Coronavirus

[Petrushka]

It isn't even a reality yet, but moves are being made to get more people out and about and at risk of spreading and contracting infection.

Yes, that means that now is the greater danger of infection, much greater than before tonight, as it is inevitable that more people will get infected as public transport and workplaces start to reopen. Has this been thought through properly or is it deliberate (herd immunity)? I predict a sizeable increase in infections in 2/3 weeks time pushing that R number up.

[johnb]

I'm concerned about how they are going to monitor and respond to any increase in infections.

The behavioural changes following today's announcements will only gradually take effect over the coming week.

The numbers of infections and deaths will probably continue to decline over the next couple of weeks. It will probably be after that that any impact of the current relaxations will begin to show up in the infection figures. Which gives very little time to assess the situation before the next stage of the relaxation on 1st June.

[johnb]

Initial reactions from some in the scientific community can be read here: https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/e...hnsons-speech/

Some are (very) cautiously supportive but some others are highly critical.

[MrGongGong]

Initial reactions from some in the scientific community can be read here: https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/e...hnsons-speech/

Some are (very) cautiously supportive but some others are highly critical.

Thanks for that

This (and they are all worth reading) jumped out at me

I think the reality is, this is a statement driven almost entirely by an economic agenda and in truth lacks clarity in terms of future control of the virus epidemic.

Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, University of Nottingham

It always was.
We must save the rich whatever the cost

[oddoneout]

This is important IMO not least because of the deficiencies in the current testing arrangements and the non-existence of the Biosecurity Centre

Prof Azra Ghani, Professor in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London
At present we are estimating both R and the infection rate from data on hospitalisations. These form only a small fraction of all infections and represent an estimate of transmission that occurred 1-2 weeks earlier – and are therefore a blunt monitoring tool. Without rapid testing of all suspect cases it will be impossible to estimate the true level of the epidemic across the country, or in specific geographic locations, with any degree of precision.

[LMcD]

'Staying alert' apparently means staying (at) home as much as possible and being alert when not at home. What's confusing about that?

[Bryn]

'Staying alert' apparently means staying (at) home as much as possible and being alert when not at home. What's confusing about that?

The use of the word "apparently" makes clear the confusion in the mind of the writer.

[LMcD]

The use of the word "apparently" makes clear the confusion in the mind of the writer.

One might be tempted to think that I chose my adverb carefully.
There's a sobering assessment by Nick Triggle, on the BBC News website, of our current state of (un)readiness.

[oddoneout]

This just about sums up some of my feelings on the latest developments.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2020/may/10/nicola-jennings-boris-johnson-coronavirus-slogan-cartoon

[Dave2002]

This just about sums up some of my feelings on the latest developments.
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...slogan-cartoon

Very amusing ....

[gurnemanz]

This just about sums up some of my feelings on the latest developments.
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...slogan-cartoon

Matt Lucas as BJ. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfrThV6DJu4

[Andrew]

Why on earth do you listen to the lying scumbag ?

I could spout a thousand words of gibberish and there would be a few that might connect together into some kind of "sense".

Boris' announcement last night was only slightly more coherent than Jeremy Corbyn's message on Brexit during the last election ......

[MrGongGong]

Boris' announcement last night was only slightly more coherent than Jeremy Corbyn's message on Brexit during the last election ......

We really could do so much better.

If one of those people is the answer WTF is the question ?

[LMcD]

I've just been told I'm the ASPAC* for our part of town. My uniform, badge and whistle are in the post.
*Area Seagull Poo Alert Commander

[Serial_Apologist]

I've just been told I'm the ASPAC* for our part of town. My uniform, badge and whistle are in the post.
*Area Seagull Poo Alert Commander

Wrong thread....... I THINK!!!!!!!