Coronavirus

[Tom Hark]

It isn’t Boris’ view though is it, it is the view of medical experts who have access to real time data making informed decisions. Time and time again I have heard informed and educated people saying that although it sounds counter intuitive, banning large scale events is not the right response at the moment and I am inclined to agree with that. Once that decision is made it is likely to remain in place for some time and the longer these type of restrictions are in place the harder it becomes to enforce them. As you quite rightly point out, it is the number of smaller interactions that have more potential to enable the spread of the virus so it won’t just be mass events that have to be restricted and if you are banning mass events to prevent all the smaller interactions where the real risk exists...you have to ban all of the smaller interactions not just those associated with mass spectator sports.

As we have seen in Italy, as soon as you start on this road it will increase sharply. Italy were one of the first countries to ban flights coming in from certain parts, they were taking temperatures on arrival...it didn’t stop the virus taking hold. What I don’t want is politicians making political decisions, I would rather they did what they were told by people who have some idea about what is effective.

I've just been listening to a very reasonable and sensible medical/government expert being asked why we don't do more and the answer was, in essence, that it would be unpopular with the population (electorate?), not necessarily because it is the right thing (not) to do. That was preceded by a vox pop at Cheltenham in which the interviewees without exception adopted a 'Fuck the virus, I'm here for a good time,' attitude. The expert added gently that all those good-time Charlies (my description) would no doubt have an elderly relative, and it's them who they should be thinking of. You are right that it will be hard to enforce for long, of course. I know the British citizenry has a poor track record (see Brexit; tabloid circulation figures), but are we so much more lacking in common sense than the populations of those countries who are taking stricter measures with fewer cases, or do we just have a more self-serving bureaucracy?

 

[Papper]

Italy appear to be the Guinea pig for all things Coronavirus but there is no point delaying the inevitable. Nowhere has it been contained. Just go about business as usual and accept hundreds of thousands will catch it and that nobody is to blame. If it's mild then stay in bed a week (like we do with flu) - then concentrate efforts on the vulnerable - ie compulsory isolation / pneumonia jabs etc.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

according to Boris we should just take it on the chin and let it run it's course.......speechless!

 

[Papper]

according to Boris we should just take it on the chin and let it run it's course.......speechless!

That's more or less what the experts who advise him are saying. Best he leaves it to them ..

 

[Tom Hark]

Italy appear to be the Guinea pig for all things Coronavirus but there is no point delaying the inevitable. Nowhere has it been contained. Just go about business as usual and accept hundreds of thousands will catch it and that nobody is to blame. If it's mild then stay in bed a week (like we do with flu) - then concentrate efforts on the vulnerable - ie compulsory isolation / pneumonia jabs etc.

There is a huge point that if we let a massive spike occur rather than spreading it across several weeks, there won't be enough resources/facilities to treat everyone who needs treating at the same time. The unlucky ones will just be left to die. Spreading out the demand will save lives.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

That's more or less what the experts who advise him are saying. Best he leaves it to them ..

no idea which experts you are reading.

 

[Papper]

no idea which experts you are reading.

The ones who are not calling for lock-downs and the banning of mass gatherings.

 

[Kenny]

I see the BBC got Farage out of a cupboard so he could give his expert views on the Virus and how to handle it. A man for every occasion is Nige

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Let me guess. Close the borders and send the buggers back?

 

[lemonjelly]

Looks like I am going to be working from home very soon.
I thought we'd try scraping through the next 2 weeks, when teaching ends, as that'd allow a month for a deep clean, and staff to work from home.
Also seems the planning is longer term - am expecting changes to how we do exams this year...

 

[The Saturday Boy]

I've just been listening to a very reasonable and sensible medical/government expert being asked why we don't do more and the answer was, in essence, that it would be unpopular with the population (electorate?), not necessarily because it is the right thing (not) to do. That was preceded by a vox pop at Cheltenham in which the interviewees without exception adopted a 'Fuck the virus, I'm here for a good time,' attitude. The expert added gently that all those good-time Charlies (my description) would no doubt have an elderly relative, and it's them who they should be thinking of. You are right that it will be hard to enforce for long, of course. I know the British citizenry has a poor track record (see Brexit; tabloid circulation figures), but are we so much more lacking in common sense than the populations of those countries who are taking stricter measures with fewer cases, or do we just have a more self-serving bureaucracy?

Unpopular does not mean it is a political decision, unpopular means that it is recognised that it will be difficult to enforce - we are not an authoritarian country used to authoritarian governments. Every restrictive action has a consequence that also has to be mitigated, ban attendance at sports events and people will gather in smaller numbers but in closer proximity in other venues...so maybe that means banning sporting events completely.

If, as it seems, it is likely that there will be restrictions placed on people then there needs to be as much consent as possible otherwise it will be left to the state to enforce those restrictions. We are in a softening up period, aware of what is going on elsewhere and subjected to going official dialogue that steers us in a particular direction. There will be a threshold of cases that determine decisions which is why they are spending so much effort mapping the spread. The more voluntary consent, the less enforcement that will be necessary and people won’t just give consent because they are told to do so.

 

[Papper]

I see the BBC got Farage out of a cupboard so he could give his expert views on the Virus and how to handle it. A man for every occasion is Nige

Jeez .. why not go with Eddie Izzard or somebody else important like David Beckham instead of a nobody like Farage.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

according to Boris we should just take it on the chin and let it run it's course.......speechless!

That was 5 days ago wasn't it?

 

[Kenny]

That was 5 days ago wasn't it?

Takes a while for current news to arrive in Greece

 

[Papper]

Looks like I am going to be working from home very soon.
I thought we'd try scraping through the next 2 weeks, when teaching ends, as that'd allow a month for a deep clean, and staff to work from home.
Also seems the planning is longer term - am expecting changes to how we do exams this year...

Sounds like a nightmare for the parents who may need minders. The children no doubt will stay indoors.

 

[Premier Quality]

The advice is that you shut everything down when the infections are getting high, to enable the NHS to deal with the high volumes of infection - not so that no one gets it, because most people are going to get it at some point.

What you don’t want is 50% of the country to be ill at the same time as no health service could possibly cope, so getting some of it over with, and then a bit of a pause to recover and then a load more getting it over with seems to be the best approach.

Ironically, those people getting it now are probably in the best position because they will get the best health care

 

[Sniffer]

Sounds like a nightmare for the parents who may need minders. The children no doubt will stay indoors.

I may be wrong but I think that LJ is talking about University Students.

 

[lemonjelly]

You're correct sniffer. Including multitudes from south east asia.
american students on erasmus schemes have been recalled to the states by their home institutions by the way.

 

[Papper]

The advice is that you shut everything down when the infections are getting high, to enable the NHS to deal with the high volumes of infection - not so that no one gets it, because most people are going to get it at some point.

What you don’t want is 50% of the country to be ill at the same time as no health service could possibly cope, so getting some of it over with, and then a bit of a pause to recover and then a load more getting it over with seems to be the best approach.

Ironically, those people getting it now are probably in the best position because they will get the best health care

I suppose it all depends on what percentage contract it and what percentage need hospital treatment. From what I can gather the vast majority of people will get a mild form that can will just need self isolation. Surely all resources should go to the very vulnerable.

 

[Papper]

I may be wrong but I think that LJ is talking about University Students.

Ah .. in that case I stand corrected. I was unaware he is a lecturer.