Coronavirus

[Dave2002]

Devastated to learn from John Tilbury that our dear friend of over 50 years, Carole Finer/Chant died this morning from Covid-19. I first got to know her as a fellow member of Cornelius Cardew's Experimental Music Class in 1969. In recent years she presented Sound Out on Resonance FM. She will be very sorely missed by her Scratch Orchestra colleadgues and the banjo-playing community. It was only the weekend before last that I stayed at her place for Steve Beresford's 70th birthday celebrations at Cafe OTO. You will be remmembered with love, Carole.

I am really sorry to hear about this, Bryn.

Sadly there will be more, but let's hope that many of us will come through this without such painful occurrences. Not conovirus, but one of my best friends whom I'd known since we were both a few months old died a few years ago from a mysterious illness.
He was very fit - to my surprise - but that didn't save him. It came out of nowhere - around Christmas, then hospitalised, then ...

I don't/didn't know Carole, but ...

Carole, RIP

[BBMmk2]

Hope none of us get it.

[Dave2002]

Since my very long extract has provoked little response, let me precis it.

1) To model C-19, Imperial College took their existing pandemic flu model and tweaked it to suit C-19.

2) Only they forgot to tweak the variable that was 'loading on the NHS'.

8) They (Imperial and the Govt this time) then attempted to obfuscate and bury their monumental cock-up.

I don't think they were the only people to do this. If we consider other health "issues" - cancer, heart attacks, diabetes - they are all very big in terms of numbers, and do put a strain on health service systems. However, they do not usually put a massive strain on a service within a very short period of time, and can be handled over a much longer period.

This is one of the important things about this very nasty virus. Yes "mistakes" were made - but we should move on.

[MrGongGong]

As my post was deleted, all the bits where I said the system is wrong , the bits you ignored, are not now visible.

But you just keep on misrepresenting and attacking me, even though I’m on your side, if it it makes you feel good.

I wasn't "attacking" you

It seems my comments on the disgraceful way that some people are being treated have also been deleted

So much for people supporting music then

I think i'm off now

Take care folks

[oddoneout]

I knew about Ibuprofen but my wife informed me that there was also a question mark over the use of paracetamol as well. I don't recall the exact reason but her research is always sound.

I don't know about possible contraindication issues, but I gather there is/was a shortage of the raw materials to manufacture paracetamol, which started causing supply issues some time ago. On that basis it makes sense to limit how much is bought at one time, over and above the existing limits about over the counter purchase quantities. It adds to the difficulties of those who have been moved from prescription supply to OTC who already have to make more numerous purchases to get enough for their needs.

[oddoneout]

Since my very long extract has provoked little response, let me precis it.

1) To model C-19, Imperial College took their existing pandemic flu model and tweaked it to suit C-19.

2) Only they forgot to tweak the variable that was 'loading on the NHS'.

3) It would appear that no-one spotted this error. No peer reviews. No test and re-test. The model and conclusions were submitted to Govt and Govt did not do any double-checking either. It went through on the nod.

4) From that single error, they (Imperial) postulated the initial recommendation which was the 'herd immunity' policy.

5) And despite all the furore from other scientists around the world that this was so totally wrong, they persisted. Academic arrogance ? Gross negligence ?

6) They continued in a similar vein until, one guesses someone, somewhere said 'Ooops'.

7) Hence the volte face in Govt policy

8) They (Imperial and the Govt this time) then attempted to obfuscate and bury their monumental cock-up.

Sometimes lack of a response doesn't mean no-one read, marked, inwardly digested. I read it with sadness but without any great surprise,(and thought 'foot and mouth mistakes') but didn't see there was much point in saying anything, even if my comment would have been unlikely to draw antagonism.
There is a lot of poor science around, not helped I suspect by the increased need these days always to have in mind who is paying for/commissioning it, or who might have an interest in information not being disseminated.

[Bryn]

. . . Some shops are getting better at restricting early opening hours to the elderly, disabled, and NHS staff.

Though this is under fairly urgent review. Not a good idea to have the elderly and younger otherwise vulnerable mixing with those potentially exposed, on a daily work basis, to the virus.

[LHC]

Though this is under fairy urgent review. Not a good idea to have the elderly and younger otherwise vulnerable mixing with those potentially exposed, on a daily work basis, to the virus.

The sensible way forward might be to split the days on which this is available, with four days a week for NHS staff, and three for the elderly and more vulnerable.

[Bryn]

The sensible way forward might be to split the days on which this is available, with four days a week for NHS staff, and three for the elderly and more vulnerable.

Agreed.

[teamsaint]

If I could just go back to the matter of self employment, hopefully still on topic reference the "support" package announced yesterday, it is a point worth making I think that self employment is not always necessarily more insecure than employment. Many self employed people, and especially musicians I would suggest, have what used to be called portfolio careers. Even high end classical performers teach between playing engagements, for example. The benefit of this of course is that if one source of income drops, there may still be another which can be developed. I know this from personal experience of self employment, where the benefit of working for a number of companies was the security of not being exclusively dependent on one income stream.

None of that excuses the very poor safety net that we have for the SE, and which is why I support , and have done for some time, Universal Basic Income, which would be a godsend for freelancers of all kinds.

[oddoneout]

So far round here there seems to be a lull around 10 am in the supermarkets, and a few of the usual target items are still available. Fruit and veg and quite a lot of meat products don't seem to go in the early locust sweep. It's noticeable that the independents(we have two family owned regional chain stores in town) and the two small Co-ops seem to be doing better with stock so far, but unless supply and demand even out fairly soon they will be targeted as well I imagine as word gets round - which will be tiresome for those of us who avoid the big 4 and are their 'regulars'.
I get the weekend edition of the local paper and there is a section listing the 'farmgate' outlets, which with their direct connections with suppliers are still able to offer food basics, and in some cases are working up delivery arrangements. When it's a choice of food or not food the usual cost objections to using small or niche suppliers are more easily overcome. Perhaps some of the new customers will stay after the immediate crisis abates.
I did some stockpiling yesterday...at the library. They are shutting at the end of today and have extended the maximum loan limit to 46. I didn't get quite that many, but I do have a large bagful now to dip into.

[Count Boso]

which is why I support , and have done for some time, Universal Basic Income, which would be a godsend for freelancers of all kinds.

I have even read of talk of this in the USA now, which seems a hopefulsign.

[Bryn]

If I could just go back to the matter of self employment, hopefully still on topic reference the "support" package announced yesterday, it is a point worth making I think that self employment is not always necessarily more insecure than employment. Many self employed people, and especially musicians I would suggest, have what used to be called portfolio careers. Even high end classical performers teach between playing engagements, for example. The benefit of this of course is that if one source of income drops, there may still be another which can be developed. I know this from personal experience of self employment, where the benefit of working for a number of companies was the security of not being exclusively dependent on one income stream.

None of that excuses the very poor safety net that we have for the SE, and which is why I support , and have done for some time, Universal Basic Income, which would be a godsend for freelancers of all kinds.

I know at least a couple of musicians who teach who have had some difficulty sourcing suitable cameras for online tuition purposes. One went to his local supplier who had to report that someone else had just bought his whole stock of around a hundred. My suggestion was that it might well have been somebody from an educational institution who could not get supplies from the usual wholesalers used bu such bodies.

[gradus]

I am told that there is something of an exodus from London of second home owners re-locating to their cottages etc and that country estate agents are busy dealing with rental enquiries from the same source. Inevitable I suppose but not always welcomed by locals if as happened to my daughter at work yesterday when a man with child in tow came into the shop and announced that he had moved to Cornwall from Oxford because 2 of his friends had CV19.

[Old Grumpy]

I am told that there is something of an exodus from London of second home owners re-locating to their cottages etc and that country estate agents are busy dealing with rental enquiries from the same source. Inevitable I suppose but not always welcomed by locals if as happened to my daughter at work yesterday when a man with child in tow came into the shop and announced that he had moved to Cornwall from Oxford because 2 of his friends had CV19.

This was probably one Richard Head

OG