Coronavirus

[Throbber3]

The answer isn't to take anyone's freedom away, it's get the NHS to a position where it's not constantly on the verge of collapse.

Yet if you talk of tax rises to fund such a thing its a huge vote loser. We are a country of low taxation in comparison to many others I believe so increases really bite and will be resisted. There is no easy solution.

What does bug me is that asprin or paracetamol on the NHS are charged at around 7 quid a box to the NHS on script but you can get OTC for about 40p. Thats a robbery. Make people buy it OTC rather than at the dispensary. Cheaper for all.

 

[Lupo]

Nicola Sturgeon announces that Scottish games will be played in front of crowds of 500 people.

Where the hell are they going to get all these extra fans from, especially during a pandemic?

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Playing devil's advocate, I query why we consider it ok to permit smoking, obesity and drinking despite knowing that it makes people ill and kills vast amounts of people every year, yet we are willing to lockdown society and be ok with the numerous side effects of that?

We don't 'permit' smoking we restrict it through taxation. We are doing similar with high sugar drinks but taxing food that would disproportionate effect those on the lower rungs of society isn't really possible.

Smokers contribute alot to the public purse and also not every smoker dies of lung cancer, there are many other causes that aren't looked at in so much detail.

The unvaccinated are risking treatment of others and further restrictions on the rest of society but following bad science and willful resistance to a remedy to the situation.

You're comparison would be me accurate if we had a pill that cured obesity and the ills of smoking yet they refuse to take it but still expect treatment from the NHS getting priority over others.

 

[WolfMan]

Why didn't we lock down in January 2018?

People dying in corridors as hospitals had run out of beds.

Patients 'dying in hospital corridors'

Doctors write to the PM warning care is being compromised by 'intolerable' conditions this winter.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[AndyWolves]

Why didn't we lock down in January 2018?

People dying in corridors as hospitals had run out of beds.

Patients 'dying in hospital corridors'

Doctors write to the PM warning care is being compromised by 'intolerable' conditions this winter.

www.bbc.co.uk

What did the excess deaths look like?

 

[Wilf Wolf]

The answer isn't to take anyone's freedom away, it's get the NHS to a position where it's not constantly on the verge of collapse.

And I think we can all agree that isn't going to happen in the middle of a pandemic. You can't wave a magic wand to get the staff and facilities you need so other measures should be considered.

 

[AndyWolves]

Today's numbers aren't too bad at all considering.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

We don't 'permit' smoking we restrict it through taxation. We are doing similar with high sugar drinks but taxing food that would disproportionate effect those on the lower rungs of society isn't really possible.

Smokers contribute alot to the public purse and also not every smoker dies of lung cancer, there are many other causes that aren't looked at in so much detail.

The unvaccinated are risking treatment of others and further restrictions on the rest of society but following bad science and willful resistance to a remedy to the situation.

You're comparison would be me accurate if we had a pill that cured obesity and the ills of smoking yet they refuse to take it but still expect treatment from the NHS getting priority over others.

So because we "charge" people to do it, it's ok that it means they are more likely to die? That's some very odd thinking.

Oh and my comparison is accurate, as the "pill" that cures the ills of smoking is to just stop doing it, or do not start it in the first place, the same applies to many people who are obese, just stop eating so much.

 

[sycophantia]

Except there doesn't appear such a thing as herd immunity because the virus keeps mutating in a way that bypasses previous immunity. Some people have had it 3 times and while it may currently be that the 2nd and 3rd times have been milder it does not mean that will always be the case as the virus continues to evolve, does it? Maybe it does, I don't know, I'm certainly not an epidemiologist!

Was reading last year that viruses tend to get less dangerous as they evolve in general... suppose it depends if this one follows that pattern, but no-one really knows at this stage

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Today's numbers aren't too bad at all considering.

So they're not doubling every 1.8 days?

 

[AndyWolves]

Smoking is heavily taxes, as is alcohol and the recent sugar tax could be possibly considered a tax on unhealthy lifestyles

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

The answer isn't to take anyone's freedom away, it's get the NHS to a position where it's not constantly on the verge of collapse.

People NOT voting Tory would help with that.

 

[AndyWolves]

So they're not doubling every 1.8 days?

It certainly doesn't look like it. It's hard to draw trends on a few days data though. That said, under 100k is decent, hospitals going up slightly but less than cases. Fingers crossed for the next week or two.

 

[WolfMan]

What did the excess deaths look like?

Main points​

• In the 2017 to 2018 winter period, there were an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales.
• The number of excess winter deaths in 2017 to 2018 was the highest recorded since winter 1975 to 1976.
• During the winter months of 2017 to 2018, the number of daily deaths exceeded the daily five-year average for all days except 25 March.

Excess winter mortality in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics

Excess winter mortality in England and Wales, by region, sex, age group and local authority.

www.ons.gov.uk

 

[AndyWolves]

Main points​

• In the 2017 to 2018 winter period, there were an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales.
• The number of excess winter deaths in 2017 to 2018 was the highest recorded since winter 1975 to 1976.
• During the winter months of 2017 to 2018, the number of daily deaths exceeded the daily five-year average for all days except 25 March.

Excess winter mortality in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics

Excess winter mortality in England and Wales, by region, sex, age group and local authority.

www.ons.gov.uk

That's interesting, it certainly looks like more people died than should have. Lockdown may well have helped prevent some of those deaths.

 

[Tredman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1473316057414881288

 

[AndyWolves]

This caught my eye, maybe it's true? People taking their own actions

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-59738511?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=61c1cf25d299cd67a81130e8%26Many%20Britons%20self-policing%20to%20save%20Christmas%262021-12-21T13%3A27%3A09%2B00%3A00&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:6042577e-b351-483b-a8aa-e9c42bf7408a&pinned_post_asset_id=61c1cf25d299cd67a81130e8&pinned_post_type=share

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1473316057414881288

FFS

 

[AndyWolves]

Covid: No new restrictions in England before Christmas - Boris Johnson

But Boris Johnson says "we can't rule out any further measures after Christmas" as Omicron spreads fast.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lupo]

Boris Johnson has CONFIRMED NO further restrictions before Christmas