Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (230 Viewers)

[shmmeee]

And people were still arriving into the UK from places like New York last week. The virus was not only in Italy and countries would have had to have closed down their border completely to all countries in reality rather than just Italy.
Italy was one of the first European countries to ban flights on from China at the end of January and it didn't work.
But...I do think that the Chinese reporting of numbers has had a major impact on this as it led to underestimating the virus in Europe as the true extent of it wasn't and still hasn't been shown.

Equally though, surely Western governments know not to trust Chinese numbers? Seems an easy scapegoat.

 

---

[Grendel]

In that case then you’d have ended up sealing off most countries for 12 months to protect themselves. The virus didn’t originate in Italy and has and would have been spread from other countries as well.
Good luck sealing off one of the main motorways connecting south east to western Europe as well.

Yes borders should have been closed for 12 months - the uk were very successful in phase 1 and we could have contained it. It’s hindsight but then we’d be clean

 

[cc84cov]

How many on here have an under lying health issue out of curiosity? I’m asthmatic and hoping to not pick this virus up

 

[Ring Of Steel]

A-level work, science

Being at home I'm easy prey to be asked by the kids to help with algebra, I hated that when I was 11 and I bloody hate it even more now

 

[Marty]

Really? Time? Context?

They're all snakes with tits mate

Lol, still bring up such a throw away comment aimed at nobody.

Maybe we should have followed the Italians with the hug a Chinese campaign to show how woke and progressive we are.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Being at home I'm easy prey to be asked by the kids to help with algebra, I hated that when I was 11 and I bloody hate it even more now

Imagine teaching it to 30 of them

 

[shmmeee]

I think Greggs is a business phenomenon - a real success story actually

Classic deflection. Are they the best food?

I think the Tories are an election winning machine, doesn’t make em any good at governing.

 

[Colin Steins Smile]

It would appear that Mr Gove has been telling lies!

Robert Peston
@michaelgove
said just now that the difficulty in increasing number of #COVID19 tests was due to a shortage of the relevant "chemcial reagents". Well I've just talked to the Chemical Industries Association, which represents the UK's very substantial chemicals industry. It...
6:53 pm · 31 Mar 2020·Twitter Web App
https://twitter.com/Peston
Replying to
@Peston
has contacted its members, and they've said there is no shortage of the relevant reagents. So the Association has now been in touch with
@michaelgove
's office to find out what he means, because it is stumped. The Association also points out there was an industry chat with...
Robert Peston
@Peston
a business minister today, who made no attempt to find out if there was a supply problem for the vital ingredients of Covid19 testing kits. So this question of why there aren't enough tests for the virus is an even bigger mystery. Also, if it turns out there is a shortage...

these manufacturers are more than happy to increase their production. But they need to be asked, which has not happened. PS It was Labour MP
@Bill_Esterson
who initially spotted this gap between what Gove said and what the industry believes to be true.

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Imagine teaching it to 30 of them

Yeah that wouldn't end so well, and would bring any teaching career to a rapid end I think.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Lol, still bring up such a throw away comment aimed at nobody.

Maybe we should have followed the Italians with the hug a Chinese campaign to show how woke and progressive we are.

Nah I was just hoping to know what else you said about shutting borders and when you said it. Just like Coventrian wanting to shoot holes in boats but not really

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Classic deflection. Are they the best food?

I think the Tories are an election winning machine, doesn’t make em any good at governing.

Joe Biden gets more votes the less he appears in public or in fact says anything

 

[Ring Of Steel]

It would appear that Mr Gove has been telling lies!

Robert Peston
@michaelgove
said just now that the difficulty in increasing number of #COVID19 tests was due to a shortage of the relevant "chemcial reagents". Well I've just talked to the Chemical Industries Association, which represents the UK's very substantial chemicals industry. It...
6:53 pm · 31 Mar 2020·Twitter Web App
Replying to
@Peston
has contacted its members, and they've said there is no shortage of the relevant reagents. So the Association has now been in touch with
@michaelgove
's office to find out what he means, because it is stumped. The Association also points out there was an industry chat with...
Robert Peston
@Peston
a business minister today, who made no attempt to find out if there was a supply problem for the vital ingredients of Covid19 testing kits. So this question of why there aren't enough tests for the virus is an even bigger mystery. Also, if it turns out there is a shortage...

these manufacturers are more than happy to increase their production. But they need to be asked, which has not happened. PS It was Labour MP
@Bill_Esterson
who initially spotted this gap between what Gove said and what the industry believes to be true.

Now there's a shock.

Prepare for a barrage of bullshit whataboutery

.

 

[Sick Boy]

Equally though, surely Western governments know not to trust Chinese numbers? Seems an easy scapegoat.

Their numbers look more and more ridiculous each day, if you have no idea of the true numbers how can you be fully aware of the devastation it could cause?

 

[Marty]

Nah I was just hoping to know what else you said about shutting borders and when you said it. Just like Coventrian wanting to shoot holes in boats but not really

Shooting holes in boats? What are you going on about?

 

[Sick Boy]

Lol, still bring up such a throw away comment aimed at nobody.

Maybe we should have followed the Italians with the hug a Chinese campaign to show how woke and progressive we are.

What is ‘woke’?

 

[clint van damme]

I think we have a bit (up to just over 8k from the initial 4-5k which I think the original per head comparison reflects) from conversions, private sector and army. Let’s see how many new purchased ventilators come through next week as indicated at today’s briefing and whether we end up breaching capacity - I’d be shocked if we don’t for a period but obviously depends on how quickly the new ones arrive/training of operators in comparison with the increasing demand

They can free up ventilators if Mercedes can get this bit of kit they've developed up and running. Not sure what the timeframe is for that.

 

[shmmeee]

Their numbers look more and more ridiculous each day, if you have no idea of the true numbers how can you be fully aware of the devastation it could cause?

Oh no, totally. And China being China certainly didn’t help, don’t get me wrong. It’s a perfect example of why their bullshit needs to stop. But to say (as I believe some in government have) that we weren’t prepared because we believed their numbers seems a little naive at best.

 

[skybluetony176]

It would appear that Mr Gove has been telling lies!

Robert Peston
@michaelgove
said just now that the difficulty in increasing number of #COVID19 tests was due to a shortage of the relevant "chemcial reagents". Well I've just talked to the Chemical Industries Association, which represents the UK's very substantial chemicals industry. It...
6:53 pm · 31 Mar 2020·Twitter Web App
Replying to
@Peston
has contacted its members, and they've said there is no shortage of the relevant reagents. So the Association has now been in touch with
@michaelgove
's office to find out what he means, because it is stumped. The Association also points out there was an industry chat with...
Robert Peston
@Peston
a business minister today, who made no attempt to find out if there was a supply problem for the vital ingredients of Covid19 testing kits. So this question of why there aren't enough tests for the virus is an even bigger mystery. Also, if it turns out there is a shortage...

these manufacturers are more than happy to increase their production. But they need to be asked, which has not happened. PS It was Labour MP
@Bill_Esterson
who initially spotted this gap between what Gove said and what the industry believes to be true.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Shooting holes in boats? What are you going on about?

He said he wanted us to shoot holes in the boats of asylum seekers crossing the Channel. Then said it was a 'throwaway comment' before doubling down later

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

What is ‘woke’?

SJW

 

[shmmeee]

@Sick Boy whats the economic situation over there like at the moment? Are there many reports of poverty increases or businesses going bust yet?

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

They can free up ventilators if Mercedes can get this bit of kit they've developed up and running. Not sure what the timeframe is for that.

Is this something different to what was mentioned the other day? Because that 'new' bit kit to me seemed to be a snoring aid called a CPAP machine that've been around for a little while. Or has it been modified in some way?

 

[skybluetony176]

Shooting holes in boats? What are you going on about?

Covtarian wants to kill vulnerable children by shooting holes in their boats so they drown. Nothing to see here.

 

[Sick Boy]

SJW

I’m not a frustrated American teenager, so don’t understand, sorry.

 

[clint van damme]

Oh no, totally. And China being China certainly didn’t help, don’t get me wrong. It’s a perfect example of why their bullshit needs to stop. But to say (as I believe some in government have) that we weren’t prepared because we believed their numbers seems a little naive at best.

I was reading the other day how people in Wuhan have worked out what they belive is an approximation of real death toll in the city. No way other countries government's weren't deeply suspicious of the official number there and in the rest of China and didn't have at least a rough idea of what they really were.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I’m not a frustrated American teenager, so don’t understand, sorry.

Being super PC?

 

[shmmeee]

If ventilators are an issue...



Edit: just reread it and seems he only has limited supply. Still, fun tweet.

 

[clint van damme]

Is this something different to what was mentioned the other day? Because that 'new' bit kit to me seemed to be a snoring aid called a CPAP machine that've been around for a little while. Or has it been modified in some way?

Something like that butt with some sort of reverse mechanism or something in it which helps patients.
These would be able to treat people who are currently in ICU on ventilators who actually have a slightly less severe form of the virus and don't need that level of care but currently there's no alternative.

 

[ccfc1234]

Fom a economic perspective the virus is battering our economy and causing many to read up on Karl Marx's playbook!
The UK is having the biggest false recession in history. Normally in times like this bad companies fail and people tend to take their skills to better employers. Not true on this occasion as the government (quite understandably) is providing workers with wages. However my fear is this will be act one of two from a recession perspective. This act will be about the virus and the next, that will shortly follow, will be about a bull market of 10+ years and poor business processing their losses and these companies ultimately going bust anyway.

 

[Sick Boy]

@Sick Boy whats the economic situation over there like at the moment? Are there many reports of poverty increases or businesses going bust yet?

I think in a word....shite.
In all seriousness, it is too early to tell because the government passed a law stopping companies from laying off staff for, I think, 3 months, so it is probably too early to tell in terms of job losses. It was also quickly announced that the cassa integrazione (government funding) would be available for companies and pays 80% of an employees salary, allowing companies to place workers on reduced hours until the situation is over.
The big problem, in places like Sicily, is that a lot of work is 'in nero', which is cash in hand/off the books, meaning that they are not able to claim anything.
Since the reports about the incidents in Sicily and the supermarkets last week, the government has allocated money for food vouchers to be issued by the regions to those in need.
The big, big loss this year is going to be tourism, I think they will try and open the country up as much as possible for the summer, but I doubt many will bother to come here, but there will be plenty of very cheap holidays up for grabs, i'm sure.

 

[shmmeee]

I think in a word....shite.
In all seriousness, it is too early to tell because the government passed a law stopping companies from laying off staff for, I think, 3 months, so it is probably too early to tell in terms of job losses. It was also quickly announced that the cassa integrazione (government funding) would be available for companies and pays 80% of an employees salary, allowing companies to place workers on reduced hours until the situation is over.
The big problem, in places like Sicily, is that a lot of work is 'in nero', which is cash in hand/off the books, meaning that they are not able to claim anything.
Since the reports about the incidents in Sicily and the supermarkets last week, the government has allocated money for food vouchers to be issued by the regions to those in need.
The big, big loss this year is going to be tourism, I think they will try and open the country up as much as possible for the summer, but I doubt many will bother to come here, but there will be plenty of very cheap holidays up for grabs, i'm sure.

Yeah it’s the dark economy that worries me, interesting they outright banned lay offs, the food voucher thing I’d expect to see over here is that brand new for the pandemic or have they always had some kind of voucher system they’ve expanded?

 

[Marty]

He said he wanted us to shoot holes in the boats of asylum seekers crossing the Channel. Then said it was a 'throwaway comment' before doubling down later

Saying you want to essentially kill people is a bit different to saying that they're 'snakes with tits' when a bloke has just been stood up and feeling shit about himself anyway, in my case it was a throw away comment to cheer to poor lad up, that's all. I clearly don't think that.

 

[David O'Day]

I think we have a bit (up to just over 8k from the initial 4-5k which I think the original per head comparison reflects) from conversions, private sector and army. Let’s see how many new purchased ventilators come through next week as indicated at today’s briefing and whether we end up breaching capacity - I’d be shocked if we don’t for a period but obviously depends on how quickly the new ones arrive/training of operators in comparison with the increasing demand

If all come through its 61k new

 

[Saddlebrains]

How many on here have an under lying health issue out of curiosity? I’m asthmatic and hoping to not pick this virus up

I have asthma and an irregular heartbeat so im shitting it tbh

 

[Sick Boy]

Yeah it’s the dark economy that worries me, interesting they outright banned lay offs, the food voucher thing I’d expect to see over here is that brand new for the pandemic or have they always had some kind of voucher system they’ve expanded?

It is actually something that is included as part of the salary throughout the year with extra vouchers at Christmas. Workers get 13 or 14 monthly salaries plus vouchers to buy food. The vouchers can be used in certain supermarkets, restaurants and cafes. At my work we have the option of a 3 course lunch every day so we do not get them.