Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[Roadkill]

Blatant corruption. No tender process? wtaf? bordering on criminally irresponsible.

Tbf the British state's often sidestepped its normal processes in an emergency and that's okay when there's a genuine need to obtain something in a hurry, but 'focus group research' hardly sounds like something that's so desperately needed that it can't go through competitive tender.

I'd have said the current lot in government stepped over the line into criminal irresponsibility several years ago tbh.

 

[BigDaftie]

Are any mid to high value tender processes not corrupt, news to me.

 

[LDC]

Looks like we're being readied for compulsory masks in shops soon.

 

[existentialist]

Looks like we're being readied for compulsory masks in shops soon.

Because it's all going so well.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Looks like we're being readied for compulsory masks in shops soon.

That would spoil the "Back To Normal Britain" narrative. I don't think we'll see that in England until a second wave hits, and probably after a delay too, with the usual "who could have predicted" stuff.

 

[LDC]

I dunno, there's been a few reports about how many lives they would save, and it's not inconsiderable. Also Johnson pictured wearing one today in a shop and reported in The Guardian it's being considered

Face masks could be mandatory in shops, signals Boris Johnson

Scientists urge ministers to set good example by publicly wearing face coverings

www.theguardian.com

 

[zahir]

Independent SAGE

 

[MrSki]

Here is why 'No. of people tested' was scrapped when they realised their figures were somewhat misleading.

 

[Ax^]

Well it refreshing to see sky news point out that the government is lying to us


let wait till December the 31st in the midst of a second wave

 

[phillm]

Our wold beating ignore and let die strategy is working out well and well in to phase 2 now which is blame verybody but HMG.

 

[quimcunx]

How are we doing so much worse than the US?

 

[Steel Icarus]

What's the "official" number of C19 deaths at now?

 

[Artaxerxes]

The government is now planning a war on obesity to help cut down Corona fatalities.


Contrasts nicely with telling us all to order pizzas Mon to Fri

 

[cupid_stunt]

How are we doing so much worse than the US?

At this point in time, it's more a question of WHY WERE we doing so much worse than the US?

Looking at the 7-day rolling average of daily deaths, we continue to go down (Fri. 3/6 - 103 down to 74 yesterday), the US is going up again (Fri 3/6 - 555 up to 657 yesterday), IF those paths continues, there will be a point at which they overtake us.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

At this point in time, it's more a question of WHY WERE we doing so much worse than the US?

Looking at the 7-day rolling average of daily deaths, we continue to go down (Fri. 3/6 - 103 down to 74 yesterday), the US is going up again (Fri 3/6 - 555 up to 657 yesterday), IF those paths continues, there will be a point at which they overtake us.

Yep. And current infection/hospitalisation rates mean we can be confident the death rate here will continue to fall quite steeply over the next couple of weeks.

UK isn't doing badly now. Scotland and the whole of southern England are doing really rather well, and have been for a while.

I see no reason why the UK shouldn't be at the levels of Italy and Belgium in a couple of weeks. Also countries with much higher deaths than the US atm but that have calmed right down. We should take the good news where we can get it imo.

 

[killer b]

I've not seen this mentioned anywhere, but I'm reading this short book about the psychology of the pandemic - really interesting stuff. I know a lot of people here are into Stephen Reicher, who is involved. It's free to download too.

Addressing the Psychology of 'Together Apart': Free Book Download - Social Science Space

Given the import of its subject matter, SAGE Publishing (the parent of Social Science Space) had agreed to make an e-book o the psychology of COVID-19 freely available.

www.socialsciencespace.com

 

[LDC]

I've not seen this mentioned anywhere, but I'm reading this short book about the psychology of the pandemic - really interesting stuff. I know a lot of people here are into Stephen Reicher, who is involved. It's free to download too.

Addressing the Psychology of 'Together Apart': Free Book Download - Social Science Space

Given the import of its subject matter, SAGE Publishing (the parent of Social Science Space) had agreed to make an e-book o the psychology of COVID-19 freely available.

www.socialsciencespace.com

John Drury and Clifford Stott that have been mentioned here over the years for a variety of reasons are contributors too.

 

[killer b]

John Drury and Clifford Stott that have been mentioned here over the years for a variety of reasons are contributors too.

it's good stuff - some pretty insightful writing about the psychology of groups which should probably have some application away from just pandemic stuff too.

 

[David Clapson]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned, but there's a theory about T cells which is getting some traction. If it's true it would mean that antibody tests are not to be relied on, and more of us have had the virus than we realise. It's much too technical for me, but Reuters has had a go at summarising it: Scientists focus on how immune system T cells fight coronavirus in absence of antibodies

More here: T-cell immunity and the truth about Covid-19 in Sweden - The Post

And here: Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19

 

[Cerv]

We'll be protected because butterfly stroke has been banned.

every cloud a silver lining

 

[2hats]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned

Congratulations, though to be fair it was almost a fortnight ago.

 

[David Clapson]

Congratulations, though to be fair it was almost a fortnight ago.

It's going mainstream now.


How long before we get a test which tells us whether we're immune? Or is that not how it works?

 

[zahir]

Revealed: 20 areas of England at most risk of coronavirus resurgence

Bradford, Sheffield and Kirklees are among areas of concern as army is deployed for hotspot mobile tests

www.theguardian.com

The top 10 ranking is likely to be based on a document circulated to local health chiefs on Thursday, headed “official sensitive”. The chart, compiled by PHE and reproduced here, ranks the 20 councils with the highest proportion of positive cases. Leicester remains at its head, with 5.7% of individuals who underwent a test found to have the virus. Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, was not far behind, with a 5% rate. Bradford, and Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire, were the next highest.

Keighley looks like it has a problem:

The council has today deployed testing units, staffed by the armed forces, to its Bowling and Keighley districts. Residents will be able to be tested without an appointment. Similar units will be deployed in Blackburn and Sheffield.

https://www.bradford.gov.uk/browse-all-news/press-releases/mobile-testing-units-in-keighley-and-bowling-bradford/

 

[Numbers]

I’m very surprised London isn’t on any concerned list - where I live social distancing doesn’t nor never really did exist, and with the tubes etc. I’m surprised, grateful for sure but surprised.

 

[rubbershoes]

I’m very surprised London isn’t on any concerned list - where I live social distancing doesn’t nor never really did exist, and with the tubes etc. I’m surprised, grateful for sure but surprised.

Is it because a significant number of people in London have either had it or are believed to be immune? There's a smaller percentage of people who non masked and infectious people could pass it to.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

I’m very surprised London isn’t on any concerned list - where I live social distancing doesn’t nor never really did exist, and with the tubes etc. I’m surprised, grateful for sure but surprised.

I think it's surprising London isn't showing up more because if you look at the factors attributed to those areas that do have a high rate - overcrowding, people having no choice but to go to work in shit conditions - they certainly do exist in parts of London.

Maybe the size of the place is enough to mask it? Although it is done by borough and any given London borough isn't massively bigger than somewhere like Leicester.

 

[elbows]

The figures they use for this are per 100,000 population, percentage of tests that were positive, number of detected outbreaks at specific institutions, places of work etc. So the size of the place is already factored in, although the number of tests carried out in some places compared to others can still distort some of these numbers.

 

[elbows]

That cunt Gove talking shit about masks, make him work in a small shop for a week and I reckon he'd change his tune after 5 minutes.

 

[Numbers]

The figures they use for this are per 100,000 population, percentage of tests that were positive, number of detected outbreaks at specific institutions, places of work etc. So the size of the place is already factored in, although the number of tests carried out in some places compared to others can still distort some of these numbers.

If there was a comma after the penultimate word there elbows I’d have felt personally addressed and honoured - you’ve been such a source of information in this pandemic, thanks.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I see new daily cases being reported this weekend are up a massive 30% on last weekend (reported on Sat & Sun combined last w/e 1140 up to 1470 this w/e).

Now, the big question is if this is because of the increase in testing in the 20 council areas of particular concern, or if it's spread nationwide & connected to pubs etc. being re-opened.