Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[beesonthewhatnow]

"When can we go on holiday?"

"We don't know. Probably when people stop fucking dying. Next question."

Job done.

 

[Petcha]

Cos Germany has had a plan from the start. Cos she isn't afraid of her lies and incompetence being exposed, because she hasn't lied and isn't incompetent. So she can just speak the truth as she understands it without having to constantly self-censor in case she says something that makes her look bad.

The alternative approach if you've fucked up is to do what Macron did the other day and admit that you fucked up. Once you've done that, again, you don't have to constantly self-censor in your answers.

Likelihood of honesty, competence or contrition coming from the UK government?

Yeh. I think it's time someone from this cabinet did a Macron. Just come out to the briefing, apologise, say we fucked up and tell us what we all know anyway really, that because of that fuck up we're gonna be locked down for quite a while longer than three weeks. Just say it. How hard is it.

We're currently the laughing stock of Europe. I saw an Austrian politician presenting a slide yesterday showing that the UK is by far on course to be the worse affected in Europe. Even Austria has managed this better than us. You would have thought this country would have some of the best scientific minds in the world. I don't buy for a minute that it was just Boris and Cummings overruling them. They were being given piss-poor advice in my opinion. Once the dust settles I assume we'll learn which of those two things are true.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Oh we have the experts. But we're done with them, remember?

 

[PD58]

My overriding concern is that it seems like policy is being thought up on the hoof. I understand that the response to a degree has to be fluid, however, why has it taken 4 weeks to set up a vaccine task force, surely this should have been done at the outset as it is going to be vital? The politicians show an incredible lack of understanding of the science and strategic overview of the reasoning behind the approach, other than the 3 part mantra and 'relying on expert advice' is neither policy or plan. I'm afraid the scientists are also underwhelming, why is the chief science officer presenting graphs on transport figures for example, and them being present at most of the briefings actually allows the government off the hook. I get part of the problem is a daily briefing but 'you makes your bed'...it feels that the situation is getting worse by the week and is only being held together by those working at the frontline and all those in the full range of supporting roles.

 

[editor]

Now can someone please explain to me why 250,000 people were allowed to attend Cheltenham over three days and they let thousands of Madrid fans into Liverpool for the football and subsequent mingling in the city centre and pissup? When even Madrid clubs were playing behind closed doors?

Because this government is a bunch of fucking idiots whose reckless indifference to the advice given to them by medical professionals and their refusal to learn from other countries directly led to the deaths of thousands of UK citizens.

 

[Petcha]

My overriding concern is that it seems like policy is being thought up on the hoof. I understand that the response to a degree has to be fluid, however, why has it taken 4 weeks to set up a vaccine task force, surely this should have been done at the outset as it is going to be vital? The politicians show an incredible lack of understanding of the science and strategic overview of the reasoning behind the approach, other than the 3 part mantra and 'relying on expert advice' is neither policy or plan. I'm afraid the scientists are also underwhelming, why is the chief science officer presenting graphs on transport figures for example, and them being present at most of the briefings actually allows the government off the hook. I get part of the problem is a daily briefing but 'you makes your bed'...it feels that the situation is getting worse by the week and is only being held together by those working at the frontline and all those in the full range of supporting roles.

Yeh, that daily slide about how many people are using their cars... what the actual fuck.

Maybe you should have a slide showing you're not testing ANYONE arriving at our airports, even from China, Spain and Italy while you've got Hancock saying we have 'spare capacity' on tests.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Because this government is a bunch of fucking idiots whose reckless indifference to the advice given to them by medical professionals and their refusal to learn from other countries directly led to the deaths of thousands of UK citizens.

And who are still more interested in covering their arses over that fact than facing up to the business of trying to fix it. They are truly pathetic, every single one of them. Reason we don't have any firm exit date yet? Cos there isn't an exit plan in place yet, nor even a timetable for one. Cos they've been shit. Just admit it. We all already know.

 

[little_legs]

 

[planetgeli]

At last some coverage of the deaths in Wales in reference to where they have been. And it's interesting. Of the 506 deaths in hospitals confirmed by a lab test, 494 have been in the health authorities covering the area between Swansea and the English border with just 12 in other areas.

More detail of where deaths are across Wales
Aneurin Bevan has 37.5% of Covid-19 deaths so far

BBCCopyright: BBC
Public Health Wales for the first time has started to break down where the deaths from coronavirus have occurred so far.
Of the 506 deaths, 190 have taken place in the Aneurin Bevan health board area - which was identified as a hot-spot earlier on in the pandemic.
The area, covering Newport, the old Gwent valleys and rural Monmouthshire, has 18% of the population of Wales - but this is where 37.5% of the deaths have occurred so far.
Cardiff and Vale (112) and Cwm Taf Morgannnwg (110) areas are next, followed by Swansea Bay (82).
There are another 12 deaths spread across three other health board areas but details are being masked, PHW says, to protect patient confidentiality.
It does admit however that the number of actual deaths will be higher.
Deaths are not included which may have happened due to Covid-19 but have not been confirmed by a laboratory test.
PHW also adds that the majority of deaths are in hospitals but says a "proportion" took place in care homes.

 

[Dogsauce]

And they should stay free after all this too.

they pretty much are in London, go as far as you like for £1.50, hey even jump on another bus and go further if you like for no extra. Rest of us paying £4 to go six miles.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

they pretty much are in London, go as far as you like for £1.50, hey even jump on another bus and go further if you like for no extra. Rest of us paying £4 to go six miles.

I support buses being free - and nationalised - across the entire country of course.

 

[kenny g]

they pretty much are in London, go as far as you like for £1.50, hey even jump on another bus and go further if you like for no extra. Rest of us paying £4 to go six miles.

£3 for a return journey doesn't feel like free.

 

[elbows]

At last some coverage of the deaths in Wales in reference to where they have been. And it's interesting. Of the 506 deaths in hospitals confirmed by a lab test, 494 have been in the health authorities covering the area between Swansea and the English border with just 12 in other areas.

More detail of where deaths are across Wales
Aneurin Bevan has 37.5% of Covid-19 deaths so far

Ah the Wales dashboard is actually useful in places!

They've even got the 'confirmed positive deaths' displayed by actual date of death, rather than just by date of reporting.

Tableau Public

public.tableau.com

 

[Dogsauce]

Presumably making today’s press conference about investing in vaccine research was just trying to push the focus onto the future because they’re making such a fuck up of things at the moment. Classic bit of diversion.

 

[elbows]

On the subject of data, there is more Scotland data available than I had realised too. Sometimes half the challenge is finding the right website & pages in the first place. There is even a spreadsheet link on the page that contains interesting stuff including ambulance and care home related daily figures.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): data for Scotland

Information on COVID-19 data sources in Scotland. This page is no longer updated with the latest daily data on COVID-19.

www.gov.scot

 

[teqniq]

No PPE
Gets coughed on by a patient sick with Covid-19
Starts experiencing syptoms
Told to self-isolate
Tries ringing 111 when at home but can't get through.
Gets found dead by police afer a relative pleads with them to break in
Nerver married as was supporting his four nieces and nephew in the Philippines.

I am fucking angry.

Filipino nurse in London found dead alone while in COVID-19 quarantine

Fifty-one-year-old Donald Suelto, a Filipino nurse in London who got infected with COVID-19, died alone in his flat while on quarantine.

cnnphilippines.com

E2a notice the reportage is from CNN Philipines. It happened on 5th April - and it's the first I've heard of it.

 

[existentialist]

And they should stay free after all this too.

Ken Livingstone had it right all those years ago...

 

[Wilf]

At last some coverage of the deaths in Wales in reference to where they have been. And it's interesting. Of the 506 deaths in hospitals confirmed by a lab test, 494 have been in the health authorities covering the area between Swansea and the English border with just 12 in other areas.

More detail of where deaths are across Wales
Aneurin Bevan has 37.5% of Covid-19 deaths so far
View attachment 207313
BBCCopyright: BBC
Public Health Wales for the first time has started to break down where the deaths from coronavirus have occurred so far.
Of the 506 deaths, 190 have taken place in the Aneurin Bevan health board area - which was identified as a hot-spot earlier on in the pandemic.
The area, covering Newport, the old Gwent valleys and rural Monmouthshire, has 18% of the population of Wales - but this is where 37.5% of the deaths have occurred so far.
Cardiff and Vale (112) and Cwm Taf Morgannnwg (110) areas are next, followed by Swansea Bay (82).
There are another 12 deaths spread across three other health board areas but details are being masked, PHW says, to protect patient confidentiality.
It does admit however that the number of actual deaths will be higher.
Deaths are not included which may have happened due to Covid-19 but have not been confirmed by a laboratory test.
PHW also adds that the majority of deaths are in hospitals but says a "proportion" took place in care homes.View attachment 207313View attachment 207313


View attachment 207313View attachment 207314

That info would be gold dust if combined with, oh, I don't know, a bit of community testing, contact tracing...

 

[weltweit]

Germany plans to produce 50 million face masks a week in the coming period.

Anyone know if there are any projects in the UK to do the same?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Germany plans to produce 50 million face masks a week in the coming period.

Anyone know if there are any projects in the UK to do the same?

I think they've got Vivienne Westwood working on a new design. Should be ready end of next year.

 

[Supine]

I think they've got Vivienne Westwood working on a new design. Should be ready end of next year.

£600 per mask?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

£600 per mask?

Ach no. This is for the public good, you know. £400.

 

[two sheds]

With discount for nurses £300

 

[zahir]

 

[zahir]

Kate Hills, the founder of Make It British, which promotes brands that manufacture in the UK, said the government was ignoring less well-known textile specialists in favour of household names that play well with the public. “They’re just picking out brand names,” she said.

“The people who can make this PPE are not well-known names, they are contract manufacturers behind the scenes. They’ve filled in the government’s request forms and heard nothing back.”

Government 'ignores' UK textiles firms desperate to make PPE

Too much emphasis placed on brand names to help during coronavirus crisis, say industry sources

www.theguardian.com

 

[weltweit]

zahir yes, government seems initially to have gone for recognised names in their search for more ventilators also. Despite that existing manufacturers could have been scaled up more easily. On that matter I believe Dyson's ventilator still isn't approved for manufacture.

 

[weltweit]

Covid-19: why we need a national health and social care service

Neglect of social care during the pandemic shames the UK
Covid-19 outbreaks in care homes expose serious inadequacies in social care services across the UK. Data from across the world show that deaths from covid-19 mainly occur among older people, particularly those over 80.1 By 12 April 10 612 deaths had been reported in the UK2—40% of deaths have occurred in those aged 60-79 and 52% in those 80 years or over.3

..
Many residents in care homes are trapped in their rooms, with no visits from relatives and minimal interactions with staff. The decision to exclude relatives means that care homes have become closed institutions, increasing the risk that people are inappropriately denied hospital admission as well as the risk of neglect and abuse.56 Of equal concern are plans to transfer patients recovering from covid-19 from the NHS into empty nursing home beds.7

..
Staff on zero hour contracts do not receive sick pay and often go to work when sick. The sector is 120 000 workers short,13 and agency staff moving from one home to another further increases the risk of covid-19 transmission. Social care has been a low priority for personal protective equipment despite the high risks for residents and staff.14
..
etc

from 14/04/2020 Covid-19: why we need a national health and social care service

 

[SpookyFrank]

Presumably making today’s press conference about investing in vaccine research was just trying to push the focus onto the future because they’re making such a fuck up of things at the moment. Classic bit of diversion.

Also they should really have put people to work on the vaccine thing a while ago anyway.

 

[zahir]

We have donned our double gloves, face masks and eye shields – Covid-19’s fashion essentials. The biosafety cabinets whirr reassuringly in the background, the robots hum, and the radio blasts rock tunes. All systems are go. Then comes the call: “We are finished. No more swabs. You can go home.” It’s midday. Our shift had only started at eight.

Much fanfare has been made of the need to scale up Covid-19 testing. But the truth is: the country’s capacity to test for coronavirus is being wasted.

And yet at our testing centre on Tuesday this week, we processed just over 1,000 samples. The day before, the total was 1,300, and three days ago 1,800.

Our shifts were meant to be excruciating 12-hour marathons. In reality, they are rather more like laid-back morning jogs. Dozens of academics and laboratory personnel from all over the UK languish in a hotel with nothing to do. Millions of pounds of equipment borrowed from universities and companies rests silently in the evening hours, when the noise of our collective toil should be deafening.

I am a swab tester – but we have barely any swabs to test | Gianmarco Raddi

The response here is hampered by lack of political will, says molecular biologist Gianmarco Raddi

www.theguardian.com

 

[Gerry1time]

At last some coverage of the deaths in Wales in reference to where they have been. And it's interesting. Of the 506 deaths in hospitals confirmed by a lab test, 494 have been in the health authorities covering the area between Swansea and the English border with just 12 in other areas.

More detail of where deaths are across Wales
Aneurin Bevan has 37.5% of Covid-19 deaths so far
View attachment 207313
BBCCopyright: BBC
Public Health Wales for the first time has started to break down where the deaths from coronavirus have occurred so far.
Of the 506 deaths, 190 have taken place in the Aneurin Bevan health board area - which was identified as a hot-spot earlier on in the pandemic.
The area, covering Newport, the old Gwent valleys and rural Monmouthshire, has 18% of the population of Wales - but this is where 37.5% of the deaths have occurred so far.
Cardiff and Vale (112) and Cwm Taf Morgannnwg (110) areas are next, followed by Swansea Bay (82).
There are another 12 deaths spread across three other health board areas but details are being masked, PHW says, to protect patient confidentiality.
It does admit however that the number of actual deaths will be higher.
Deaths are not included which may have happened due to Covid-19 but have not been confirmed by a laboratory test.
PHW also adds that the majority of deaths are in hospitals but says a "proportion" took place in care homes.View attachment 207313View attachment 207313


View attachment 207313View attachment 207314

Any coincidence that the reddest bit is the bit closest to Cheltenham?