We are going to be like Italy

[chococo]

Just like Italy we will be in a few weeks. The park is packed with children!! Weddings are still going ahead with hundreds of people, no one cares. There will be high risk people at the weddings because their mentality is we are not on lockdown so we will continue as normal.

Unfortunately I know a lot of people who are not taking the virus seriously and mock those that do, really pissing me off

Our death toll today has continued to follow Italy’s pattern. We have an identical number of deaths today as Italy had 14 days ago. Deaths are going up at the same rate that Italy’s were, it seems very optimistic to assume that, having taken fewer containment measures, ours will suddenly slow down when theirs has continued to escalate.

Kitty

That's a really interesting observation about anti biotics.

it seems very optimistic to assume that, having taken fewer containment measures, ours will suddenly slow down when theirs has continued to escalate.

Yes why would it slow down? What is it going to take for the government to take firmer measures? Does it take a long time to draft the legislation?

Or are we safer because Lombardy and surrounding areas are a hotspot (though we seek to have a developing one in the Midlands)?

@Derbygerbil

It would be nice if they defined key workers too. I work for a bank and all we've heard is "some bank workers" so we don't know if it applies to us at all (we're not a retail bank) and, if so, which workers?

"Where have you been? It was defined late Thursday night:"

Rude and unnecessary - and obviously only read a few words of my post - that link you gave just says "bank workers" - it simply cannot mean ALL of them.

It also says:

"If workers think they fall within the critical categories above, they should confirm with their employer that, based on their business continuity arrangements, their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service."

But no-one has given us employers any extra information to discuss with our staff.

I work for an investment bank and I would assume none of our staff are key workers, and certainly none of the support staff. But someone needs to tell those staff whether they are or are not key workers because they are asking US and we don't know any more than the govt website which just says "bank workers" (which, in theory, includes me but obviously doesn't - not that I have kids anyway).

Italy is locked down?

Italy has been locked down for weeks.

Why are people stockpiling and panic buying if all they are doing is carrying on as normal???
So they get that message, but not that it could be a massive killer?
Inevitably we will have to go into lockdown, but I think the government is getting its ducks financially in a row first to avoid even more panic and breakdown of law and order.
I think the government will announce next week having secured we wont as a nation go bankrupt, then call the army in and everyone will have to comply.
So many entitled people in UK.
China for all its massive failings and secrecy did do this quite well and people obeyed the strict rules.
But it was clear not wishy washy half measures.
It needs to happen though, and I think when it finally does ( too little too late) people that have truly tried to contain the spread will be relieved that its been taken control of.
But we have had different messages first lets all get herd immunity, then lets not.
People are confused and I get that. Its very surreal and everyone coping with it in their own way. Denial, arrogance etc.
We have been drip fed in stages to prepare for a full lock down, as to not cause massive panic?

Which is also worrying as it means there have probably been isolated outbreaks all over, that because people recovered quickly, haven't even been registered as cases.

I am becoming more and more convinced that my family has had this already, in early January. There was an absolute pig of a thing circulating here then, with periodic fevers, super-sore throat and a terrible cough. I was short of breath and using ventolin for at least a couple of weeks.
I think it's possible.

I'm not sure how the early January thing works, wasn't the first case in the UK only on 31st Jan from a chinese family on holiday in the North East?

So before then it can't have been Corona. Very unlikely a different person bought it into the country from China any earlier and it was not detected.

Absolutely! Do not have any party at home!! :(

Our death toll today has continued to follow Italy’s pattern. We have an identical number of deaths today as Italy had 14 days ago. Deaths are going up at the same rate that Italy’s were, it seems very optimistic to assume that, having taken fewer containment measures, ours will suddenly slow down when theirs has continued to escalate.

Exactly. The death rate is tracking ITALY's ffs.
Why is the UK not paying attention? Is it the lack of maths skills?

From the graph, Spain and UK are set to overtake Italy in deaths.

@Mintypylonsfryingsurplus

We have been drip fed in stages to prepare for a full lock down, as to not cause massive panic?

Agree!!! They have so much to prepare right now. But it’s happening. Yes people I know are using herd immunity as an excuse too. With all the key workers and other people about in sure that’s more than enough here without ignorant people adding to it!?

We are going to be far worse than Italy if we don’t go into full lockdown.

We are going to be far worse than Italy if we don’t go into full lockdown

The government have all the facts and figures. They hopefully know what they're doing 😰

@CloudsCanLookLikeSheep I do think it is possible that it was in countries earlier than the first reported cases but just wasn't being tested for at the time.

I work, and have lunch, with a person who was in China over Christmas and new years. When he got back he was in the office for a few days, then off sick for about two weeks, came back in for a week or two and then was off sick again for a week and a half. Covid19 wasn't reported in Ireland at the time so he wasn't tested.

At the beginning of February, I then got the worst flu I have ever experienced. It started with a really severe sore throat (viral), then quickly followed dizziness, fatigue, sore limbs., a cough. I had to take time off work (which I never do) and sleep for days.

My ds also got it along with a fever over 40° that we couldn't bring down for days. He is 6 and has never had a temp this high before. It took him two weeks to get over it.
During our illnesses, I had been to the gp once, ds was so sick he saw a gp 3 times in the space of 6 days.
Because covid 19 wasn't in the country at the time that was never questioned, but I do think it is possible that we had it and it was here and in other countries long before the first reported case.

We have been drip fed in stages to prepare for a full lock down, as to not cause massive panic?

I really hope lockdown is coming. Today if possible. It would be a relief. Better make sure our printers are working so that we can print out the sheets you need when you do go out.

But I am scared that Boris will not do it. For reasons that are unfathomable.

I also think my son might have had the virus without realising - not sure if it was January or February. He wasn’t too ill - a few days in bed, a temperature, and a really heavy strange pressure on his lungs. Who knows.

Dk20, it's entirely possible. Strange the scientists didnt pick it up as I'd imagine it would have spread but maybe they just didnt have the tools to recognize it early on.

@Helpmechangemymindsetplease

*I really hope lockdown is coming. Today if possible. It would be a relief. Better make sure our printers are working so that we can print out the sheets you need when you do go out.

But I am scared that Boris will not do it. For reasons that are unfathomable.*

I hope it’s coming to and today please. I can’t get through to some of my friends and family so they need to be grounded by the government!

I just think he’s not done it all at once because a) us brits would not take that very well and b) soo much needs to be put into place , what about all the people who’ve been flooded etc who need accommodation - maybe he’s in talks with hotels? Hope this is the case anyway. We need lockdown fast for this to work effectively!

I also think my son might have had the virus without realising - not sure if it was January

I was saying this about me and my son, we had a fever and a persistent cough and went to the docs twice in a row although I think that was December, maybe too early , who knows though. Let’s hope they make these tests available ASAP. And a vaccine please

*We are going to be far worse than Italy if we don’t go into full lockdown

The government have all the facts and figures. They hopefully know what they're doing*

I fear announcing the herd immunity strategy (interpreting the facts and figures differently to WHO and almost every other country) then quickly u-turning but not explicitly saying so, has called untold damage. It's left people confused and added to the perception that it's just something to get out of the way for most people. Clear, consistent communication is so so important and lots of intelligent people are still apparently confused.

They must lockdown soon, they can't allow the madness of people flocking to the seaside etc having seen what has happened elsewhere.

@Lifesavesocialdistance
I think this message about the knock-on effects needs to come through more clearly unfortunately. There are women giving birth in northern Italy who won't have the option of an epidural as they can't spare the staff. Chemo cancelled. My friend works at a children's hospital in central Italy, her ward is half-empty (very few coronavirus cases and less respiratory issues generally since nurseries and schools shut), but they are running on skeleton staff as everyone that can be moved to adult hospitals has been.

The government have royally fucked this one up. We have people saying "Well, we all have to get this anyway". They don't realise that to build herd immunity whilst remaining within the capacity of our health service would take roughly... 100 years.

I also think my son might have had the virus without realising - not sure if it was January

Before schools were shut on 24th February here my kids had already been off school for a week with flu. Looking back maybe that was it? But then again, neither me nor DH got it and we weren't being particularly cautious.

I fear announcing the herd immunity strategy (interpreting the facts and figures differently to WHO and almost every other country) then quickly u-turning but not explicitly saying so, has called untold damage.

Exactly this.

In Ireland we were told from the beginning this is going to be really dangerous and to expect a high number of cases and deaths. Schools were closed and they preached about social distancing to keep down the spread. When some complied but not others, they were called out on this. Every day they re-inforce the importance of social distancing. St Patrick's day parades all cancelled and pubs closed to help with social distancing. Few pubs remained open and have been told that this will be remembered when they go to renew their pub licence.
The message from our government has always been clear and has always been the same day on day. Theres no confusion.

Whereas in the UK...

Whereas in the UK...

We have that bumbling fool and that team of government briefed advisers .

Or if not government briefed, how could they have been so stupid?

I just re read the official government doc on social distancing and its so woolly
Says things like that if you’re over 70 or have health condition you should ‘be particularly stringent’ in following the advice - implying the rest of us don’t have to be stringent
And the language is all about ‘limiting’ contact with friends and family, and ‘where possible’
It’s very frustrating and not surprising that some people are still very relaxed about things