Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Jebus_lives]

I believe we should be comparing against most places, but Europe is where we are geographically (if no longer aligned in trade or whatever). not saying we couldn't do things differently, but we're in Europe, so it makes sense to compare.

I agree on the second para.

Different public health processes, cultures, health infrastructure, social systems, political and governance structures, media, education systems, work environments, different regulations.

 

[grandjoeblue]

A lot of this is true, if you’re teaching, you don’t actually have to wear a mask or visor. One of the issues like you mentioned is the space, especially in primary schools. It’s hard to separate dinners and break times I’d imagine too in a primary school.

A lot of the schools we work with have had problems with toilets surprisingly. 1 toilet going out of use can create massive problems as the bubbles are only meant to use certain parts of the building.

 

[BlueToff]

Genuine question, might be wrong, but aren't these countries further along the wave than us? Similar to last spring, we were lagging a few weeks behind? Our media was quick to latch onto how badly Italy were getting it then France. Looking at our current cases and hospitalisations (it's weeks off peaking), I wouldn't be supprised if we overtook continental Europe again.

I honestly don't understand the governments half arsed response to this. Lockdown properly and early and we can open up sooner. Less deaths and the economy doesn't take as much of a hit. Repeating the same mistakes as last spring but it'll be worse this time.

I have no problem with a tier system when cases are low (e.g in the summer) but to continue with it on the eve of the worst crisis of this pandemic is negligent.

I don't know myself.

Given this new variant is supposedly causing havoc here, then I don't know if that's the case in Europe either?

 

[BlueToff]

Different public health processes, cultures, health infrastructure, social systems, political and governance structures, media, education systems, work environments, different regulations.

Most European countries followed the Flu epidemic model (Sweden obvious exception).

Asia and NZ/Aus followed SARS.

So in that sense, we're similar.

I also don't really think our culture is all that different to France, Netherlands, Germany etc.

Anyway, we could go on for ever. I agree with your general point. Just think it's also fair to say the end game is getting people vaccinated.

 

[BlueToff]

Pretty sure you mentioned you work in journalism?? Are you an apprentice for Toby Young by any chance?

Sports reporting.

I don't see what I've written there is in any way right wing.

 

[Deckard2049]

No they won't... just such a silly comment to make.

We have people in this very thread going along with the idea that if you don’t follow restrictions to the letter that you are culpable and responsible for anybody catching an airborne virus.

The logical continuation of this train of though is to advocate for some measures to combat any infectious, transmissible disease between humans.

Notice; I never said that these measures will be implemented. I said there will be people calling for them. I really don’t think that’s a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[BlueToff]

I work in schools regularly, I've been to around 10-15 since the pandemic started and whilst they are trying their best if its transmitted through the air all of the measures won't have any impact. In primary schools I've only ever seen a few masks, they do tend to ask visitors to put masks on but staff and pupils don't wear masks. Schools just don't have the space to socially distance the kids.

I also think that kids will be more likely to mix outside of schools as parents will think well they're mixing in school anyway so whats the difference. This then creates further bad behaviours.

Fair enough, my post was just a question.

As I said, not been in, so only know what I see on the news or whatever.

I'd happily see them shut but I understand why they've tried to keep them open too.

 

[Moomin]

Sports reporting.

I don't see what I've written there is in any way right wing.

Just the way you keep bringing up the Flu as if its the same and saying Schools are safe.

 

[Tubey]

We have people in this very thread going along with the idea that if you don’t follow restrictions to the letter that you are culpable and responsible for anybody catching an airborne virus.

The logical continuation of this train of though is to advocate for some measures to combat any infectious, transmissible disease between humans.

Notice; I never said that these measures will be implemented. I said there will be people calling for them. I really don’t think that’s a ridiculous thing to say.

No they won't.

The flu has a notably different mortality rate and we have a vaccine for it.

It is a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

So, basically, you're saying that the LP shouldn't oppose the Tories...just wait for 5 years and and try and profit from being a passive organisation that made a few pointed remarks from the wings while the country was suffering a major disaster on a number of fronts - health crisis, the cratering of the economy, and the socio-psychological collapse of its people?

You think that's what a responsible opposition party should do? Who on earth would reward such cowardice?

Those are rules of the game... If opposition party oppose Tory government so early in it's tenure it's those who oppose who are blamed for undermining the government. It's not if we have a fair and impartial media, be with you if it were the case.

 

[BlueToff]

Just the way you keep bringing up the Flu as if its the same and saying Schools are safe.

No, I asked a question about schools. As I've said a few times, I think they should be closed. I understand why they've tried to keep them open but right now, i think they should be kept shut.

We were having a conversation about the flu - because it was suggested track test and trace should be used to combat such illnesses. Hence why the flu was brought up. I'm in no way comparing it to COVID.

I love you Mooms, but stop being a prat.

 

[BlueToff]

Can’t comment on mainstream schools, I work in a college that school kids come to for different reasons. They are just the laws put into place and can imagine them to be followed more in mainstream schools. It’s hard to judge because you could have a class of 25 learners in a classroom and only one teacher. If the teacher is writing on the board, they can’t keep eyes on all 25 kids. On a normal working day, I’d have 15 kids in my department, I’m the only tutor. If I’m teaching brickwork or plastering, got 15 kids in that one session. If one kid asks for my help, I always forgot to wear gloves and use the trowels they are using to show them what to do. So that’s a possible chance of it spreading if they have it. Luckily enough, no learners have tested positive, neither have I. If a learner tests positive, we’ve been told that we’ve gotta send them home and to give the centre a deep clean. They won’t shut schools down due to how much money it will cost the government. Are schools or education centres more safe, it’s hard to comment.

Thanks.

Just to be clear, I was just putting out a question/thought I'd had. If that in theory with everyone wearing masks etc, it should be as 'safe' as anywhere else is. But I don't work in a school or have to go to one.

 

[BlueToff]

Those are rules of the game... If opposition party oppose Tory government so early in it's tenure it's those who oppose who are blamed for undermining the government. It's not if we have a fair and impartial media, be with you if it were the case.

Both sides of the argument always say the media is biased against them.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Most European countries followed the Flu epidemic model (Sweden obvious exception).

Asia and NZ/Aus followed SARS.

So in that sense, we're similar.

I also don't really think our culture is all that different to France, Netherlands, Germany etc.

Anyway, we could go on for ever. I agree with your general point. Just think it's also fair to say the end game is getting people vaccinated.

This is an oversimplification..

The culture of France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK aren't much different - again I disagree there.

 

[BlueToff]

This is an oversimplification..

The culture of France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK aren't much different - again

Are you saying our cultures are different or not? I don't really think they are?

Our culture definitely isn't that much different to Aus or NZ, either.

You said that I shouldn't just compare to Europe. I believe we should compare everywhere, and objectively we've done very badly. But people are so definitive. Act like 'if we just did this, it would definitely work' - especially in the Aus/NZ examples - but there's so many other factors that also need to be taken into account.

In general, European countries have all tried to tackle this in the same way. Some with stricter lockdowns than others. None of the three hit badly now got a test and trace system up and running that worked, or we wouldn't be seeing the numbers we are now, would we.