TOTAL AND UTTER MADNESS

[Bottletopsx]

I am totally amazed at the attitude of our Government! Thousands of Spanish football fans have travelled from coronavirus-hit Madrid to the UK for a football game in Liverpool tonight. Madrid has parts on lockdown and are not allowed to gather on mass there, yet they can fly here!!
Total madness!
All true here is the link to the Liverpool Echo
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-mps-gary-lineker-question-17905004

Yes Clav, but allowing sporting events, especially lack of testing, not increasing the SSP amount is incompetent and shows govt doesn't take this pandemic seriously.

Trump's actions are hardly well thought & rational, they test even less than we do.

Schools in Kent and Somerset deep cleaned this week;

www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/part-of-virus-hit-school-to-remain-shut-for-week-223462/

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/coronavirus-outbreak-pupils-isolated-after-3937245

We could have reduced the risk by Quarantining everyone arriving in the country, including UK residents returning from holidays. Instead, just faffing around waiting for things to get worse.

From the Independent link (not my link);

"Dr Harries [Deputy Chief Medical Officer] said cancelling big outdoor events like football matches would not necessarily be a decision supported by science."

“The virus will not survive very long outside,” she said. “Many outdoor events, particularly, are relatively safe.”

@Clavinova Good to see some schools deep cleaned. But we all know not all schools are deep cleaning after a confirmed case. All schools being deep cleaned after a confirmed case seems to me like such a basic action to take. I really can't believe it is not happening.

@clavinova That is interesting since WHO says that cancelling big events is important. I wonder why he thinks he knows better than them? And what this science is that he is referring to?

We could have reduced the risk by Quarantining everyone arriving in the country, including UK residents returning from holidays.

When Trump wanted to do this with visitors from China he received nothing but criticism from experts in America, Europe and elsewhere - including the editor in chief of the Lancet - who everyone keeps quoting when it suits them!

That is interesting since WHO says that cancelling big events is important. I wonder why he thinks he knows better than them? And what this science is that he is referring to?

Dr Harries is a woman - I suppose it depends on what stage each individual country is at.

@Kendodd

Yep, austerity is killing people too slowly, this will be more efficient.

Yep, austerity is killing people too slowly, this will be more efficient.

Did you miss the Budget yesterday?

The testing regime in Korea works, we are not following this, so we've not a scooby who is ill or not.

We've wasted the last 6 weeks.

Did you miss the Budget yesterday?

I just live with both the affects and effects of this government.

Did you miss the Budget yesterday?

Little in budget to increase day to day departmental spending (nhs aside but previously announced by May) .... but the amount of borrowing on capital projects is irresponsible and based on figures pre corona.

@SusieOwl4 If you cancelled a big open air football match what do you think would happen ? Everyone would squeeze into pubs to watch it on the big screens .

Exactly what happened last night in France according to a friend - pub heaving with football fans watching Paris st germain v Dortmund. No sign of virus panic...

The testing regime in Korea works, we are not following this, so we've not a scooby who is ill or not.

South Korea are warning of a new cluster in Seoul today;

"SEOUL: South Korea reported fewer than 120 new coronavirus cases on Thursday (Mar 12), but authorities warned that a new cluster in Seoul could see the infection spread in the capital."

"Around 100 people linked to a call centre in the city have tested positive for the virus in recent days."

"This could lead to a 'super spread' in the metropolitan area, where half of the entire population are concentrated," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a meeting on Thursday;"

www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-seoul-cluster-new-covid-19-cases-12529464

Also, reports say that coronavirus testing in South Korea is free of charge, but this man paid $140 at a drive through test clinic;

"When I got there, someone opened the car door for me," Koo Ji-young told ABC News after receiving his test results for a $140 fee. "First, they take a chest X-ray, then measure body temperature using a non contact measuring device. A doctor stuck a long stick into my nose and made me spit phlegm."

abcnews.go.com/International/massive-coronavirus-testing-program-south-korea-underscores-nimble/story?id=69226222

Sadiq Khan sticking up for Boris Johnson on LBC - he can't criticise the Prime Minister for listening to the experts - James O'Brien not pleased!

Clav - are you saying mass testing is pointless?

@clavinova, I think this thread is more about why mass gatherings still aren't banned, rather than about why travel isn't banned.

Interestingly a poster on another thread, who is upset because her friend isn't going to come to a concert with her due to coronavirus fears, has just said "If it was dangerous, they would have stopped it going ahead".

I think there's a public perception problem here, based on the total lack of action from this government!

Also, there is definitely a mid-point between total travel bans and doing diddly squat. You can continue to allow travel and trade while banning events where lots of people mingle closely together, and/or check temperatures and at least give information when people enter the border. At the moment, not even those measures have happened, which makes a lot less sense to most people.

If you cancel a big football match and say this is because this virus is serious, then no a few idiots will squeeze into pubs. If you cancel a big football match and say for weeks - no need to worry, this virus is just like a bad cold, then yes some people will go to pubs.
The Government obviously think most people are complete idiots. The reality is some people can see the reality of what is happening in spite of what the Government is saying, so are already taking measures to protect themselves.

I think there's a public perception problem here, based on the total lack of action from this government!

And yet Sadiq Khan has emphatically supported Boris Johnson!

Clav - are you saying mass testing is pointless?

No - but how many people do you test? Do you ask hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people with mild cold symptoms (who then test negative for coronavirus) to queue up to be tested alongside people who do have coronavirus? South Korea have licensed private testing centres (who appear to be charging for tests) - is that a two tier system we would criticise in the UK?

@Clavinova you test WHO recommend you test. No point asking us, we are not experts. Just follow the bloody recommendations.

Instead they will do nothing much and let people die, but safeguard the economy.

you test WHO recommend you test

We appear to be doing that though - 27,000 people have been tested in the UK so far.

Instead they will do nothing much and let people die, but safeguard the economy.

Don't vote for Sadiq Khan in the London mayoral election then.

I think there's a public perception problem here, based on the total lack of action from this government!

I completely agree with this. I'm in Ireland and really glad about the restrictions that have been brought in today. If only because it might make people stop and take things seriously.

People still travelled to Italy days before lock down because no one said not to when it was clear as day that it wasn't a good idea. Some people need to be explicitly told.

@Clavinova that is simply is not true. WHO have said we need to extend the criteria of who we test and contact trace.
But there is no point spending money doing this if you are going to just let the virus burn through the population. This appears to be the strategy.