Seen in the News

[Stanley]

I see that M&H get headlines this morning because they are moving permanently to LA. Predictable I suppose, that's where the money is. I wonder if they'll get preferential testing and treatment there.

[Tizer]

There's also a report in the US of a man caught trying to blow up a hospital. LINK

[Gloria]

Fire on Winter Hill started today.

[Stanley]

It's out now Gloria, thought to have been deliberate. (LINK)
News in BET that someone is firing cars in Colne.

[Stanley]

See THIS Guardian report on the growing criticism of the government and its veracity when talking about testing. There is little doubt that overall the UK has been in the rearguard of realisation just how big this crisis is. From cutting the number of beds and neglecting staff to leaving the EU emergency procurement programme to save money plus the general depressing effect of austerity it becomes clear that we have been badly served and our 'leaders' are lying to us about the present situation.
I leave you to come to your own conclusion about THIS.

[Tizer]

I've written to Radio 4's Inside Science and More or Less programmes asking them for clarification on the accuracy of the covid-19 infection test. Let's see if they will take it up.

[Marilyn]

I wish we knew more about the situation in China...how they are coping with the second wave of virus, how infection and death rates are doing and if people are successfully returning to work. Hearing nothing at all causes worry.
I hope they are doing well as a nation. It would be hard to cope with a second lock down...

[Stanley]

Looking at a brand new day. All I'm interested in is getting through the day without any bad news. Best way to do that is to keep my head down.

[chinatyke]

I wish we knew more about the situation in China...how they are coping with the second wave of virus, how infection and death rates are doing and if people are successfully returning to work. Hearing nothing at all causes worry.
I hope they are doing well as a nation. It would be hard to cope with a second lock down...

What second wave? Perhaps you're better informed than us. I can say that our town appears to be returning to normal. I went out yesterday and people are being careful, wearing masks and generally practicing social distancing. I would guess about 50% of the small businesses have re-opened. Children have not gone back to school yet. Train frequencies are still reduced 50%. I can hear a few people and children playing in the park opposite us. I would say it is like a quiet Sunday.

Official Chinese news here

[Marilyn]

Glad to hear that China.
So no second wave of infections or deaths?
China is now cured?
Well... I am confused then...but...ok...

[Tizer]

Perhaps China Daily isn't reporting this...
‘We need to be alert’: Scientists fear second coronavirus wave as China’s lockdowns ease: Other countries on lockdown will be watching for a resurgence of infections in Hubei province now that travel restrictions are lifting.'Nature journal
and this...
`China reveals 1,541 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases amid concerns of second wave of infections' Economic Times/India Times

[chinatyke]

Asymptomatic cases are always going to be a problem wherever they are present. This novel bug is out there and widespread globally and will continue to be a threat. China's death rate (official figures) from Covid is very low compared with countries like UK, USA, Spain and Italy, I know where I'd rather be.

[Marilyn]

Yes...but I don’t think you are given the true figures, China.
Some reports suggest 10x “official” reports ( and sales of funeral urns tends to support that)

[Stanley]

Keep positive China! Bugger the urns.....

[chinatyke]

Yes...but I don’t think you are given the true figures, China.
Some reports suggest 10x “official” reports ( and sales of funeral urns tends to support that)

Really?!!

"Some reports" never mention the source and are usually just speculation or journalists exaggerating the truth to fill their column inches.

Wuhan is a large city with about half the population of Australia. Deaths occur all the time from other causes and there will be a backlog because of the 2-months lock-down. It is also Qingming festival where remains are put in urns and moved to their final resting place. A few truckloads of urns is insignificant except to western journalists and the China Bashers.

[Marilyn]

Oh!!?
So I guess the grave sweeping festival is still on then...
Glad to hear everything is wonderful and back to normal in China! Crisis over.
( it was the BBC news)

[Marilyn]

I wish Spain and Italy had such good outcomes...

[chinatyke]

Crisis not quite over, only for those of us that are forced to read the news according to China Daily.

[Marilyn]

We all wish to speak freely...
( as this affects the entire world)

[Tizer]

I was surprised to learn that although Wuhan is over 600 miles from the coast it is a port for ocean-going vessels because the Yangtze River is deep enough to at least that distance upriver.

Other interesting facts...There are an estimated one million Chinese citizens residing in Africa and 200,000 Africans working in China. It's no wonder that African pangolins are on sale in Wuhan! It would be interesting to know if the recent research that confirmed the covid virus came from pangolins, whether it came from Chinese or African ones.

I see that Shenzen has banned eating cats and dogs.

[plaques]

Can't come to terms with all these death league tables then with leaders comparing numbers as though to justify their own abysmal results as some kind of success. They are just trying to deflect attention away from themselves and especially in the UK about the background history as to why we are in this appalling situation in the first place.

[Marilyn]

Check out China Daily...
We need to take the pressure off our friend there...

[Tizer]

...leaders comparing numbers as though to justify their own abysmal results as some kind of success.

That's why Trump's now willing to quote the number of dead from covid in the US - now they've got more than China he sees it as winning. No, I'm not making bad jokes about the pandemic, I really think Trump's tiny brain works like that. He's probably also claiming that the pandemic proves he was right about building a wall between the US and Mexico. Mind you, he's now having to accept supplies of kit from China and Russia. His mate Putin is winding him up by referring to it as `humanitarian aid'.

[Tripps]

I've looked at the China Daily. I would look again - accompanied by my natural scepticsm for everything I read. I would rate it a long way above the Daily Express.

I remember the Chinese grave day from my time in Singapore. They called it ching ming then. Worth reading about. Admirable respect for the 'older end'.

Qingming

[chinatyke]

I've looked at the China Daily. I would look again - accompanied by my natural scepticsm for everything I read. I would rate it a long way above the Daily Express.

I remember the Chinese grave day from my time in Singapore. They called it ching ming then. Worth reading about. Admirable respect for the 'older end'.

Qingming

Your memory is correct, it is pronounced ching ming but spelled qingming in pinyin, the 'q' being pronounced 'ch'