Coronavirus (OLD)

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by jfman

Do other countries not have people qualified people of equivalent standing? Well they can't all be right.

You are unfortunately stuck in the colonial days, where Britainnia ruled the waves and Brits knew best.

In science and medicine we are indeed world leaders. So I am more than happy to trust in what they say, more so than other nations.

It can hardly be considered to be irrelevant to identify where cases are taking place to isolate the people and communities most likely to be carriers. Many, non-Conservative voters, and those in other countries would consider such actions prudent.

what does how you voted have to do with anything?

It may be prudent.. but not possible if people are self isolating if they “think” they are infected. We can’t track it accurately now so it’s irrelevant.

We don't have the capacity yes, need to? Well, the effective testing regime in South Korea appears to be working. Essentially, we have manufactured a reasoning to justify being underprepared for this eventually, and swallowing it. Indeed if we don't have an accurate count when do we deploy more serious measures as we approach the peak?

What difference does testing make? At this stage

Yet, we are not actively stemming the infection.

Trying to slow it, not stop it. We can’t stop it.

stay at home isn’t the advice

No. I was just telling you to stay home. Do everyone a favour

[spiderplant]

So are you self-isolating, jfman? If so, how long do you intend to do it for?

[denphone]

UK coronavirus cases reach 798 - up 208 in last 24 hours.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...demic-11955867

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Pierre

In science and medicine we are indeed world leaders. So I am more than happy to trust in what they say, more so than other nations.

what does how you voted have to do with anything?

It may be prudent.. but not possible if people are self isolating if they “think” they are infected. We can’t track it accurately now so it’s irrelevant.

What difference does testing make? At this stage

Trying to slow it, not stop it. We can’t stop it.

No. I was just telling you to stay home. Do everyone a favour

If you fail to understand why testing and confirming whether people have viruses or not is important then you'll never be convinced.

Big pharma is really scamming everyone for testing kits in that case.

---------- Post added at 14:26 ---------- Previous post was at 14:17 ----------

Originally Posted by spiderplant

So are you self-isolating, jfman? If so, how long do you intend to do it for?

I'm not sure what my individual choices have to do with my views on Government policy. If every idiot and their dog (metaphorically) is spreading it around for the next three months on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer then there's little I can do personally. I'm less likely to catch it now than from the millions of carriers that will be out there without intervention.

However I'm taking reasonable steps to minimise risk - working from home as much as practical.

The first 15 minutes of the World at One are worth a listen. A useful summary of what the advice is, and why, from a BBC reporter, followed by yet another interview with the chief scientific adviser further explaining the UK’s approach and - diplomatically - suggesting that the SNP’s decision to ban gatherings of more than 500 might have more to do with a desire to make a grand gesture than to take the best decision in the interest of public health.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000g4g8

[nomadking]

Doesn't help when a selfish ***** with a persistent cough decides they're going to go shopping and travel on a bus sitting on the other side of the aisle to me.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Chris

The first 15 minutes of the World at One are worth a listen. A useful summary of what the advice is, and why, from a BBC reporter, followed by yet another interview with the chief scientific adviser further explaining the UK’s approach and - diplomatically - suggesting that the SNP’s decision to ban gatherings of more than 500 might have more to do with a desire to make a grand gesture than to take the best decision in the interest of public health.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000g4g8

New York State, California, Ohio, New Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Sweden, Iceland, and many, many more all ignoring the science just to rub the UK Government, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer up the wrong way I assume.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

New York State, California, Ohio, New Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Sweden, Iceland, and many, many more all ignoring the science just to rub the UK Government, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer up the wrong way I assume.

If introducing a shutdown is such a clear and obvious decision, why have they all only very recently introduced it? Why not weeks ago?

[jfman]

Originally Posted by nomadking

If introducing a shutdown is such a clear and obvious decision, why have they all only very recently introduced it? Why not weeks ago?

Taking time to make the right decision doesn't negate it being the right decision. Also hindsight and new information informs decision making.

I really don't know why you are arguing with me. When Boris closes the schools in a week or so when it's economically convenient, as we won't know how many people have it because we've stopped counting, you'll be championing the decision regardless of grandparents exposure.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by jfman

Taking time to make the right decision doesn't negate it being the right decision. Also hindsight and new information informs decision making.

I really don't know why you are arguing with me. When Boris closes the schools in a week or so when it's economically convenient, as we won't know how many people have it because we've stopped counting, you'll be championing the decision regardless of grandparents exposure.

Grandparents are more likely to get infected if schoolkids are milling around shops at the same time.

You can't just criticise X for something, when Y, Z, etc also haven't done it. If X was wrong before then Y, Z, etc were also wrong. All too easy to blindly follow the herd and have a shutdown.
Coronavirus: Three reasons why the UK might not look like Italy

Originally Posted by jfman

New York State, California, Ohio, New Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Sweden, Iceland, and many, many more all ignoring the science just to rub the UK Government, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Officer up the wrong way I assume.

So you actually don’t understand how modelling produces different outcomes in different geographical and social settings? Remind me to pay even less attention to your opinions in future ...

Meanwhile, for those not hell-bent on believing that everyone in Britain with an official position is determined to kill us all, this is how our kids’ high school is explaining the advice it has received from Scottish ministers:

There is no recommendation to close schools at this time. It is believed that pupils are safer in schools where we continue to urge them to follow a good hygiene regime rather than out in the communities mixing with a wider range of people without constant reminders to wash hands.

Emphasis as placed by the school.

In short, they think a larger number of children will follow a better hand washing routine in school than out of it.

[denphone]

UK local and mayoral elections postponed to 2021.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/li...st-update-news

My university campus is closed to students as of Monday, but not staff.

I suspect they think we’re all too filthy to be trusted to wash our hands at any point. Judging by the state of some of the toilets on campus they’re probably right. The library would also frequently have more than 500 people in it during the day so it would presumably fall foul of the SNP’s ban on large gatherings.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Chris

So you actually don’t understand how modelling produces different outcomes in different geographical and social settings? Remind me to pay even less attention to your opinions in future ...

I don’t believe for a second that we are substantially different socially from all of those places, that we differ in terms of geographical factors. I’m sure they urban places, rural places, public transport, sporting events and all the same things we do. Nor do I believe our North European climate will save us.

Meanwhile, for those not hell-bent on believing that everyone in Britain with an official position is determined to kill us all, this is how our kids’ high school is explaining the advice it has received from Scottish ministers:

Emphasis as placed by the school.

In short, they think a larger number of children will follow a better hand washing routine in school than out of it.

Nobody has said they want to kill us all. Only that they have decided that they aren’t going to try and contain the virus for economic reasons, not health ones, and accepted some level of mortality as acceptable.

Originally Posted by jfman

I don’t believe for a second that we are substantially different socially from all of those places, that we differ in terms of geographical factors. I’m sure they urban places, rural places, public transport, sporting events and all the same things we do. Nor do I believe our North European climate will save us.



Nobody has said they want to kill us all. Only that they have decided that they aren’t going to try and contain the virus for economic reasons, not health ones, and accepted some level of mortality as acceptable.

On the contrary, the explanation given later on during WatO this lunchtime was more around the benefit of herd immunity. You have to listen on to about the 20 minute mark and beyond to hear it.

In the absence of a vaccine, allowing the virus to spread at a controlled rate through the general population, while when necessary creating buffers around the most vulnerable, is a valid and quite possibly the best way to stop it in its tracks and reduce the total number of infections. IIRC they suggested total infections could be reduced around 20% this way.

I reiterate ... I’m not an expert. But I see no reason to challenge the competence of those that are.