It's predicted we might well be the worst affected country in Europe

[KenDodd]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52261859

Because the tests were not reliable - so how come ones in other countries (eg Germany) were?

How do we know that the tests used in Germany and other countries were reliable? I’m not an epidemiologist. Are you? I find it pretty implausible that a type of test that worked, for a new disease, wouldn’t be used everywhere.

An older relative of mine passed away a few wks ago, they were in a care home. Tested but no virus but the death certificate this week is saying probable coronavirus, very confusing.

"They decided to go with the 'herd immunity' policy which basically involved letting people die."

KenDodd What is it you thought "'herd immunity" meant?

I'd be fascinated to hear since we are still relying on 'herd immunity' and we are still 'letting' people die as we can't lockdown everyone.

Just in case anyone still thinks a total lockdown was an option it would mean your no water in your taps, no electricity, no food shops at all and no ambulances. Fires would be left to burn and so on and it would carry on until there was a vaccine so everyone would be dead.

We were told that there were fewer tube services because drivers were either ill or self-isolating.

Who should have driven the tubes, in your opinion?

Then it emerged that drivers were willing to sign on for extra shifts...so...them, presumably.

But they were ignored, just like the keyworker customers. This wasn't ever about staff, it was about the £turnover per carriage, per day.

Germany treats patients at an earlier stage, I read. Probably increases their chances of survival.
Is there a treatment? What is it?
You wouldn't put a patient on oxygen or CPAP or a ventilaor until they actually need it. What treatment are you referring to?

I also agree with @PicsInRed, countries that have controlled it acted against the advice from WHO. In Jan they were saying no evidence of human to human transfer.

What's terrifying is that at exactly the time we needed people to socially distance, TFL cut services to the bone - ensuring that the remaining services were packed.

Because they were short staffed with people sick or isolating. Who do you think should have been driving tube trains with 1/3 of their drivers unable to work?

The data only really tells you the severity/improvement of the problem, not what you can do to manage it

You don’t need to watch other countries to know that you manage it by further distancing and testing to see where the virus is most prevalent. This is true of every contagion, that’s not new information you can only glean from what others do.

mochojoes Apparently if you have not been infected long the test would show negative anyway, but if the symptoms were there it might still be considered reasonably certain.

Netherlands death rate per 1 Mill population is higher then the U.K as is Spain, Italy, Belgium and France

People keep saying this, but it does not take into account of us being 2-3 weeks behind all those countries. Most have them have reached the peak already, we haven't. We are seeing higher daily death rates than most of those countries despite there being a time lag in reporting, and us only counting hospital cases. I think it is highly likely that the UK and USA are going to see some of the highest number of deaths worldwide.

@lasttraineast that's what we are thinking, awaiting some more clarification. They didn't have any symptoms either.

How are Sweden managing it?

As in low death rates but no lockdown?

@starlightgazers we are 2-3 weeks behind all those countries? Belgium and the Netherlands in particular?

It wouldn’t be unexpected for us to have higher death rates then all those countries are population is bigger. Surely we have to compare the deaths per 1M population?

On the long running Covid threads (the "worried about" and the "graphs" thread) almost all the questions raised on this one are answered if anyone wants to join us.

Re: Germany, their patients are treated differently because they aren't at death's door with Coronavirus before being hospitalised. It's been said a few times (today) on the "worried" thread that a lot of people here are told to not even think of approaching a hospital unless they literally cannot breathe. So, people admitted to hospitals, this receiving treatment for the first time, are already far more ill than German patients.

They will blame China and the people who went to the park but I think that unfortunately the reason UK will have higher rates is because of excess junk food and alcohol. Other european countries have fitter citizens.

You acted too late.

March 22 was Mother's day6 and everyone saw family. That's not even a month ago! Think how much it spread during that time!

Really you need to compare death rate as a % of positive cases to see how well, or badly a country is dealing with the virus.
Though that figure will of necessity be skewed by fewer or more testing numbers.
As of Friday, for example, Italy's mortality rate was 12.5% of total cases. The UK was second highest with just over 12%. But those figures need to be taken into account bearing in mind that Italy has tested twice as many people as the UK. So, their death rate is still considerably higher than the UK. But (again) Italy has peaked and is coming out the other side. The UK hasn't.

March 22 was Mother's Day and everyone saw family.

Actually, lots of people did not. That’s because we were expressly asked not to. Anyone who did, and whose elderly relatives subsequently contracted the virus, is in no position to criticise the government response.

One of my relatives is coming home from abroad this week. We asked if they had to quarantine or self isolate once they arrive back.....and the answer was no. even now!!!

I think a lot of people on MN will be disappointed if we are not.............

We really don't know. All we can do is hope our lockdown is having the desired effect and that our NHS can cope, and as many lives are saved as possible.

There are questions to be answered and it will need to happen and hopefully now we have got a proper opposition leader, the government can be challenged and held to account.

@MintyMabel You don’t need to watch other countries to know that you manage it by further distancing and testing to see where the virus is most prevalent. This is true of every contagion, that’s not new information you can only glean from what others do.

Yes that may be the top line but who, what, when, where, how are they testing? Same with social distancing measures. That detail can be useful.

We still haven't closed borders. We 'asked' people to quarantine and stay indoors rather than enforcing it. We're an island. If our government had acted, we could have had rates like NZ. I hope all the people who voted for Boris are having a long hard rethink. It will be a complete disgrace if we ever have a Conservative government again.

One of my relatives is coming home from abroad this week. We asked if they had to quarantine or self isolate once they arrive back.....and the answer was no even now!!!

The disease is here now. Almost 70,000 people have tested positive. How is quarantining incomers going to help now? Anybody entering the country is expected to socially distance like everybody else.

Souns we are in lockdown and have to stay at home where possible. What is the point at this time.

Your relative is probably more likely to catch it now they are back in the UK.