Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Shevin Keedy]

Not if the government does its' job properly.

Nearly everyone is on the electoral roll. They know where these demographics are and live. They can be communicated with, informed and supplied.

Unfortunately it is a responsibility that the government relinquished a long time ago. I am thinking of people in their seventies who are the primary caregivers for their own children or grandchildren.

 

[summerisle]

Scientific opinion contradicting scientific opinion. I miss the simpler times considering the defensive tactics of Martinez.

Coronavirus: Some scientists say UK virus strategy is 'risking lives'

More than 200 scientists write to the government calling for tougher measures to tackle Covid-19.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[LinekersLegs]

Literally just read this from Peston. Very sweeping measures.

I have no idea if they would be effective though.

My Granny for example, would have to be quarantined for 4 months and she is out and about every day. It will be tough to implement.

Also seems to limit it to over 70s, virus not great for a lot of 60s and under either - are they part of the herd?

 

[Brennan]

It’s becoming clear that hundreds of thousands are going to die.

It’s a grim reality, but it is reality. Any decision which any government makes will not change this fact. The only way to prevent widespread death from this virus would be entering strict household isolation for several months in every country with no air travel. Unfortunately the infrastructure doesn’t exist and never has.

 

[Barnfred 55]

An excellent post. Parliament needs to convene to discuss and debate for the benefit of the British public they represent. These decisions cannot be made by a ruling party alone. Millions of lives are at risk here, obviously we all can't agree. Democracy is robust enough to deal with this at times like these however.

Unilateral decision making may appear to be decisive leadership but in reality it's the opposite. And undermines the democratic process. Cool heads, bipartisan discussions will ensure that the effects are minimized.

It's a challenge for all of us, personally, our family and loved ones. It is a challenge that history has taught us that can be overcome but only by working together.

Can't argue with that. This crisis is probably the biggest to hit us since WWII. I agree that the opposition parties must at least be party to the advice they are being given so they can understand the decisions being made and comment on them if they think they are not the right decisions.

The final decision must lie with the PM though. I just hope he takes on board all the advice.

At the end of the day, this isn't about politics.

 

[Nymzee]

We gonna start marking crosses on people’s front doors yet?

 

[neil999]

I work in a customer service centre for my local council, I saw loads of old people as they still like to do things face to face...it was all unnessecary stuff...mainly updating their benefit information for end of tax year, stuff that can wait, we should be closed , so much contact between people, could easily have moved to phone only service...find it unbelievable

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Seems they are going to stop any mass gathering with 500 plus people but I don't see why this decision is different when it comes to work places with lots of people or schools. I get kids are least likely to die from it but they are probably the biggest group of people that will spread the virus with their poorer hygiene.

Crazy how people have gone mad buying stuff and then I feel others have felt the need to do the same same as they are worried there will be nothing left. The supermarkets must be making a fortune.

Reckon they all have apart M&S, who wants posh fresh nosh in the apocalypse, all that matters is protein and calories. The age of personal responsibility is upon us.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Also seems to limit it to over 70s, virus not great for a lot of 60s and under either - are they part of the herd?

But we all know this thing infects all ages -- what needs to be established is how many of those cases under 60 are leading to people needing hospital treatment?

 

[larrygobfiend]

We gonna start marking crosses on people’s front doors yet?

No

 

[Catfish Blues]

Unfortunately it is a responsibility that the government relinquished a long time ago. I am thinking of people in their seventies who are the primary caregivers for their own children or grandchildren.

Although the majority of grandparents providing care are probably less than 70, it still leaves a lot who are >= 70.

In the interim, that caregiving has to change, but it'll need a lot of joined up thinking from government ( which seems unlikely ) and flexibility from employers to make it happen. Hopefully an increase in working from home will help, but it'll still leave a lot of incredibly hard decisions to be made by individual families

 

[Brennan]

Seems they are going to stop any mass gathering with 500 plus people but I don't see why this decision is different when it comes to work places with lots of people or schools. I get kids are least likely to die from it but they are probably the biggest group of people that will spread the virus with their poorer hygiene.

Crazy how people have gone mad buying stuff and then I feel others have felt the need to do the same same as they are worried there will be nothing left. The supermarkets must be making a fortune.

Every mass gathering which doesn’t take place reduces the spread of the virus. We cannot halt society completely but we can bin off things which aren’t necessary. School is necessary, the Prem isn’t.

 

[LinekersLegs]

But we all know this thing infects all ages -- what needs to be established is how many of those cases under 60 are leading to people needing hospital treatment?

There is quite a bit of data from China.

But the disease is still in its early stages so hard to know for certain and it is one hell of a gamble to go down that road rather than say trying the S Korean/Singapore approach first.

 

[Tubey]

Every mass gathering which doesn’t take place reduces the spread of the virus. We cannot halt society completely but we can bin off things which aren’t necessary. School is necessary, the Prem isn’t.

Don't think it is tbh - or at least 6 months without it won't kill anyone.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

At the end of the day, this isn't about politics.

Utter nonsensical rubbish. The first duty of any political democratic elected government is to protect its people. If they can't it should be very much highlighted at every opportunity.