Coronavirus

[jfman]

Northern Ireland closed the schools (and other restrictions) for two weeks and cases roughly halved.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by jfman

Northern Ireland closed the schools (and other restrictions) for two weeks and cases roughly halved.

Was it not just an extra week tagged onto the school holidays?

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Was it not just an extra week tagged onto the school holidays?

It was yes, which made it even more of a no-brainer of a decision as it minimised impact on wider economy.

I genuinely think they need to look at the structure of the school year temporarily. Pierre is right that restrictions without factoring schools into it at all is ineffective. Not suggesting they close for month, but factoring in 2-3 weeks off every 8 weeks or so would do much to break transmission chains.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

It was yes, which made it even more of a no-brainer of a decision as it minimised impact on wider economy.

I genuinely think they need to look at the structure of the school year temporarily. Pierre is right that restrictions without factoring schools into it at all is ineffective. Not suggesting they close for month, but factoring in 2-3 weeks off every 8 weeks or so would do much to break transmission chains.

And when they return to school, then what happens?
Closing schools didn't work first time around did it?

[jfman]

Originally Posted by nomadking

And when they return to school, then what happens?
Closing schools didn't work first time around did it?

It’s not a silver bullet but the “schools open at all costs” strategy is only going to leave the wider economy in more severe restrictions and for longer.

Did anyone think Johnson was oddly more articulate than normal in his speech? There was less of the bonhomie clown act and less florid language but instead a lot more precise and calm.

Originally Posted by Damien

Did anyone think Johnson was oddly more articulate than normal in his speech? There was less of the bonhomie clown act and less florid language but instead a lot more precise and calm.

The main points I got from it were:

• Second lockdown.
  
• A lockdown but not like the first lockdown.
  
• Schools/Universities to remain open.
  
• Furlough extended for a month. Was due to end tonight.

I think the bit I have highlighted in red, could be problematic, in that how will it cause the R rate to be under 1, with children mixing with other potentially infectious children, passing on the virus?

The growing unrest and mental health of people could see issues of suicide rise exponentially. (It already is to some degree).

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Mick

The main points I got from it were:

• Second lockdown.
  
• A lockdown but not like the first lockdown.
  
• Schools/Universities to remain open.
  
• Furlough extended for a month. Was due to end tonight.

I think the bit I have highlighted in red, could be problematic, in that how will it cause the R rate to be under 1, with children mixing with other potentially infectious children, passing on the virus?

The growing unrest and mental health of people could see issues of suicide rise exponentially. (It already is to some degree).

No disrespect to you Mick, but no shit Sherlock.

I think everybody that has a brain is thinking that.

Which makes this whole announcement a debacle.

I wonder who gove the story to the Times yesterday?

Originally Posted by Hugh

I wonder who gove the story to the Times yesterday?

I saw the game you played there...

[pip08456]

Captain Sir Tom

Originally Posted by Mick

Furlough extended for a month. Was due to end tonight.

Interesting, I havent seen that mentioned anywhere.

Another difference from last time is that sport can continue as now, behind closed doors.

Originally Posted by Pierre

No disrespect to you Mick, but no shit Sherlock.

I think everybody that has a brain is thinking that.

Which makes this whole announcement a debacle.

I think it makes sense when you consider all of these measures are about reducing social interactions in the end. The more social interactions we have, the more the virus spreads.

So it's not the case then we need no social interactions, just fewer of them. The virus still spreads but not as much and it's about reducing them in the aggregate.

So the way I see it is that we have a budget of interactions that we can choose to spend. We're choosing, as is most of Europe, to spend that on schools. The limited amount of interactions we can have before it's R above 1 is going to be had at schools.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/h...mid=tw-nytimes (Open using Private Browsing/Incognito Tab)

Some Covid Survivors Have Antibodies That Attack the Body, not Virus

New research found ‘autoantibodies’ similar to those in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients. But patients may also benefit from treatments for those autoimmune diseases.

Some survivors of Covid-19 carry worrying signs that their immune system has turned on the body, reminiscent of potentially debilitating diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, a new study has found.

At some point, the body’s defense system in these patients shifted into attacking itself, rather than the virus, the study suggests. The patients are producing molecules called “autoantibodies” that target genetic material from human cells, instead of from the virus.

This misguided immune response may exacerbate severe Covid-19. It may also explain why so-called “long haulers” have lingering problems months after their initial illness has resolved and the virus is gone from their bodies.

The findings carry important implications for treatment: Using existing tests that can detect autoantibodies, doctors could identify patients who might benefit from treatments used for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. There is no cure for these diseases, but some treatments decrease the frequency and severity of flare-ups.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

No disrespect to you Mick, but no shit Sherlock.

I think everybody that has a brain is thinking that.

Which makes this whole announcement a debacle.

As predicted by jfman, another obvious point but worth repeating - this now plays well for Keir Starmer,. Starmer called for an immediate circuit breaker on 13th October. He cannot be deflected with “Captain Hindsight” accusations.