COVID-19

[ruffrecords]

That's not The Guardian speaking, Ian, it's a US scientist. Besides, it's on a lot of other media too.

In which case he should know better than to use such a poor analogy.

Cheers

Ian

 

[cyrano]

I wonder, Ian. It seems your health minister, Matt Hancock hasn't got a clue either:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51896168

How can you even imagine a car manufacturer to change to ventilators in a short time?

 

[Ricardus]

Here's an HYSTERICAL Covid-19 story:

So I'm basically a hermit by nature. I mostly stay at home when I'm not working, and I build things.

I do tech at a museum, and really don't have to interact with the public. I can hide in the booth and avoid all sorts of contact. I occasionally deal with the artists who are performing and such, but it requires no close contact. The other day I decided to stop going to the gym simply because hundreds of people a day might be using any of the machines. So I figured the only vector I had for infection was the guy I share the tech booth with, who almost is never there when I'm there (we work different events) or my dad. I live with him and help out with stuff. He's self reliant but after mom died I figured he needed some moral support, too. Anyway, he likes to go out and walk the mall and stuff.

So I really figured any vector for infection was very very minimal.

So I'm at lunch with a friend today and the director of the museum calls me to tell me the other guy who works in the booth is showing symptoms. Ay carumba.

This is a lesson for anyone in denial about this, and how exponential growth can turn this into a really really really really bad thing in an INSTANT.

The museum has what? 150 employees? I don't even know. But I figured what are the odds THE ONE GUY I share the booth with, would get it. Well he's going to get tested tomorrow. He has to drive 60 miles, and I hope they have some goddamn tests when he gets there.

Here's the deal. The reality is very unlikely I have it. I haven't been in the same room with him (at the same time) for 10 days, and even then we were 5 feet apart. But we DO share a chair, two computers (one general computer and the Dolby control system for our digital projector), and whatever else is in the booth.

So the last contact I had with anything he touched would have been friday night, about 4 or 5 hours after he touched it. The museum has been doing extra cleaning. He claims he has been cleaning the keyboards and mice with clorox wipes, and we both have been washing our hands a lot. So it's probably more likely one of he people he shares air with more frequently might get it than me, but it just goes to show how things can change in an instant. I'll know by tuesday or wed about the results of his test, and that's when I would be showing early symptoms as well.

I actually laughed about this a bit, because so many unlikely things had to come together for me to have a potential exposure. But they happened.

I'm not worried about me, because I'm young, but I share a house with an 80 year old. So there's that.

 

[cyrano]

And Trump really, really cares about his citizens:

https://www.businessinsider.nl/trump-administration-tried-to-pay-germans-scientists-for-coronavirus-cure-2020-3?international=true&r=US

Or does he? 

 

[rob_gould]

For my money this is an extremely difficult path for any government to tread. It is very likely that 80% of the population will get the virus so it is important to manage the spread of the virus and the  limited resources we have to deal with it in a way that provides the best chance of survival for everyone in the UK. So far I think they have got it about right.

Cheers

Ian

I hope for everyone's sake you're right, but i find very little support for the UK government's approach to this when reading through then information I can find online.

Feel free to dismiss this out if hand if you're so inclined as it's another guardian article, but this doesn't make for easy reading imo

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/coronavirus-health-experts-fear-epidemic-will-let-rip-through-uk

 

[JohnRoberts]

Here's an HYSTERICAL Covid-19 story:

So I'm basically a hermit by nature. I mostly stay at home when I'm not working, and I build things.

I do tech at a museum, and really don't have to interact with the public. I can hide in the booth and avoid all sorts of contact. I occasionally deal with the artists who are performing and such, but it requires no close contact. The other day I decided to stop going to the gym simply because hundreds of people a day might be using any of the machines. So I figured the only vector I had for infection was the guy I share the tech booth with, who almost is never there when I'm there (we work different events) or my dad. I live with him and help out with stuff. He's self reliant but after mom died I figured he needed some moral support, too. Anyway, he likes to go out and walk the mall and stuff.

So I really figured any vector for infection was very very minimal.

So I'm at lunch with a friend today and the director of the museum calls me to tell me the other guy who works in the booth is showing symptoms. Ay carumba.

This is a lesson for anyone in denial about this, and how exponential growth can turn this into a really really really really bad thing in an INSTANT.

The museum has what? 150 employees? I don't even know. But I figured what are the odds THE ONE GUY I share the booth with, would get it. Well he's going to get tested tomorrow. He has to drive 60 miles, and I hope they have some goddamn tests when he gets there.

Here's the deal. The reality is very unlikely I have it. I haven't been in the same room with him (at the same time) for 10 days, and even then we were 5 feet apart. But we DO share a chair, two computers (one general computer and the Dolby control system for our digital projector), and whatever else is in the booth.

So the last contact I had with anything he touched would have been friday night, about 4 or 5 hours after he touched it. The museum has been doing extra cleaning. He claims he has been cleaning the keyboards and mice with clorox wipes, and we both have been washing our hands a lot. So it's probably more likely one of he people he shares air with more frequently might get it than me, but it just goes to show how things can change in an instant. I'll know by tuesday or wed about the results of his test, and that's when I would be showing early symptoms as well.

I actually laughed about this a bit, because so many unlikely things had to come together for me to have a potential exposure. But they happened.

I'm not worried about me, because I'm young, but I share a house with an 80 year old. So there's that.

good luck and be careful..

JR

 

[kambo]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/coronavirus-health-experts-fear-epidemic-will-let-rip-through-uk

OMG i cant believe what i read!

Germany was insisting not closing their borders!
they may have the 2 light years ahead heath system,
but,  finally they are locking down too! Spain under curfew !

 

[JohnRoberts]

And Trump really, really cares about his citizens:

https://www.businessinsider.nl/trump-administration-tried-to-pay-germans-scientists-for-coronavirus-cure-2020-3?international=true&r=US

Or does he? 

Yup I heard a story about that in the german press... I haven't heard the US version yet...

JR

 

[cyrano]

Reuters?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-usa/germany-tries-to-stop-u-s-from-luring-away-firm-seeking-coronavirus-vaccine-idUSKBN2120IV

 

[pucho812]

from everything I have seen so far,  I have a couple of takeaways. Either it's not as bad, the panic is unjustified and most people are just covering their asses to prevent lawsuits  and other issues, or they are not telling us the full story.  So far from the numbers over the majority  have recovered without issue and wuhan, ground zero, is said to start allowing people back to work.  I have also heard a few conspiracy folks claiming biological warfare, and that china did the first strike but it got out of hand and they were going oh oh. Conspiracy theories are always in full force.  I don't know, something does not add up here,  either it's not as bad  and there is overkill on the precautions or we are not being told the full story.
Be safe everyone, use your judgement and take necessary precautions.  This till shall pass.

 

[ruffrecords]

I hope for everyone's sake you're right, but i find very little support for the UK government's approach to this when reading through then information I can find online.

Of course there is little support on line simply because the only people who comment on it are the ones not satisfied. The silent majority that voted in this government, don't comment much online.

Like I said, it is easy to criticise, very easy to create and spread FUD, but much harder to be a doer.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Ricardus]

good luck and be careful..

JR

Thank you sir.

 

[living sounds]

As the saying goes, those who can do, those who can't teach and the rest are journalists.

More demagoguery, unfortunately. Professional politicians, journalists, what profession is next?

Guys, do yourselves a favour and get an understanding how much hard work, expertise and very often risk is associated with these very important jobs.

Especially if you are known to cheer for a guy who inherited a fortune from his daddy and did worse in real estate with all that money as if he had simply put it in a good index fund and left it there for a few decades.

 

[JohnRoberts]

Reuters?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-germany-usa/germany-tries-to-stop-u-s-from-luring-away-firm-seeking-coronavirus-vaccine-idUSKBN2120IV

Welt am Sonntag German newspaper

JR

 

[iomegaman]

There will be a moment when we realize that this is a threat to humanity and politics/religion/race/social class/nationality must take a back seat to survival...

It will not matter where it came from until after the dust has cleared...

It will not matter who dropped the ball until the ball is regained...

It will not matter who was stupid or who was smart it will only matter who survived and if they can continue to function once things return to "not pandemic"...

Life has changed, this is "911-2.0"...

It will not be the last pandemic...it might actually pave the way for more of the same by compromising immune systems worldwide...

Some Airlines will go belly up...many business will not survive this no matter how much the Feds try to prop up the economy...

We have created an economy that has no vaccine for the virus of debt and it will show up as clearly as those infected with the "crown virus"...

But I am not a pessimist...I think life finds a way in spite of deaths advantages...hell there are bacterias that live in the sulfur lakes from volcanos...there are fish with no eyes that live in cave ponds that have never had sunlight...life finds a way...

 

[pucho812]

L.a. is in lockdown mode.
It’s crazy. The mayor decreed a bunch of things such as movie theaters closed, restaurants half capacity to closing and only doing deliveries/pick up, and bars are closed. All this until  minimum March 31.
Most if not all businesses doing reduced hours.

Things are weird...
Stay safe out there guys.

 

[ruffrecords]

More demagoguery, unfortunately. Professional politicians, journalists, what profession is next?

Guys, do yourselves a favour and get an understanding how much hard work, expertise and very often risk is associated with these very important jobs.

You mean the 'professional' politicians who dicked around for three years getting nowhere on Brexit and showing they are only there to further their own interests. You mean the teachers whose left wing ideas have destroyed much of the education system in the UK and left our kids expecting much, able to do little and lacking basic life skills. You mean the journalists who inflame opinion, peddle FUD just to sell newpapers or further their own political views.

Especially if you are known to cheer for a guy who inherited a fortune from his daddy and did worse in real estate with all that money as if he had simply put it in a good index fund and left it there for a few decades.

Ad hominem

Cheers

Ian

 

[living sounds]

You mean the 'professional' politicians who dicked around for three years getting nowhere on Brexit and showing they are only there to further their own interests. You mean the teachers whose left wing ideas have destroyed much of the education system in the UK and left our kids expecting much, able to do little and lacking basic life skills. You mean the journalists who inflame opinion, peddle FUD just to sell newpapers or further their own political views.Ad hominem

Cheers

Ian

Sorry Ian, but that's just more of the same. All things come in many shades and the general distrust underlying these broad strokes condemnations is the biggest problem of our age IMHO. It's also very understandable given how the human brain works, that there is a preference for narratives over the actual complexities of any given issue.

 

[Tubetec]

So Trump wants to turn a trick and make it into a money making scheme , is anybody surprised ?
Lets face it getting hands on the bomb was enough to make America join the war (II)
Now you have a mad man in the white house , and a people so deluded they might actually vote him back in again  ,
its like  Dr Strangelove the sequel  :-[   

No fighting in the war room 

Its the end of the world as we know it x4
(and I feel fine) ;D

 

[rob_gould]

Of course there is little support on line simply because the only people who comment on it are the ones not satisfied. The silent majority that voted in this government, don't comment much online.

Like I said, it is easy to criticise, very easy to create and spread FUD, but much harder to be a doer.

Cheers

Ian

The British government is taking a dangerously different tack to countries who, for now, have got their outbreaks under control, and is effectively ignoring the direct advice of the WHO.  This has got absolutely nothing to do with 'the silent majority' or laymen arguing on twitter.

Because of the way the virus has spread, there's a two week opportunity to see 'into the future' by looking at countries like Italy. At the moment, it appears that the British government is ignoring the chance to learn from other countries rather than taking advantage.

This idea of herd immunity has been roundly thrashed by medical experts and yet, that's the plan. It appears hugely irresponsible to me, and to describe it as 'FUD' because you feel like your man is getting bashed unfairly by The Guardian is laughable in the face of such a serious situation.

Let's see where Britain stands in two weeks eh.