Coronavirus outbreak

[Rocky]

Thank you for the response @stowie. FWIW the critique of our government's "strategy" below by a Harvard Prof is better than what I could have written. Hope you like it:

I’m an epidemiologist. When I heard about Britain’s ‘herd immunity’ coronavirus plan, I thought it was satire

Matt Hancock has apparently started to try to row back this nonsense. Good thing, but does it not make you wonder what kind of "experts" have we chosen to steer our ship in this storm?

If I were the CMO/CSA, having received this from over 400 scientists etc etc, I would have resigned in shame.

Although if you look at the list of people who have signed there’s a lot of mathematicians and PhD students (researchers in training). If I’d read a critique from a group of virologists or epidemiologists, I’d take more notice. So the CMO/CSA are probably not that worried.

Edit: it’s also worth knowing that Dr Hanage is not a full professor at Harvard. He’s the equivalent of a senior lecturer. So I suspect Professor Chris Whitty has a tad more experience in dealing with these things.

 

[Proto]

@Proto

This may be of use to you:

https://www.fscs.org.uk/how-we-work/temporary-high-balances/

thanks for that but we sold our house in mid may last year and I’d be in breach of the 6 month time limit.
Starting to have sleepless nights 🙈

 

[BoldonLad]

I don't know even know what the strategy is ??

It's like with the football - the decision was handed to the footballing authorities.

I know someone who is stranded in the canaries - the guidance quite robustly - is that you must stay indoors.

Here in the UK - half of us don't know if we should go to work tommorow. I work for a hospital and asked HR about home working - they didn't know.....

I saw a doctor being interviewed about bringing retired doctors into service and fast tracking junior doctors - he said he hadn't heard a thing....

And, all of that proves what?

 

[Rusty Nails]

Perhaps people are getting a bit nicer.

Some new neighbours (a lot younger than most of the residents in our street) moved in around 18 months ago. I thought they were a little bit stand-offish as they hardly acknowledge us when out despite our smiles or waves.

Today they came and put a note in the letter boxes of all us old-timers offering to run any errands and assist if we have problems until this is sorted or if some lock-down or isolation happens.

Restored my faith a bit, although I am a bit upset that they can see how old I am, when I think I look half my age.

 

[Pale Rider]

Although if you look at the list of people who have signed there’s a lot of mathematicians and PhD students (researchers in training). If I’d read a critique from a group of virologists or epidemiologists, I’d take more notice. So the CMO/CSA are probably not that worried.

Edit: it’s also worth knowing that Dr Hanange is not a full professor at Harvard. He’s the equivalent of a senior lecturer. So I suspect Professor Chris Whitty has a tad more experience in dealing with these things.

Another point is these joint open letters are only ever written to criticise.

In other words, a notional group of 400 people from various backgrounds who broadly support the government would be unlikely to write a joint letter saying so.

 

[BoldonLad]

Think yourself lucky.......us over 70s are facing lock down.
I do have a exercise bike though.

I am going to lie about my age

 

[tom73]

@Brompton Bruce very true they will have much worse flying round them on SM.
What I find odd is pepole can't believe that as a county we can't possibley have any highly trained and experienced professionals.
It's not like we give away high class quotations and experience free with the cornflakes.

 

[kingrollo]

And, all of that proves what?

That despite all the bluster - guidance from central government is very weak ?

 

[kingrollo]

Another point is these joint open letters are only ever written to criticise.

In other words, a notional group of 400 people from various backgrounds who broadly support the government would be unlikely to write a joint letter saying so.

So would WHO at this stage.

 

[kingrollo]

Although if you look at the list of people who have signed there’s a lot of mathematicians and PhD students (researchers in training). If I’d read a critique from a group of virologists or epidemiologists, I’d take more notice. So the CMO/CSA are probably not that worried.

Edit: it’s also worth knowing that Dr Hanage is not a full professor at Harvard. He’s the equivalent of a senior lecturer. So I suspect Professor Chris Whitty has a tad more experience in dealing with these things.

Those guys at WHO seem to have a fair bit of experience though.

 

[Pale Rider]

@Brompton Bruce
What I find odd is pepole can't believe that as a county we can't possibley have any highly trained and experienced professionals.

I agree - my brother was ridiculing the plan to get other manufacturers to make ventilators.

He gave lots of reasons why it's a non-starter.

It might be crap, but he would not accept those who suggested the plan might have enough expertise to make an accurate initial assessment of the viability of it before suggesting it.

 

[Rocky]

Those guys at WHO seem to have a fair bit of experience though.

Which guys? What have they said?

 

[kingrollo]

Which guys? What have they said?

They disagree with the UK on the herd immunity theory.

 

[Dave7]

Now its really getting serious.
Just reading that Jehovahs Witnesses have cancelled all door to door witnessing, all public meetings and all those public literature carts you see.

 

[Rocky]

They disagree with the UK on the herd immunity theory.

Do you have a link? I’d like to read it.

As I understand it, if the country doesn’t develop a herd immunity, when the virus evolves into something worse in the winter (as is predicted) then there’ll be real trouble.