Coronavirus (Covid19) Corner

[Whyperion]

I have a few random thoughts and from talking to a few folk in some situations, but for now on BBC reporting I notice re USA President Trump
"He said normality would resume soon, saying he would not "let the cure be worse than the problem itself"."

I am not sure what he means (I think he still has a money hat on), or what kind of super-natural miracle working powers he actually has.

Am I wrong to think, with total hindsight, that all international travel should have been halted 6 weeks ago when information on the seriousness of the virus was first avalilble ? What happened to clear government planning for these kind of scenarios ?

[chinatyke]

Here is an extract from my daughter's email:

"My friend also a nurse messaged me today. She had wrestled all night not sleeping as she didn’t know whether to warn me. Anyway basically she said patients with COPD or heart failure will not be given ICU beds and possibly not even Oxygen if supplies run low, we won’t get blood gasses done for us either. It’s made me even more determined that I will not be going anywhere near the wards....Its a horrible predicament because with my past anaesthetic experience I could play a good part and I hate to see my friends and colleagues go but not me... but I also don’t want to die yet and not for the crappy NHS. What puzzles me is the numbers. We are expecting 20000 deaths as a good result in the U.K. 3000 in Cumbria. This is more than any other country so far. I truly believe we are not being told everything because it’s nonsensical to me the worlds govermental reaction to the current numbers as reported. Why would the world basically crash the global economy for a few thousand deaths worldwide. I’m not really into conspiracy theories, but something seems very amiss."

Of course, she may be wrong, but she is nearer to the horse's mouth!

[Stanley]

Very interesting posts. Thanks for the reinforcement about ditching Airedale, as it turned out I was in front of the curve as we are now locked down. In practice this makes no difference to me as I have been doing exactly what they say in my normal routines.
Mick and Susan are still working in care and in fact have more hours now but that could change in a heart-beat.
The only pertinent advice I have is to echo what President Roosevelt said in his 1933 inauguration speech; "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". My version is keep calm and KBO! Take heart, I have been there and got the tee shirt. You all have the luxury of not having to go the bed worrying about the Luftwaffe!
Anyone who has ever flown knows that once you go through check-in you have no control over your fate until the plane lands safely. That's why so many people fear flying but almost always don't know why. We are in the same situation now but with an obvious difference, we have a certain amount of control, by following all the advice and guidance we can make the odds better. So just do it and endure, it will eventually end and we can all hug and kiss again! Love to you all and keep posting!

[plaques]

I know I keep harping on about using common sense and looking after yourself and as near as possible let life carry on as normal. But as Kev has pointed out there are idiots out there who who have left their brains in the cupboard. We are now all subject to a collective punishment that will bankrupt the small trader and push those on the bottom rung of the ladder off it all together. Lets hope that people see the light and use that common sense that appears to be in short supply. Unfortunately, I tend to think that any relaxations will be considered as 'party' time and off we go again.

[Cathy]

Could these be Coronavirus Helpful Hints
When you use the sanitiser wipes on your trolley or basket, bin them and grab a couple of new ones to use as you go around the supermarket and all the thru the check-out.
Talking to a friend today, she said she is makng Face Masks out of vacuum filter bags for her family. Not surgical of course, but 95% effective. She figures they will be better than nothing, if needed.

[Big Kev]

We're currently fairly well stocked at chez Kev so no need to go anywhere for a few days, I have a builder coming today to repoint above the front room window. His 'breaker', for chiselling out the old mortar, is cordless and I won't be making him a brew.

Blood donation on Thursday, I intend to keep donating as they're 30% down on stocks. I will call them today to speak about any additional measures, other than social distancing, I need to take.

[Tizer]

Maz, this is the BBC's take on the cruise liner problem...
`Coronavirus: How did Australia's Ruby Princess cruise debacle happen?' LINK
`On Thursday, the Ruby Princess cruise ship docked in Sydney with dozens of undiagnosed coronavirus cases onboard. Almost 2,700 passengers - some coughing and spluttering - were allowed to leave the ship at Sydney Harbour, catching trains, buses and even overseas flights to get home. More than 130 people from the cruise have now tested positive, making it the biggest single source of infections in Australia. One passenger died in hospital on Tuesday. The saga has caused much anger: why was the ship allowed to dock and unload people?...

Chinatyke, the US-China covid issue continues. This from a BBC report... LINK
`The president and secretary of state have both denounced China for its failings in the initial handling of the outbreak. But Chinese spokesmen have utterly rejected any idea that they were less than transparent about what was going on. Meanwhile, social media in China has spread stories that the pandemic has been caused by a US military germ warfare programme; rumours that gained considerable traction. Scientists have demonstrated that the virus structure is entirely natural in origin. But this is not just a war of words, something more fundamental is going on...
`Earlier this month, when the US announced that it was closing its borders to travellers from many EU countries, including Italy, the Chinese government announced that it was sending medical teams and supplies to Italy, the country at the leading edge of the coronavirus pandemic. It has sent help to Iran and Serbia too. It was a moment of huge symbolism. And it was an indication of the information battle that is being waged behind the scenes, with China eager to emerge from this crisis with renewed status as a global player. Indeed, it is a battle which the US - at the moment - is losing hands down..'.

The article goes on to discuss the tension between the US and China but also describes how other countries are reliant on China for supplies in the pandemic: `China is also a huge manufacturer of medical equipment and disposable items like masks and protective suits, essential to handling infected patients and items that are required in astronomical numbers. China is in many ways the medical manufacturing workshop of the world, capable of expanding production in ways few other countries can.' It also says that the way the US is acting could lead to it suffering its own `Suez moment', where it falls from being a world power.

[PanBiker]

Blood donation on Thursday, I intend to keep donating as they're 30% down on stocks. I will call them today to speak about any additional measures, other than social distancing, I need to take.

NHSBT are appealing to donors to continue as long as they are well, you are right about stocks being down. There is full information regarding donating during the pandemic on the NHSBT website:

NHSBT - Blood Donors

II have appointments for April and August already booked.

[chinatyke]

Thanks, Tiz.

[Tripps]

" I'm going now - in order to rethink everything."

Well I've had a good think now . I'm aware of all the points you mention, but the reason for the time out was not concern for myself, but for someone else. Forgive me if I don't give any more detail. There is a lot of my personal life that I'm not comfortable being on a public website.

Compared with a lot of people I'm in a relatively good situation. Isolation is almost the default position. Count your blessings.

Noticed this link today -' worth a look' as they used to say in the Customs. I think Tizer mentions stocks somewhere - we have our own set. The Village

[Tizer]

There's nothing to forgive, Tripps. We've all got to decide where we draw the line on discussing our private lives.

That Stargoose chap is a prolific poster. I like his set of stocks. He's one up on us by having the whipping post too - that would come in useful now! The stocks here are in poor condition, as shown below. I suspect the roof was added in recent times to protect the stocks rather than being an ancient wish to keep the occupants out of the rain.

[Marilyn]

I don't recall mentioning the Ruby Princess, Tizzy or being concerned about it. (though it was a huge mistake to let those people disembark and allow them freedom in society. We will pay for that total lack of responsibility.)

I am concerned about India. 1.3 billion people in lock down. They are never going to make it...

[Stanley]

"Unfortunately, I tend to think that any relaxations will be considered as 'party' time and off we go again."
I had exactly the same thought as I woke this morning P. ESP is faster than a speeding bullet.
Tiz, the war of words.... isn't it funny how a common reaction is to look for someone to blame. I have always had the same attitude, never mind the blame, what about the consequences? The comparison between China and the US is valid, if anywhere is going to produce a surprise it's going to be the US and I suspect it will be a massive spike as the hidden consequences of all those locked out of health care makes itself evident.
David, whatever the circumstance that's causing you a problem I wish you a good outcome, hang in there.
Ideally, every police patrol would be equipped with a powerful and very pungent disinfectant spray and the sanction against being too close or in a group would be to spray them, not argue. But that's a pipe dream I'm afraid.
My message to the kids this morning was that we have survived another night, now for the day. That's how it is all the time for me at my age, one day at a time, younger ones are going to have to learn the lesson fast.
Maz. I had exactly the same reaction when I heard about the Indian lockdown. Think of all those people living on the street in each other's pockets, a tinder box.
Good luck to all of you. Love, S.

[Stanley]

Just had mail from Susan, she thinks she has it. Worrying.....
What a good job we weren't in a taxi together yesterday.... Now I have to hope we didn't exchange germs when I last saw her. Interesting times!

[chinatyke]

Sorry to hear that Stanley. I hope she is wrong. All the best to her. It shows just how vulnerable everyone is.

[Stanley]

Thanks China. she's a nurse and level headed so I take it seriously. It gets closer to home.....
Later.... every cloud has a silver lining. The hop industry was getting worried because of the dearth of pickers last week. On Farming Today they have reported that normally they never see British pickers but in the last week they have had almost 9,000 UK residents register on their data base, seeking work as other outlets and income dry up. Could the same apply to other seasonal workers?

[Cathy]

Covid-19 Stage 2 Restrictions were given to us last night. Dozens of new restrictions including
Weddings- 5 people only
Funerals - 10 people only
Hairdressing Appts. - Half an hour only

Stage 3 coming very soon

[Marilyn]

But isn’t Susan a “one to one” adviser/counsel in her own home? Surely she does not get that close to her clients...

[Stanley]

Clients have dried up for the time being but she is also a carer at an old people's home.
I've been talking to a mate (12 feet apart!) and he told me a funny story. He had run out of toilet paper but had a bright idea, he bought one of the jumbo rolls of kitchen tissues, being a resourceful bloke, he intended sawing it up to make three jumbo toilet rolls. He said that it was the wrong decision, he is still clearing the mess up in the kitchen!
So take note. I told him he'd be better off buying a daily paper!

[Big Kev]

Trump (the orange knob of the apocalypse) has gone mad, he reckons the US will be back up and running by Easter. Good luck with that.

[plaques]

Trump (the orange knob of the apocalypse) has gone mad, he reckons the US will be back up and running by Easter. Good luck with that.

I'll bet he is, just think of all his income streams that are quietly going belly up. Trump casino's, golf courses. and Mar-a-Lago, Nobody knows his exact worth or what debts he is running. He's an all smoke and mirrors man.

[Tizer]

Have a look at the article I've linked today in the Politics thread for more about Trumpo! (that was a typo but I like it!)

[Pluggy]

the orange knob of the apocalypse

Excellent turn of phrase, it gets my vote.

[Tizer]

It's good to see you logging in here, Pluggy!

[Pluggy]

I generally check in at least daily, but often don't post if nothing catches my eye.