The Coronavirus thread.

[foxy]

I think it is a new situation that the world now finds itself in, a vaccine apparently won't be available until next year. The deaths in the UK are relatively low in the UK 10 deaths and a guestimate of 100,000 infected, although there are only 590 confirmed. Who is at risk, elderly, those with a compromised immune system, smokers and those with respiratory problems. The first to be administered the vaccine, (when available) health care workers, those with a low immune system and the elderly. Its here, not much we, health authority's and any government can do to stop it as it is so contagious. Best thing is to carry on and hope that ones immune system can cope, pointing a finger of blame doesn't prevent the virus from spreading. Its here and we have to cope, as best we can.

 

[pms67]

I think we can and should be doing a little more than just carrying on, I don’t usually agree with Jeremy Hunt but I do with this.
“
Mr Hunt, chair of the Commons health and social care committee, said he was also "personally surprised that we're still allowing external visits to care homes".
He added that the evidence from countries who appeared to have been successful in turning back the virus showed they "moved very early" on introducing social distancing.

 

[Leon103]

Listening to some news last night I can see some sense in delaying the most extreme measures a little. What doesn't make sense is every country doing it at different times, surely this will only result in British people being banned to travel to certain places.

 

[foxy]

I think we can and should be doing a little more than just carrying on, I don’t usually agree with Jeremy Hunt but I do with this.
“
Mr Hunt, chair of the Commons health and social care committee, said he was also "personally surprised that we're still allowing external visits to care homes".
He added that the evidence from countries who appeared to have been successful in turning back the virus showed they "moved very early" on introducing social distancing.

We are in the early stages so no country has really been effective in curbing the virus, South Korea has done well but the schools closing until the 22 nd of March doesn't stop the virus. Neither will office workers staying at home be a resolution. You have got to stick your head above the trench at some stage. It will still be there.

 

[An Ankoù]

It

Money is not the root of all evil, the people who own the money are, I would also suggest knee jerk reactions never work or impress anyone, so may I suggest another beer and a good nights sleep after all we the public have no control over it apart from being told to wash hands and stay 2 feet apart, how can you apportion blame on one person and call them a murderer, I'm of to bed

It's a Biblical quote, we all know what it means: 1 Tim 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with".
And it's perfectly fair to ask in this snug or any other forum what motivates our leaders, what is their raison d'être. Is it to line the pockets of themselves and their cronies or is it the general good of the all strata of society? The former goes on to to a greater or lesser extent in most governments and the question is to what extent is it happening here. As soon as we are afraid to ask these questions we become China or north Korea.
All leaders, too, have blood on their hands to a greater or lesser extent. The second question, then, is by what means, and to what degree is that blood legitimised.

 

[Brianbrewed]

Governments have to walk a tightrope on this.
If the measures are so draconian that it causes an economic collapse that would be counter-productive.

All evidence points that in times of recession death rates increase (people can't afford to look after themselve or access health care).

 

[Brianbrewed]

In the Republic of Ireland all gatherings over 100 people indoors have been banned (some weddings have already been cancelled).
All gatherings over 900 people outside have been banned (the GAA, Irelands largest sporting body anounced the cancellation of all training and matched last night off all age groups).

I do find it strange that the UK has not closed schools.
While children are not in danger from the virus, they can spread it among themselves and then to their parents.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

All leaders, too, have blood on their hands to a greater or lesser extent. The second question, then, is by what means, and to what degree is that

The problem is they are bamned if they do and damned if they don't, if they shut schools the highest risk part of our popularion (elderly grandparents) will end up looking after potentially infected kids because their parents cannot get time off work at short notice, if they don't close schools they are accused of not taking strong enough action.

 

[Cwrw666]

At the moment we have 2 known cases of coronavirus here in Pembrokeshire. Can anyone explain how closing schools etc can do anything whatsoever if there's no actual disease here? Of course things will change pretty soon and that's when I'll stop going to the pub etc. And presumably schools etc will then close. It's all a matter of timing.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I do find it strange that the UK has not closed schools.
While children are not in danger from the virus, they can spread it among themselves and then to their parents

Someone phoned 5live earlier asking how they can close all scholls in South Ireland but leave them open in the North which doesn't make much sense.

 

[Cyberjip]

Someone phoned 5live earlier asking how they can close all scholls in South Ireland but leave them open in the North which doesn't make much sense.

Not every country has it's own island. There are many nations that have a soft border with there neighbour but are responding differently to the crisis.

 

[the_quick]

As someone who works in a school I can see for and against when it comes to closing them. Kids do hug, shake hands, stay really close to each other, most of the schools around here are over capacity, so during breaks and lunch they do crowd together in tight spaces, especially when it rains. In the whole school, we have around 30 sinks for kids to use, for around 1250 pupils - do your maths.
Kids are not hygienic - you can see it clearly and most of them will not wash the hands. They move from classroom to classroom, mouse and keyboards are perfect places to spread germs. We can clean them, but not every period. So for me schools look like a perfect spreading ground. And last point, teacher population is ageing, as we do not train enough new teachers. Some of those people are in not best shape.

But, if the kids are to stay at home, lots of parents have to stay at home with them and some of them are health workers - I can see those people will be needed. And the economy point is there as well, as lots of those parents can't work from home.

Maybe the economy bit has to be forgotten, don't worry for now, do everything you can and when we recover it will slowly go back to normal, I'm sure whole globe economy will slow down. Maybe it is time to look how it works and see kif this is the best model.

So far it looks strange that lots of countries closed their schools, even when they have much less cases than us, like Poland or Czech republic for example.

For time being I'm just going to continue as normal, I'm healthy, my wife is as well and I assume at some point I will get it. Time will tell which country was correct with their action

 

[An Ankoù]

It's the same wherever there's a land border. French schools close today, but not in Germany, Belgium or Switzerland. Schools and unis are shut in Madrid and other regions of Spain, but not in Spain as a whole (yet). Kids tend not to travel far to go to school so it makes some kind of sense.
It would make most sense in the UK because parents tend to take their kids to school- not so in other European countries. I think it's about cutting down circulation of people to try to reduce contact between people.

 

[Brianbrewed]

Someone phoned 5live earlier asking how they can close all scholls in South Ireland but leave them open in the North which doesn't make much sense.

Because Northern Ireland is part of the UK (remember Brexit, back-stops, etc).
Apparently Arelen Foster was annoyed the Northern Ireland Assembly was not warned before the announcement.

The Irish gov made the announcment before the UK did.

The fact is now that all schools, colleges, creches are closed in the ROI.
Museums, galleries are closed.
All Patricks days festivities are cancelled.
Parents, as much as possible are working from home.

At the moment I am preparing work for my students to do at home.

I really hope that Boris decision to not closes schools doesn't cause problems as I have a lot of family in England, Wales & Northern Ireland.

 

[Richie_asg1]

I don't know why a vaccine won't be ready until next year because the current flu vaccine works on the principle that it takes a few months between it starting in the east and getting made up to vaccinate people in the west before it arrives here. Getting ahead of the wave so to speak.
I think there are 2 strains of this already, one worse than the other so maybe those that say it's not a big deal and recover had the lighter one. I don't know if getting infected with flu-lite will protect you from the other strain.

No matter what governments decide to do or not do - will they learn what is an effective global policy?

I would thing wearing any type of gloves would help reduce transmission on surfaces. Pretty easy for a government to say if you are going out - put some gloves on and take them off to blow your nose.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

As someone who works in a school I can see for and against when it comes to closing them. Kids do hug, shake hands, stay really close to each other, most of the schools around here are over capacity,

If they close schools how long do they stay closed the virus isn't going to peak for at least 10 weeks do we close schools for 3 months to start then see how it goes.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Because Northern Ireland is part of the UK (remember Brexit, back-stops, etc).

The guy on the radio was discussing the stupidity of one part of the island having closed schools and the other no closed schools not the politics behind those decisions.

 

[Brianbrewed]

The guy on the radio was discussing the stupidity of one part of the island having closed schools and the other no closed schools not the politics behind those decisions.

ROI made it's decision/announcement before the UK.

I would still question the logic of not closing school as children can spread it to each other and bring it back home, without showing any symtoms.

 

[An Ankoù]

This is a bit worrying if there's any truth in it (the Guardian hasn't picked it up so I'm sceptical). The strategy seems to be to go for "herd immunity" which, if I understand correctly, means that at least 60% of the population need to become infected to generate a kind of "firewall" of immunity so that the virus has more difficulty spreading. There seems to be some internal contradiction in the logic of this.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ses-symptoms-testing-death-toll-a9399016.html

 

[Brianbrewed]

This is a bit worrying if there's any truth in it (the Guardian hasn't picked it up so I'm sceptical). The strategy seems to be to go for "herd immunity" which, if I understand correctly, means that at least 60% of the population need to become infected to generate a kind of "firewall" of immunity so that the virus has more difficulty spreading. There seems to be some internal contradiction in the logic of this.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ses-symptoms-testing-death-toll-a9399016.html

I think you may have misread that.
It means that for a human population to build up herd immunity (like humans already have for the common cold or flu) 60% of the population needs to get it.

I don't think it means there's a plot to deliberately expose the population to the virus.