Hospital admissions

[Candle02]

Hospital admissions are falling for COVID www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53772459. so those that are testing positive must have a mild to moderate infection. Surely then the curve for serious illness/death is not following the uptick in cases I am in a locked-down area where it appears very few are following 'the rules'. Surely the time to start locking down is when we start to see serious cases? Help me understand as a have a daughter who is locked down in a rehabilitation unit following serious injury and I need to see her but cant. it's killing me.

Totally agree with you.
These extra lockdowns are based on nothing except the Government’s fear of getting things wrong again.
People like you are being unfairly treated.

Unfortunately the government were too slow in locking us down in the first place and have had a lot of flack for it. So now they're being over cautious e.g. locking down areas which have higher cases, quarantining returning holidaymakers. They cant win really because if they didnt lockdown these areas, people would complain. And when they do lock them down, people complain. I think they're just choosing to err on the side of caution, although many (including me) disagree with this approach.

Thanks for your agreements and seeing my point of view as I was not really sure if I explained to too well. I am suffering so bad mentally that I am not allowed to see my child because cases are increasing yet the hospitals barely have COVID patients in from the reports I have read. No wonder people are developing mental health problems when they have to try to cope with scenarios as I have described.

Ideally you want to avoid people getting seriously ill. I'm so sorry about your daughter but I expect you'd want to avoid her getting ill which is what they're trying to do. Rather than another care home tragedy. Sometimes it's too late to lockdown after people have become seriously ill as that means it will have been in transmission among vulnerable people for several weeks before. If we waited to lockdown in that scenario, there would be rising numbers of deaths for several weeks after the decision to lockdown. During that time, everyone would wish they'd acted sooner. It's like trying to stop a freight train. It takes time.

my daughter has already had COVID which she picked up in the hospital and is now negative. I think enough time has elapsed between full lockdown of the country and the present state of the COVID 'crisis'. Currently, there are fewer COVID hospital admissions and cases that are out there are manageable, despite the uptick in cases.

On the freight train analogy, it hasn't even left the depot and we are all 'jumping out of its way'

I agree with you - I also feel that not being able to visit your daughter is against human rights. The risk is minimal if you have been even vaguely following the rules.

Even in Leicester, where the increase in cases was picked up weeks ago there hasn't been a corresponding increase in hospital admissions.

The cure is becoming (if it wasn't already) more dangerous than the disease.

The only thing I would disagree with is your mild to moderate - Many of them aren't even mild - they are asymptomatic and only found due to intensive testing.

@IAintdeadyet
I have already contacted a human right organisation and it appears there is little that can be done because of the government setting out the restrictions in my case.

I entirely agree that there are many that are asymptomatic and the testing has ramped up 'cases' which medically speaking are not actual 'cases' ie they don't need to be admitted to hospital. The 'cure indeed is looking worse than the disease I agree.

candle very glad to hear your daughter may now be immune. Other people's children may not be so lucky. Think of them too. On the freight train analogy, it absolutely has left the depot and judging the right moment to put the brakes on is not something to be laid-back about. No one could accuse our government of being trigger happy with lockdown and I'm sure you'd blame them if things got out of control and harmed vulnerable people unnecessarily for a second time. Please bear in mind, they're just trying to protect people who have been scandalously exposed in recent months.

@jihery
Sorry, I don't agree.
I am that vulnerable person at risk, and knowing this I still want to see my child. The restrictions in my view are draconian and unnecessary when I see hospital admissions rise dramatically I am agreeing the brakes need to be slammed on. The price we are paying for a rise in cases is too high when the hospital wards are empty. This government under reacted and now is overreacting and people like me are paying a very high price, not to mention my poor daughter who has not seen her family since March,.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree as I understand to some extent what you're going through and have a great deal of sympathy. However you're not the vulnerable people I was thinking of-the people in that care facility are. When hospital admissions rise dramatically it will be too late to stop them rising. We want decision makers to take responsibility for that and avoid it. Of course it will be an unpopular decision that causes a different kind of suffering. That's very sad. But this is not an enemy that can be controlled with finely calibrated movements without risking the lives of thousands. I'm glad they're willing to accept the limitations set by the nature of the virus. It's not something you can stop once it's got going and unfortunately you can't see it getting going with our woeful t and t system. I do understand I might weigh things up differently in your position but that's why we have policy makers who can be less subjective.

In my locked down part of the world, many people are voting with their feet. there is very little social distancing happening. Not every one of these people are idiots who do not weigh up the risk factors. I think lots of people of all age groups are taking finely calibrated risks and deciding to live as normal where they can. The risk of me taking anything into a care facility with full PPE is very low. I am classed as vulnerable and with sensible precautions, I refuse to hide in my bed. my daughter needs me and I am being denied that because there are asymptomatic cases and mild cases being counted as a 'crisis' More people now are dying of flu and pneumonia than COVID.

It's reassuring to think we could be seeing a reduction in the severity of cases. I'm so sorry you can't see your DD, OP. It must be so hard for you all. I hope you get to see her very soon.

The point is that serious cases are down because of lockdown. Vulnerable people are catching it less because they are isolating and relatives aren’t allowed to visit.

Community cases are rising among the working age population because they have returned to work & socialising.

Your dd might be immune but others in her unit won’t be and they need protecting from the outside world too.

Unfortunately, the 'outside world' comes in in the shape of all the staff who are mixing in the community, seeing parents, going shopping, friends etc. Doctors. nurses, cleaners, cooks are all at risk from passing the virus onto patients, in the same way, I or my daughter's other family and friends are. that these patients are equally vulnerable to flu or pneumonia does not seem to be an issue, even though as stated more people are currently dying from these than COVID. I am not suggesting to walk in like I am off for a jolly, I am saying with sensible precautions I should be able to see my daughter. But we have to cower in the presence of COVID and suffer all the pain mentally and emotionally it brings, Imagine not being able to see your child for a year, maybe cos that's how it looks; this is the way we are headed, really? is that ok?

It may or not not be a low risk for you to visit. Maybe you do take sensible precautions (this will not necessarily mean you are covid free). But decisions have to be made for everyone.

@Jihhery

I think we'll have to agree to disagree as I understand to some extent what you're going through and have a great deal of sympathy. However you're not the vulnerable people I was thinking of-the people in that care facility are. When hospital admissions rise dramatically it will be too late to stop them rising. We want decision makers to take responsibility for that and avoid it. Of course it will be an unpopular decision that causes a different kind of suffering. That's very sad. But this is not an enemy that can be controlled with finely calibrated movements without risking the lives of thousands. I'm glad they're willing to accept the limitations set by the nature of the virus. It's not something you can stop once it's got going and unfortunately you can't see it getting going with our woeful t and t system. I do understand I might weigh things up differently in your position but that's why we have policy makers who can be less subjective.

What is wrong with you??? Her child is in hospital and she can not visit. Show some genuine empathy or F off.

@foxrox

Thank you for your support, I cannot tell you how terrible it has been. my daughter was in a coma for months.before she came round. It's been so horrendous. I just want to be with her. That's all.

candle I have great sympathy for you and it's a pity when people decide empathy isn't genuine without knowledge of the poster. It's very hard. But the reasons for staying away are very strong.

OP, I have complete sympathy for you. It is shocking that we are still prevented from human contact when the premise for the regulations is so flimsy.

OP.

You are 100% right.

The Government and their scientific advisors are in PANIC MODE and unfortunately that is affecting millions of people adversely one way or another.

It is no consolation right now but Johnson and his lackies are going to face some massive criticism when all this is over and properly looked into. Though they will of course try to suppress anything incriminating - it's what they do best.

My sympathies!

Would the exemptions to hospital visiting rules for disabled people who are admitted apply to your daughter @Candle02?

I do think they are being over cautious at the moment, cases are rising but not deaths so either the virus is getting weaker or it's younger people catching it. BUT it could all turn on a dime and start infecting the more vulnerable population.. this is what the govt are afraid of. This virus has so many twists and turns, no one can really predict what it will do next.

@ParisOnWheels
No exceptions as my daughter s in a rehab unit following being in the hospital many months and they have blocked all visiting until further notice. I have tried many ways to get around it but they say no. Only Skype is allowed.

@Noextremes2017
Yes, I agree it is panic mode and I hope Johnson and this government will be held to account. Epidemiologists have said for decades we need to prepare for a scenario such as this and Johnson and his lackeys were absolutely blindsided even as some of us could see it on the horizon.

For me and my family and my daughter's family, this has caused unendurable anguish. I cannot do anything other than wait. but I still say all the cleaning staff/admin staff, as well as all the medics, are just as likely to carry the virus in as me as I am sure after work they are shopping, seeing family etc. Therefore I present no more of a risk to the patients then them. That's my whole point really.

I'm sorry you cannot get in to see your daughter but unfortunately local lock downs are absolutely essential to avoid cases spiralling again. This can happen so quickly and the vulnerable will get it and hospital admissions and deaths will rise.

We will see more and more local lock downs by the end of October. People in your area may be doing what they want and ignoring the rules but please remember that this will just lead to lockdown being extended. This will be their fault not the government's.

I think it's criminal you can't see your daughter. You have my sympathy. Separating a mum and child for six months should not be allowed. Keep asking the rehabilitation centre for access, and keep fighting to see your baby. Also write to your MP.

I am dismayed that they will not bend. You could quarantine for the two weeks before you meet her.