Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Barnfred 55]

Wasn't that the whole point of it being tested on the Isle of Wight? A relatively low infection area that could iron out any inefficiencies. He's generally quite hopeless, but my brother, who lives there, has been looking daily for contact tracing roles as his previous job laid him off, and hasn't found a thing.

I think all they have trialled in the IOW is the app itself. Not the whole TTI process

 

[DrEFC]

In theory, this would be a sensible option because they'd have the lower infection rate needed like @DrEFC implies and any inefficiencies could be ironed out.

However on a purely political point, the idea of implementing a system in just the South, perhaps in the heartlands of a certain party, wouldn't be well perceived.

You can imagine the headlines now: "Leaving the North and the poor..." In reality, the infection rate is too high and they should be focusing on reducing it.

100%.

 

[DrEFC]

Unless I'm desperate, and I'm in work that day/need something urgent for baby, I still queue. I think that's fair.
Costco at 9am when they gave out free Danish and coffee though..

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Sufficient data worldwide now exists to conclude that, to date, the UK has the highest rate of excess deaths in the Coronavirus pandemic in the world Free to read article with @jburnmurdoch 1/ https://t.co/hhmkQp93NT

Makes you kind of proud, it's certainly no modern day Dunkirk... At least as we can be spared from Government jingoistic mutterings.

 

[PhilM]

Wasn't that the whole point of it being tested on the Isle of Wight? A relatively low infection area that could iron out any inefficiencies. He's generally quite hopeless, but my brother, who lives there, has been looking daily for contact tracing roles as his previous job laid him off, and hasn't found a thing.

Yes, well the app was tested on the Isle of Wight rather than the whole test and trace procedure.

For reference, The Isle of Wight has population of 141,538, a population density of 372 people per km2. and currently the infection rate is 133.5 per 100,000.

If you look at the Merseyside region, there is a population of nearly one a half million with a density of 2,200 per km2 and infection rates up to 442 per 100,000*

With a significantly higher population density and number of cases, you'd expect that the integration of the app and testing may bring about additional issues.

Ironing out the issues for regions with low case numbers is all well and good, but I think the issue is whether it will actually work in the worst hit areas.

*Knowlsey's figures. St Helen's is 417, Wirral is 388 and Liverpool is 324.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Sadly over the last few weeks/days 2 threads have seemed to merge in to one.@COYBL25 has an excellent political COVID thread.Politics should maybe stay in there.I know I am guilty of offloading in here and I am wrong.I hope others realize they also might be.

Well said sir

Mind you after the Cummings debacle it's to be expected I suppose. Even I lost it.

The problem is now, we have to stay focused on beating this virus. We can't let Cummings be a distraction as it will only work against us in the end

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think all they have trialled in the IOW is the app itself. Not the whole TTI process

Possible I'm not up on things, but I would have thought doing them together would have been sensible.

 

[PhilM]

Possible I'm not up on things, but I would have thought doing them together would have been sensible.

Are you implying that the current UK strategy is based around the notion of being sensible?

 

[Barnfred 55]

Technically, if you have indefinite leave to remain then you have recourse to public funds, but there are already signs that cause me to doubt, such as with the NHS surcharge, which will be levied against all EU immigrants from January (despite all evidence showing that migrants already contribute far more to the exchequer than they take out in services). With no actual documentation you can call upon, I'm afraid I don't really trust the Home Office, especially as they still operate under the 'hostile environment' approach.

I'm afraid to say, the image of this country was already getting a battering overseas due to both the Brexit vote and the subsequent behaviour of the government during the negotiations, and that has been exacerbated by their behaviour during the pandemic. It's not a country to feel particularly proud of right now.

So is it fair to say that EU Nationals, who currently live and work here, or do so before the end of this year, and register/apply for leave to remain, WILL have access to public funds. But that you fear it may be taken away in the future and that is partly borne out of the fact that you have no official written document confirming your rights and obligations under the leave to remain agreement

 

[Barnfred 55]

Possible I'm not up on things, but I would have thought doing them together would have been sensible.

They didn't have them in place Bruce. It's being rushed through too quickly imo

 

[Barnfred 55]

In theory, this would be a sensible option because they'd have the lower infection rate needed like @DrEFC implies and any inefficiencies could be ironed out.

However on a purely political point, the idea of implementing a system in just the South, perhaps in the heartlands of a certain party, wouldn't be well perceived.

You can imagine the headlines now: "Leaving the North and the poor..." In reality, the infection rate is too high and they should be focusing on reducing it.

Not if it is explained in the right way. You can even call it a trial which it technically is. Plus London is hardly a Tory stronghold and has lots of poor and deprived communities of its own

 

[Bruce Wayne]

So is it fair to say that EU Nationals, who currently live and work here, or do so before the end of this year, and register/apply for leave to remain, WILL have access to public funds. But that you fear it may be taken away in the future and that is partly borne out of the fact that you have no official written document confirming your rights and obligations under the leave to remain agreement

That's a fair summary, yes.

 

[PhilM]

Not if it is explained in the right way. You can even call it a trial which it technically is. Plus London is hardly a Tory stronghold and has lots of poor and deprived communities of its own

I was thinking that London, with its reliance on its transport network for the daily commute and high population density, wouldn't be a great choice.

The home counties however may be a better choice, but then you'd have the political aspect; even if it was London, you'd have the South vs. North argument.

I'm not advocating that it shouldn't be done by the way, but rather raising the point that rightly or wrongly the decision would be politicised very quickly.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

They didn't have them in place Bruce. It's being rushed through too quickly imo

I can't recall exactly when the app was first announced, but if you presume development of it started relatively early on, then they've had several weeks to recruit and train contact tracing personnel and get that side of things in order. Have other countries had similar issues? It just seems that with the number of unemployed at the moment that there will be no shortage of willing bodies.

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

UKactive are due to release a report today detailling how they can get the fitness industry up and running again with the aim of a start of 4th July.