Quote from the Telegraph: They are not recommended by Public Health England (PHE), the NHS or the World Health Organisation (WHO), or the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because there is no solid evidence they work and quite a lot of worry they may do unforeseen harm. https://time.com/5794729/coronavirus-face-masks/
Local surgery is closed due to corona virus.... Feckless twats ought to he sacked if the second they are really needed they run away. One of the nurses at the local college has also refused to go into work to avoid contact with the children they are meant to be caring for.....
What you say is certainly true, that in the summer the NHS is generally less stressed. However my comment was specifically in reference to people that claim actual Corona virus infections will subside in summer due to the better weather conditions, more exposure to UV, people being outside and not in enclosed spaces, etc, etc. But that probably isnt the case as it is currently summer in the southern hemisphere https://www.newscientist.com/articl...navirus-outbreak-die-out-in-the-summers-heat/
Well we will see just how like flu it really is, that’s for sure. So far it appears to be between 10 and 50 times more lethal (per case) and because it is new no-one has immunity, hence the number of cases are doubling every three days or so. It is at least possible therefore that it will infect most of us in the U.K. before a vaccine is available, and that means perhaps 500,000 deaths - if we manage it without the NHS collapsing under the strain, because those deaths will be in intensive care units with respirators. Whereas flu kills on average 17,000 a year here.
We are talking Corona virus here...not oral and personal hygene! - There is a big difference between bacteria and a virus.
On the subject of masks, here is a piece from the Guardian (so some of you won’t believe it) about preparations in a Paris hospital, and the importance of masks not being stolen from hospitals... Another acute problem is the shortage of masks and of tests – and the wait for test results, which is currently around 24 hours. “If we had the results in an hour, that would allow a much more rapid throughput of patients,” Paquet says. As it is, the patients have to wait in the hospital until a decision is made as to whether to admit them or send them home. The two problems exacerbate each other. “Because we don’t have enough masks for all our staff all of the time, there are staff who fall ill,” says Paquet. “If they have symptoms, we have to test them, because if they’re positive they have to stay at home.” The result is that patients and staff are competing for a limited supply of tests. “If we had masks for all our staff, we would have fewer who were ill, fewer who needed to be tested, more tests for the patients, and fewer staff contaminating patients.” The Paris hospitals have a supply of around 2.5m masks. If these are used according to the health ministry’s current guidelines, Paquet says, they will last about two weeks. It doesn’t help that people are stealing both masks and hand sanitiser from the hospital. “The modellers tell us the epidemic will peak seven weeks from now. In two weeks’ time we will have nothing, unless we are re-supplied. What will we do?”
Correct, but spread of both is limited by wearing these, and it has been highlighted in all the countries that are pass the peak at the moment. They will certainly Not protect you, but they do limit the spread of germs via body fluids. They main reasons they do not recommend them is as mentioned here, the effect of panic and people feeling totally safe by wearing them which is obviously a nonsense. In all the previous pandemics and viral infections situations they have played their role..
The Knut/Canute story is misrepresented. The point of the story was him demonstrating to flattering courtiers that he could NOT hold back the tide when they suggested he could. Boris seems startled the b****y tide came in. Personally I am appalled at the inept and minimal preparations over the last 8+ weeks and the pretty questionable ‘science’ being applied. It is evident to me there have been too many behavioural psychologist types (Cummings?) elbowing out medical scientists with real expertise in epidemiology. The 1st Principle of War is ‘selection and maintenance of the aim’. You need total clarity about what to do and why. The Government seems to have multiple aims with consequent loss of focus, direction and detailed planning that all go to public confidence. Lack of PPE and ventilators should have been addressed in January. I see no immediate sign of them getting a grip in a situation with exponential consequences.
Well on a lighter note, looks like I could be out of work for at least 12 weeks now. God I wish I'd taken that job in insurance!
This may be contentious,but I’d rather catch this virus sooner rather than later and get it over and done with ,one way or another........
On the bright side again, I was worried that there’s be more panic buying on a bigger scale and there would be mass food shortages, well it doesn’t matter as I won’t be able to afford it anyway!!
Thanks,but the thought of being in a state of unending limbo,doesn’t really do it and waiting for a vaccine is more of the same.
