China and South Korea, proves social distancing/lockdowns works

[Helenj1977]

They've both had the lowest jump in weeks.

I think Boris will start with the over 70s today... Maybe it needs to be a stronger start to nip this in the bud now?

I don’t trust the figures coming from South Korea and China. Do you?

It is the only thing that works. The WHO has praised China & now Italy for the sacrifices they are making for global health. We look like a basket case right now.

I think we have to put some trust in the figures. I'm not convinced the death figures are accurate at all.

I think Boris needs to seriously think before the 'keep calm and carry on' shit is said again.

So would you like us to have a lock down enforced by armed police?

@PickAChew Not yet, but I wouldn't want to rule it out!

Obviously not. But sensible early containment works with proper messaging to ensure people understand why, technology to lessen disruption & financial support to protect vulnerable (time for the banks we all bailed out in 2008 to repay the favour...)
Otherwise, we are heading for some dark times & will have to then enforce lockdown anyway.

I don’t understand the lockdown in Italy. Tourists are still welcome and restaurants are open as long as guests are seated 3 feet apart.

Okaaaay.

And really, there aren’t enough armed police to keep us all in our houses.

I’m finding this whole thing fascinating.

Apparantly the numbers coming out of China and South Korea are trustworthy, one of the global organisations working on this, I forget which one, maybe infectious disease or something has been given unfettered access and their prolonged investigations reveal, they have said, is they feel the numbers are accurate that both have been open and honest.

So yes, apparantly social distancing does work. It seems this week government ministers will ask the over seventies to self isolate.

It is clear that it works.
Armed police are not necessary to enforce a lockdown due to the living arrangements in Chinese cities. We live in compounds that already have security measures so it’s straightforward to introduce restrictions eg non residents cannot enter the compound etc.

The death figures are difficult apparantly. Because the people who have died are people who have been significantly ill with other issues. So they are unable to work out how many have died from corona alone, it seems little to none. The issue is if you’ve got significant other issues, then it destabilises you and you die. Like pneumonia.

On its own it’s not fatal for healthy people, but if you’re old with cancer, then it will likely kill you.

Lockdown in Italy is very different from lockdown in China. In my area all restaurants were closed, none of the three feet nonsense!

how can over 70's isolate if they need care and/or assistance?

are caregivers expected to carry on working with the over 70's too?

It is clear that it works.
Armed police are not necessary to enforce a lockdown due to the living arrangements in Chinese cities. We live in compounds that already have security measures so it’s straightforward to introduce restrictions eg non residents cannot enter the compound etc.

What, all the quarantined in China live in compounds with security attached?

South Korea has been extremely transparent about coronavirus. Let's avoid the racial slurs please.

Clearly if over seventies need care or assistance this needs to continue. Social distancing means they can’t go out the house basically. It doesn’t mean health care workers can’t come in. Clearly precautions will need to be taken when they do.

In cities we live on compounds (some houses and some flats) with security and entry and exit gates. This has nothing to do with the virus or quarantine, just normal China life. Because of this, introducing containment measures is straightforward - eg not allowing non residents to enter.

What, all the quarantined in China live in compounds with security attached?

No, she means most Chinese live in apartment complexes that are gated with security guards at the entrance. So you need permission from the flat residents for entrance usually, so just a stricter version of that.

Or it could be that the virus has run its course in China.

But either way, the infrastructure in china is far different to here, meaning that lockdown is far more easily achieved than in Europe. The lockdown in Italy has already been shown to be a farce with flights leaving locked down locations.

While it’s possible to close schools and cancel large gatherings here, the truth is that it’s not possible to contain any section of society.

The requirement for over 70’s to self isolate is completely ageist as things stand. Many over 70’s are in far better health than the likes of me with underlying health conditions, and there is no thought that over 70’s are spreading the condition such as is assumed for school aged children.

But while you can ask over 70’s to self isolate, you cannot enforce it.

Lockdown will happen in name only, and many will have no choice but to travel, e.g. for work.

Exactly Mango.

My daughter is young but is disabled and immunocompromised. She has had carers for a few years and regularly catches bad colds etc from them. She's had a carer in her home shaking and throwing up before but saying she couldn't be off work (not just for lack of pay but because the care company 'won't let us'??). I really think the situation with people who need carers is very scary.

Has the virus run its course in China?
Waiting to see what happens as restrictions are starting to be relaxed.

I have heard British people say they will flout any isolation measures unless they are either compensated for isolation themselves.

I'm shocked by their attitude but we have to accept that many people are unlikely to do as they are told.

The issue will be financial. Personally I cannot afford to stay off work and isolate. Obviously I would if I suspected I had the virus but I need to carry on as normal otherwise. If we are ordered to by the government are they going to ensure people will be paid?

It is not ‘just’ old people or people with pre-existing conditions. Healthy young (30s) people have died. Sigh. Do people only care when it’s someone like them? If so, look at the demographics in Italy & new research coming out of China. And we have no idea of long term health impact of allowing an entirely new virus to become endemic in our population.
Why we didn’t learn from those countries hit earlier, like China, s Korea, Japan & now Italy? I can’t help thinking there’s some kind of racial element - I have heard so many times that oh, we don’t trust their numbers, we have repeatedly dismissed their medics, claimed their testing is wrong...is it only when it happens to us that people will wake up and say holy shit, why didn’t we enforce social distancing earlier?

Of course it’s not ageist, there is no doubt the over seventies are more at risk, clearly if you’re younger with significant issues then you should personally decide to do the same.

Ageist, 😂