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

[stepic]

It really is ridiculous, but essentially you're asking your mortgage lender to give you a break because you can't afford it, the systems are automatic after that.

Hopefully someone will put something in place to protect against this

according to the FCA: 'Our guidance makes clear to firms that they should ensure that taking a payment holiday will not impact your credit score.'

however you will still get charged interest on the mortgage during the freeze, and most likely your mortgage payment will increase slightly after the 3 months to make up for it. so it's probably not really worth it unless you REALLY need it.

 

[Jim Beam]

One thing is pretty much certain at this point, this fecker stays/survives on the surface incredibly long. And on top of that, obviously stays in the organism for extensive period of time.

No way that anyone could have predict it would be this contagious.

 

[Fener1907]

Probably one of the doctors @Arruda @Pogue Mahone might be able to reply to this.

My best (totally uninformed) guess is that there should be tests that detect it, but no idea if that happens for normal tests. Assuming that tests detect the antibodies, then yes. For example, you can get a test to see if you have a certain vaccine that you might have got decades ago. If on the other hand, the test checks only for the virus, probably no.

I think that's the one, yeah. Will get the results at some point and, if it turns out it was that, it'd be fascinating considering the time frames.

 

[Adamsk7]

One thing is pretty much certain at this point, this fecker stays/survives on the surface incredibly long. And on top of that, obviously stays in the organism for extensive period of time.

No way that anyone could have predict it would be this contagious.

well actually we still don’t know for sure how long it lasts on anything.

 

[Sandikan]

I couldn't have said it better. A friend of mine told me to stop doing these home workouts because I would tire and hurt my immune system. Everyone thinks he's a scientist and a doctor these days. It's fecking doing my head in

I remember years back a boozy/smoker pal reckoned that a lot of running was "Killing" me, and I was as bad off as them smoking and drinking.
Just bizarre logic.

In fact it's no logic, it's simply justifying their own laziness.
"Oh I would do exercise, but it's bad for you"

Or they hear of the below geezer, who died young, and ignore that it was his genetics that caused it. Not the running!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fixx

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Anybody elses phones try to tell you that the official SMS from GOV_UK was spam?

 

[senorgregster]

One thing is pretty much certain at this point, this fecker stays/survives on the surface incredibly long. And on top of that, obviously stays in the organism for extensive period of time.

No way that anyone could have predict it would be this contagious.

Aside from copper (please nobody act on this)

 

[Ian Reus]

What’s the most risk free way of getting home

Can you pilot the plane?

 

[kouroux]

I remember years back a boozy/smoker pal reckoned that a lot of running was "Killing" me, and I was as bad off as them smoking and drinking.
Just bizarre logic.

In fact it's no logic, it's simply justifying their own laziness.
"Oh I would do exercise, but it's bad for you"

Or they hear of the below geezer, who died young, and ignore that it was his genetics that caused it. Not the running!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fixx

People around here consume a nasty drug imported from Ethiopia called khat, I keep telling people to stop chewing it and smoking cigarettes but I'm basically told to feck off. It's time to get healthy and improve your immune system

 

[Heardy]

Anybody elses phones try to tell you that the official SMS from GOV_UK was spam?

Got the text a few hours ago but ignored it as assumed it was spam and the link was a virus or something

 

[Jim Beam]

well actually we still don’t know for sure how long it lasts on anything.

There were already some studies, or better to call them theories since yeah, it hasn't been confirmed for certain. But, considering how contagious it is, I would be damn surprised if the end result doesn't prove it.

 

[Dan_F]

Mortgage freezes will likely negatively affect their credit score, but yes in theory they could, if their lender allows it.

Why would any employer not apply for the 80% from the government? They don't exactly have to do a lot for it, and get to keep staff on, most of which will be happy with the 80%

That’s not an ideal system with the mortgage freezes then. Seems stupid.

I think they will eventually, but a lot are refusing to pay staff until they get given the money by the government, which is likely to be the end of April. Plus there are a lot of businesses that have just decided now is the time to close permanently, meaning staff have lost jobs.

 

[rednotled]

Probably one of the doctors @Arruda @Pogue Mahone might be able to reply to this.

My best (totally uninformed) guess is that there should be tests that detect it, but no idea if that happens for normal tests. Assuming that tests detect the antibodies, then yes. For example, you can get a test to see if you have a certain vaccine that you might have got decades ago. If on the other hand, the test checks only for the virus, probably no.

The BBC "click" show aired on the w/e intimated that the tests for antibodies were currently being developed.
Also https://www.sciencemag.org/news/202...es-could-show-true-scale-coronavirus-pandemic suggest that the test virus test is not (currently) anti-body based.

Most likely then. that the test for 'have you got it" is different to the test for "have you had it".

EDIT: what @Arruda says a few posts down

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Got the text a few hours ago but ignored it as assumed it was spam and the link was a virus or something

Unfortunately so did millions of others. It's legit but Twitter is lighting up with people saying it looked to spammy to be real.

 

[Fully Fledged]

My local park today was heaving. Police had to go and disperse everyone. It’s beyond ridiculous.

Get the water-cannons out.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

My local park today was heaving. Police had to go and disperse everyone. It’s beyond ridiculous.

FFS, this isn't the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Stay home or the virus wins.

 

[LordNinio]

Apparently mortgage freezes won’t be a direct mark on your credit report however the months without any payments are likely to be picked up by the system as part of a continuity report.

according to the FCA: 'Our guidance makes clear to firms that they should ensure that taking a payment holiday will not impact your credit score.'

however you will still get charged interest on the mortgage during the freeze, and most likely your mortgage payment will increase slightly after the 3 months to make up for it. so it's probably not really worth it unless you REALLY need it.

That's good to hear, I know that wasn't clear a few days ago, a lot of people were very worried about the implications

 

[Arruda]

Just a quick question about that bolded bit - if somebody had it in, say, January and got over it with few to no symptoms, would they still be able to test positive for it in March?

Thanks @Revan

Tests are being made by rtPCR, which looks for the virus' RNA. Hence no, if the infection has cleared you won't test positive.

I've heard of some IgG/IgM tests going around, but know little to nothing about them. This sort of test searches for antibodies and would, presumably, be able to tell if you have antibodies agains coronavirus. I expect these to become important in the future if they can tell the difference between who is already immune or not. It would be tremendous to know who had assymptomatic infection, and if research proves these people will be immune, imaginw the benefit. You'll have an increasingly large population that you know would be safe to go out and take the higher-risk jobs.

 

[LordNinio]

That’s not an ideal system with the mortgage freezes then. Seems stupid.

I think they will eventually, but a lot are refusing to pay staff until they get given the money by the government, which is likely to be the end of April. Plus there are a lot of businesses that have just decided now is the time to close permanently, meaning staff have lost jobs.

Looks like this might have already been cleared up, judging by the replies above. So that's some good news.

Yes, worrying if businesses wait until the end of April to pay, it should be back paid, but that's a long time to wait, especially for households living paycheck to paycheck.

There isn't going to be a perfect system though, not without scrutinising the accounts and income of every single person in the UK. The 80% rule, if applied to both employees and the self employed, is the quickest fairest method we have really.

It absolutely has to include the self employed though, or 5m are going to be in a lot of shtick very soon.

 

[hobbers]

I've heard of some IgG/IgM tests going around, but know little to nothing about them. This sort of test searches for antibodies and would, presumably, be able to tell if you have antibodies agains coronavirus. I expect these to become important in the future if they can tell the difference between who is already immune or not. It would be tremendous to know who had assymptomatic infection, and if research proves these people will be immune, imaginw the benefit. You'll have an increasingly large population that you know would be safe to go out and take the higher-risk jobs.

Yeah exactly if we get antibody tests that work it'll be an absolutely huge step to getting back to a bit of normality. Provided they can be scaled up and give as many the test as possible. Ideally without even having to leave their home.

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

I need to go shopping in Tesco. I have a face mask, should I wear it? Will I be the only one? Am I being ridiculous?

 

[jojojo]

My best (totally uninformed) guess is that there should be tests that detect it, but no idea if that happens for normal tests. Assuming that tests detect the antibodies, then yes. For example, you can get a test to see if you have a certain vaccine that you might have got decades ago. If on the other hand, the test checks only for the virus, probably no.

The antibody test is still in development so the current test is looking for active virus. They do say in the article that their next step is to start testing using the prototype kits.

That said, I would have thought by now some epidemiologists have already started going through February hospital ICU admissions/deaths looking for earlier infections that could have been Covid19.

 

[JPRouve]

Could be. The reason I'm interested in the idea is that there was a flu-like illness going around here earlier in the year and now, looking back, I can't help but remember how many people had severe coughs. Purely anecdotal and likely just a paranoid, biased opinion, of course.

Just a quick question about that bolded bit - if somebody had it in, say, January and got over it with few to no symptoms, would they still be able to test positive for it in March?

It was the flu not a "flu like illness".

 

[F-Red]

I need to go shopping in Tesco. I have a face mask, should I wear it? Will I be the only one? Am I being ridiculous?

No need for a face mask.

 

[Ekkie Thump]

I need to go shopping in Tesco. I have a face mask, should I wear it? Will I be the only one? Am I being ridiculous?

Absolutely wear it. What else are you going to wear it for? Even if it does sod all else but remind people in the moment about social distancing it's a good thing.

 

[OutlawGER]

I don't like the way the media are going these days. I really don't like that.

Tt seems that they slowly want to sell us: Economy > Health.

Step by step.

 

[Sweet Square]

 

[sullydnl]

 

[arnie_ni]

Maybe you're right, but higher earners usually have higher outgoings too, I know some people who earn way more than me, but they barely make ends meet, they'll still be screwed if their income dries up.

The agreement is already in place to give workers 80% so why shouldn't the self employed get the same?

I didn't see you raise these concerns when employers were getting this given to them a week ago (though admittedly I could have missed this).

The fact is it would be very costly to start means testing this, and the manpower isn't their I wouldn't think. It's simpler to do a blanket payment of a fixed amount of what ALL earn, so we can all exist at something similar to what we do now. Without anyone getting into serious financial trouble.

80 percent with a max of 2.5k.

Whats the 80 percent based on for self employed?

 

[Fener1907]

Thanks @Revan

Tests are being made by rtPCR, which looks for the virus' RNA. Hence no, if the infection has cleared you won't test positive.

I've heard of some IgG/IgM tests going around, but know little to nothing about them. This sort of test searches for antibodies and would, presumably, be able to tell if you have antibodies agains coronavirus. I expect these to become important in the future if they can tell the difference between who is already immune or not. It would be tremendous to know who had assymptomatic infection, and if research proves these people will be immune, imaginw the benefit. You'll have an increasingly large population that you know would be safe to go out and take the higher-risk jobs.

Thanks for the answer! Appreciate it. I could easily just be babbling and no such things existed until recently, but I witnessed some symptoms already that look very much like covid-19 e.g. it's the relentless cough that I couldn't help but notice.

It was the flu not a "flu like illness".

Isn't "influenza-like illness" (slightly amended above, sure) a perfectly acceptable term if you're seeing flu-like symptoms but not unequivocal that it is the flu itself? I was reading a WHO paper and they seemed to use it when speaking about the flu season. Is it a term used, @Arruda?

 

[harshad]

I've seen couple videos floating in Punjab, police are stopping cars/people walking on streets and giving them a few smacks with the wooden sticks. They're also filming them and spreading them (assume to raise awareness and scare the public)

Yeah mostly its too put sense in the people whom they catch breaking the self imposed curfew.

People here seem to not understand the seriousness of the problem and seem to think that they will not catch it. One of the reasons why Modi in his address kept on emphasising on staying at home and avoiding contact.

 

[DOTA]

I can't speak to how typical this is but I rang the Samaritans because I'm struggling with trying to stay strong for other people and I spent about an hour depressing some poor woman with my views. By the end of the chat she sounded like she needed to ring up herself.

It's very difficult when the specific thing aggravating your mental health issues is also a thing literally everyone is scared about.

 

[dwd]

I can't speak to how typical this is but I rang the Samaritans because I'm struggling with trying to stay strong for other people and I spent about an hour depressing some poor woman with my views. By the end of the chat she sounded like she needed to ring up herself.

It's very difficult when the specific thing aggravating your mental health issues is also a thing literally everyone is scared about.

Yep, it's really scary. I do some work for a mental health charity and on a call today it was decided that the target audience is now everyone. Crazy

 

[LordNinio]

80 percent with a max of 2.5k.

Whats the 80 percent based on for self employed?

The suggestion is an average of the last three tax returns, (also with a similar maximum of course). Not sure what they're doing for the relatively newly self employed though

 

[Organic Potatoes]

I need to go shopping in Tesco. I have a face mask, should I wear it? Will I be the only one? Am I being ridiculous?

Loads of people got them on in grocery stores even in the US.

The efficacy of prevention I cannot speak to; it certainly doesn’t help as much if you’re constantly touching your face because you’re not used to PPE.

 

[arnie_ni]

The suggestion is an average of the last three tax returns, (also with a similar maximum of course). Not sure what they're doing for the relatively newly self employed though

Id have no objection and no one would, but the maximum has to be the exact same imo.

What figure is it based on though, net profit? Cant be turnover!

Those that deal in cash etc and "hide" income to reduce tax will take a hit.

 

[duffer]

I wonder if Laundrettes will stay open. Having clean clothes

I need to go shopping in Tesco. I have a face mask, should I wear it? Will I be the only one? Am I being ridiculous?

Are you sick? Wear it.

Do you want people to give you a wide birth because they'll think you are sick? Wear it.

Do you want protection from getting it? Don't bother, you'd better off wearing a snorkel.

 

[Shakesy]

Can someone please explain to me how mankind doesn't deserve this. We're +7 billion for fecks sake.

Ridiculous.

Disease is bound to happen more frequently in the future.

 

[duffer]

80 percent with a max of 2.5k.

Whats the 80 percent based on for self employed?

Average earnings over a period of time for that particular job in that particular area is the only realistic way they can do it, I would think.

 

[Penna]

I need to go shopping in Tesco. I have a face mask, should I wear it? Will I be the only one? Am I being ridiculous?

Wear it, it stops droplets landing on your mouth and nose if someone coughs near you. Take some hand sanitiser too.