The big Coronavirus thread

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  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    mrfpb said:

    Big rumour of the day - massive number of private hospitals in London will be commandeered by the Government for NHS use this weekend.

    The truth outstrips the rumours:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51989183
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,027
    mrfpb said:

    orraloon said:

    A brief scan of the soshul meejah plus being party to a rant by a local in the local shop for local people about these 'others' comin' round 'ere, buying all our bog rolls, didn't oughter be allowed... etc etc Londoners heading for Cornwall, caravaners heading into less populous parts of Scotland...

    So... given how far the dUK has changed in a week, how long before we have civil disturbance followed by full lockdown and martial law stylee troops on the streets backing up the understaffed by Tory cuts police forces?

    Over the top hyperbole? 10 days ago I was still heading for Valencia next weekend. Bleepin' weird days.

    I've seen a FB post from a Cornwall doctor pointing out that Cornwall has a very low ICU bed per capita compared to London, so people are better off getting ill in there first home, rather than their holiday home.
    If it is an isloated holiday home, then they are much less likely to get the virus and much more likely to have a good time whilst they do it. If I had a car and an isolated home, I would definitely go there.

  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    joe2019 said:

    Our village has two stores which have been targeted by people from towns (the closest is 20 miles away) now that their supermarkets are bare.

    Apparently, two couples came over today in separate cars, one did a huge shop in the first store, while the other couple did a huge shop in the other.

    Then they swapped over, first couple, huge shop in second store, second couple, huge shop in first store.

    Greedy b@rstards!

    And retailers have 0 control over this other than a refusal to serve. Which whilst legal is a quite confrontational process.
    Has to be rationed if we don’t see tangible changes within the next week or so.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,270
    Pitchforks at the ready, locals.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    morstar said:



    And retailers have 0 control over this other than a refusal to serve. Which whilst legal is a quite confrontational process.
    Has to be rationed if we don’t see tangible changes within the next week or so.

    I have been in a few shops during the past week that were stringently applying their own rationing. Not one protest when items were removed and sent back.
    I expect shelves to return to normal given enough time to replenish stock.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Almost 73,000 tests performed so far, sounds like testing has ramped up in the past 2-3 days
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,027
    edited March 2020
    In terms of increased demand for food, surely this is unavoidable if you advise some people to isolate for 14 weeks, tell everyone else they need to immediately quarantine for two weeks if any symptoms appear and then close all the restaurants. The official advice if you are quarantined is to order food online (very hard at the moment) or get friends to deliver - not a realistic option for many.

    Still, all those years spent stockpiling around my waist have finally become useful.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    pblakeney said:

    morstar said:



    And retailers have 0 control over this other than a refusal to serve. Which whilst legal is a quite confrontational process.
    Has to be rationed if we don’t see tangible changes within the next week or so.

    I have been in a few shops during the past week that were stringently applying their own rationing. Not one protest when items were removed and sent back.
    I expect shelves to return to normal given enough time to replenish stock.
    I was replying more to the specific scenario of city dwellers hitting small town shops and potentially leaving a community short rather than being allowed 1 rather than 2 packs of something.
    What's the small town / village shop to do after 3 or 4 well off urban families have done a full weekly shop there.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,027
    Another thing I don't understand is the constant assertion by western experts that face masks are useless and offer no protection. This is in spite of the fact that all the countries that have most effectively fought the virus have a very high level of face mask usage.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    TheBigBean said:

    Another thing I don't understand is the constant assertion by western experts that face masks are useless and offer no protection. This is in spite of the fact that all the countries that have most effectively fought the virus have a very high level of face mask usage.

    Could be to secure supply. Although that could be a tin foil hat moment.

    I can see that if they are porous enough to allow air to pass through, they may be of limited benefit but then wearing a water resistant coat doesn't keep you dry but does keep you drier than no jacket. Not sure if that is a comparable analogy but less gets through.
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 22,027
    edited March 2020


    It needs to be analysed from the way. If a person who is sick, but doesn't know it, is forced to wear a mask do they spread it more or less?
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    TheBigBean said:

    Another thing I don't understand is the constant assertion by western experts that face masks are useless and offer no protection. This is in spite of the fact that all the countries that have most effectively fought the virus have a very high level of face mask usage.

    morstar said:

    TheBigBean said:

    Another thing I don't understand is the constant assertion by western experts that face masks are useless and offer no protection. This is in spite of the fact that all the countries that have most effectively fought the virus have a very high level of face mask usage.

    Could be to secure supply. Although that could be a tin foil hat moment.

    I can see that if they are porous enough to allow air to pass through, they may be of limited benefit but then wearing a water resistant coat doesn't keep you dry but does keep you drier than no jacket. Not sure if that is a comparable analogy but less gets through.
    It needs to be analysed from the way. If a person who is sick, but doesn't know it, is forced to wear a mask do they spread it more or less?
    Going by the Government advice so far (wash your hands) then no. Unless you wear the mask as a glove. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    morstar said:

    pblakeney said:

    morstar said:



    And retailers have 0 control over this other than a refusal to serve. Which whilst legal is a quite confrontational process.
    Has to be rationed if we don’t see tangible changes within the next week or so.

    I have been in a few shops during the past week that were stringently applying their own rationing. Not one protest when items were removed and sent back.
    I expect shelves to return to normal given enough time to replenish stock.
    I was replying more to the specific scenario of city dwellers hitting small town shops and potentially leaving a community short rather than being allowed 1 rather than 2 packs of something.
    What's the small town / village shop to do after 3 or 4 well off urban families have done a full weekly shop there.

    I'm simply pointing out that shops can, and are applying rations successfully.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,270
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p086spnp/focus-coronavirus-do-face-masks-work

    Saw my first maskees yesterday in Oxford, kids of Chinese / Korean type ethnicity. Did not the masks come from a mode of 'I have a cold or similar, and I don't want to spread it outwards to others' rather than 'this bit of fibre will protect me from all evil'?
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    TheBigBean said:

    Another thing I don't understand is the constant assertion by western experts that face masks are useless and offer no protection. This is in spite of the fact that all the countries that have most effectively fought the virus have a very high level of face mask usage.

    Correlation ...

    Those countries possibly have a more strict social code of good hygiene that goes way beyond wearing a mask. Japan certainly does.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597
    orraloon said:

    A brief scan of the soshul meejah plus being party to a rant by a local in the local shop for local people about these 'others' comin' round 'ere, buying all our bog rolls, didn't oughter be allowed... etc etc Londoners heading for Cornwall, caravaners heading into less populous parts of Scotland...

    So... given how far the dUK has changed in a week, how long before we have civil disturbance followed by full lockdown and martial law stylee troops on the streets backing up the understaffed by Tory cuts police forces?

    Over the top hyperbole? 10 days ago I was still heading for Valencia next weekend. Bleepin' weird days.

    It doesn't really help when some well meaning person tells a friend on Facebook "you should try 'x' shop as they have loads of what you need in stock"
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    pblakeney said:

    morstar said:

    pblakeney said:

    morstar said:



    And retailers have 0 control over this other than a refusal to serve. Which whilst legal is a quite confrontational process.
    Has to be rationed if we don’t see tangible changes within the next week or so.

    I have been in a few shops during the past week that were stringently applying their own rationing. Not one protest when items were removed and sent back.
    I expect shelves to return to normal given enough time to replenish stock.
    I was replying more to the specific scenario of city dwellers hitting small town shops and potentially leaving a community short rather than being allowed 1 rather than 2 packs of something.
    What's the small town / village shop to do after 3 or 4 well off urban families have done a full weekly shop there.

    I'm simply pointing out that shops can, and are applying rations successfully.
    At supermarkets here they are using queueing systems in to the store with a maximum number in the store and making people keep a minimum distance apart inside plus limitations on certain essentials.
    The Guardia are stopping cars at very regular intervals to check the reason for your journey and paperwork. You cannot have more than the driver in the car and you can only drive to your nearest store for essentials. Fines of €500 and more are being issued for non essential journeys whether they be on foot, by bike or in a car, even walking the dog you need your id. so your address can be checked. So be ready in the UK. as I can see it heading your way.
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    My eldest is British forces and they are being deployed next week. Stated intention is to backfill support services. Will have to see what that means.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459
    edited March 2020
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,597
    morstar said:

    My eldest is British forces and they are being deployed next week. Stated intention is to backfill support services. Will have to see what that means.

    That was announced a few days ago. Sounds like mainly logistical support (driving tankers of oxygen was mentioned) and providing medical back up as they have a large number of trained medical personnel. The army are pretty good at moving things around quickly in an emergency.

    I've seen lots of people interpret it as troops on the ground to enforce a lockdown though.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    The logistical side of dealing with this situation is exactly what the army has the expertise to help with. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them supplementing supermarket delivery drivers and delivering medical equipment around the country for starters.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    Random thoughts from tonight.

    1. I haven't read the book or even seen the film 1984 but does being kept in isolation, only being allowed out to do official work, and encouraged to report non compliance sound familiar?
    I am not saying that I think this is what's happening, only that it was worth pondering for a moment.

    2. In good times capitalism is king, socialism is king during bad times.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,718
    1) Not if you've read the book, to be honest...

    2) Oh yeah! Shame EasyJet are trying to make it so bloomin' obvious right now...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Charlie_Croker
    Charlie_Croker Posts: 1,727
    TheBigBean said:

    Still, all those years spent stockpiling around my waist have finally become useful.

    Yes, we are on the whole, a nation of stockpilers ;)
  • thecycleclinic
    thecycleclinic Posts: 395
    edited March 2020
    Shutting down the country will.lead to a depression. Landlords still need to be paid and without trade shops go under. Unless governments are willing to pay all business overheads there wont be much retail left in 12 months as that's the time scale of this crisis at least.

    I get trying to flatten the curve so the health service has a chance of coping. Sadly the upshot is depression that is so ruinous that the poltical ramifications of that across the globe will be just a dangerous as this virus. Governments will fall and what takes there place could be anger.

    Also the endgame is an effective vaccine but it pure speculation when that will be avilable.

    www.thecycleclinic.co.uk
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    morstar said:

    My eldest is British forces and they are being deployed next week. Stated intention is to backfill support services. Will have to see what that means.

    Govt is always scared of social disorder. I'm not saying that's the only reason they will be there but part of this will be as a back up to a potentially deleted police service should we get looting and rioting.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    ddraver said:

    1) Not if you've read the book, to be honest...

    2) Oh yeah! Shame EasyJet are trying to make it so bloomin' obvious right now...

    Re #1, meandering mind and I admitted that I hadn't. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • Jeremy.89
    Jeremy.89 Posts: 457
    Looks like Trump might have to bail out some of his own properties.

    Draining the swamp indeed.
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    Well, get ready for no cycling. Reading that Lombardy region of Italy and Rome looking like no going out exercising, it's only to be done at home. Turbo time.
  • focuszing723
    focuszing723 Posts: 8,154
    Surely it depends where you live? If you live in the City it makes sense, but in countryside? The same applies to enforcement.

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