Coronavirus

[Petrushka]

So today, when UK deaths of confirmed cases were 649, it was stated that measures to ease the lock down will be announced on Monday*.

Sounds sensible to me. .

Announced Sunday, to take effect on Monday, apparently. I still think that the level of deaths and new cases are too high to justify any easing of the restrictions at present. They are doing this far too soon, in my view, so expect a serious spike resulting in renewed lockdown.

[Old Grumpy]

Great news. The deaths/million graph reappeared today. Perhaps it was permitted because it looks as though that tracks Spain in a slightly worse light than the UK. I hope that this presentation continues over the next few weeks. There are no winners - this is not a competition any country wants to win, but it is helpful to see roughly how things are going - and both graphs taken together, do that.

The question about why Italy appeared to have been swamped, and yet finally the UK seems to have more overall deaths, didn't seem to me to be answered, though that's not unusual in discussions with politicians, though not all are instinctively evasive, and sometimes there are other reasons why questions aren't answered. It is quite an interesting question. Possibly it's because the problems in Italy were concentrated in a relatively small part of the country, though that doesn't quite work as an answer, as in the UK a lot of problem cases seem to have been concentrated in the London area, with a few other concentrated hot spots.
It will be something to examine later on, and some plausible explanations may come forward eventually. It is still surprising that there aren't some tentative solutions for that particular question, though.

Today it was mentioned that the north east of the UK is now a significant hot spot.

North East of the UK, or North East of England?

[oddoneout]

Announced Sunday, to take effect on Monday, apparently. I still think that the level of deaths and new cases are too high to justify any easing of the restrictions at present. They are doing this far too soon, in my view, so expect a serious spike resulting in renewed lockdown.

I also think it's too soon, not least because of the dismal management of the pandemic so far which makes me worried that appropriate action will not be taken to monitor the situation and react quickly if necessary. I imagine it's all being driven by the prioritising of the economy over everything else(words in ears etc). Judging by the continuing increase in traffic and, today, the shopping for BBQs etc, the public has already decided on the easing of restrictions.

[DracoM]

I also think it's too soon, not least because of the dismal management of the pandemic so far which makes me worried that appropriate action will not be taken to monitor the situation and react quickly if necessary. I imagine it's all being driven by the prioritising of the economy over everything else(words in ears etc). Judging by the continuing increase in traffic and, today, the shopping for BBQs etc, the public has already decided on the easing of restrictions.

Totally agree. Can already feel people pulling at the traces and w are nowhere near normality yet. Worried.

[teamsaint]

Teachers and other staff are currently working in schools with no contact tracing in place, no PPE, no real proper social distancing, etc.

Hopefully the lunatic insistsnce on return to school without proper safeguards will be strenuously resisted by the public, led by the unions.

[LMcD]

I also think it's too soon, not least because of the dismal management of the pandemic so far which makes me worried that appropriate action will not be taken to monitor the situation and react quickly if necessary. I imagine it's all being driven by the prioritising of the economy over everything else(words in ears etc). Judging by the continuing increase in traffic and, today, the shopping for BBQs etc, the public has already decided on the easing of restrictions.

I also totally agree. There certainly seems to be more traffic in these parts than there was a week ago. Our local Tesco Metro has a large display of disposable BBQs which one can't fail to notice while waiting to be called to the next available checkout. Do they know something we don't?

[Pianorak]

I also think it's too soon, not least because of the dismal management of the pandemic so far which makes me worried that appropriate action will not be taken to monitor the situation and react quickly if necessary. I imagine it's all being driven by the prioritising of the economy over everything else(words in ears etc). Judging by the continuing increase in traffic and, today, the shopping for BBQs etc, the public has already decided on the easing of restrictions.

Couldn't agree more. Complacent - Not my words: https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-boris-johnson

[Dave2002]

North East of the UK, or North East of England?

England - I'll edit the post.

[Dave2002]

Announced Sunday, to take effect on Monday, apparently. I still think that the level of deaths and new cases are too high to justify any easing of the restrictions at present. They are doing this far too soon, in my view, so expect a serious spike resulting in renewed lockdown.

It would probably depend on the nature of the easing up. Perhaps a very mild easing up - with social distancing would work OK. For example, garden centres and council dumps. Allowing, or even encouraging shops and other businesses to open up - to try to bolster the economy - would seem to me to be highly likely to kick us back to the state we were in four or five weeks ago. Obviously I haven't valued "the economy" enough - some work is essential and ways will need to be found to manage that better - but I still claim that a lot of the "work" is only marginally "necessary", and reverting back to "business as usual" with people trundling in on public transport to activity which is less than essential and indeed not always even enjoyable, seems mind bendingly stupid to me.

Much work does seem to be going on at present, with people working really quite hard, but doing so remotely using on-line tools.

Surely at last a sensible and necessary look at work life balance would be helpful. It might make people question what work is for. Is it to produce goods or provide services which may be helpful, or rather to keep most of the population busy - even if they may moan about it?

[johnb]

The problem is that this government's track record at every stage throughout the coronavirus pandemic has been so abysmal that I have zero confidence that they are remotely capable of handling the easing of the lock down in a sensible manner.

And yes, it is too early (649 deaths announced today, for God's sake).

A quote from an article written by Fionnuala O’Connor in the Irish News:

“Ministers of slim talent have bumbled through daily briefings and now big business-Conservative donors are impatient to reverse a shutdown so contrary to Brexiteer dreams,”

[johnb]

Surely at last a sensible and necessary look at work life balance would be helpful. It might make people question what work is for. Is it to produce goods or provide services which may be helpful, or rather to keep most of the population busy - even if they may moan about it?

The majority of people work to earn a living in order to provide for their families and to fund a few pleasurable activities.

Try talking about work-life balance to a warehouse worker, someone on a zero hours contract, the cleaners at our factories and offices. As for working from home, one of the things that infuriates me about Radio 4 programmes is that the presenters think everyone has that option - they do not.

[Rant over.]

[LezLee]

I’ve got to physically attend a cardiology clinic at a hospital tomorrow. And I’ve got to travel by ambulance. I’m really scared. I don’t have a mask or any sort of protection. Just saying.

[Serial_Apologist]

The majority of people work to earn a living in order to provide for their families and to fund a few pleasurable activities.

Try talking about work-life balance to a warehouse worker, someone on a zero hours contract, the cleaners at our factories and offices. As for working from home, one of the things that infuriates me about Radio 4 programmes is that the presenters think everyone has that option - they do not.

[Rant over.]

But a very justifuable rant.

People seem to forget that essential work does not make money, which this system has to do somewhere in order to provide the taxes necessary to fund the essential work and services, unless it is privatised and often straightaway subjected to asset stripping. Which means that much more money has to be generated to maintain often unsustainable, environmentally unfriendly industries as far as product or polluting are concerned, as well as ridiculously high salaries for ceo's we are groomed into thinking possess exceptional leadership and planning abilities not vouchsafed to the rest of the populations, and are thus paid at market rates. One only has to look at present-day America and who leads the main political parties to see what this means in reality. And all this for a dog-eat-dog determination of what gets produced and by whom, in which excess product periodically results from the unplannned nature of the whole, euphemistically defined as recession or depression; people whose idea of dignity being work thrown onto the scrap heap then have to inter-compete for lower waged jobs, often on zero hours contracts, and the devil takes the hindmost.

Another way has to be found; and although there is now much talk of saving the environment for a future habitable planet, no one has come up with another alternative to common ownership under an inclusive system of control by those who actually produce the wealth in the first place by transmogrifying raw materials into product, giving everyone a real stake in everyone's livelihood and future. Coronovirus could be the necessary push, given that the effects are probably less choosy in whom they damage, notwithstanding the balance noted against those from BAME backgrounds, which is just another disadvantage to add to the rest.

The last time the classes were forcibly brought together to face a common enemy was World War 2. For all the mistakes then made the outcome was 30 years of more sustained economic growth than has happened since.

[Bella Kemp]

I’ve got to physically attend a cardiology clinic at a hospital tomorrow. And I’ve got to travel by ambulance. I’m really scared. Just saying.

Fear not. The ambulance will probably be the cleanest, most disinfected place in the U.K. (they know how to do these things: it's their trade); and likewise the cardiology clinic - which place will be completely isolated from any covid wards - again, you'll be amongst healthcare professionals who know what they are doing. Incidentally, having myself had to attend a cardiology clinic I have to say how impressed I was with my care and treatment. Take a good book to ease any waiting. I do hope all goes well for you.

[johnb]

I’ve got to physically attend a cardiology clinic at a hospital tomorrow. And I’ve got to travel by ambulance. I’m really scared. Just saying.

Good luck, we will be thinking of you tomorrow - wishing you well.

Last Friday I attended the Bristol Eye Hospital for an eye injection. I was issued with a face mask, there were only a few people waiting (instead of the usual hoards lining the corridors). I spent much shorter time waiting than usual and at no point did I feel uncomfortable or that I was "at risk".

By the way, I am in favour of people wearing face masks (to reduce possible transmission to others) on buses, enclosed spaces, etc - however this was my first experience of actually wearing one (other than for DIY).

I was given one at the main reception, put it on and walked up stairs to the clinic's own reception. By that time I couldn't see as my glasses had steamed up. Started talking to the receptionists, couldn't see, took my glasses off, couldn't see - became a disorientated, shambling oldie* until some time later when my glasses had warmed up and stopped clouding over.

* I am an "oldie" but don't usually feel like one.