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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be hopeful that the pandemic is easing?

208 replies

understandmenow · 24/05/2020 19:14

Today stats

2405 confirmed cases (with more testing)

118 deaths

Two weeks ago (so a Sunday when figures are lower)

3534 cases

268 deaths

Things are improving? Even two weeks after an expected peak (due to VE Day).

We are getting there?

OP posts:
LesLavandes · 25/05/2020 19:11

Not

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 25/05/2020 19:14

The hospital in Somerset that has had to close today suggests that this might not be over yet.

Why hadn't anyone picked up on the spike in cases? Maybe if a good test, track and trace system was in place they would have done

IcedPurple · 25/05/2020 19:15

It is still jumping up and down. Also Somerset have closed their hospitals again due to such an increase of numbers

FFS. It is not 'jumping up and down'. The trend is consistently downwards.

And Somerset have not 'closed their hospitals'. One tiny A&E in Weston Super Mare has temporarily shut, as A&Es do all the time without it being considered worthy of a news report, let alone regarded as some major event.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 25/05/2020 19:21

There is no spike in cases. From what I tead the number of cases in the Weston hospital has gone from 30 to 64. That's hardly a huge amount. The hospital is tiny and they have closed it as a precaution.

grumpyorange · 25/05/2020 19:23

@IcedPurple I feel they are. In addition there are still rising cases in the thousands each day when we are still in partial lockdown. It's worrying it is still in the thousands when interaction is not happening anywhere near a normal level.

IcedPurple · 25/05/2020 19:29

I feel they are

It's not about what you 'feel'. Its about the facts. And the facts are that rates all over the country have been in consistent decline for a few weeks now. Look at the actual statistics. They were shown at the press briefing just now. Facts count in this context. 'Feelings' don't.

Oakmaiden · 25/05/2020 19:39

I'm not completely convinced - to my eye numbers seem to be settling or even rising a little over the past few days (looking at the NHS data - although obviously ignoring the last 3 days as data for them will be very incomplete) and the ZOE case tracking. If they are not still falling currently, I can't help feeling we are likely to see a noticeable rise in a few weeks time when we have relaxed conditions further.

And rise from the VE day was likely to be small anyway - if only 0.25% of people had covid at the time (which ONS figures estimate), and lets say half of them know they are ill so don't go to parties, or at least keep well away from other people if they do. That is 82500 people who are infected and are asymptomatic. Lets say, of the, 20% got really pissed and didn't social distance - that is 16500 asymptomatic but infectious people hugging other drunk partygoers. Now lets pretend they passed the virus on to 3 people in an orgy of slobbery kisses and hugs. Or something. So that is potentially 50,000 new cases. However I would guess that people getting drunk at VE day celebrations and forgetting to social distance are going to tend to be in the younger adult age groups, so probably less than 10% or the will make their way to hospital, and lets overestimate and say 0.5% of them might die. That is 250 deaths. Which will be spread out over the next 2 weeks. And thus will be barely noticable.

What is more of a concern is the 25000 who contracted CV at the VE celebrations and have no symptoms, so take it to work, school, etc and pass it on again. Which is where the potential for flare ups over a single day lie - but it doesn't show as a single large spike, more as a creeping increase...

That said, and despite my concern that talking about the virus "exhausting itself" is wishful thinking, hopefully the track in trace will be in place quickly enough that any further increases in the number of cases can be carefully managed.

blubberball · 25/05/2020 19:40

R rate between 0.7 and 1.

Hoping to see my bf some time soon, and hoping grandparents can see kids.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 25/05/2020 19:54

There is no spike in cases. From what I tead the number of cases in the Weston hospital has gone from 30 to 64.

But that is 64 ill enough to go to hospital. Given that it's only 15 - 20% of the infected that go to hospital that 64 indicate a larger number in the community. And 64 up from 30 is double the usual number. Why isn't that significant? Given R is between 0.7 and 1 it's only going to take a small rise to tip us over 1.

tobee · 25/05/2020 20:36

The rise in cases detected is probably down to more widespread testing available.

I'm hoping there won't be a second wave (or subsequent waves) but, even if there is, countries are much better prepared. They know so much more than they did. And by the time there is a second wave, if there is, hopefully, track and trace, treatment options and so on will be more helpful/available.

For a start, medics were originally thinking this was just going to be a respiratory illness but now are aware it's much more complex than that and can act accordingly.

I was speaking to a nurse today who works at a big London hospital, who is directly involved in COVID treatment and research who says it's much quieter, and that they are ready for any other waves.

I'm hoping lots of the research being done will be useful for medicine in general. Eg why bame people etc have propensity to health issues.

Also, hoping easing off of COVID strain can help the rest of the nhs back to normal.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/05/2020 21:22

The Somerset hospital that has closed A&E is a non story. It’s always closing. It’s badly run and closes at the drop of the hat. It’s one small hospital in a big county. It’s not a major hospital at all.

Mama1980 · 25/05/2020 21:26

Great thread Smile I am cautiously optimistic too. I'm in the shielded group along what my youngest so no real change for us yet but I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Bflatmajorsharp · 25/05/2020 21:28

Looking at those stats, it's encouraging that reported cases have decreased by approx 1/3 although reported deaths by more than 1/3.

This may mean that treatment and intervention is becoming more effective. Or I guess it could be explained by the drop in care homes cases.

Bflatmajorsharp · 25/05/2020 21:28

Deaths declined by more than 1/2, i meant.

pennee · 25/05/2020 21:32

Ours are on the increase in North Wales and it certainly isn’t over for us. We are in a stricter lockdown here right now with cases on the rise and believe me it’s scary right now

JassyRadlett · 25/05/2020 21:32

The Somerset hospital that has closed A&E is a non story. It’s always closing. It’s badly run and closes at the drop of the hat. It’s one small hospital in a big county. It’s not a major hospital at all.

And isn’t it doing exactly what’s supposed to happen when there’s a hotspot? Isolate, prevent onwards infection. If it was 20 hospitals across the country, or even 5 in different places, you’d worry. A single local flare up in the context of a downward trend, even with expanded testing, is expected.

This is a lovely optimistic thread. Would be great if it could continue as if started, particularly with a focus on evidence.

Vargas · 25/05/2020 21:38

There is definitely good news in many countries including the UK, numbers of cases and deaths are dropping all over Europe. I feel optimistic, and a steady loosening of lockdown is just what many of us need. My kids need to socialise, as do I, and businesses need to start moving towards re-opening. We might not have any concerts, cinema or theatre trips for a while but just being able to meet up with a few friends will be wonderful!!

NoRoomInBed · 25/05/2020 23:52

In my region we've done 2 days without new cases then 1 new case then another 3 days. So I'm hopeful. Thank you for this thread though.

understandmenow · 26/05/2020 04:17

@grumpyorange maybe you'd be better off on one of the 100 pessimistic CV threads? This one is for looking at facts and figures and seeing the decline of infection and death.

The reason "the jumping up and down", is due to the weekend figures distorting things, it's happened since this started.

But if we look at the stats we can see the downward trend. Hopefully you can see the image attached?

To be hopeful that the pandemic is easing?
OP posts:
understandmenow · 26/05/2020 04:23

That sounds good @NoRoomInBed .

@blubberball let's hope you see your boyfriend soon.

@pennee everything I've read indicates that North Wales are past the peak and the additional testing is seeing more cases confirmed, but that's to be expected, it doesn't mean the cases are rising it's just people weren't tested previously? I understand that fear though, I'm based in London and at the start of this we were hit very badly.

OP posts:
grumpyorange · 26/05/2020 06:44

@understandmenow I also made a second point regarding the number of cases vs the lockdown we are still in.

It is clear to see that there are still thousands and thousands of people per day infected, now let move forward to June 1st. If the R rate is already creeping up to 1 which it is and this is a fact within a week of lifting some restrictions then clearly using logic lifting restrictions further at this moment will push it over.

When there are less cases per day then that is the time for optimism.

understandmenow · 26/05/2020 06:51

Despite your vision of doom @grumpyorange, I remain optimistic , the daily cases are reducing and that takes into account more testing, so you expect more daily confirmed cases than at the beginning?

Again info attached.

If the rate starts increasing and the deaths start increasing, then and only then i will lose my optimism?

I'm a glass half full type of person....

To be hopeful that the pandemic is easing?
OP posts:
grumpyorange · 26/05/2020 06:52

@understandmenow you posted in AIBU people can disagree with you. Otherwise you should've and could've posted in Coronavirus.

My vision of 'doom and gloom' is driven by the fact we are still in a form of lockdown and the R rate has risen.

understandmenow · 26/05/2020 07:17

My vision of 'doom and gloom' is driven by the fact we are still in a form of lockdown and the R rate has risen.

A form of lockdown that every other poster on AIBU reckons their neighbour, friend, aunt, uncle etc is breaking!

My vision of things easing is based on facts, the figures are showing a decline.

OP posts:
grumpyorange · 26/05/2020 07:21

@understandmenow as it is a fact year FACT that the R rate has risen

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