Coronavirus (Covid-19) Discussion
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For those of us in the UK, who pretty much depend on what the press tells us/needs us to know. The facts are out there if you look (and Government don't generally expect the public to look - I've been in the room when a former health Secretary actually said as much!).
The following report was published today and contained the following restrictions timeframe
'Public health measures result in a large share of economic activity ceasing for three months, with the restrictions on people’s movement and activity assumed to be lifted progressively over the subsequent three months'
@Giles this may be of interest to you, as a business owner… It helps inform Government policy...and could be helpful to UK based businesses...
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if you'd all like to know what else of significance is happening in the world, this is a good starting point. Please don't dismiss it, it has been a measure of global crisis since 1947. The new alerts tab has current updates from around the world. Not everything has stopped because of Covid 19!
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@neph93 given that Powerslave was released in 1984, so the song was probably written in 1983…does that mean that the clock has only counted down by 20 seconds?
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What is strange is that when it was activated in 1947 the starting point was 7 minutes to midnite (or 11.53 as most people in Europe would refer to it). I'd be interest to know why? I wonder if anyone changed it to account for daylight saving here in the UK… Fall back, spring forward... It could play havoc with some tyrant's plans for global destruction.
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Still waiting for my mask to show up. I think the mask requirement is kinda silly if you’re going to the park or are outside. At the grocery store or any place with lots of people? Absolutely.
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As Raab is about to announce the next 3 week restrictions (of the currently planned 6 month l9ckdown), a report is circulating in Government recommending that phase one of loosening of restrictions includes the opening of coffee shops and restaurants to help boost moral and support farming.
Shit-food chains McDonald's, KFC, and Burger King announce that they are reopening some of their chains for takeaway and home delivery… Ever the philanthropists, they will open stores close to NHS sites for our beloved nurses and doctors. Nationally there is an obesity epidemic among nursing staff (doctors, because they understand the facts, and generally have higher incomes, are not included in those stats).
It's nice to see the neoliberal economic agenda kicking in. I hope the small independent shops in local communities are extended the same opportunities to open when the time is right. If they haven't all had to foreclose and be bought up by large chains. Blurghhh.
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I agree with the principles, but the report is co-authored by the CEO of Glaxosmithcline, suggesting that there may just be more than a little subjectivity contained within.
As Chomsky has recently observed, there is more profit in face cream than there are in developing and manufacturing vaccines. If the combined resources of global pharmas put their energy into creating a vaccine, then we might get somewhere faster. Instead it is being left predominantly to Gov and University research labs. Undoubtedly the knowledge and skills are available there, but we'd quicken the pace if the pharmas got involved more… Not that it would be without its own concerns... Patenting etc
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Pharma is a business. Make it worth their while to work on a product and they'll work on a product. Governments could do plenty to help there. For example, they could (1) set a $15b fund for the first 3 vaccines (or treatments) developed. That way pharmaceuticals would know that they would make a profit even if they have to distribute the vaccine at cost. Even if the US gvt were on their own, it would be a small amount compared to the rest of the COVID-19 costs. Governments could also (2) help lower the costs of pharma firms around some aspects of testing & documentation, which are extremely onerous.
(On the other hand, I think governments should tighten the rules on patenting, but that's a separate story.)
Also, as a side note there are some non-profit initiatives that could be very powerful, e.g., what Gates is doing.
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While I appreciate that pharmas are not charitable organisations, the business model of most doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Othe industries have worked together to design and tool medical equipment (Dyson, F1 etc), and while I'm sure that their respective markets are in decline at the moment, they have shown great collaborative and ethical spirit in producing desperately required equipment at an unprecedented time in our history. Pharmas could learn a little something there.
They certainly hold the NHS to ranson when it comes to developing and costing drugs. When I worked in mental health, pharma reps hosted what was known as 'drug lunches' where they pitched new to the market psychotropic medication on cost and rewards to the phyciatrists who would prescribe it. Unless we asked specific questions of them, information about effectiveness, testing and research, and side effects was not volunteered.
The health of nations is at risk, this isn't a sales pitch for a new to market highend sports car, it is people's lives, and the future of a healthy economy.
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I don't care if it is silly or not, it's better to be safe than sorry…
I don’t know what mandatory measures are taking place in the UK but in some US states they’re requiring citizens to wear masks just going outside, even on your own property. I’m pretty sure viral transmission doesn’t happen quite that easily by virtue of just being outside, especially with social distancing being followed. I do think it’s prudent to wear a mask in a crowded area but when you’re away from people and isolated? No.
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7 days after officially opening, Stratford Nightingale Hospital has a total of 15 patients admitted. Our 2 large acute hospitals are at 50% and 60% capacity and are on green alert, the lowest alert.
To give some context, both hospitals are usually atv100% capacity and on purple alert by February each year. Purple is the category above black alert.
NHS managers locally have started to ask where the excess demand is? The ONS have also published stats for March today quoting that 86% of deaths reported in March were attributed to Covid 19, not the underlying health condition.
Our neighbours daughter is a ward sister and advised them that they were requested to record deaths as 'covid 19', regardless of cause.
What is going on then?
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Here’s the mask I ordered from Etsy. It’s 2 layers with a pocket filter. I took a black marker and tried blocking out the text which says, “you are strong.” My only complaint is that it’s hard to breathe in this thing. I suppose it would defeat the purpose by not having a tight fitting mask but this could be just a hair looser. Came with 5 hepa filters as well. Once I’m done with those I’ll switch to shop towels for filtersSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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This is my son’s mask which is also from Etsy. The sizing was off and I should’ve ordered a bigger one. I had to snip the elastic bands and make it so they loop around my son’s ears. The fabric is quite thin compared to mine but it’s a 2 layer with pocket filter so that should help.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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A close friend of mine owns a small business, Arcadia, which sells Gelato, and of course is shut down. Today I learned that they are sustaining on eggs and rice, to hopefully keep themselves afloat, and they're business. Tomorrow I'm going to Costco to get them a months worth of food. Will also take some Scotch and Wine.
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@ROman what a great friend you are being. We will weather this storm, and relationships will be even stronger. You're a good person dude.
