Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[marnie]

Was speaking with my father today(retired doctor), I mentioned my "fear" with this over here in the States. Basically there is a LARGE % of people that are trying their best to minimize any contact with people. My wife and I have been home for almost 2 weeks with VERY little trips anywhere(mostly liquor store but thats a different topic). But when they give the OK, whats to say the, lets just say, 10 people who HAVEN'T been isolating(obviously magnitudes more) and have it spread it out to everyone again? He said that's exactly the issue, theres no way to reliably get people to stay home because people have to move about. Said he expects this to be a smaller issue, the summer to be a false dawn but the fall to absolutely explode.

I hope for once in his life, your Father is wrong.

 

[riddick]

I hope for once in his life, your Father is wrong.

Oh, he's been very wrong many times. UNFORTUNATELY my family also has an sizable amount of people quite high up in multiple massive doctoral universities and the like who have been thinking it has a solid chance of happening.

*might note that this is the USA, maybe not worldwide.

 

[marnie]

Oh, he's been very wrong many times. UNFORTUNATELY my family also has an sizable amount of people quite high up in multiple massive doctoral universities and the like who have been thinking it has a solid chance of happening.

Oh, he's been very wrong many times. UNFORTUNATELY my family also has an sizable amount of people quite high up in multiple massive doctoral universities and the like who have been thinking it has a solid chance of happening.

Mate,we are in a world now that is unknown to us.We should all follow advice and take it one step further.

 

[Sentinel]

Isn't this exactly what I've been trying to suggest since posting on this thread?

Whoever is to blame, that argument can wait. The priority right now has to be our health workers. Manufacturing has to shift production to emergency medical supplies and testing. Supply stocks in private hands transferred etc...Any and all steps need to be taken, to ensure front line medical professions have the equipment they need. If they don't we're looking at catastrophe.

After that we're looking at the armed services, law enforcement and anyone who deals with the general public daily. Essential services what have you.

These steps aren't draconian. It's common sense. It may be a wee bit inconvenient but if it saves countless lives it's needed. Everybody else should be doing their part, staying home and following government guidelines.

 

[Paris]

Spain, Europe's worst-hit country after Italy, says coronavirus tests it bought from China are failing to detect positive cases

Spanish researchers found that the tests could identify cases only 30% of the time. Testing delays could hamper Spain's efforts to slow the virus.

www.businessinsider.com

D'oh.

 

[Paris]

How China is trying to keep its coronavirus critics silent

‘[Authorities] warned I shouldn’t be stabbing the Chinese government’s back when the whole country was united to fight against the coronavirus,’ journalist tells William Yang

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Sentinel]

How China is trying to keep its coronavirus critics silent

‘[Authorities] warned I shouldn’t be stabbing the Chinese government’s back when the whole country was united to fight against the coronavirus,’ journalist tells William Yang

www.independent.co.uk

I believe they just took the step of closing off their borders to all foreigners. Something that in our countries, if you suggested merely only a few months ago. You would be labelled xenophobic, racist or stereotyping.

Less than twenty pages ago, folks were laughing at Germans always following orders. But nobody brought up stereotypes then. Because it's a convenient strategy to shut down a debate. Basically it's ok to laugh at Germans. Mendacity, hypocrisy.

Here's the thing, facts don't care about your feelings or your propensity to be offended.

Social justice warriors and folks who slandered people with genuine concerns. Looks like individuals, who believed in borders, that governments should protect their citizens first, are being vindicated. Hysterical labeling has caused massive damage.

In fact across the world, borders are being shut. About time. Labeling your political opponents, bigoted, racist, fascist etc...Turns out, it doesn't help democracy, In fact it hinders it and jeopardizes lives.

I look forward, when this is all over, to going back to reasoned debate were all opinions are listened to and respected.

 

[Walken]

I believe they just took the step of closing off their borders to all foreigners. Something that in our countries, if you suggested merely only a few months ago. You would be labelled xenophobic, racist or stereotyping.

Less than twenty pages ago, folks were laughing at Germans always following orders. But nobody brought up stereotypes then. Because it's a convenient strategy to shut down a debate. Basically it's ok to laugh at Germans. Mendacity, hypocrisy.

Here's the thing, facts don't care about your feelings or your propensity to be offended.

Social justice warriors and folks who slandered people with genuine concerns. Looks like individuals, who believed in borders, that governments should protect their citizens first, are being vindicated. Hysterical labeling has caused massive damage.

In fact across the world, borders are being shut. About time. Labeling your political opponents, bigoted, racist, fascist etc...Turns out, it doesn't help democracy, In fact it hinders it and jeopardizes lives.

I look forward, when this is all over, to going back to reasoned debate were all opinions are listened to and respected.

cheers shapiro

 

[Prevenger17]

I believe they just took the step of closing off their borders to all foreigners. Something that in our countries, if you suggested merely only a few months ago. You would be labelled xenophobic, racist or stereotyping.

Less than twenty pages ago, folks were laughing at Germans always following orders. But nobody brought up stereotypes then. Because it's a convenient strategy to shut down a debate. Basically it's ok to laugh at Germans. Mendacity, hypocrisy.

Here's the thing, facts don't care about your feelings or your propensity to be offended.

Social justice warriors and folks who slandered people with genuine concerns. Looks like individuals, who believed in borders, that governments should protect their citizens first, are being vindicated. Hysterical labeling has caused massive damage.

In fact across the world, borders are being shut. About time. Labeling your political opponents, bigoted, racist, fascist etc...Turns out, it doesn't help democracy, In fact it hinders it and jeopardizes lives.

I look forward, when this is all over, to going back to reasoned debate were all opinions are listened to and respected.

 

[Bluerover]

Mate,we are in a world now that is unknown to us.We should all follow advice and take it one step further.

This

 

[Gary Sutton]

Sorry if this link has been posted before. Really helped lower my anxiety about the whole COVID-19 pandemic:

https://swprs.org/a-swiss-doctor-on-covid-19/

Explains death rates in China, Italy and Spain - all based upon published evidence and scientific analysis.

 

[Sentinel]

Is that a rebuttal or linking someone who has refused to call out a sex predator running for office?

 

[GwladysBlue]

So after all the praise the Tories have been getting about financial help, etc, the Chancellor has now hinted that we will all foot the bill with tax rises. Great...

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Sorry if this link has been posted before. Really helped lower my anxiety about the whole COVID-19 pandemic:

https://swprs.org/a-swiss-doctor-on-covid-19/

Explains death rates in China, Italy and Spain - all based upon published evidence and scientific analysis.

Air quality and underlying health conditions...

 

[gonetomorrow]

It really isn’t worth going on universal credit if you’re self employed.

I worked in then benefit system for a few years, and although it was mainly on JSA I trained on UC for a bit and it is essentially the same process just more streamlined with a different payment structure.

This loan the government are advising self employed people to get is easier said than done.

For one, it’s 60% of your entitled benefit. There’s a very good chance your benefit will already be deducted through any savings you may have and the last payment you received.

When you go through the loan process (it’s called a short term advance btw) you’ll be asked so many questions about your circumstances. These questions are all designed for the advisor to give you as little as possible.

You’ll be asked about what you need the money for, the last payment you received, what you spent that money on, is there anyone in the household who can provide for you, have you been to your local authority for hardship etc....

Basically unless you live on your own and have absolutely nothing to live on they’ll expect you to get money from elsewhere.

If by the end of this process you’re entitled to a payment, chances are it’ll be very limited and wouldn’t be worth your while. Very unlikely that you’d receive it after a couple of days also, especially with the growing demand.

You’ll then be waiting about five weeks to receive your first benefit payment and if you’re lucky enough to received a sizeable advance a large chunk will be taken out of this payment.

It’s laughable that the government are advising people to go down this route. It really is.

Anyone need some advice about going on UC give us a shout and I should be able to answer any questions you have.

My general advice would be to avoid it if you can but that’s without knowing anyone’s circumstances.

My son has just lost his job with an employment agency. He's known for some time his contract was ending about now - nothing to do with coronavirus. So he's just trying to get JSA till he finds another job, although he's having trouble getting through like everyone else. He isn't entitled to UC or housing benefit as he's managed to save a bit over the years and has too much in the bank!
He's understandably a bit rueful as he sees others getting money thrown at them right now.
I'm just letting off steam here but it's worth remembering that many folk slip through the cracks of the system and have to draw on money they've "put away for a rainy day" in the traditional fashion!