Coronavirus Super Thread ( merged )

[The Internet]

Cheers guys 👍 I knew it would be lower over the weekend but didn't expect it to be that low. 

[Jambof3tornado]

11 minutes ago, DETTY29 said:

She will.

 

Its just the way of life.

I'm not sure she will given the gross misconduct element of her moving aside. Can you also imagine the fallout when joe public learns how much its cost us as taxpayers!!

[coconut doug]

How could a woman with such disregard for the law and public health advice retain her position as CMO?

 

How could the FM not see that supporting somebody who has shown this disregard completely undermines the government’s public health strategy and act accodingly?

 

What exclusive expertise could a gynaecologist bring to this role that virologist or epidemiologist could not?

 

  Are there no specialists in the government's response team?

 

From what I saw of her she seemed quite inarticulate and lacking in understanding.

[jambos are go!]

1 hour ago, East Lothian Jambo said:

The gravity of this situation is such that the very best and most able and learned people should be involved in the fight against this pandemic. Political views are inconsequential 

 

I very much hope that's the case 

Agreed. Let's all shut up about politics.

[JudyJudyJudy]

11 minutes ago, jambos are go! said:

Agreed. Let's all shut up about politics.

Spot on

[Cade]

Several MPs calling for Air BnB to be banned from taking bookings during lockdown.

Which is only sensible.

[Dazo]

1 minute ago, Cade said:

Several MPs calling for Air BnB to be banned from taking bookings during lockdown.

Which is only sensible.

Should they not already be closed like other non essential businesses?

[redjambo]

11 minutes ago, Cade said:

Several MPs calling for Air BnB to be banned from taking bookings during lockdown.

Which is only sensible.

 

The question is, should they be allowed to take bookings for later on in the year? And, if so, when would the cut-off date be? Obviously it's impossible to tell at the moment how long the lockdown will last.

[milky_26]

11 minutes ago, Cade said:

Several MPs calling for Air BnB to be banned from taking bookings during lockdown.

Which is only sensible.

probably due to things like this

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52184497

 

advertising it as covid 19 retreats in the countryside

[Sharpie]

Not the nicest subject but with the volume of deaths is it possible that they cannot state a positive cause of death until an autopsy has been performed and the definite cause of death is known.  When the stats involve many old people the actual cause of loss of life although infected with the virus may actually be the result of something else. The pathology departments must at the moment be under heavy workloads

 

[Cade]

1 minute ago, redjambo said:

 

The question is, should they be allowed to take bookings for later on in the year? And, if so, when would the cut-off date be? Obviously it's impossible to tell at the moment how long the lockdown will last.

Should be banned from making any bookings until the situation changes.

[Spellczech]

1 hour ago, scott herbertson said:

 

 

Yes - very tough for staff in these settings. Often very low paid, having to travel in on public transport and high potential exposure with limited protection.

That's a fair comment. My wife has started working shifts in ward 118 at the Royal which is the COVID ICU ward. She says she actually feels more comfortable working there with the full-on PPE than she felt continuing in the other wards where social distancing is impossible and patients were coming to them without being tested.

[redjambo]

2 minutes ago, Spellczech said:

That's a fair comment. My wife has started working shifts in ward 118 at the Royal which is the COVID ICU ward. She says she actually feels more comfortable working there with the full-on PPE than she felt continuing in the other wards where social distancing is impossible and patients were coming to them without being tested.

 

The eye of the hurricane, infection-wise. All the best to your wife and thanks for the work that she's doing.

[Spellczech]

11 minutes ago, redjambo said:

 

The eye of the hurricane, infection-wise. All the best to your wife and thanks for the work that she's doing.

 

She's more concerned about bringing it home to me TBH as 75% of ICU cases are male, so if I suddenly disappear from here you'll know why! 

 

For my part I give her a shot of 70% absinthe as a welcome home gift and I give her the clap every Thursday! Strange how useless and pointless my career choice feels these days...

Edited April 6, 2020 by Spellczech

[Cade]

Scientists reckon an effective antibody test is still a month away.

Then we'd have to manufacture them.

Then distribute them.

Then actually begin mass testing.

 

This is not going to be a quick fix.

 

[redjambo]

7 minutes ago, Spellczech said:

 

She's more concerned about bringing it home to me TBH as 75% of ICU cases are male, so if I suddenly disappear from here you'll know why! 

 

For my part I give her a shot of 70% absinthe as a welcome home gift and I give her the clap every Thursday! Strange how useless and pointless my career choice feels these days...

 

That would do the trick. My whisky consumption has certainly upped since the pandemic started.

 

Yup, I'm thinking exactly the same about my career choice...

[DETTY29]

55 minutes ago, coconut doug said:

How could a woman with such disregard for the law and public health advice retain her position as CMO?

She couldn't.  It was always about managing her out.  

55 minutes ago, coconut doug said:

 

How could the FM not see that supporting somebody who has shown this disregard completely undermines the government’s public health strategy and act accodingly?

It was a fast moving feast from finding out late Saturday, trying to get a resemblance of facts, probably believing info was being kept from her by the CMO. Press conference already being scheduled and so on.

 

Done and dusted within 24 hours in line, if not ahead of many other political relates scandals.

55 minutes ago, coconut doug said:

 

 

What exclusive expertise could a gynaecologist bring to this role that virologist or epidemiologist could not?

Her role is Chief Medical Officer and apologies, covers more than one specialist health issue.  Another poster has alluded that through Calderwood's other medical background outside of gynaecology, her research potentially saved his, her life through through a cancer related illness.

55 minutes ago, coconut doug said:

 

  Are there no specialists in the government's response team?

 

From what I saw of her she seemed quite inarticulate and lacking in understanding.

I thought she was getting the message across, just that like many other high profile figures probably believed in her own hype and thought she was above the ordinary Joe.

[DETTY29]

12 minutes ago, redjambo said:

 

That would do the trick. My whisky consumption has certainly upped since the pandemic started.

 

Yup, I'm thinking exactly the same about my career choice...

Chore around house, crack open another tin, log onto JKB.

 

Repeat till wife comes home from work, in 26 hours time.

 

[cannonfoda]

28 minutes ago, Spellczech said:

That's a fair comment. My wife has started working shifts in ward 118 at the Royal which is the COVID ICU ward. She says she actually feels more comfortable working there with the full-on PPE than she felt continuing in the other wards where social distancing is impossible and patients were coming to them without being tested.

My wife's working in the community as health visitor.  They've almost zero ppe equipment and no clear guidelines on what to do.  She's worried about passing onto us (kids and me) if and when she gets moved to the wards. 

 

Still feels like herd immunity is where we're trying to go with token attempt at keeping NHS afloat.   

 

Stay safe everyone and we'll see Tynecastle again.  

[highlandjambo3]

33 minutes ago, redjambo said:

 

The question is, should they be allowed to take bookings for later on in the year? And, if so, when would the cut-off date be? Obviously it's impossible to tell at the moment how long the lockdown will last.

Several things to consider here......

 

I am currently taking bookings for later in the year via my own website or, via booking.com.  The rooms can be cancelled up until 7 days before guests are due to arrive.  I’ve had many cancellations and will continue to do so until the situation changes but, people remain optimistic about later in the year.

 

I have set up an automated message which people receive as soon as they book regarding currently taking no tourists.

 

Government restrictions on 26 March stated that holiday/accommodation providers should not be taking tourists but, there are a list of people I can take, in the last week I have had:

 

Pharmacy support worker (sent to cover staff shortage)

Tesco  supervisor (sent to cover staff shortage)

Tomorrow I have a hospital engineer who repairs hospital equipment

I also have a worker who travels here from some distance to work 4 days a week, she normally stays with her elderly mum but the risk is to great.

So, that’s 4 people who are deemed important enough to be allowed to travel for work.

 

In summary, I’m open fir business, it’s just business is a bit different.

 

p.s, there is no personal contact, there is a combination key press on the front door so they check in themselves and, currently suspended breakfast so, there is absolutely no contact with anyone staying at my place.  We also provide cleaning kit at the front door so the risk is as low as it can be.

 

 

[Pasquale for King]

That’s The Open been cancelled now that was supposed to be in Mid July. Can there really be sensible plans to play football at that time?

[redjambo]

25 minutes ago, highlandjambo3 said:

Several things to consider here......

 

I am currently taking bookings for later in the year via my own website or, via booking.com.  The rooms can be cancelled up until 7 days before guests are due to arrive.  I’ve had many cancellations and will continue to do so until the situation changes but, people remain optimistic about later in the year.

 

I have set up an automated message which people receive as soon as they book regarding currently taking no tourists.

 

Government restrictions on 26 March stated that holiday/accommodation providers should not be taking tourists but, there are a list of people I can take, in the last week I have had:

 

Pharmacy support worker (sent to cover staff shortage)

Tesco  supervisor (sent to cover staff shortage)

Tomorrow I have a hospital engineer who repairs hospital equipment

I also have a worker who travels here from some distance to work 4 days a week, she normally stays with her elderly mum but the risk is to great.

So, that’s 4 people who are deemed important enough to be allowed to travel for work.

 

In summary, I’m open fir business, it’s just business is a bit different.

 

p.s, there is no personal contact, there is a combination key press on the front door so they check in themselves and, currently suspended breakfast so, there is absolutely no contact with anyone staying at my place.  We also provide cleaning kit at the front door so the risk is as low as it can be.

 

 

[redjambo]

11 minutes ago, Pasquale for King said:

That’s The Open been cancelled now that was supposed to be in Mid July. Can there really be sensible plans to play football at that time?

 

I suspect that the footballing authorities are banking on playing their football behind closed doors. That way, they've just got to ensure that the players, support staff etc. are virus-free.

[coconut doug]

1 minute ago, DETTY29 said:

She couldn't.  It was always about managing her out.

  

You are most likely correct but if that is the case then the FM hung her out to dry did she not?

 

It was a fast moving feast from finding out late Saturday, trying to get a resemblance of facts, probably believing info was being kept from her by the CMO. Press conference already being scheduled and so on.

i got the impression that Calderwood would have been delighted to resign immediately.

  

1 minute ago, DETTY29 said:

 

Done and dusted within 24 hours in line, if not ahead of many other political relates scandals.

I thought the FM looked embarrassed and at the PC and went all out to defend the CMO. I think she thought they could both ride it out.

 

1 minute ago, DETTY29 said:

Her role is Chief Medical Officer and apologies, covers more than one specialist health issue.  Another poster has alluded that through Calderwood's other medical background outside of gynaecology, her research potentially saved his, her life through through a cancer related illness. Exactly this, public health is not her areas of expertise so why was she so indispensable?

I thought she was getting the message across, just that like many other high profile figures probably believed in her own hype and thought she was above the ordinary Joe. Maybe, but she obviously wasn't convinced by the government's policy even though she helped to put it together. I thought her performances at PCs were poor. She often seemed to miss the point of the question and the monotone, expressionless delivery in the public information broadcasts were totally lacking in conviction and now we know why. 

 

[Tazio]

Pep Guardiola's mother has died from it, confirmed in a tweet from Man City.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

58 minutes ago, Spellczech said:

That's a fair comment. My wife has started working shifts in ward 118 at the Royal which is the COVID ICU ward. She says she actually feels more comfortable working there with the full-on PPE than she felt continuing in the other wards where social distancing is impossible and patients were coming to them without being tested.

 

My wife was telling me that the other day she had a patient who had a bit of a cough and a slight temperature, all she had was a bog standard disposable face mask, she's taking stats etc, he's coughing away, she's trying to turn away from his coughing.

 

Next day she goes in to work and learns that the guy deteriorated during the night and was taken away to one of the covid wards.

No wonder staff are dropping like flies, they have little to no protection and suspected covid patients are scattered all over the hospital on normal wards, nobody is getting tested until they get transfered to a covid ward, it's a fecking total shambles.

[The Mighty Thor]

Reading more and more about the 'peak' being in the next 7-10 days.

The peak of what? Currently active cases? The whole thing?

Perhaps I'm being a bit thick here but if the population is locked down then infection isn't spreading then surely it's not the peak at all and is in fact only the peak of a relatively small number of current infections versus a 70m population?

Still no meaningful testing, still no antibody testing. 

I think the language has to change here, there's a growing chatter and belief that this will be over and done with in a fortnight, which is nowhere near likely IMO.

 

[Pasquale for King]

45 minutes ago, redjambo said:

 

I suspect that the footballing authorities are banking on playing their football behind closed doors. That way, they've just got to ensure that the players, support staff etc. are virus-free.

Yeah that’s practically impossible to do though isn’t it, everyone involved would need to be self isolated from everyone else and you would still need emergency staff. You would have the situation they had in Paris amongst other place where thousands gather outside. Imagine the problems outside Anfield on the day they win the league? The police will never agree to it.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

34 minutes ago, The Mighty Thor said:

Reading more and more about the 'peak' being in the next 7-10 days.

The peak of what? Currently active cases? The whole thing?

Perhaps I'm being a bit thick here but if the population is locked down then infection isn't spreading then surely it's not the peak at all and is in fact only the peak of a relatively small number of current infections versus a 70m population?

Still no meaningful testing, still no antibody testing. 

I think the language has to change here, there's a growing chatter and belief that this will be over and done with in a fortnight, which is nowhere near likely IMO.

 

 

I'd forget any antibody testing anytime soon, as they are still being evaluated and none of the 2 or 3 different tests being evaluated have shown that they work to a satisfactory level.

 

It was reported in the media yesterday that the UK had ordered 17.5m tests, my understanding is that is wrong.

The UK would make a total order of 17.5m eventually, a provisional order of 3.5m was made but would only be acted upon if the test passed the evaluation, so the only antibody tests in the country right now are basically the samples which are being used for evaluation, I don't know how many, maybe a few hundred or a thousand or two, but certainly not in the millions, that's my understanding.

 

The thing is they might not even work, that is a distinct possibility.

 

[manaliveits105]

1 hour ago, cannonfoda said:

My wife's working in the community as health visitor.  They've almost zero ppe equipment and no clear guidelines on what to do.  She's worried about passing onto us (kids and me) if and when she gets moved to the wards. 

 

Still feels like herd immunity is where we're trying to go with token attempt at keeping NHS afloat.   

 

Stay safe everyone and we'll see Tynecastle again.  

 

1 hour ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

My wife was telling me that the other day she had a patient who had a bit of a cough and a slight temperature, all she had was a bog standard disposable face mask, she's taking stats etc, he's coughing away, she's trying to turn away from his coughing.

 

Next day she goes in to work and learns that the guy deteriorated during the night and was taken away to one of the covid wards.

No wonder staff are dropping like flies, they have little to no protection and suspected covid patients are scattered all over the hospital on normal wards, nobody is getting tested until they get transfered to a covid ward, it's a fecking total shambles.

NS said today there is a hotline to contact for PPE 

[Victorian]

Idiotic duplication of questions yet again.

[AlimOzturk]

5373 UK deaths now. 

 

That's only counting recent hospital deaths

Edited April 6, 2020 by AlimOzturk

[milky_26]

2 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said:

5373 UK deaths now. 

not including northern ireland and i would expect there is a lag in the number due to the weekend

 

ignore the NI bit s that is related to the total number tested

Edited April 6, 2020 by milky_26

[Jambo-Jimbo]

10 minutes ago, manaliveits105 said:

 

NS said today there is a hotline to contact for PPE 

 

Yeh, and how long do you think you'd have a job after you contacted them.

[milky_26]

12 minutes ago, Victorian said:

Idiotic duplication of questions yet again.

it is really annoying me that they think oh i'll just rephrase a question that has already be asked. it does kind of make a lot of this pointless

[hughesie27]

6 minutes ago, milky_26 said:

it is really annoying me that they think oh i'll just rephrase a question that has already be asked. it does kind of make a lot of this pointless

Mainly because they won't answer them.

[jambopilms]

5 minutes ago, hughesie27 said:

Mainly because they won't answer them.

They are not going to answer them on the 3rd/4th time if not on the first. They really need to co-ordinate the questions, its really amateur stuff

[Victorian]

I think it's certain that the lockdown in it's current form will be extended again for 1 or 2 times in 2 or 3 week periods,   but I get the distinct impression it will be altered or relaxed as soon as the data begins to support it.     

[vegas-voss]

1 hour ago, The Mighty Thor said:

Reading more and more about the 'peak' being in the next 7-10 days.

The peak of what? Currently active cases? The whole thing?

Perhaps I'm being a bit thick here but if the population is locked down then infection isn't spreading then surely it's not the peak at all and is in fact only the peak of a relatively small number of current infections versus a 70m population?

Still no meaningful testing, still no antibody testing. 

I think the language has to change here, there's a growing chatter and belief that this will be over and done with in a fortnight, which is nowhere near likely IMO.

 

Peak to just sounds like hospitals are able to cope better.This thing is here for a long time honestly only take one person to catch and the whole thing could start again.

[kila]

1 minute ago, Victorian said:

I think it's certain that the lockdown in it's current form will be extended again for 1 or 2 times in 2 or 3 week periods,   but I get the distinct impression it will be altered or relaxed as soon as the data begins to support it.     

 

Maybe see an additional 5 folk allowed into supermarkets soon

 

 

[vegas-voss]

1 minute ago, kila said:

 

Maybe see an additional 5 folk allowed into supermarkets soon

 

 

Asda already set to relax things back to opening until 10pm Mon - Wed

[Spellczech]

1 hour ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

My wife was telling me that the other day she had a patient who had a bit of a cough and a slight temperature, all she had was a bog standard disposable face mask, she's taking stats etc, he's coughing away, she's trying to turn away from his coughing.

 

Next day she goes in to work and learns that the guy deteriorated during the night and was taken away to one of the covid wards.

No wonder staff are dropping like flies, they have little to no protection and suspected covid patients are scattered all over the hospital on normal wards, nobody is getting tested until they get transfered to a covid ward, it's a fecking total shambles.

The worst thing is that many nurses are not sceptical enough and take what the bosses say on trust. My wife asks questions (in a calmer manner than me though! Haha) and from what I can tell the recommendations for PPE are fitted to what is available because some dumb f#@ks failed to order it is January and February... ie last week a lot of PPE did get distributed to the hospitals and lo-and-behold they upgraded the "recommended protection to bring it into line with WHO". The level of incompetence at the top is frightening, and a lot of people at the bottom will suffer because of it. I hope people remember this when the likes of of Gove, Whitty, Vallance and Hancock are getting Lordships.

[hughesie27]

1 minute ago, vegas-voss said:

Asda already set to relax things back to opening until 10pm Mon - Wed

Probably more a reflection on the reduction of idiots buying weeks worth of food in one go than anything else. Think they were shutting early in order to have enough time to re-stock the shelves before the next day.

[Konrad von Carstein]

3 minutes ago, kila said:

 

Maybe see an additional 5 folk allowed into supermarkets soon

 

 

 

1 minute ago, vegas-voss said:

Asda already set to relax things back to opening until 10pm Mon - Wed

Was in Tesco Dunfermline earlier, not too busy but the amount of numbskulls who couldn't follow simple arrows on the floor telling you which to go round was incredible! So they should maybe hold that thought.

[jambogaza]

23 minutes ago, Victorian said:

I think it's certain that the lockdown in it's current form will be extended again for 1 or 2 times in 2 or 3 week periods,   but I get the distinct impression it will be altered or relaxed as soon as the data begins to support it.     

 

Which is entirely the right approach.

Public health exists on both sides of this - the imminent threat of the virus and the enduring impact of an economic depression. The poorest/lowest paid would be disproportionately affected by an economic meltdown, which could lead to increased substance misuse, mental health issues, homelessness etc. There needs to be a balance.

[vegas-voss]

Wuhan city residents to be allowed out April 8th.

 

I think that shows we are a long way from relaxing things too much.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

20 minutes ago, Spellczech said:

The worst thing is that many nurses are not sceptical enough and take what the bosses say on trust. My wife asks questions (in a calmer manner than me though! Haha) and from what I can tell the recommendations for PPE are fitted to what is available because some dumb f#@ks failed to order it is January and February... ie last week a lot of PPE did get distributed to the hospitals and lo-and-behold they upgraded the "recommended protection to bring it into line with WHO". The level of incompetence at the top is frightening, and a lot of people at the bottom will suffer because of it. I hope people remember this when the likes of of Gove, Whitty, Vallance and Hancock are getting Lordships.

 

Yeh, my wife is like that as well, she will speak out, but nicely, me I wouldn't last a week, too much of a hot head I am (ain't got the stomach for it either).

 

My wife's beef wasn't that they had just the basic PPE, no that wasn't the problem, the problem was patients who were not being tested but showing several signs of Covid-19 being put into normal wards, not only could they infect other patients but the staff were at a greater risk as well.

But the powers that be, just say they don't have Covid-19, well how the feck would they know if they're not testing them.

I think your wife was saying something similar about the lack of testing.

 

Indeed it's scary the level of incompetence, it truly is, but you'll know what happens as well as I do................if you rock the boat too much, but I do feel that something will give after all this is over.

[Victorian]

15 minutes ago, jambogaza said:

 

Which is entirely the right approach.

Public health exists on both sides of this - the imminent threat of the virus and the enduring impact of an economic depression. The poorest/lowest paid would be disproportionately affected by an economic meltdown, which could lead to increased substance misuse, mental health issues, homelessness etc. There needs to be a balance.

 

There is a very difficult balance to find somehow.    But I think everyone must know that any official signal that lockdown measures are being eased will most likely result in a significant rush back to widespread movements and interactions.     

 

It could very well be that the exit from the measures can never be done without that happening.    But I would like to see a clear and sustained drop away from the peak first.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

1 minute ago, vegas-voss said:

Wuhan city residents to be allowed out April 8th.

 

I think that shows we are a long way from relaxing things too much.

 

4 months mate, I said it, what seems ages ago now.

 

June/July at best, August if the clowns keep on ignoring things.

[neilnunb]

Highest daily death toll in France since epidemic began

France has reported 833 deaths in 24 hours, its highest since the outbreak began.

The figure includes people who died in hospitals and nursing homes.

The total number of fatalities from coronavirus there now stands at 8,911 - the third highest in the world after Italy and Spain.

"We have not yet reached the end of the ascent of this epidemic," Health Minister Olivier Véran said.

 

 

Italy death toll jumps again

Some bad news now from Italy.

The country has seen the daily death toll fall in recent days but on Monday went back up again, with 636 deaths reported - a jump of more than 100 from the previous day.

The infection rate is still slowing, though, with 3,599 new cases, a growth of 2.8%.