Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[davek]

Didn't Trump/Pence promise a million testing kits to be available by the end of this week?

 

[Paris]

What worries me more to be honest is so many people with your own attitude. I'm not having a go mate, but I really think you haven't actually sat down and looked at what this thing is actually like when it gets out of hand, or listened to what people on the front lines are saying, people working in health care, and the NHS, or people living/working in old peoples homes etc.

They are going to bear the brunt of this thing and by all accounts the NHS is stretched to breaking point as it is. The government is already talking about drafting in old doctors/nurses from retirement who themselves will be at much greater risk. Should such people be sacrificed, or protected now as much as possible, by taking aggressive measures to contain it?

When you look at the examples elsewhere, you basically have a situation where a country hopes it won't get them, and doesn't take preventative measures, but when they do get a breakout, end up having to take the same measures they should have taken weeks before, only its too late now anyway (or at least they have a much bigger problem to deal with)...

I know its easy to be dispassionate about statistics but this idea that ah well it only kills weak or old people, is the opinion of someone lucky enough not to be old/weak himself. Once you get to that age yourself, you won't be feeling like that, nor would you if you were a doctor or a care worker.

Yes its not small pox or the Black Death, but people need to start taking it more seriously, and the government needs to take action before the UK gets to see just how bad it can get.

But honestly this is one of those rare occasions when I really hope -for my relatives back in the UK- that I am completely and utterly wrong...

What worries me more to be honest is so many people with your own attitude. I'm not having a go mate, but I really think you haven't actually sat down and looked at what this thing is actually like when it gets out of hand, or listened to what people on the front lines are saying, people working in health care, and the NHS, or people living/working in old peoples homes etc.

They are going to bear the brunt of this thing and by all accounts the NHS is stretched to breaking point as it is. The government is already talking about drafting in old doctors/nurses from retirement who themselves will be at much greater risk. Should such people be sacrificed, or protected now as much as possible, by taking aggressive measures to contain it?

When you look at the examples elsewhere, you basically have a situation where a country hopes it won't get them, and doesn't take preventative measures, but when they do get a breakout, end up having to take the same measures they should have taken weeks before, only its too late now anyway (or at least they have a much bigger problem to deal with)...

I know its easy to be dispassionate about statistics but this idea that ah well it only kills weak or old people, is the opinion of someone lucky enough not to be old/weak himself. Once you get to that age yourself, you won't be feeling like that, nor would you if you were a doctor or a care worker.

Yes its not small pox or the Black Death, but people need to start taking it more seriously, and the government needs to take action before the UK gets to see just how bad it can get.

But honestly this is one of those rare occasions when I really hope -for my relatives back in the UK- that I am completely and utterly wrong...

No offence taken, mate.

I've long called for preventative measures to be taken and simply cannot believe that the WHO did not recommend that all air travel from China should be suspended when the outbreak started. The international spread of the virus is entirely their fault.

The virus has affected me too by the way, probably more so than most here. I'm having to self-isolate for two weeks when I return to the UK this weekend, at my own expense.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Didn't Trump/Pence promise a million testing kits to be available by the end of this week?

They did promise but to the surprise of no-one that is not the case.

 

[Wolf8312]

This lot have been consistently behind the curve. That's because, ideologically, they are the captive of a bunch of 'small government' cultists. They'll end up killing thousands.

I think had the Chinese government not contained it people would now have a better understanding how just how dangerous it is, because the number of deaths and infections by now would no doubt be astronomical. But because they did contain it, it somehow seems less of a serious problem. As if nobody really realizes it was the measures put in place...

But I think the UK government has the same idea. If they act now, and nothing happens -because they contained it- all people will see and remember is the damage to the economy!

So unfortunately it seems as if the UK will need to be drowning a bit first before this government will throw them a log!

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[TheBigIguana]

This isn't going to an option for a whole lot of people in this country. I couldn't do it.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Didn't Trump/Pence promise a million testing kits to be available by the end of this week?

Pence would appear to be the fall guy for what seems very likely to end up being an inadequate response. All those cuts to the CDC and other health-related programs are coming home to roost now.

The question is whether Trump's masses will fall for it. In the past, that hasn't worked out well for presidents. As I've noted before, Reagan proved most of the "rules" by being able to break them somehow.

Time will tell whether or not this applies to Trump. This is looking like the first real test of his presidency.

 

[SerenityNigh]

It’s been startling to me to go to the CDC website and not get answers.

It’s probably better than them giving false answers but still very bad

 

[zzr45]

Get the wee buggers back to school

 

[davek]

Pence would appear to be the fall guy for what seems very likely to end up being an inadequate response. All those cuts to the CDC and other health-related programs are coming home to roost now.

The question is whether Trump's masses will fall for it. In the past, that hasn't worked out well for presidents. As I've noted before, Reagan proved most of the "rules" by being able to break them somehow.

Time will tell whether or not this applies to Trump. This is looking like the first real test of his presidency.

He wont be re-elected in this climate. Before this virus, yes. The buoyant economy would have sealed it. Only one thing outweighs economics: a dire health threat misahandled...and the Trump administration cant do anything but mishandle it, because this calls for a large and sustained state response...and that isn't the message they sell on a political or philosophical level. People are scared. By and large, they want their government to take command.

He's toast in November, no matter whether he faces Sanders or Biden.

 

[davek]

Get the wee buggers back to school

There's a disgusting ageist reaction to this virus and its impact amongst many people.

Those in their 20s and 30s are seem to be taking a 'devil take the hindmost' attitude. They all have family members who are much older and possibly family members in their own or extended families who are in a vulnerable positoin due to ongoing illnesses. However, some of them they cant help but highlight to their delight (and others annoyance) their reducded chance of catching the virus. That's what decades of neo-liberal indoctrination does: creates a population full of selfish nobheads who look out only for themselves.

Utter scum.

 

[degsy]

Didn't Trump/Pence promise a million testing kits to be available by the end of this week?

Fake news?
The officials saying she can't have it because she had protective gear on is laughable.
I said in a previous post about degrees - or not, of state control that the 'Jobs Worths' would be the main cause of lack of response, were speed was required

 

[zzr45]

There's a disgusting ageist reaction to this virus and its impact amongst many people.

Those in their 20s and 30s are seem to be taking a 'devil take the hindmost' attitude. They all have family members who are much older and possibly family members in their own or extended families who are in a vulnerable positoin due to ongoing illnesses. However, some of them they cant help but highlight to their delight (and others annoyance) their reducded chance of catching the virus. That's what decades of neo-liberal indoctrination does: creates a population full of selfish nobheads who look out only for themselves.

Utter scum.

Not really Dave, it shows the problem in that older populations are more likely to die from it because of existing issues. The tweets also go on to explore the fact that certain genetic populations, including the Chinese and Italians, also tend to have more of the receptors that the virus is attached to.

But use it for a good old rant about neo-liberalism days after extolling the virtues of oppressive governments.

The fact that you are so thick is actually offensive.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

There's a disgusting ageist reaction to this virus and its impact amongst many people.

Those in their 20s and 30s are seem to be taking a 'devil take the hindmost' attitude. They all have family members who are much older and possibly family members in their own or extended families who are in a vulnerable positoin due to ongoing illnesses. However, some of them they cant help but highlight to their delight (and others annoyance) their reducded chance of catching the virus. That's what decades of neo-liberal indoctrination does: creates a population full of selfish nobheads who look out only for themselves.

Utter scum.

Aren't old people more at risk of any infection they catch? I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar ratio for those with flu, for instance.

 

[Wolf8312]

Not really Dave, it shows the problem in that older populations are more likely to die from it because of existing issues. The tweets also go on to explore the fact that certain genetic populations, including the Chinese and Italians, also tend to have more of the receptors that the virus is attached to.

But use it for a good old rant about neo-liberalism days after extolling the virtues of oppressive governments.

The fact that you are so thick is actually offensive.

It is true though that many people seem to be taking the attitude that it isn't going to get me, so don't you dare cancel the footie!