Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Moomin]

That is a direct result of the politicians we have empowerd as a public and insipid nature that this group of tories in particular can erode good will and peoples rights with barely a care for any accountability from a press that have lurched further right than ever in my lifetime. I'm lucky enough to know quite a few involved in epidemiology, medical research and healthcare england and the people on that side of the fence have very little polical agenda beyond being forced to 'play the game' for the sake of their careers. Those at healthcare england inparticular are saddened and deeply worried by the move from this government to go away from speaking truth to power. You mention SAGE but they have had to contend woth powerful minisers like the new centralist poster boy Sunak (a hardcore brexiteer) fighting hard against the science and against the lockdowns in some rabid form of short term economics.

Perhaps I am naive for speaking from my limited experience I don't see those involved in the research or practical aspect of the science or medical world being heavily in the face saving politics anymore than they have to to actually do their job in a grubby system that isn't really designed to prioritise them

When sage called for the circuit break in September last year , Sunak brought to Johnson a load skeptic scientists against lockdowns to meet with him.

It was actually the Sunday Times that reported on this which caught my eye. It was him that convinced Boris not to lockdown for the second time at the time Sage suggested.

I think Johnson waits until the last minute when the changes have to be done so he gets no fightback. Waits until everything is critical and we have no other choice to make.

 

[Walken]

When sage called for the circuit break in September last year , Sunak brought to Johnson a load skeptic scientists against lockdowns to meet with him.

It was actually the Sunday Times that reported on this which caught my eye. It was him that convinced Boris not to lockdown for the second time at the time Sage suggested.

I think Johnson waits until the last minute when the changes have to be done so he gets no fightback. Waits until everything is critical and we have no other choice to make.

The people that Sunak empowered and gave legitimacy to is really appalling, these are not differeing idealogical views these are deliberate falsehoods in a time of global emergency

 

[BlueToff]

It might be sensible for venues/events to install heat sensor as are now being used at airports.

Yeah, or have it run for the first few months that you have to get a negative test within 24 hours to enter (like Everton before Xmas).

There's solutions that are workable for the time being when we first get back to stuff like that - whenever it is - but it shouldn't be a long-term thing.

I stress again, this virus didn't pop up because people go to concerts. It came about because of wet markets or something more sinister and the Chinese government covering it up.

The response after that from every country is a completely different matter altogether.

 

[BlueToff]

I wouldn't be expecting that again in the next year.

No reason that 20,000 shouldn't be allowed into Goodison come September given the vaccine roll out (majority of the country will be fully dosed by then) and you can easily just make sure they have to have proof of a negative test to enter.

 

[Tipp blue]

As with anything in life it will ultimately come down to if the costs outweigh the benefits.

I imagine if the vaccines work and very few are dying/getting ill with Covid anymore the costs of policing masks/social distancing will be worth it when there is little benefit of taking an already thin on the ground police force away from dealing with actual crime.

And I think seasonal Flu has been around humans long enough for people to not really care about it as bad as that sounds - same way in 50 years people will look at covid as something as little as a cold you would think.

100% agree with that. We accept every year that people are going to die of flu it will get to that point with covid likely next winter with perhaps caution but after that covid will just be another dose that you don't want to get but if you do it's a few days in bed with a course of tablets.
If the new Israeli treatment is proven as successful as early data shows then it's over. With a vaccine and a cure things will get back to normal very quickly.

Redirect Notice

 

[tsubaki]

The people that Sunak empowered and gave legitimacy to is really appalling, these are not differeing idealogical views these are deliberate falsehoods in a time of global emergency

Not to nitpick but the falsehoods are to cover up their real views, not instead of them.

Their real belief is, after all, that lockdown and other preventive measures that save lives are not worth the economic cost.

That it would result in hundreds of thousands of deaths is just one of those things - everyone dies, after all - and if it trims hundreds of millions off the welfare bill into the bargain then that’s grand.

 

[BlueToff]

We don't have the mindset and culture of the likes of Japan.

When they wear masks its not to stop catching the likes of Flu but not spreading it. The people wearing masks are the ones feeling ill, they don't want other people to catch it off them.

That could easily be done without mandating though couldn't it?

I think people will be more aware of the benefits of wearing masks etc and I do still think they'll be made mandatory in certain settings.

But they can't really be made mandatory at gigs or matches and stuff - it's just daft to think that once the vaccines are fully (both doses) are out there - and I know you're not saying it btw.

There's got to be a balance I suppose, between keeping certain measures in place but not thinking we can have everybody wearing masks for the rest of time.

 

[Charro]

No reason that 20,000 shouldn't be allowed into Goodison come September given the vaccine roll out (majority of the country will be fully dosed by then) and you can easily just make sure they have to have proof of a negative test to enter.

People in the industry are hoping gigs will be back around October/November.

 

[Billy Dean]

I think in Germany you need an ffp2 mask now? Was wondering if these have become a public resource and being handed out or are the public expected to buy from private firms?

Yes ffp2 or surgical masks are required in public transport and shops etc. Most are expected to buy themselves but those over 60 or with risk factors are getting vouchers from the state for (I think) something like 10 masks. Up until now those on low incomes have been expected to buy their own, but I think from next week those on unemployment will also start getting vouchers.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

100% agree with that. We accept every year that people are going to die of flu it will get to that point with covid likely next winter with perhaps caution but after that covid will just be another dose that you don't want to get but if you do it's a few days in bed with a course of tablets.
If the new Israeli treatment is proven as successful as early data shows then it's over. With a vaccine and a cure things will get back to normal very quickly.

Redirect Notice

If I was looking at things through the "tier system" I would imagine we'll do something like this:

March - schools reopen

April - none essential retail

May - restaurants, Cinemas, pubs that serve food

July / August - pubs and the rest

September/October - stadiums/concerts providing you've been vaccinated.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

I think Johnson waits until the last minute when the changes have to be done so he gets no fightback. Waits until everything is critical and we have no other choice to make.

Probably some truth in that. According to a former colleague of mine who was very familiar with such matters, Johnson is only concerned with his own popularity and delays making decisions that might make him look bad.
He’s closer to Trump than people realise.

 

[BlueToff]

Edit to my previous post: Do also realise this - wearing a mask - is a very small price to pay. I'm happy to wear a mask if I need to to go places or on transport or whatever. But it's when there's daft rules like having to wear a mask when stood up in a pub or not being able to sit down in a cafe if it's a Tuesday or whatever - which I know is on the government - that it gets a bit daft.

 

[BlueToff]

Isn't a gig similar to the cinema?

Surely it will depend on how low hospitalisations and deaths get. If they do hopefully drop to almost nothing there will be a lot less restrictions.

I hope so.

Was meaning outdoor gigs.

God knows when they'll do indoor ones. I just hope in the autumn. IMO there's no excuse if the population is vaxxed - which by then in the UK at this rate it almost certainly will be - but I think the fear factor of spikes, which will happen as it's winter, will end up stopping it.

 

[BlueToff]

@Blues Harp - any particular reason why you think it's a shocking suggestion?

At this current rate, I'm due a first dose in the next 2.5-4 months (that current rate may not continue).

I'm 25 (26 in March), no underlying conditions, not a key worker.

If it's at the late end of the estimation (which is probably more likely) I'm still looking at the first week of June for my first jab. If it's early end, then mid-April.

Let's say it's late end. That would mean my second jab sometime at the start(ish) of September.

You'd have the vast majority of vulnerable/over 50s (groups 1-9) fully vaxxed by mid-summer (July/start of August).

You'd have people in less vulnerable groups, such as myself, done by mid-October.

20,000 is half capacity at Goodison. The government sort it so that tests are readily available (which they are, there's testing centres everywhere now), and people have to get proof of a negative test within 24 hours before the game.

A simple, workable solution.

 

[JLW]

If I was looking at things through the "tier system" I would imagine we'll do something like this:

March - schools reopen

April - none essential retail

May - restaurants, Cinemas, pubs that serve food

July / August - pubs and the rest

September/October - stadiums/concerts providing you've been vaccinated.

I dont think you will be too far off the mark there.
That's still another 8 months before normality resumes and probably the best case scenario.