Forum search & shortcuts

The Coronavirus Dis...
 

The Coronavirus Discussion Thread.

Posts: 14936
Full Member
 

Won’t work well in student halls, shared accommodation, any kind of flat where it’s a converted London house where there are shared spaces.

Once again, advice for shared residences is included in the official guidance. If they choose not to follow it then there's not much that can be done for the terminally stupid.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 10:57 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

it seems like perfectly reasonable common sense advice to me, explaining simple hygiene to the masses.

Quite right, it explains the importance of good hygiene. But its not isolation, just isolation where convenient.

eg. "if possible avoid using it whilst others are present. If this is not possible then wear a facemask if you have been issued with one."

Also, not the use of the word "should" rather than "must"

Its all very woolly. Apply that to large numbers of people and its not going to work.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 10:59 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It’s better than nothing – but it’s laughable that they think we will somehow fair better than China

We'll be fine, the casualties will be massively skewed towards the poor, the old, and people who are already ill. That's acceptable losses in Whitehall and, with a little engineering of the news, its the end of the housing crisis, the end of pensions blackholes, increased employment, better distribution of wealth and reduced load on the NHS in the long term. What's not to like?


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:00 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

They used to offer similar advice at my halls of residence for freshers flu etc, but still - as soon as one person got sick everyone did.

People are lazy and only as good as the world allows them to be. What incentive do people have who live in a highly individualistic society and are already sick? They aren’t going to suddenly start sterilising or washing their dishes properly because of the governments Coronavirus advice.

That document and the British government vastly overestimate the British people.

Its all very woolly. Apply that to large numbers of people and its not going to work.

+1


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:00 am
Posts: 33257
Full Member
 

Can we mutate the virus to target argumentative nitpicky types?


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:14 am
Posts: 2998
Full Member
 

Its all very woolly. Apply that to large numbers of people and its not going to work.

so what should they do? get the troops on the streets to keep people isolated? For what is essentially a flu outbreak?


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:17 am
Posts: 7121
Free Member
 

Wonder when the panic buying will start?
Interesting article..
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-02-12/virus-fears-asian-shoppers-hoarding-rice-noodles

More people panicking but It really wont take much when this virus gets a grip for the shelves to empty here IMO.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:25 am
Posts: 794
Free Member
 

Its all very woolly. Apply that to large numbers of people and its not going to work.

It doesn't need to be 100% effective, it just needs to slow the rate of spread down.

Realistically, what else are they supposed to do? If everyone stays at home in a positive-pressure haztent, people will run out of food in a couple of days and things will start to get pretty ugly.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:28 am
 Drac
Posts: 50626
 

Wonder when the panic buying will start?

Some already have.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:31 am
Posts: 5155
Full Member
 

What I want to know is when are MXP easter car hire prices going to drop as a result of this?

On a slightly more serious note (but still a first world problem), trip booked for April in Cervinia. Annual travel insurance expires and will be renewed on 29 March - looks like I might be without insurance if travel is stopped rolling eyes


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:36 am
Posts: 91169
Free Member
 

PHW gave us the all-clear.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:38 am
Posts: 7626
Full Member
 

so what should they do? get the troops on the streets to keep people isolated? For what is essentially a flu outbreak?

That's exactly my point, that's how they controlled it in China. It's not going to happen here. Whether or not the population would accept it is fairly moot as I'm pretty sure we don't have troops or police to spare anyway.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:38 am
Posts: 3422
Free Member
 

Yeah I'm off to panic buy 10kg of rice, a load of tinned food and ramen this evening.*

*As our current 10kg bag of rice is empty, and we're out of tins and instant noodles too.**

**but it'll look like I'm panic buying...


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:39 am
Posts: 7128
Free Member
 

The Black Death did lead to higher rates of pay and the commutation of servile labour but it ended with the peasants' revolt and the murder of its leaders. Lessons to be learnt?


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:44 am
 Drac
Posts: 50626
 

PHW gave us the all-clear.

Good news was worth asking.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:47 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

it ended with the peasants’ revolt and the murder of its leaders

See there is a silver lining

Edit. Oh hang on, you don’t mean the country's leaders, you mean the revolt's


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:49 am
Posts: 12888
Free Member
 

We’ll be fine, the casualties will be massively skewed towards the poor, the old, and people who are already ill. That’s acceptable losses in Whitehall and, with a little engineering of the news, its the end of the housing crisis, the end of pensions blackholes, increased employment, better distribution of wealth and reduced load on the NHS in the long term. What’s not to like?
Perhaps a worldwide plague that decimates the global population is what the Earth needs to save itself from the human race. (And save the human race from itself). Plus I’ll be able to afford a house in the SE. I’m all for it tbh.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:52 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Plus I’ll be able to afford a house in the SE.

Think bigger, I'm envisaging Labour shortages and encouraged immigration into Austria or Northern Italy personally


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:58 am
Posts: 1410
Free Member
 

Wonder when the panic buying will start?

Cant get hold of masks now,all out of stock(they had a couple left in screwfix and B&Q yesterday)
and also Ibuprofen were out of stock most places(well, the cheap ones were)
And I dont suppose Ranitidine are back on the shelves either


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:58 am
Posts: 12888
Free Member
 

Think bigger, I’m envisaging Labour shortages and encouraged immigration into Austria or Northern Italy personally
still not seeing the downside 😂


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 12:13 pm
Posts: 10966
Full Member
 

Amid all the news it may surprise folk to know that the number of unresolved cases (ie confirmed but not recovered or died) has been falling for the last week.  Obviously there's no guarantee that it will continue as recent outbreaks could become another nucleus for spreading the illness, but it's a contrary position to the 'virus sweeps the world' narrative that lots of media outlets are pushing.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-cases/#active-cases


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 12:18 pm
 Drac
Posts: 50626
 

Ibuprofen were out of stock most places

IIRC there’s been a production problem for months but let’s blame the Coronavirus.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 12:18 pm
Posts: 8
Free Member
 

This may not be the correct thread but here goes anyway: I keep hearing adverts on the radio telling me the government and NHS are well prepared to combat coronavirus, why then have public health not had any bulletins or information on how to advise clients regarding coronavirus? This doesn't seem to back up the adverts.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 1:23 pm
Posts: 28593
Free Member
 

This is a good article summing up the public health strategy at this point - delay the arrival of a full-scale outbreak and try to shore up the public health system to cope:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/coronavirus-seems-unstoppable-what-should-world-do-now

The WHO does believe that the aggressive lockdown in Hubei has saved thousands of lives, but it's hard to say what will happen to that trend when they start letting folk head back to work.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 1:24 pm
Posts: 2
Free Member
 

"Data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention indicates a mortality rate closer to 0.1 per cent in a standard flu season in the US over the past decade."

From the independent so at least 10 times more deadly than normal flu from what I can see.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 1:54 pm
Posts: 41886
Free Member
 

Perhaps a worldwide plague that decimates the global population is what the Earth needs to save itself from the human race. (And save the human race from itself). Plus I’ll be able to afford a house in the SE. I’m all for it tbh.

The effectiveness of decimation as a deterrent/punishment/motivational tool was that you didn't know if you were the unlucky one or the one digging the graves.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 1:56 pm
 Drac
Posts: 50626
 

why then have public health not had any bulletins or information on how to advise clients regarding coronavirus? This doesn’t seem to back up the adverts.

I’ve had daily emails since the possible threat was recognised.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 2:16 pm
Posts: 14936
Full Member
 

On a slightly more serious note (but still a first world problem), trip booked for April in Cervinia. Annual travel insurance expires and will be renewed on 29 March – looks like I might be without insurance if travel is stopped rolling eyes

Also supposed to be heading to Cervinia on April 3rd. I've only booked accommodation so far but unless they get it under control in the next few weeks (unlikely) then I'll be cancelling.

I'm not overly fussed but my missus is a T1 diabetic so she's high risk and I can't intentionally go into an outbreak zone and put her at risk on my return.

Fingers crossed it hasn't reached the French alps as a proper outbreak and we'll head there instead.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 3:24 pm
Posts: 16532
Full Member
 

Well, done a bit of a "prep shop".

Local asda out of all own brand paracetamol and ibuprofen. No doubt not linked though. Got both from corner shop who is both cheap and doesn't mind how much paracetamol you buy. He also hand digital thermometers and face masks in stock.
Various antibac solutions bought too.

Food shop tomorrow which if not needed (I hope) can all go to local Food Bank. Win, win.

Then I'll just be watching and hoping like everyone else.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 7:09 pm
Posts: 341
Free Member
 

Petrol filling station last night, woman walking round pumps, looking confused,a fellow driver asks if she is ok, she says Yes, jus looking for disposable gloves, she then states she doesnt want to touch the pump handle because of corvid, she then goes into shop and demands some disposable gloves.

also just wait till it mutates again and becomes a computer virus,self isolating computers.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 8:54 pm
Posts: 16532
Full Member
 

"London firms sending staff home amid coronavirus fears"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51643621


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 9:02 pm
Posts: 5856
Full Member
 

why then have public health not had any bulletins or information on how to advise clients regarding coronavirus? This doesn’t seem to back up the adverts.

I’ve had daily emails since the possible threat was recognised

Had a doctor phone consultation on Monday and was most definitely questioned about Coronavirus due to symptoms 🙂

(Probably not exactly really related to public health per se)


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 9:04 pm
Posts: 91169
Free Member
 

Various antibac solutions bought too.

Antibacterial products aren't going to do much against coronavirus.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 9:32 pm
Posts: 341
Free Member
 

Maximum 5 and very limited stocks locally eg just 2 in most stores locally

https://www.screwfix.com/c/safety-workwear/dust-masks-respirators/cat850348#category=cat850348&sort_by=price


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 9:43 pm
Posts: 16532
Full Member
 

@molgrips

Antibacterial products aren’t going to do much against coronavirus.

Won't alcohol gels do the job? Genuine question btw.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 9:50 pm
 Drac
Posts: 50626
 

Won’t alcohol gels do the job? Genuine question btw.

Yes hand sanitiser is recommended alcohol based.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 9:55 pm
Posts: 16532
Full Member
 

Excellent, cheers Drac.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 10:16 pm
 Drac
Posts: 50626
 

No problem.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 10:19 pm
Posts: 1483
Full Member
 

Panic buying? No need. I’m <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">just topping up my Brexit supplies as they’ll now not be needed until 2021. </span>


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 10:32 pm
Posts: 25945
Full Member
 

Amid all the news it may surprise folk to know that the number of unresolved cases (ie confirmed but not recovered or died) has been falling for the last week. Obviously there’s no guarantee that it will continue as recent outbreaks could become another nucleus for spreading the illness, but it’s a contrary position to the ‘virus sweeps the world’ narrative that lots of media outlets are pushing.

They keep revising their counting methodology though so it's hard to be sure what anything means (they were counting symptomatic patients as cases even if they later tested negative; now they're not, and initially they weren't either. Regardless which you prefer, that switching, added to their reportedly variably dependable testing kits and their "totalitarian state" mindset means I think we're still in the twighlight zone)


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 10:54 pm
Posts: 4243
Free Member
 

I think we’re still in the twighlight zone)

It's a point of view. I'm more interested in evidence from epidemiology and WHO experts who've been here before...


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:14 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

If you are concerned about China's openness to report the real figures just look at the countries nearby who both have close relationships with China and were the early countries affected such as Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. The figures from these countries should get give you an idea on how much risk you are, in HK we have lost two so far, both were with existing health issues, Japans being a bit skewed as they decided to cloister them all together on a boat (though maybe this was a good lab test?). The biggest issues we have are the spurts of panic buying which usually last a few days before people realize that no, we have enough toilet paper, that and the almost religious zeal that face masks have taken on as the accessory of choice.
Most business are effected not by people falling down dead but simply not being able to work because of external restrictions barring the going into work, which is probably helping stop the spread in the long run. Its surprising (or probably not) to find out how many companies dont seem capable of surviving a 2-4 week run of minimal business turnover, that is going to the the biggest affect this epidemic has on the world, not the deaths but the stress test to businesses and the global economy in general.


 
Posted : 26/02/2020 11:51 pm
Posts: 7751
Free Member
 

stewartc - you make an interesting point about global supply chains and, by association, the reliance so many companies have on just-in-time deliveries.
Slick supply chains are great when you can control the variables but Covid-19 has been outside the control of logisticians so the system cannot cope.
How long until production and deliveries get back to near normal; then add in shipping time; containers and ships in the wrong places.
That's just based on product from China; if Covid-19 gets a real grip elsewhere the impacts on global trade, as you say, will be a challenge.


 
Posted : 27/02/2020 12:08 am
Posts: 33983
Full Member
 

If you want a coronavirus conspiracy, there’s one going around that blames 5G phone technology!
http://www.radiationdangers.com/5g/is-the-coronavirus-actually-microwave-illness/
We’re really doomed.


 
Posted : 27/02/2020 12:17 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-uk-deaths-nhs-intensive-care-flu-wise-men-protocol-a9361916.html

“The Committee on Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza developed Three Wise Men for that circumstance – everyone matters equally, but not everyone gets treatment equally – the goal is to minimise the harm the pandemic causes.”

He added: “We barely coped with a standard winter – which helpfully had an early flu spike, so everything didn’t hit at once – the idea that we can cope with a pandemic is nonsense.”

He explained his own hospital plans included cancelling elective operations for things like hip and knee surgeries while taking over theatres and recovery areas to put ventilated patients adding the trust would “drop staffing ratios as low as we dare”.

“If this is like the 2009 flu it’s going to be very bad. We’re in a worse position than we were then. If it’s worse than that we’re going to be in deep trouble.”

Do I need to break out the comical Ali meme again?

It's mildly amusing that the demographics most likely to die from this or get shafted by the government are the ones who mostly voted for brexit.


 
Posted : 27/02/2020 5:00 am
Page 13 / 887