Corona Virus - the correct strategy?
Discussion
As we approach the inevitable indefinite lockdown and many of us are going to lose our jobs and livelihoods, do we think this is the correct strategy?
Wouldn't a better strategy be to shield and protect the vulnerable and let the rest of the people carry on with their normal lives? How is the government really going to support the many millions that will be jobless? What about the resulting issues like mental health of these people leading to depression and suicides?
We know that over 500,000 people a year die from flu - no one panics. How many people that will die of corona virus would have died from flu in the coming year?
I don't expect shielding the vulnerable is going to be an easy task, but with an active economy behind it the government could get there far easier than dealing with the aftermath of the indefinite lockdown that is being effected in other countries, and no doubt is due to happen here in the UK.
Wouldn't a better strategy be to shield and protect the vulnerable and let the rest of the people carry on with their normal lives? How is the government really going to support the many millions that will be jobless? What about the resulting issues like mental health of these people leading to depression and suicides?
We know that over 500,000 people a year die from flu - no one panics. How many people that will die of corona virus would have died from flu in the coming year?
I don't expect shielding the vulnerable is going to be an easy task, but with an active economy behind it the government could get there far easier than dealing with the aftermath of the indefinite lockdown that is being effected in other countries, and no doubt is due to happen here in the UK.
Edited by Larry5.2 on Tuesday 17th March 07:47
Larry5.2 said:
Wouldn't a better strategy be to shield and protect the vulnerable and let the rest of the people carry on with their normal lives?
Yes. The problem is you need an extensive system of testing, tracking and tracing in order to accurately quarantine those who are infected in order to protect the vulnerable.The problem is, in Britain we have no testing outside of hospitals, unlike say South Korea who set up drive thru testing within the first few weeks.
The government have realised this, which is why yesterday there was a swift change of strategy away from the above and towards large scale quarantine and eventually total lockdown.
CzechItOut said:
Yes. The problem is you need an extensive system of testing, tracking and tracing in order to accurately quarantine those who are infected in order to protect the vulnerable.
The problem is, in Britain we have no testing outside of hospitals, unlike say South Korea who set up drive thru testing within the first few weeks.
The government have realised this, which is why yesterday there was a swift change of strategy away from the above and towards large scale quarantine and eventually total lockdown.
If we all go into lockdown, you still need to make sure the people that help the vulnerable are safe, so we're no better off.The problem is, in Britain we have no testing outside of hospitals, unlike say South Korea who set up drive thru testing within the first few weeks.
The government have realised this, which is why yesterday there was a swift change of strategy away from the above and towards large scale quarantine and eventually total lockdown.
How about if the carers are those that have already had the virus? 80% of people will have mild symptoms, so why not encourage it to the 100% healthy - another potential strategy?
Larry5.2 said:
As we approach the inevitable indefinite lockdown and many of us are going to lose our jobs and livelihoods, do we think this is the correct strategy?
Wouldn't a better strategy be to shield and protect the vulnerable and let the rest of the people carry on with their normal lives? How is the government really going to support the many millions that will be jobless? What about the resulting issues like mental health of these people leading to depression and suicides?
We know that over 500,000 people a year die from flu - no one panics. How many people that will die of corona virus would have died from flu in the coming year?
I don't expect shielding the vulnerable is going to be an easy task, but with an active economy behind it the government could get there far easier than dealing with the aftermath of the indefinite lockdown that is being effected in other countries, and no doubt is due to happen here in the UK.
It is sad times ahead for everyone. This is what is playing on my mind.Wouldn't a better strategy be to shield and protect the vulnerable and let the rest of the people carry on with their normal lives? How is the government really going to support the many millions that will be jobless? What about the resulting issues like mental health of these people leading to depression and suicides?
We know that over 500,000 people a year die from flu - no one panics. How many people that will die of corona virus would have died from flu in the coming year?
I don't expect shielding the vulnerable is going to be an easy task, but with an active economy behind it the government could get there far easier than dealing with the aftermath of the indefinite lockdown that is being effected in other countries, and no doubt is due to happen here in the UK.
Edited by Larry5.2 on Tuesday 17th March 07:47
I was in tourist town being a tourist with my wife and when were we in a shop, I choked on my own saliva. All the customers left and the staff daren't come near us. We had to leave. We said thank you to the staff but they daren't reply to us.
The bit I'm missing from the above anecdote is that we are oriental by ethnic culture, although we have lived in the UK all our lives, worked here all our lives and have not even been out of the country in the last few years. It was obvious from our accent that we are English but the colour of our skin was enough to frighten everyone off. And this was before yesterday's Government announcement. It's only going to get worse.
I'm afraid that we will see millions lose their jobs, rebellious teenagers start smashing shop windows and cars. Everyone gets frustrated with nothing to do for work or play. The racism will start to build blaming anyone remotely looking Chinese.
You already have many elderly people whose mental and physical health is a daily routine of going to the shop to buy their dailies, going to the park to chat to someone - this keeps the brain active, the arthritis joints from seizing, the blood from clotting...etc.. now they will be isolated at home and will die from underlying conditions.
There is a high probability that there will be more harm than benefit done by a complete lockdown, and we are not far from this.
The WHO is stating countries need to test, test & test. China & Korea have followed this advise and they have seen positive results and falling infection rates. This Gov hasn't been doing large scale testing and has had months & months to prepare for this. The medical/scientific advice around C-19 has been good so far, the political handling has been shockingly poor.
Has this Government stated people arriving into the UK need to be tested and self isolate for 14 days? Seems every other country is doing this.
Has this Government stated people arriving into the UK need to be tested and self isolate for 14 days? Seems every other country is doing this.
leef44 said:
the tribester said:
How do you evidence this?
I think that is a speculative estimate but it is clearly in the right ballpark. We have around 10,000 in the UK alone, around 100,000 in the US so magnitude wise, it's got to be in the right ball parkHowever, the most accurate estimate of the number of deaths from Covid-19 is impossible to estimate accurately.
Piha said:
The WHO is stating countries need to test, test & test. China & Korea have followed this advise and they have seen positive results and falling infection rates. This Gov hasn't been doing large scale testing and has had months & months to prepare for this. The medical/scientific advice around C-19 has been good so far, the political handling has been shockingly poor.
Has this Government stated people arriving into the UK need to be tested and self isolate for 14 days? Seems every other country is doing this.
On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) China office heard the first reports of a previously-unknown virus behind a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in Eastern China with a population of over 11 million.Has this Government stated people arriving into the UK need to be tested and self isolate for 14 days? Seems every other country is doing this.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-coronavirus
Months and months apparently according to you, perhaps you could be more specific as to what 'months and months' actually adds up to given that it's now 2 months and 17 days since Dec 31st?
The issue with "strategy" is that its not only an unknown result but its also up for politically charged critique.
This is the first time that I know of where the UK has faced a pandemic that has the potential to both kill a significant amount of people and also shut down the economy.
The economy is people's lives also, so the strategy should of course account for everyone to minimise its effects and also protect health.
No matter which way the government chooses to go it would be seen as wrong by those that don't necessarily like the Tory party and also its a total unknown of its effect and result when looking back in hindsight on what is a fast developing situation.
The UK is also just a small part in the global pandemic, so its of course the reaction of other countries that also play an effect.
This is the first time that I know of where the UK has faced a pandemic that has the potential to both kill a significant amount of people and also shut down the economy.
The economy is people's lives also, so the strategy should of course account for everyone to minimise its effects and also protect health.
No matter which way the government chooses to go it would be seen as wrong by those that don't necessarily like the Tory party and also its a total unknown of its effect and result when looking back in hindsight on what is a fast developing situation.
The UK is also just a small part in the global pandemic, so its of course the reaction of other countries that also play an effect.
GroundZero said:
The issue with "strategy" is that its not only an unknown result but its also up for politically charged critique.
This is the first time that I know of where the UK has faced a pandemic that has the potential to both kill a significant amount of people and also shut down the economy.
The economy is people's lives also, so the strategy should of course account for everyone to minimise its effects and also protect health.
No matter which way the government chooses to go it would be seen as wrong by those that don't necessarily like the Tory party and also its a total unknown of its effect and result when looking back in hindsight on what is a fast developing situation.
The UK is also just a small part in the global pandemic, so its of course the reaction of other countries that also play an effect.
So true.This is the first time that I know of where the UK has faced a pandemic that has the potential to both kill a significant amount of people and also shut down the economy.
The economy is people's lives also, so the strategy should of course account for everyone to minimise its effects and also protect health.
No matter which way the government chooses to go it would be seen as wrong by those that don't necessarily like the Tory party and also its a total unknown of its effect and result when looking back in hindsight on what is a fast developing situation.
The UK is also just a small part in the global pandemic, so its of course the reaction of other countries that also play an effect.
I think we just have to live with the hand we are dealt.
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