SARS CoV-2 coronavirus / Covid-19 (No tin foil hat silliness please)

My mrs is a district nurse, 2 of her patients tested positive today.

She tested negative a week ago.

Both patients have Alzheimer's and are housebound so........how did they get it?

Enjoy your family xmas dinners everyone.

Thats terrible. Is your missus their only outside contact?
 
That's all well and good but unlikely to be very much better. The second wave says it all. Because of

1) mAh fReEdOm!!111!!1
2) Big money simply has too much power and influence to bribe politicians to do as they say. And they say reopen the economy so that they can make an extra euro/pound/dollar.

Only possible if the plebs are willing to forego their 'freedoms'. We have all the technology and data analytical tools to track movement of individuals, but the west also has a citizenry who wont ever trust their Governments to use such measures.

'Free Democratic' societies seem like the best place for a virus to create a pandemic. I'm sure this has been noted by every would be bio-terrorist for future plans.

Yes, you are probably right, But planning for a pandemic needs to be done in retrospective on lessons learnt as a global event and will take years to analyze the data and what could be done better (a lot) specially on what you said on the "freedom"

Besides 30-40% of nutjobs in US due to Trump (without Trump's rhetoric would be way less) and a few in Europe, most of the population would comply with the rules if it would seem that a plan exist. So far it had been shambolic patching, non unified directive that changes the next day and even the politicians don't respect the rules that they put in place.

With a more defined plan from the governments and the population knowing better the basics learnt, next time we will improve massively and specially, the situation would be able to be tackled before it crosses borders.

Europe closed borders with UK with no hesitation after the new strain that is something that it was not done with china or italy at the beginning (although maybe too late when we knew). I am sure it will be regulations and protocols on that in the future as many more
 
Only possible if the plebs are willing to forego their 'freedoms'. We have all the technology and data analytical tools to track movement of individuals, but the west also has a citizenry who wont ever trust their Governments to use such measures.

'Free Democratic' societies seem like the best place for a virus to create a pandemic. I'm sure this has been noted by every would be bio-terrorist for future plans.
Taiwan is a free democratic society.
 
Just got my test result!!!

Negative. So I'm gonna continue to isolate as much as possible and see my family in Christmas day (not against the rules as I'm technically living by myself right now).

Chuffed.
 
Germany with 944 deaths.

UK will probably be 700-900 soon like we've seen in Italy and Germany recently

Have to admit compared to Jan to March I thought with awareness, many times more testing, masks, protocols in care homes etc, maybe even better care procedures, deaths in European countries would max out around the 400-600 range or the equivalent thereof in regards to countries like Belgium. Only difference has been the slower build.
 
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Taiwan is a free democratic society.
But I’m guessing it’s citizens are a lot more compliant to Government instructions and perhaps more responsible towards their fellow citizens? What was their secret to success?
 
But I’m guessing it’s citizens are a lot more compliant to Government instructions and perhaps more responsible towards their fellow citizens? What was their secret to success?
Trust is earned by transparency and honesty.
 


Not great news about potential for mass testing helping safe return to universities.

I can't stop thinking about this.

Also - funnily enough - my work colleague was asymptomatic (he thought he had a cold) took one of these lateral flow tests, came back positive, had an PCR test, came back positive.
 
Yes, you are probably right, But planning for a pandemic needs to be done in retrospective on lessons learnt as a global event and will take years to analyze the data and what could be done better (a lot) specially on what you said on the "freedom"

Besides 30-40% of nutjobs in US due to Trump (without Trump's rhetoric would be way less) and a few in Europe, most of the population would comply with the rules if it would seem that a plan exist. So far it had been shambolic patching, non unified directive that changes the next day and even the politicians don't respect the rules that they put in place.

With a more defined plan from the governments and the population knowing better the basics learnt, next time we will improve massively and specially, the situation would be able to be tackled before it crosses borders.

Europe closed borders with UK with no hesitation after the new strain that is something that it was not done with china or italy at the beginning (although maybe too late when we knew). I am sure it will be regulations and protocols on that in the future as many more
Everything you say is correct and I also strongly agree.

The U.K. was unfortunate in that it had literally just installed a new set of cabinet ministers and Prime Minister, none of whom had experience on how Government should function to handle such a seismic crisis, let alone Boris's Government executive whom were not the best in class minds of the Conservative party.

So we had the most important people in the country having to learn about the subject and how to work together as a team on the hoof! This motley group of idiots (Cummings, Hancock, Patel, Sanuk, Gove & Raab) were also proudly ‘rule Britannia’ so I’m sure also resistant to global insight and learnings, and thinking they knew best.

Personally I think U.K. would have done far better if led by Theresa May and her cabinet during Covid, despite her many failings as a leader.
 
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Apparently people in the UK are getting text messages to Shield again which is quite scary. Pretty sure they said on Saturday that wouldn't happen. Govt is spooked.
 
Apparently people in the UK are getting text messages to Shield again which is quite scary. Pretty sure they said on Saturday that wouldn't happen. Govt is spooked.
This shit is getting ridiculous day by day. In only the last couple of days this has escalated so fast.
 
You shouldn’t be. I teach in one of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK and I cannot stress enough just how important it is that children are attending school.

If there is to be a (brief) move to online learning in response to the current concerns, government should bloody well hurry up and let us know. There has been systemic failure across the board in relation to the handling of this pandemic but I find it hard to articulate just how preposterous the response has been from within my own context of working in education. Schools have generally risen to the challenge, climbed above the inadequacy, and then some.

In response to this, I’ll be spending next week making sure my Google Classroom resources are good to go for the following week. These halfwits will probably wait until the Sunday night to make the decision so I’d best get ahead.
I don't personally think online learning will be enough for Children, there's some thing that just simply cannot be taught through a screen, social competence being the main one.

Not to mention, school is literally the only way some kids get a hot meal, for others school is the only time they're free of abuse, the only chance to live like a normal kid.

Anyone who actively wants schools (especially primary) to shut down are either ignorant or the lowest of the low.
 
France haven't opened their borders to the UK except for freight and returning French nationals/ residents provided the people involved test negative.

Also the schools in France have not been closed since before the summer holidays.

How come France can shut the border when early on in the pandemic the UK allegedly couldn't because "the EU"?
 
Apparently people in the UK are getting text messages to Shield again which is quite scary. Pretty sure they said on Saturday that wouldn't happen. Govt is spooked.
Severity of this third wave seems like it could be worst than the first wave.
Am expecting much stricter restrictions than what tier 4 demands immediately after Xmas day.
 
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But I’m guessing it’s citizens are a lot more compliant to Government instructions and perhaps more responsible towards their fellow citizens? What was their secret to success?
1. Lack of trust towards China. By the day China announced the occurence of suspicious pneumonia (Dec 31), they immediately treated this virus as SARS and took preventive actions. This was the press release from the Taiwan CDC and you could note the date posted (Google translate if interested). They were also the first region to close the border against China. https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/zicpvVlBKj-UVeZ5yWBrLQ?typeid=9

2. Banned from the heavily corrupted WHO. The WHO recommendation "not to issue a travelling ban against China" has been proven a joke. In fact, the WHO admitted that they had received an advice from Taiwan warning about this highly infectious virus. What a shame. https://time.com/5826025/taiwan-who-trump-coronavirus-covid19/

3. Self production of rapid detection kits and masks.

4. Adequate policy formulation and compliance.
 
Why did he think he had a cold if he was asymptomatic?
Maybe asymptomatic isn't the right word, given that he had a symptoms but they weren't one of the government ones

Full story:

He has a family friend who has covid. He hasn't seen her though, but his wife and kid have so are self isolating (which is correct).

However, he kept going to work even though his family are isolating (which is also allowed, unless contacted by track and trace)

On Monday, he had a headcold at work.

That's not one of three symptoms that the gov UK looks for to take PCR test (loss of smell and taste, temperature/fever, new continuous cough)

On Tuesday he had a day off. He lives in an area where they are doing tests for people without symptoms for specific groups such as family members of key workers (his wife is a teacher).

He took the lateral flow test and came back positive. He then had to follow it up with a PCR test and came back positive.
 
Maybe asymptomatic isn't the right word, given that he had a symptoms but they weren't one of the government ones

Full story:

He has a family friend who has covid. He hasn't seen her though, but his wife and kid have so are self isolating (which is correct).

However, he kept going to work even though his family are isolating (which is also allowed, unless contacted by track and trace)

On Monday, he had a headcold at work.

That's not one of three symptoms that the gov UK looks for to take PCR test (loss of smell and taste, temperature/fever, new continuous cough)

On Tuesday he had a day off. He lives in an area where they are doing tests for people without symptoms for specific groups such as family members of key workers (his wife is a teacher).

He took the lateral flow test and came back positive. He then had to follow it up with a PCR test and came back positive.
I see.
I think people should really treat any flu or cold-like symptom like its corona untill they gets a negative test back.
 
1. Lack of trust towards China. By the day China announced the occurence of suspicious pneumonia (Dec 31), they immediately treated this virus as SARS and took preventive actions. This was the press release from the Taiwan CDC and you could note the date posted (Google translate if interested). They were also the first region to close the border against China. https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/zicpvVlBKj-UVeZ5yWBrLQ?typeid=9

2. Banned from the heavily corrupted WHO. The WHO recommendation "not to issue a travelling ban against China" has been proven a joke. In fact, the WHO admitted that they had received an advice from Taiwan warning about this highly infectious virus. What a shame. https://time.com/5826025/taiwan-who-trump-coronavirus-covid19/

3. Self production of rapid detection kits and masks.

4. Adequate policy formulation and compliance.
Thanks for explaining. All makes total sense and also doesn’t sound that hard either, so long as a Government has the political will to strictly and quickly enforce.

meanwhile Boris ignored the threat for 3 months and then implemented a very weak and half hearted ‘lockdown’. And carried on making such bungled decisions since. Even this Xmas lockdown is a a diluted joke. So many quick and easy things could be done to make it more difficult for people to break the law:

- why didn't Boris implement the no travelling mandate immediately instead of allowing people 12 hours to get out?
- Shut down all major motorways which can access London and other hotspots? Dramatically reduce intercity trains?
- why not shut major roads between tier zones so people physically can’t drive outside their tier zone?

The U.K. feels like it’s become the new ‘Wuhan’ but we dont have the political will to deal with this threat like the Chinese Government did.
 
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How come France can shut the border when early on in the pandemic the UK allegedly couldn't because "the EU"?

The same reason why the UK approved the vaccine whilst still under EU legislation. Each country is sovereign to make those decisions as I know you know. The UK government and Brexiters telling porkies, never, surely.
 
I see.
I think people should really treat any flu or cold-like symptom like its corona untill they gets a negative test back.
Thing is he wouldn't have even be allowed to get a test under current rules with a "head cold"

Of course he could just lie and say he had other symptoms
 
Thing is he wouldn't have even be allowed to get a test under current rules with a "head cold"

Of course he could just lie and say he had other symptoms
Yes thats a problem of course. And i have sympathy that some people needs to go to work to feed them self or their family.

But in a perfect world everybody would be able to stay home even with the smallest of symptoms untill they go away or 10 days has passed.
 
Are they not fearful or paranoid about getting Covid?
The family members? Fukk nose, divs like everyone else. Lockdown = business as usual, and here we are. I hate to day this and my job will disappear but i hope a load more people die, only way to learn.
 
I find this quite a strange argument. It's hardly absurd to suggest that dozens of countries, particularly in Western Europe, have made a series of entirely avoidable blunders in their response to the pandemic and are suffering as a result. In that context, the idea that they might also have made the same mistake of sending schools back and being unprepared for the inevitable consequences is hardly the absurd suggestion that you are presenting it as.

At the very least in the UK we have Whitty on record in August saying:

So let's not pretend that it was just armchair experts playing at epidemiology who happened to think that the return of schools had associated risks. The problem was the same problem that we've had throughout the pandemic, a tousled haired buffoon was scared to make the unpopular decision he had to make to balance the risks with the benefits of having schools open, and here we are. The failure of other countries to mitigate against the same risks is its own, unrelated, failure of political leadership.

I agree with you the risks were there. They weighed up those risks and made those decisions. Still now, with a clearer idea of the impact of those choices, there is a lot of support for that notion in senior government, in education, among parents, etc. The opposition tends to be strongest among the people outside of that core stakeholder group, who have other priorities. That doesn't mean those priorities are wrong, but it does - in my view - reject the notion that it is an entirely avoidable blunder that demonstrates a failure of political leadership that is present in most major economies.

There is a reason so many of the countries have made that choice. The concerns about interrupting school long-term are not minor, and they're not unjustified. The question is which conern is bigger. That just isn't a no-brainer. I absolutely accept it might be the wrong choice, and I would lean that way at the moment. But I think we should also have the humility to accept that people who are much closer to the issue do have a different, deeper understanding of the consequences. The fact people are listening to their voices over others is not a ridiculous decision to make, it's a difficult judgement call in an uncertain situation.

We do not know the long-term effects it would have because there are not equivalent natural experiments in kicking kids out of school en masse for a prolonged period in a critical stage of their development. My perception from kids in my family is that most kids are much more resilient than their parents and guardians think, but how many kids is it ok to let fall through the cracks? How many infections are worth one kid going off the rails in their education at a critical juncture? That's not an easy question.

I think that, specifically for the UK government, they hugely underestimsted the impact that kids and uni students going back to school and uni would have.

I think that, specifically for the UK, the government assumed that the protections the schools and unis would put in place would be enough.

I think that, specifically for the UK, the UK government is run by a bunch of out-of-touch middle aged men and the occasional childless middle aged woman, and so as a group they *do* lack the common sense you might find from mothers and involved parents.

I suspect that other countries may be similarly run by middle aged men and childless middle aged woman.

I have evidence that the UK government underestimated the impact schools and unis going back would have, from radio interviews, newspaper articles and the destruction of track and trace in September.

I have no idea what your point is :lol:

The point is really simple, on two levels. I'll just re-use the quote from NinjaFletch, but there many others, that contradict your belief that the government thought re-opening schools wouldn't have an effect on the pandemic:

"I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households.
"And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools.
"It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other, and then that's a matter of prioritising. Do we think pubs are more important than schools?"

It may well be required to close other things to allow schools to open. It's not that schools will have no impact, but we think the impact of schools is a worthwhile hit to take because schools are so important, and taking the hit on hospitality is worth it. You can find other views from other government personnel that fit closer to your perspective. The point is that you choose to ignore these ones that contradict your characterisation of "what the government seems to think".

The second point is that you think other governments have made the same "mistake", then your notion of common sense is not actually not that common. Not common for people who are forced to make those decisions and properly weigh up the pros and cons in the way you aren't forced to. Your perspective is what leads you to consider that the obvious choice. But you have people in here that work in education that vehemently reject your notion of the common sense approach to schools. Again, if you choose to only listen to the voices that agree with your view, then all of your views sound like common sense. There's an obvious flaw to that.
 
The family members? Fukk nose, divs like everyone else. Lockdown = business as usual, and here we are. I hate to day this and my job will disappear but i hope a load more people die, only way to learn.
You hope people die?

Classy. Threads reached a new low. No doubt you'll say you were being sarcastic/ironic etc.
 
Everything you say is correct and I also strongly agree.

The U.K. was unfortunate that it had literally just installed a new set of cabinet ministers and Prime Minister, none who had even close enough experience on how Government works to handle such a crisis, let alone this Government executive were also not experienced and best in class minds of that political party.

So we had the most important people in the country having to learn about the subject and how to work together as a team on the hoof! These idiots were also proudly ‘rule Brittainna’ so I’m sure also resistant to global insight and learnings!

personally I think U.K. would have done far better with Theresa May during Covid, despite her many failings as a leader.
Totally agree. Johnson and Cummings stripped out any component minsters in favour of any pro Brexit at any cost Tory MP.

Almost any PM and government from the last 30 or 40 years would've handled this better than Johnson and his crew.
 
Maybe asymptomatic isn't the right word, given that he had a symptoms but they weren't one of the government ones

Full story:

He has a family friend who has covid. He hasn't seen her though, but his wife and kid have so are self isolating (which is correct).

However, he kept going to work even though his family are isolating (which is also allowed, unless contacted by track and trace)

On Monday, he had a headcold at work.

That's not one of three symptoms that the gov UK looks for to take PCR test (loss of smell and taste, temperature/fever, new continuous cough)

On Tuesday he had a day off. He lives in an area where they are doing tests for people without symptoms for specific groups such as family members of key workers (his wife is a teacher).

He took the lateral flow test and came back positive. He then had to follow it up with a PCR test and came back positive.

It just shows what a mess track and trace is. It should be track trace & test. Surely that would cut out the need to isolate, unless you test positive. Unfortunately when infection rates reach a certain level the already inadequate track and trace system becomes less effective as a tool to reduce infection rates. So much for Johnsons boast of a world beating track and trace system. Looks like track and trace is part of the "Hunger Buster" meal deal included with the oven ready Brexit one.
 
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