Gobsmacked by UK response

[Aspoonfullofjam]

Stay at home for one week if you’ve a cold (even though all evidence is that incubation is two weeks)

People over 70 don’t go on cruises.

WHAT!!!

134 new cases in a day and no action. 13 EU countries have closed all schools, another 11 partial closures but apparently no action needed in Uk.

Jesus.

I'd much rather have policy decided by expert scientists in the field who have evidence than by Boris Pants-on-fire Johnson (god help us) or by hysterical armchair virologists in an anonymous chat forum!

Experts. Which ones?

the banner down the side of the BBC / Bojo broadcast said only those in hospital would be tested.

Is that for real?

Well, I am going to trust the medical advice.

I listened to the whole thing and I thought what the Medical Officers said made sense.

I know that if they close schools there will simply be teenagers on the streets, in shopping centres, in groups in houses and certainly not washing their hands or not touching their faces as they pass the games controls from one to the other. They are better off occupied in schools where possible.

It sounds like we need to be prepared for at least another 3 months of this possibly. Closing schools now for 13+ weeks would be about 10, million children at home and heading into the summer holidays it would be heading up to 5-6 months out of school.

We want to stop this virus but we can't and now have to try to control and delay its transmission. It's not about doing everything at once at this moment but when it is most effective- I am listening to the health/medical officers advice and trusting it.

@GalOopNorth

I totally agree with you. I think the govt has said ‘fuck it, we’re never going to cope, might as well bring it on’

I’m now wondering how long it has really been in circulation.

Experts. Which ones?

Not the Michael Gove ones

I don't think he's gone far enough, early enough. I agree with the more stringent advice that other countries are taking.

The Prime Minister basically just told me that he will allow me (and/ or others) to get coronavirus, and that I (and/or others) will lose loved ones as a result of that.

My brain can't cope with that. Not even a pretence of trying to keep us all as safe as possible.

(And no, I didn't vote for him)

@Cam77 Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer and epidemiologist. I imagine he might know a bit about infectious diseases...

It is not the government, it is the medics and scientists who know what they are talking about. I feel quite reassured. The economy collapsing would not be in anyone's interest so that they have moved to protect it is correct.

Yes I'm wondering about the 'herd immunity will save us' approach, too.

I thought there was no evidence of herd immunity and that the antibodies don't seem to last long, hence the cases where people are re-catching it.

I thought the entire programe was a shambles

So you're going to die, but we'd rather you die later in the year when there are enough private ambulances.

If you want a government who cares about vulnerable people, may I suggest you stop voting in the tories

Exactly. People voted Tory in the safe and certain knowledge that their MO is not giving a shit whether the poor and vulnerable live or die,

Suddenly finding themselves on the sharp end of that particular brand of governance must be quite the shock.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer and epidemiologist. I imagine he might know a bit about infectious diseases

So do the equally qualified individuals advising other countries and the WHO.

I’m in agreement with you lulu. The local Scottish news has said if/when schools close it will be for weeks and up to the summer holidays.

Of course the countries who are closing down also listen to experts. Why are the Uk experts saying something different. Are they especially chosen experts by BJ?

A lot of the population still aren't taking it seriously and are still trotting out the line "it's no worse than flu". Until the figures are high enough that 100% of the population are on board with the need to stop it and isolate, then it's pointless as people will still go out and mingle because everyone is "over reacting".
Hopefully this time will come soon as the figures start their exponential rise.
I really don't think the majority of the British public are bright enough to understand the meaning of exponential and really don't get it yet.

It's all in the timing..

Incubation 5 days for majority. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32150748

The thing that gets me is all of the mixed messages from NHS, PHE & the Govt. Add to that the fact that so many other countries are doing the same thing but UK seems to think it knows better than them?

Oh well, if there’s one silver lining it’s that the inevitable shutdown will come when the weather is better. Nice few weeks off in the spring/summer for those people who are well enough/still alive.

Shambolic...so basically don't go on a cruise

'It's the economy, stupid'.

That's what's driving his attitude, and to hell with the risks.

I was quite mpressed by the presentation by UK's Chief Scientific and Medical Officers. Good clear explanations of why we are doing the things planned and when. But it's really quite scary.

The point about whole family self isolation was good one - if you self isolate an entire household everytime one person feels ill you will tire of it and right now most people that have a new cough or temperature above 37.8c will not have Covid19. So no need to isolate entire families, not yet anyway. This likely to change later as it becomes more widespread, but not necessary now.

Also new information about not being contagious 7 days after symptoms appear and also that most deaths appear to be due to a secondary immune system reaction that occurs typically 7 days after people become infected.

It will get tougher for some time before it gets better again, and they are talking of many weeks, up to 14 weeks, 5 to 7 weeks either side of the peak with the peak 10 to 14 weeks away. So peak some time around early June perhaps and strongest measures from late April to mid July.

Top reasonable worst case scenario 80% infected at some point. Overall mortality rate around 1%. But a lot of uncertainty about what the most likely infection rate will be so not giving any numbers yet.

Yes, it's scary - I have underlying health conditions - but I do think the scientists know what they are doing.

I'm amazed by the number of 'armchair' medics that reckon they know more than the expert, Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer and epidemiologist.

I really don't think the majority of the British public are bright enough to understand the meaning of exponential and really don't get it yet.

You're not wrong there, the people commenting on this thread have proved that.

I have never voted Tory, and I despise the current bunch even more than the last lot.

But, I think on this matter, the government is doing the right thing. It seems to be following the advice of scientists and the reasoning for that advice seems sound.

The virus cannot be stopped - there is no vaccine. It will spread and some will sadly die.

The advisers are correct, that people will not be able to lock down for months, so these measures need to come into effect when the virus peaks. It is fine saying we should lock down for months, but who will care for the elderly? Who will nurse the sick? Who will mend burst water pipes, make products that we need, dispense medicine or deliver groceries? How will businesses pay their staff if they have no customers?

I am certain we will end up in lockdown, just like Italy. But we shouldn't do it yet because it's not necessary. Individuals who are at higher risk may want to act sooner, but that's a personal decision they can make without government instruction.

There’s a lot of people posting heightened posts on here but there will also be a vast amount who underplay this. Who would keep turning up with a cough no matter what (bar tape on the doors re China).