TBH I’ve been fairly ambivalent about it all. The death rates are what you would expect from a flu epidemic, concentrated in the immune and medically compromised or elderly. But the rate of infection has been a lot faster than I thought it would be.
My Wife is a TA in a primary school. One child in her class came back from Iraq on the weekend, he was sent home yesterday with a fever. His parents, both doctors, couldn’t understand why? She’s now waiting for the decision from the school as to whether they shutdown or impose self isolation.
Which leaves Boy2, who’s at Tech College, and me in the twilight zone of if she’s isolating do we? I can’t work from home. Our factory would need to shutdown, there would only be 3 people out of 54 that could work from home.
Boy1 is at Uni in Bournemouth, he’s at the Arts uni. There’s been a confirmed case in the non arts uni next door. He can’t work from home, he needs the workshops at uni to any work. Not sure what the outcome would be if they shutdown.
can we panic buy now?
We have to see where Italy was 2 weeks ago.
good links mefty
from quick browse does note that hospital capacity will be a crucial factor in a severe outbreak
seems madness that government have cut 20,000 beds since 2010 & even worse have slashed social care budgets so badly that bed blocking is already at a record high
Another day - and even more convinced we will not contain this anything like they have in China .. or even Italy for that matter.
Went to visit a care home last visit today. Sign on door before entering warning about sterilizing hands etc - No hand sanitizer available on entering.
After a bit of wandering about looking for a staff member, I finally found one and asked where to wash/sterilize hands ... shown into a little bathroom with a sink, but no towels to dry hands.
On leaving I seen 2 people enter the building without looking to sterilize/wash hands. I went to speak to the housing scheme manager to raise my concern ... her explanation was people have stolen it. She informed me there were 2 new cases in the local Merthyr area today too.
Yep not containing this.
Sky news reporting that a Downing Street source has said the Prime minister isn’t being tested as he isn’t showing symptoms.
Speechless.
We have to see where Italy was 2 weeks ago
Further right than France but not as far as Turkey I think. Been the same for a while
Sky news reporting that a Downing Street source has said the Prime minister isn’t being tested as he isn’t showing symptoms.
Speechless.
That there's one rule for them and the same rule for the rest of us? Yeah sure surprised me too.
Can we stop all the armchair nonsense (and posting links from armchair experts like that medium one)?
JP
I made a decision that my team should not travel to Norway next week. We generally work one week onsite, one week remote. My customer (a health Trust) has implemented a travel ban for their employees, surprised they even countenanced us flying in from all over Europe.
What I'm frightened of, aside from contracting/spreading it, is someone implementing a quarantine while we're on-site and getting stuck for a while, either in Tromso or en-route. 2m of snow is amusing for a couple of days. Not so much fun for two weeks in isolation.
Last week was pretty scary with my daughter. I was all set to pack my stuff up and either isolate myself or fly home. The hospital's response was astonishing: moving from "go home!" to "wait in the entrance foyer between the inner and outer doors & put these masks on" (she's 21 months) to finally being seen by someone who did little more than take her vitals, which were all over the shop. After about 5 hours she got sent home, we finally got her test results back yesterday, a full week after taking her in (she's ok, has a different virusy / chest infection). There appears to be a lack of process, with those involved doing a Cpl Jones rather than working through a plan, which is scary. Surely someone has flowcharted this for the frontline crews? @drac?
There is a process Hot_fiat its based on patient history. I can’t really comment on an individual case I wasn’t involved in.
How is she doing?
From the BBC website.
Later on Wednesday, Boris Johnson is expected to welcome tech companies including Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to No 10 to discuss efforts to tackle fake news about coronavirus and how to keep the public informed.
Really is this true, all you guys WFH and this lot don't have the tech for a video conference?
Later on Wednesday, Boris Johnson is expected to welcome tech companies including Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to No 10 to discuss efforts to tackle fake news about coronavirus and how to keep the public informed.
Really is this true, all you guys WFH and this lot don’t have the tech for a video conference?
They’ve already done that if you do a google search it shows NHS and PHE first.
Wasn't being specific, they just appeared to panic. Still, it was Sunderland Royal, should've gone to the RVI. We ought to know better from past experience (oh it's a child! we haven't got any paediatricians, can you wait here all night 'till one comes in in the morning?).
She's ok now, still has a horrid cough and a temp that cycled between 35.5 and 40.something for a while, but that's gone.
Bless her hope she recovers soon.
In basic terms based on last week if there was no history of contact with an infected case, travelled from a high risk area then the risk was extremely low.
What I’m frightened of, aside from contracting/spreading it, is someone implementing a quarantine while we’re on-site and getting stuck for a while
It's a very real risk, and one I'm currently experiencing working over in Israel. Anyone coming into Israel, from anywhere, has to go into mandatory 2 week quarantine and has to prove they have somewhere available to do this. If not, back on the plane they go. Hotels are not currently accepted as places to self-quarantine. What this means is that my relief, due here in two weeks, can't actually get here and I'm stuck until other arrangements are made. On top of this, before even boarding a flight to Israel, people have to self-isolate at home for 2 weeks if they have been anywhere in Asia or Spain/Italy/Germany/Austria/Switzerland. The numbers of infected when that rule was enacted were lower (Italy excepted) than we currently have in UK so I can't imagine it being long before UK is the list as well.
My advice is unless you're comfortable getting stuck/stranded/quarantined somewhere, don't go.
Sky news reporting that a Downing Street source has said the Prime minister isn’t being tested as he isn’t showing symptoms.
Maybe he’s hoping that having a bloodstream with a high level of alcohol in it is like hand sanitizer(?)
Very few of our civil service department have the ability to work from home. Such nonsense was stopped 3-4 years ago as the “best” way forward is clearly to centralise everyone into fewer bigger regional centres.
There are only two certainties in life...
Sky news reporting that a Downing Street source has said the Prime minister isn’t being tested as he isn’t showing symptoms.
Speechless.
As usual the government is lying
Overweight alcoholic, with history of regular cocaine use, he's got to be careful!
Tho I suppose his boss Cummings is more important
Our office has in place a full WFH plan. They're ready to close tomorrow if needed.
It's all been done very quickly and efficiently. Having a strong reliance on Skype and remote working already has really paid off, the infrastructure is all there to support it.
Sky news reporting that a Downing Street source has said the Prime minister isn’t being tested as he isn’t showing symptoms.
Maybe he’s hoping that having a bloodstream with a high level of alcohol in it is like hand sanitizer(?)
When we write the alternative revisionist history of events in Spaffs and Cumms the musical - Boris doesn't get tested as he was infected as a precaution a couple of weeks back in Kent. Hence going AWOL for a couple of weeks.
All this will be set to the musical number - Boris Wash Your Hands (sung to the tune of Kelly Watch the Stars).
Other notable tunes will include Tomorrow, tomorrow you're always a deal away.
Like others I'm in Week 3 of a pretty brutal Flu experience. I spent 6 days in bed which was a new record , not even in my student days did I manage that. Upside is I have been self isolated for the last 3 weeks and will now continue that. We too had gig tickets and sold them for a nominal fee as I am not keen to expose myself to higher risks right now. Of course daughter is at school so it will come into the house that way anyway but any delay right now for me is good as I am still not 100%. I'm spending all day sorting out contingency plans etc and frankly it gets a bit much sometimes as I am a worrier by trade !
Daft question, but how will the broadband infrastructure cope with all the people WFH? Considering a big chunk of them will be looking after kids or just skiving on Netflix
Labours free broadband for all making a lot of sense right now
hang on, weren't you furiously arguing the other day that WFH was basically impossible 😂Our office has in place a full WFH plan. They’re ready to close tomorrow if needed.It’s all been done very quickly and efficiently. Having a strong reliance on Skype and remote working already has really paid off, the infrastructure is all there to support it.
Whilst panic buying bog roll and hand sanitiser is big here, could be worse it's bullets and hand sanitiser in the US according to GFs sister in Tennessee.
Oops, wrong thread. More related, she works at a hospital has flu and was tested immediately.
and posting links from armchair experts like that medium one
Care to enlighten us to the flaws in logic on that medium post? Seems to me that in every country where the spread becomes exponential the authorities have to take drastic measures and many people die needlessly. Are you suggesting that the almost non-existent measures currently in place here - carry on as normal, but wash your hands more - will prevent exponential spread? The figures suggest we're on exactly the same path as Italy. We also have fewer ICU beds and ventilators per capita. It's almost inevitable that we'll be enacting social distancing measures here, so what are they waiting for?
may be short lived based on some of the conversations I’ve had today.
You work in the service industry if I remember correctly?
The conversation amongst operators is very different today.
The figures suggest we’re on exactly the same path as Italy. We also have fewer ICU beds and ventilators per capita. It’s almost inevitable that we’ll be enacting social distancing measures here, so what are they waiting for?
Only in Italy they greet strangers with a kiss, here you might give your wife a barely perceptible nod or your life long friend who saved your life on more than one occasion a slight rise of one corner of the mouth by way of hello. This is a country where social distancing is learnt before you can walk. Most of us wouldn't sit next to our family on the sofa if there was room, let alone some bloke coughing on the bus.
Only in Italy they greet strangers with a kiss,
was discussing this with the wife about a week ago, she posed the question whether the spike in italian numbers was due to the "touchy feely" greeting. Which kind of asked the question if that was the case are the Italians more likely to catch/spread flu & colds too (is there any evidence for this ?)
Daft question, but how will the broadband infrastructure cope with all the people WFH?
If they are properly wfh (over Citrix, Skype, office) then just fine. If they’re all sat on the sofa, streaming HD pron, then it might be an issue. Only as far as the local loop is concerned though. The core network is pretty good.
italian numbers was due to the “touchy feely” greeting
In honesty I'd think it's likely more to do with the state of the toilet facilities in Italy in general, soap and water seems to be a luxury item in your average cafe/bar loo.
may be short lived based on some of the conversations I’ve had today.
Currently planning a number of TARS. Flotel campaigns with hundreds of folk turning up, from all points of the compass who will only be there assuming they avoid the requirements of current WHO guidance. Nearly 3000 people in total. Short lived aye? It's already evident in the NCS.
Daft question, but how will the broadband infrastructure cope with all the people WFH? Considering a big chunk of them will be looking after kids or just skiving on Netflix
Based on the average U.K. office user bandwidth usage all things being equal (assuming everyone doesn’t just stream 4k Netflix) it’ll be slightly lower on a national level.
Of course it’s not WFH wage slaves you want to worry about, it’s millions of kids being home - at this very moment my Son is watching a 4k YouTube video about, well **** knows, there’s lots of excited screaming whilst simultaneously watching TikTok on his phone. His PC is upstairs downloading a patch for Rainbow 6 which is some kind of Special Forces simulator rather than a Unicorn riding game, despite the name.
They said I was mad going for 300Mbps at home...
There are only two certainties in life…
The not death option here are currently bringing tablets home every evening just in case the office is closed. They are all ready to WFH.
soap and water seems to be a luxury item in your average cafe/bar loo.
I really hope you're being a bit tongue in cheek, but I'd suggest this blase complacent attitude is exactly what's going ensure we follow the Italians. It's bloody climate change all over again. Complete denial that there's a problem, or that we can do anything about it. Well we can, but unfortunately it will involve some self-sacrifice and changes to our lives, and the longer we wait, the more we will have to do.
Good example is my mother. 65, with COPD caused by 50 years of smoking. Today she was shopping in the local supermarket. Says she isn't ill, isn't going to get it, that it's all been blown out of proportion and she'll be fine. Bloody unbelievable.
I'm in the not quite tax section of the not death option. Tablets were due later this year.
I really hope you’re being a bit tongue in cheek, but I’d suggest this blase complacent attitude is exactly what’s going ensure we follow the Italians
I'm not quite sure I follow your outrage. My experience of several cities in Italy is the bathroom facilities were dire. I got through less hand wipes in Nairobi than Rome.
1st case at my wifes hospital today. Not her ward luckily .. but its inevitable with both our jobs in the community and visiting busy local hospitals that we will get it pretty soon; I guess its better to get it sooner rather than later though.
I’m not quite sure I follow your outrage.
You don't think it rings a bit of 'those dirty foreigners had it coming', whereas we plucky british, with our good manners and hygiene habits will be different?
In any case we're no different. Half the male population can't be bothered to wash their hands after having a piss and people sit in offices coughing their guts up rather than taking a day's sick leave. And what about the handshaking? I don't think we can count on british culture to save us.
The Danish PM has just held a press release:
All schools will close as of friday
All gatherings of more than 100 people are banned
All non-essential public servants are being sent home
All private companies are strongly encouraged to get as many people to work from home as possible; instigate working in shifts to have the least number of people on site as possible
Supermarkets, food suppliers are not affected
On the second topic (max 100 people), that all also includes aircraft - so no flight may take off with more than 100 people onboard.
You don’t think it rings a bit of ‘those dirty foreigners had it coming’,
Read in context, not really no, but take it that way if you will, its certainly not meant as such.
Half the male population can’t be bothered to wash their hands after having a piss
You can lead a horse to water and all.
In honesty I’d think it’s likely more to do with the state of the toilet facilities in Italy in general, soap and water seems to be a luxury item in your average cafe/bar loo.
This is the country where you operate the taps with your feet, so that after washing your hands you don’t have to touch anything.
Want a conspiracy story?
I had a phone call from a friend today. His brother works in the "nuclear police" (whateverTF that is). This is what he told my mate:
Fully a third of them have been seconded to the regular police in preparation for the virus threat.
They've been told by the government that the government's own predictions expect an 80% infection rate.
They've been told to expect supply chain shortages by the end of the week. Advice isn't "stockpile" but rather "buy an extra loaf and bottle of milk just in case."
the Prime minister isn’t being tested as he isn’t showing symptoms.
Speechless.
Every cloud.
They’ve been told to expect supply chain shortages by the end of the week.
Tomorrow or as late as Friday?
