Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[Artaxerxes]

Somewhat more useful hospital bed stats than I managed earlier:

NHS hospital bed numbers

The number of hospital beds in England has more than halved over the past 30 years. This explainer looks at data on hospital beds, explores the drivers underpinning the changes it shows, and considers whether further reductions to bed numbers are realistic.

www.kingsfund.org.uk

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The idea that an empty hospital bed is a wasted resource is one of those things that is insanely short sighted and sadly prevalent in both the NHS upper management (after years of putting cash before safety) and in the political sphere.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Not going well in Northern Ireland, the number of cases in the Derry and Strabane area now higher than anywhere in England, the area is currently experiencing 636 cases per 100,000 compared to Liverpool, at 552 cases per 100,000.

 

[StoneRoad]

And just shout to the other table to make yourself heard over the other people shouting to the other table.

about the only time I would want people to be texting each other ! or maybe a mini-zoom ?

 

[two sheds]

I don't really understand the ban on people going round to other peoples' gardens. If you're outside there's surely little risk, although I suppose they'll sometimes have to go indoors to use the toilet.

 

[cupid_stunt]

I don't really understand the ban on people going round to other peoples' gardens. If you're outside there's surely little risk, although I suppose they'll sometimes have to go indoors to use the toilet.

Because there's no way of enforcing social distancing, I doubt many would stick with the 2m rule, esp. if drinking is involved.

 

[elbows]

10PM curfew vote and another vivid example of the way the government will now confess the role that hospitality plays in the pandemic.

Boris Johnson's spokesman said the vote on the measure will take place on Tuesday - risking a rebellion by backbench Tories, even as Labour's leader said his MPs will not be asked to vote against it (see our post at 13:20).

Asked about infections in hospitality venues, the spokesman said: "Early data does suggest that a significant proportion of exposure to the virus is seen in the hospitality sector and that is even more pronounced in younger age groups where we have been seeing the most rapid rise in infections.

"The data is new and we will continue to gather evidence and review it."

From 13:40 of the BBC live updates page https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54460270

 

[20Bees]

Because there's no way of enforcing social distancing, I doubt many would stick with the 2m rule, esp. if drinking is involved.

Someone calling in to whatever I had on the radio the other day said, “COVID loves alcohol, it makes its mission so much easier”!

 

[teuchter]

I don't really understand the ban on people going round to other peoples' gardens. If you're outside there's surely little risk, although I suppose they'll sometimes have to go indoors to use the toilet.

Because you go round for a barbecue, it starts to rain or get a bit chilly, people have had some beers, next thing everyone's sitting inside. That's what I've assumed the logic to be at least.

 

[sojourner]

There was an excellent programme on BBC North West last night. They were saying that one of the reasons it's so bad here now is that our levels never got down as low as the rest of the country's when lockdown was lifted, meaning we started the 'second wave' higher to begin with.

I've just been told by a mate that a school he deals with has been given Govt money to buy a load of new laptops for the kids, with an eye on school closures.

 

[TopCat]

Just had a call from the local council. They were checking I would be able to arrange food deliveries if the govt reintroduced shielding.

If it happens there will be no Boris Box of food.

 

[Teaboy]

"Critical hospital admission levels in about ten days?"

Government twiddles thumbs on restrictions until Monday...

Yeah and a load of hospitality businesses wondering whether they should order any stock and risk having to through it all away again or run out of stuff and have to turn custom down.

 

[Teaboy]

There was an excellent programme on BBC North West last night. They were saying that one of the reasons it's so bad here now is that our levels never got down as low as the rest of the country's when lockdown was lifted, meaning we started the 'second wave' higher to begin with.

That makes sense to me. The virus did seem to roll up the country from South to North. Of course now it appears to be on its way back down again.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Facebook comment threads are awash with the idea that because testing makes the number of cases go up, we should stop testing and then there will be no more cases.

I almost think we should give this a try, just to see how many months of bodies piling up it'll take before these people start to say hang on a minute, there may have been a small gap in my thinking on this.

 

[two sheds]

The Trump Hypothesis

 

[existentialist]

Jeremy Hunt? I'm sure he'll want to get to the root of the problem, leave no stone unturned.

He's got the knives out for Johnson, so I'd say there's a fairly good chance of him digging at least some dirt.

 

[existentialist]

Facebook comment threads are awash with the idea that because testing makes the number of cases go up, we should stop testing and then there will be no more cases.

I almost think we should give this a try, just to see how many months of bodies piling up it'll take before these people start to say hang on a minute, there may have been a small gap in my thinking on this.

This "don't test and then the numbers will be fine" thing always reminds me of the way infants are so perplexed by the idea that you're still there even if they put their hands over their eyes.

So, it's essentially "Peep-bo" for idiots...

 

[2hats]

This "don't test and then the numbers will be fine" thing always reminds me of the way infants are so perplexed by the idea that you're still there even if they put their hands over their eyes.

So, it's essentially "Peep-bo" for idiots...

 

[elbows]

10PM curfew vote and another vivid example of the way the government will now confess the role that hospitality plays in the pandemic.

I see the BBC have one of the slides.

Covid: MPs call for more clarity on local lockdowns

Pubs and restaurants in worst-hit areas could close next week in an effort to stall rising infection rates.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[elbows]

The idea that an empty hospital bed is a wasted resource is one of those things that is insanely short sighted and sadly prevalent in both the NHS upper management (after years of putting cash before safety) and in the political sphere.

I suspect that one of the things that kept a lot of hospital capacity intact was emergency scenario cold war plans, and once the soviet union was gone a lot of countries in europe took the opportunity to erode capacity in a big way over subsequent decades.

 

[David Clapson]

Long Covid is a worry. Given that it may ruin your life I wonder whether it should persuade all adults to categorise themselves as high risk?

 

[Edie]

Holy shit it’s mad in Leeds rn. I personally know six people who have had it, there’s multiple people off in my team at work, and my sons year at school has 22 kids with the covids!

It’s totally inevitable that I’ll get it so have stopped worrying myself. Luckily I’m no longer neutropenic. There’s also a lot of grumbling about ineffective local lockdown measures that are just decimating businesses and doing fuck all. I don’t think this is sustainable...

 

[sojourner]

Long Covid is a worry. Given that it may ruin your life I wonder whether it should persuade all adults to categorise themselves as high risk?

I've two mates with it, same age as me. 6 months in, and they're still incapacitated, and one has an ongoing heart problem cos of it. Scares the living shit out of me.

 

[sojourner]

Holy shit it’s mad in Leeds rn. I personally know six people who have had it, there’s multiple people off in my team at work, and my sons year at school has 22 kids with the covids!

It’s totally inevitable that I’ll get it so have stopped worrying myself. Luckily I’m no longer neutropenic. There’s also a lot of grumbling about ineffective local lockdown measures that are just decimating businesses and doing fuck all. I don’t think this is sustainable...

Same in St Helens mate. It's creeping in all around me - loads of people I know in and outside of work all have someone in their close friend group or family who've got it/had it. Like a really quick encroachment over the last 4 weeks or so.

I'm shitting it if I get it. 52 now, nearly 53, and just diagnosed with SVT (more tests to come) - I really can't do with something else that's gonna fuck up my heart. Glad you've got better T count now, but still - scary shit mate.

 

[LDC]

FFS, there should be a press briefing tomorrow to announce all hospitality (pubs, bars, restaurants, etc) close midnight tomorrow for 2 weeks.

It would give us a breathing space if nothing else. If nothing like that happens soon we're heading quickly towards a very bad second wave.

 

[Edie]

FFS, should be a press briefing tomorrow, all hospitality (pubs, bars, restaurants, etc) close midnight tomorrow for 2 weeks.

Are you serious? Oh man we are fucked in the North. We just cannot cope with that economically.

What are the numbers looking like in Ponty Carlo? LTHT admissions are rising but still low compared to overall capacity.

 

[frogwoman]

Seriously? Crap, I was meant to have lunch out with a mate at the weekend. Guess if we take a picnic might be ok. Or have lunch at mine with the door open

 

[LDC]

Seriously? Crap, I was meant to have lunch out with a mate at the weekend. Guess if we take a picnic might be ok. Or have lunch at mine with the door open

No, SHOULD be. Don't worry, they'll dither for a few more days.

 

[elbows]

And when they do announce it, there will be some financial support.

 

[killer b]

New measures are expected next Wednesday - I can't see pubs being open in the north from then.

 

[LDC]

Are you serious? Oh man we are fucked in the North. We just cannot cope with that economically.

What are the numbers looking like in Ponty Carlo? LTHT admissions are rising but still low compared to overall capacity.

I'm at the point where I think fuck the economics, that can be sorted if there is the will. I'm much more worried about another 60,000 dead which the more data comes out the more likely is looking possible.

Yes, admissions are currently low, but the predicted ones on this trajectory are potentially worse than the first wave now.