Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[BlueStevie35]

Hospital figures - 218 deaths were announced today, up 11 on yesterday and up 10 on last Monday. 179 deaths were in English hospitals, up 20 on yesterday and down 11 on last week. The 7 day rolling average rises slightly to 334.43

All settings - for the 28 day cut off, 232 deaths were announced today, up 88 on yesterday and up 43 on last Monday. The 7 day rolling average rises to an even 424

For the 60 day cut off, 254 deaths were announced today, up 96 on yesterday and up 51 on last Monday. The 7 day rolling average rises to 474.14

 

[tsubaki]

It's the transparent naked BS of the "new strain" thing that gets me.

Must have an excuse for the spread in precious London.

Tossers.

As an excuse its particularly idiotic; if there is a new strain that spreads much more easily then the answer is to go to full lockdown country-wide to nip it in the bud now, not to do this farce of lockdown - no lockdown - lockdown again.

We could easily do it for at least 2-3 weeks and - for once - there wouldn't be as much damage to the economy; in fact if you combine it with ramping up the vaccinations you could concievably make any subsequent lockdown much less likely.

 

[COYBL25]

As an excuse its particularly idiotic; if there is a new strain that spreads much more easily then the answer is to go to full lockdown country-wide to nip it in the bud now, not to do this farce of lockdown - no lockdown - lockdown again.

We could easily do it for at least 2-3 weeks and - for once - there wouldn't be as much damage to the economy; in fact if you combine it with ramping up the vaccinations you could concievably make any subsequent lockdown much less likely.

The problem with that and they know it, is that people would just ignore it over Christmas anyway, so it`d be pretty ineffective.

The New Year is looming large.

 

[Tubey]

The problem with that and they know it, is that people would just ignore it over Christmas anyway, so it`d be pretty ineffective.

The New Year is looming large.

There's a big argument now to just allow for personal responsibility.

The virus isn't new now. People are trained. Lockdowns are now counter productive as you're obliterating the economy while people ignore them anyway.

Does anyone hand on heart know anyone paying any attention to the tier rules? I'm not. Not because I'm a wrong un but because they make no sense and are basically impossible to follow.

Shield the vulnerable, give them the info and things they need, and let everyone else follow advice at this point, not rules.

Or lockdown properly. Do it properly for 6 weeks. Random stops, prison sentences for rule breaking, the lot.

Because by half arsing it, we're destroying the country for no reason.

 

[arminisgod]

the new strain is such utter bollocks it's laughable really. Like why have they had to use Porton down for it? hmmm

I'm anti lockdown but if it's really that bad then surely you can't allow the xmas easing. It's mental

 

[davek]

It's the transparent naked BS of the "new strain" thing that gets me.

Must have an excuse for the spread in precious London.

Tossers.

“Similar variants have been identified in other countries over the last few months", he said.

But only that ball bag cared to mention it as the other governments in those countries saw it for what it is: a typical mutation...one of dozens that's occured so far with this virus.

This lot are a complete catastrophe - everything they do turns into a disaster on messaging.

 

[COYBL25]

There's a big argument now to just allow for personal responsibility.

The virus isn't new now. People are trained. Lockdowns are now counter productive as you're obliterating the economy while people ignore them anyway.

Does anyone hand on heart know anyone paying any attention to the tier rules? I'm not. Not because I'm a wrong un but because they make no sense and are basically impossible to follow.

Shield the vulnerable, give them the info and things they need, and let everyone else follow advice at this point, not rules.

Or lockdown properly. Do it properly for 6 weeks. Random stops, prison sentences for rule breaking, the lot.

Because by half arsing it, we're destroying the country for no reason.

The impression seems to be that we’re just limping along, stop, start, rinse and repeat until the vaccine comes riding over the hill to rescue us all.

 

[blulouie]

It's not just us.

It's vaccine and nothing else, at this stage.

Its been the only solution once this outbreak became a pandemic.

Every measure thats been used by every country has been to slow it and mitigate the death toll.
Some countries have been more successful than others ( ours one of the worst ) , but vaccine has always been the only way out of this.

 

[BlueToff]

Its been the only solution once this outbreak became a pandemic.

Every measure thats been used by every country has been to slow it and mitigate the death toll.
Some countries have been more successful than others ( ours one of the worst ) , but vaccine has always been the only way out of this.

Yep, I know that mate.

But countries like Aus and NZ (part policy, part location) took a different approach and have now all but eradicated the virus. They have taken advantage of their location and low populations.

Europe couldn't do that, I get it.

My point wasn't about a vaccine really - of course long-term that's the solution. My point was that most European governments put themselves into a state where it's either lockdown or vaccine, and no middle ground, because test and trace clearly isn't working (see France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, the UK).

 

[Nymzee]

Yep, I know that mate.

But countries like Aus and NZ (part policy, part location) took a different approach and have now all but eradicated the virus. They have taken advantage of their location and low populations.

Europe couldn't do that, I get it.

My point wasn't about a vaccine really - of course long-term that's the solution. My point was that most European governments put themselves into a state where it's either lockdown or vaccine, and no middle ground, because test and trace clearly isn't working (see France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, the UK).

It’s much simpler to control and monitor a virus in a country of 5 million people spread out (NZ) than a country of more than 10x that with large regions of overpopulation.

 

[peteblue]

Did we all enjoy the London Covid Update tonight, with not a mention about the rest of the bleeding country......

 

[blulouie]

Yep, I know that mate.

But countries like Aus and NZ (part policy, part location) took a different approach and have now all but eradicated the virus. They have taken advantage of their location and low populations.

Europe couldn't do that, I get it.

My point wasn't about a vaccine really - of course long-term that's the solution. My point was that most European governments put themselves into a state where it's either lockdown or vaccine, and no middle ground, because test and trace clearly isn't working (see France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, the UK).

Think the only sure fire solution is Lockdown TIL Vaccine , not Lockdown OR Vaccine.

But governments around the world outside of those you meantion wont risk their economy's going bust. And I get that , but saving lives means everything to me.
Very difficult position for every country , but as I said some have managed this far better than others.

 

[blulouie]

London theatres 'devastated' to close again under tier 3 restrictions

Shows like Les Miserables, Six the Musical and Pantoland at the Palladium are among those affected.

www.bbc.co.uk

If only theatres had known that there was a chance of them being forced to shut if there was more infections.

Couldnt see that coming could ya

 

[tsubaki]

The problem with that and they know it, is that people would just ignore it over Christmas anyway, so it`d be pretty ineffective.

The New Year is looming large.

Possibly, but they could have done it with sufficient explanation and consistency. Yes people want to see their loved ones over the holiday but not many want to cause the loved ones concerned to get sick.

In any case, its responsible to point to the risk of it. What is mindless is stuff like Shapps encouraging it and in really unsafe ways like paying coach firms a subsidy to put more coaches on over Xmas.

 

[BlueToff]

It’s much simpler to control and monitor a virus in a country of 5 million people spread out (NZ) than a country of more than 10x that with large regions of overpopulation.

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NZ and Aus followed the Asian SARS model but as I said it is much easier to do because of their location and population - that's what I highlight in my post.

I've defended (for lack of a better term) our government's approach earlier on in this when people were wondering why we didn't do as well and NZ and Aus.

What I will say is that we are an island so, unlike mainland Europe, we could have done what Aus and NZ did and banned travel (enforced two-week quarantine for anybody returning). We didn't do that at the start and that could have saved lives.