themselves), pass it on to others.

The easing of the lockdown therefore needs to be carefully thought out and implemented and most importantly, monitored to ensure the death toll doesn’t start to increase again.

As some have already pointed out, whilst we’re still recording deaths of over 600 per day, then clearly, these restrictions need to remain in place for now.

Whilst it is painful for all of us, it is necessary. If we come out of lockdown too early and the death toll starts increasing again, the view is that it will impact even more disastrously on the economy.

In any event, whenever the restrictions are lifted, I will continue to maintain the 2m distancing and will avoid mingling with the general public on social events until there is a viable vaccine for this virus.

If it was the case that I would suffer only mild symptoms then I’d happily contract the virus in order to get it over and done with. However, as I have no way of knowing how my body would react to it, I’m not prepared to take any chances!

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

 

[Tricky_Trev]

So are we all expected to go back to work next week or is that in a few weeks?

seems way too soon in my opinion. Our numbers are still pretty bad

Joke isn’t it. Luckily, my work seem to be letting people that can work from home decide what they want to do. I’m determined that I’m not going back into the office until I’ve been vaccinated.

 

[ell]

Just had a flick through facebook (Yeah I know) and it looks like they've all taken the Daily Mail front page and decided life will be back to normal on Monday.

 

[mexico1970]

Nobody in my immediate family has been off work all the way through this, and none of them work for the NHS. What percentage of the population are off work?

 

[BlueAnorak]

The US re-cycle them up to 20 times or so they claim. Not sue how they do it. Some sterilisation procedure.

I think there's going to be some space now to reassess. We are moving into a zone potentially between peaks and society has to decide how to approach this and learn the lessons of Phase I. Hopefully there is no Phase II but history suggests there will be.

UV / Ozone sterilisation. Kills all known germs dead. Invisible ink dot on the mask post sterilization shows up under uv light.
The 20 times limit is arbitrary but it's just a measure of how long the mask will last before it starts falling apart.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Different approach here from the BBC. Quite a good article because it challenges your preconceptions. Is this the start of a new propaganda campaign, or just a one-off different perspective?

I think the strategy is going to evolve so that we use new technology (mass, fat testing for antigen and antibodies) to protect the old and shielded population whilst the rest of the population get on with it. So far the old have not been adequately protected anywhere in the world where there has been a significant infection. Could it be done properly? We probably will have time now to implement much better procedures now if we wish to do this.

I switched disciplines from physics to bio-physics and there are a lot of biologists who hold these views. I think because this was the main-stay of epidemiology but does testing and new technology provide a way out. The argument I have heard is that South Korea and Germany show that mass-testing can work but it isn't an exit strategy. The world is international and you could eradicate it like New Zealand but once it's out it will always be there. Mass-testing buys you time at best. If there's a vaccine then this is the way to go. If there or it really does take 18 months then I am guessing that we are going to hear a lot more of the like you may read below.

The intellectual framework is now changing as we move from lockdown to post-lockdown. And we have a re-assessment of risk. That's how I read it. Or it could just be a kite.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52543692

I don't think it's kiteflying really, just offering one of the other opinions.

Clearly Johnson has indicated that at the weekend he's going to announce some relaxation (although what's being reported at the moment sounds cosmetic). Also Sunak has indicated that some financial measure will run out in June (I think). That being the case, exploring options seems reasonable.

The most important concept in it for me is "if we can properly shield the vulnerable" = presumably that means that care homes will still be off-limits for visiting, wouldn't they? It does lead to a two-speed system though.

An area that would need another article is the ethnicity split problem - that is a lot harder to put a shield round.

 

[BlueAnorak]

So are we all expected to go back to work next week or is that in a few weeks?

seems way too soon in my opinion. Our numbers are still pretty bad

Rumour has it that we're just mapping the way out and announcing the plan to the general public on Sunday.
Businesses with an enacted safety plan will be able to open up, but there won't be many to start with.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

still plenty of workers in work mate have been throughout this, nhs , delivery drivers, supermarkets pharmacists , bus drivers , train drivers etc.

i know that mate. I meant more generally. Ie office workers for example

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Just had a flick through facebook (Yeah I know) and it looks like they've all taken the Daily Mail front page and decided life will be back to normal on Monday.

Same. Stories being shared galore from the daily mail and daily express. And they're being shared in Scotland where the lockdown won't be relaxed. Easy to see why some sections of the public will be utterly confused.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Joke isn’t it. Luckily, my work seem to be letting people that can work from home decide what they want to do. I’m determined that I’m not going back into the office until I’ve been vaccinated.

I agree mate. It’s public transport that I’m pretty worried about. I don’t want to get on a packed train or any form of public transport, which I have to.

unfortunately lots won’t have a choice

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Just had a flick through facebook (Yeah I know) and it looks like they've all taken the Daily Mail front page and decided life will be back to normal on Monday.

The headline in the DT has sent me the same message. Could be my misinterpretation (can't be arsed to read the article) but it could start some sort of 'avalanche'! Wonder how long before yer can't get a tube ride at Leicester Square?

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Same. Stories being shared galore from the daily mail and daily express. And they're being shared in Scotland where the lockdown won't be relaxed. Easy to see why some sections of the public will be utterly confused.

the daily mail in particular have been pushing the narrative of easing lockdown and getting everybody to work for about a month now.

Seems like most papers are just making up stories about the easing of lockdown now, which is pretty irresponsible

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Same. Stories being shared galore from the daily mail and daily express. And they're being shared in Scotland where the lockdown won't be relaxed. Easy to see why some sections of the public will be utterly confused.

That's really just social media being social media, where something trumpeted drowns things out and proliferates, whether out of general interest or deliberate promotion.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Second peak in this country is gonna be grim, and it'll probably start building as of tomorrow with headlines like this. Fucking state of it. 'Hurrah' on a day when they announced over 600 people had died and we passed 30k. 'Draconian' too...embarrassing and dangerous stuff.

Wow. That really is incredible. What a ridiculous front page. No surprise as it’s such a wank paper but I can’t get my head around something like that.

 

[nellyonthewing]

Does anyone actually believe any Headline in the gutter press. Unfortunately yes!

 

[ayrshire_blue]

That's really just social media being social media, where something trumpeted drowns things out and proliferates, whether out of general interest or deliberate promotion.

Sadly people take this stuff at face value though and will act accordingly upon reading it.

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

I'm struggling to see any way in which UK death numbers won't be significantly larger than present.

 

[bluemoon32]

Nobody in my immediate family has been off work all the way through this, and none of them work for the NHS. What percentage of the population are off work?

Some people seem to think it's just the NHS, emergency services, shop workers & drivers but loads more people are in work.
Manufacturing workers, and loads of office staff have been in work all along.
Going by people i know, about 60% of them have been in work