Coronavirus outbreak

[mjr]

So apparently That Hancock announced at yesterday's sermon that the UK is finally going to include home deaths in the daily figures, but oddly his speech hasn't appeared on the usual gov.uk page. https://www.thejournal.ie/uk-covid19-deaths-care-homes-5086681-Apr2020/

 

[mjr]

Also yesterday's sermon had Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame McLean say about public general mask-wearing: "SAGE has put so much effort into looking at this question but the answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small"

 

[nickyboy]

Turns out your warning was very correct.

I wish I'd been totally wrong

My attention is now focussed on what may be the situation in the coming years. It's clear that we will get the first wave under control like almost all other countries and we will have a staged release of lockdown

But what about 2021,2022,2023?

No vaccine til 2021 at the earliest. And loads of evidence to show that making an effective vaccine is really difficult. Plus we don't understand how long immunity may last etc etc

I'm no Coronavirus Nostradamus but FWIW I think we're living with some Coronavirus effect on our lives for years to come

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Also yesterday's sermon had Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame McLean say about public general mask-wearing: "SAGE has put so much effort into looking at this question but the answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small"

Which could be more strategic than scientific if there's a concern about medical masks being diverted for general population use.

 

[PeteXXX]

My company has announced that it has withdrawn the offer of testing key staff due to changes in government policy (they are working on how to help, though).
All we have, now, is a link to the gov site that is only, apparently, for key workers who have shown symptoms or are self isolating.
I've got more chance of getting my order, or an answer, from Suttons Seeds!!

 

[Levo-Lon]

We have these waterproof masks @tom73

Wear all day, we have enough for 3 months at one per staff per day.
Not very pleasant things, some staff me included may look at buying something better.
But that might be difficult

 

[MarkF]

Well done Matt .... PPE shortage forcers trust to prioritise staff on racial grounds.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-52455233

It's via seniority too, upstairs and downstairs if you like, in a "dirty" area, all the medics & nurses are fully garbed, I am half garbed with a lot of skin exposed......for often an unecessarily long time. I am ok with it tbh, they are far more important, but my eyes tell me that the shortage of PPE is not the governments fault alone. When you have porters taking control and refusing to do tasks unless systems that they suggest (to reduce PPE waste) are implemented, then things have gone badly wrong and others are hiding...........

 

[mjr]

Which could be more strategic than scientific if there's a concern about medical masks being diverted for general population use.

What's the S of SAGE?

 

[MarkF]

We have these waterproof masks @tom73

Wear all day, we have enough for 3 months at one per staff per day.
Not very pleasant things, some staff me included may look at buying something better.
But that might be difficult

They are my favourite, you should be able to mould the upper wire to your nose, unless it's a weird shape, to stop movement but they don't offer much protection, the sides are always gaping. I wear them because they are the comfiest, the easiest to remove & replace and they stop you touching your face as much as the others.

I will use them to move a virus confirmed patient, but often regret it if they start coughing.
I wear them for 2 hours max, IMO they are hazardous after that, especially if you are hot & bothered. If I wore one all day then I'd expect to get ill.
I will not wear them if I am in a "dirty" area, or alongside a virus confirmed patient for any length of time, I want an FFP3 one (not 3M ) or I'll walk.

 

[johnblack]

Interesting article on Bloomberg today which confirms that Cummings was quite involved in the discussions at SAGE but was trying to push them to commit to a lock down and pushed for faster action https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-s-johnson-pushed-scientists-to-back-lockdown

 

[tom73]

We have these waterproof masks @tom73

Wear all day, we have enough for 3 months at one per staff per day.
Not very pleasant things, some staff me included may look at buying something better.
But that might be difficult

They are water resistant type once they get damp they need changing. You may get 4 hours tops out of them if they stay clean that is.
If the pressure on the back of your ears is a problem using a paper clip helps. Or If you know anyone that knits some made Mrs 73 one of these. When she not in full PPE that is.

 

[Rocky]

Also yesterday's sermon had Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame McLean say about public general mask-wearing: "SAGE has put so much effort into looking at this question but the answer is clear that the evidence is weak and the effect is small"

They haven’t put much effort into looking at the evidence and are looking purely for RCTs. Government is currently being guided by ‘libertarians’ such as Robert Dingwall who has a track record of opposing any intervention that compels the public to do something. He was against compulsory ‘flu jabs for health care professionals a while back. Sadly much of the government’s approach to public face masks is being driven by (i) ideology and (ii) fears that it will cause shortages for HCP.

 

[randynewmanscat]

We have these waterproof masks @tom73

Wear all day, we have enough for 3 months at one per staff per day.
Not very pleasant things, some staff me included may look at buying something better.
But that might be difficult

I think if you browse and ask around for long enough you will lay hands on some decent ones, I know the health services are having to work very hard but they want trucks full of such products.
I managed to find N95 masks at a pharmacy not far away. I had to order them as any shop stock was bought instantly from the counter. The pharmacy had a limit of ten per customer order so as not to encourage scalping or hoarding. Regular price they said so no gouging apparent yet. I could reorder within 7 days if I needed but I barely go out, 5 is enough for now.

 

[tom73]

The same Robert Dingwall who wants beer gardens open and says no point to social distancing ?
Science has been sidelined before due to PPE shortage as BBC panorama showed.

 

[mjr]

Fox News suspected of being slightly biased in its polls about Trump's handling of the outbreak: