Westminstenders: Events...

[RedToothBrush]

Events have taken over. EU / UK negotiation have been put on ice due to covid-19.

The US has banned all travel from Europe - apart from to the uk and Ireland - in a manner which is highly political to drive wedges.

The effects of leaving the European Medicines Agency may be much more serious than anyone could have anticipated.

There's a oil price war going on between Saudi Arabia and Russia which has further driven market fears led by covid-19.

There the crisis in Turkey with Syrian refugees which is also distracting the EU.

We are facing lockdown and economic turmoil over the next weeks and months.

Johnson is having his leadership moment with deaths projected to possibly exceed UK WW2 deaths.

We are desperately trying to recruit negotiators as it's suddenly become apparent we don't have enough to carry out all the trade deals we want.

The civil service will be stretched to its limited by covid-19. Yet we also have Brexit to consider.

Where next? How bad are things going to get?

Report here that Germany will give one million masks to EU for distribution to smaller or poorer EU members. [] Don't think that includes the UK - BJ would be too proud anyway

The UK is no longer a member of the EU. No embarrassed rejections needed.

Shame really, some could use the facemask to hide the smell of coconut ....

Shit..
A paramedic has just pulled up outside my neighbours house.
Hope they're ok :(

Have you noticed that gorse blossom smells of coconut?

Yes! It’s one of my favourite things about coastal walks in early summer.

Gorse is already flowering here

As ever thank you Red & all contributors, I am trying hard to keep calm & rational, succeeding most of the time.
My dd has lupus & is expecting another baby any day now, my fear is that she will have a major flare after the birth & will have to take immune suppressant medication, which will leave her very vulnerable & if I become ill won’t be able to help her, I have heart failure so am also vulnerable, many thanks for the informative links especially the one addressing the various strains of the virus doing the rounds, which appears to unfounded, I sincerely hope you all keep well

Forgot my picture of flowers for PMK

Satellite images show Iran's mass graves for coronavirus victims

Poor sods; I hope that's not any of our countries in a few months

https://www.space.com/iran-coronavirus-graves-satellite-images.html

New satellite images from Maxar show Iranian authorities digging large numbers of graves in the Qom area,
which media reports say is due to the growing numbers of coronavirus victims in the country.

The Washington Post, which noted that the graves were so extensive you can see them from space,
said coronavirus caused several high-profile deaths in Iran's leadership.

dontcallmemelon Best wishes to you and your DD 💐

So EU banning exports of ventilators. Poor ole GB! So who can we blame for that🤔

dontcallmemelon wishing you and DD and new baby all the very best.

dontcallme love to you and your DD

@dontcallmelen and your family

dontcallmelen.

Hospitals in the East of France are starting to feel the strain. Lack of ventilators, need for extra beds, etc.
Calling on people to stop going outdoors and carrying on as though nothing were wrong.

www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2020/03/15/coronavirus-dans-les-hopitaux-du-grand-est-la-situation-est-tres-difficile_6033166_3224.html

dont 💐

Good idea? French supermarket giving folk over 70 an exclusive time to shop. Great until the point at which they’re asked to stay home, I guess.

Privatisation d’un carrefour Market en Bretagne pour les papis et mamies de plus de 70 ans entre 7h45 et 8h30.

mobile.twitter.com/Antoine_Lvq/status/1238950327413542912

I see the railways are now asking for a bailout.

www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-eu-limit-exports-medical-equipment/

DG - where did you see that ?

What railways begging bowl out ?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51896169

Just makes me sick to think we could have been renationalising them if Corbyn had one. Bearing in mind Big Boris has already spunked far more than the Labour manifesto would have cost.

DG - ta

Also saw this

Coronavirus: 'Switch from building cars to ventilators' www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51896168

I really don't know what to make of this....well I know what my initial reaction is , but maybe I am just overly cynical....

Dear car manufacturers,

We will let you be a complete victim of the loss of just in time supply chains. We will ignore your input, say fuck business, trash the future trading relationship with the EU at a great cost to your businesses -forcing you to cut UK investment and look elsewhere.

PS could you do us a good price on some ventilators?

I think it shows signs of panic when the government is asking anyone to make ventilators....I want a BMW model!

Does the figures everyday on how many have tested positive mean they are the amount of people in hospital with it since they are only testing people with symptoms? Or is it amount they have tested in their own homes?

I’m an epidemiologist. When I heard about Britain’s ‘herd immunity’ coronavirus plan, I thought it was satire

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/15/epidemiologist-britain-herd-immunity-coronavirus-covid-19

Your house is on fire, and the people whom you have trusted with your care are not trying to put it out.

Even though they knew it was coming, and could see what happened to the neighbours as they were overwhelmed with terrifying speed,
the UK government has inexplicably chosen to encourage the flames,
in the misguided notion that somehow they will be able to control them.

When I first heard about this, I could not believe it.

I research and teach the evolution and epidemiology of infectious disease at Harvard’s Chan School of Public Health.

My colleagues here in the US, even as they are reeling from the stumbling responsee^ of the Donald Trump administration to the crisis, assumed that reports of the UK policy were satire
– an example of the wry humour for which the country is famed.
But they are all too real.