Coronavirus

[jeremyp]

A different take from Randall Munroe.

https://xkcd.com/2287/

[Nearly Sane]

I for one welcome our new goat overlords


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52103967?fbclid=IwAR2xBrvpxZcsf0XPkvgJ-gR59fezsdCbeAiGA9ex9k3M1Ryay5lMMXNjAY4

[Nearly Sane]

Ridiculous that calling out failings might lead to the sack here

https://www.union-news.co.uk/gma-stands-with-nhs-workers-face-te-sack-for-blowing-the-whistle-on-governments-coronavirus-failings/

[Aruntraveller]

Yet again Toby Young being a complete and utter Tory twat:

https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2020/03/31/as-most-people-fight-to-save-lives-some-on-the-right-are-showing-truly-barbaric-priorities/?

[ad_orientem]

In order to save the economy Sweden is taking the herd immunity approach, even though we're at least a year away from a vaccine. If I was a Swede I'd be slightly worried.

[Gordon]

Nice to see the spirit of altruism is alive and well in Florida - not.

From the BBC live blog.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said there is no reason Holland America cruise ships with sick passengers on board should dock in Florida.

The MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam have passed through the Panama Canal and are heading towards Fort Lauderdale. According to the Associated Press, there are over 300 US citizens on the ships.

"It's just a convenient place," he told reporters. "The problem is that takes resources away from the people in South Florida, and yes we do have available beds, but I don't want it to be a situation where those beds could have gone to Floridians."

[Harrowby Hall]

The focus now appears to be on testing for the virus and the comparison between the testing rates in Germany and the UK.

I think that this comparison highlights a major strategic problem at the heart of the British government system: its very high level of centralisation and of central government control. The UK system encourages central government to try to micro-manage  every situation. We see this in "local government" where local authorities have very few powers but a very large number of imposed duties. And since Kenneth Baker, education has become more and more centrally controlled.

Apparently, there are many laboratories in the UK which could have quickly introduced virus testing and we would now be reaping the benefits of the data being gathered. HM government, however, has other ideas: a huge centralised facility in Milton Keynes. By the time it gets on stream the total situation may have greatly deteriorated - the nation let down by its myopic, incompetent government.

[jeremyp]

In order to save the economy Sweden is taking the herd immunity approach, even though we're at least a year away from a vaccine. If I was a Swede I'd be slightly worried.

If I lived in a country that shares a land border with Sweden, I'd be slightly worried too.

[Aruntraveller]

I have been watching Jenrick being interviewed on TV this morning, I think he needs help with a couple of phrases he used repeatedly:

ramping up (production/testing) - do fuck all, but say we are doing it in an effort to fool the public.

International comparisons are not useful (particularly with Germany) - we've not acted fast enough, but please don't point out that some other countries actually give a fuck about their population.

(apologies to those who don't like swearing, but really with these sleazy uncaring fuckwits in charge there isn't an option).

This government wouldn't only sell their Grandmothers down the river, they'd take out a loan on them and agree to death of said grandmothers as a reasonable price to pay for defaulting on payment.

[ad_orientem]

If I lived in a country that shares a land border with Sweden, I'd be slightly worried too.

Well, yes. Fortunately, for the time being at least, the border is closed.

[Nearly Sane]

I don't agree with the article but I think the feeling is similar to what I am thinking about when I write Not Just During Quarantine.

https://theconversation.com/what-will-the-world-be-like-after-coronavirus-four-possible-futures-134085?fbclid=IwAR0nMaEQCiNZr2C0cJm3I6JI8lA28fbYmgTjov2O2a3s61zA2ki2xEelEyk

[Walter]

I have been watching Jenrick being interviewed on TV this morning, I think he needs help with a couple of phrases he used repeatedly:

ramping up (production/testing) - do fuck all, but say we are doing it in an effort to fool the public.

International comparisons are not useful (particularly with Germany) - we've not acted fast enough, but please don't point out that some other countries actually give a fuck about their population.

(apologies to those who don't like swearing, but really with these sleazy uncaring fuckwits in charge there isn't an option).

This government wouldn't only sell their Grandmothers down the river, they'd take out a loan on them and agree to death of said grandmothers as a reasonable price to pay for defaulting on payment.

Trent,

get a grip man, you sound like a whining  whipped pup

[Walter]

I don't agree with the article but I think the feeling is similar to what I am thinking about when I write Not Just During Quarantine.

https://theconversation.com/what-will-the-world-be-like-after-coronavirus-four-possible-futures-134085?fbclid=IwAR0nMaEQCiNZr2C0cJm3I6JI8lA28fbYmgTjov2O2a3s61zA2ki2xEelEyk

sounds to me that the author of the piece might have to get a 'proper job' when this is over !

[Nearly Sane]

sounds to me that the author of the piece might have to get a 'proper job' when this is over !

We all might

[Roses]

When the virus crisis is eventually over, I suspect the world might be very different to the way it was before.

[SteveH]

When the virus crisis is eventually over, I suspect the world might be very different to the way it was before.

"different from", not "different to".
I agree: for one thing, the renationalisation of the railways is likely to become permanent, and for another, they won't dare continue underfunding the NHS.

[Walter]

We all might

but I'm guessing the thought of that to the author is worse than the virus its self .

[Walter]

"different from", not "different to".
I agree: for one thing, the renationalisation of the railways is likely to become permanent, and for another, they won't dare continue underfunding the NHS.

Hurcs

at least she didn't say 'different than'  which is what the Merkins say!

[SteveH]

Hurcs

at least she didn't say 'different than'  which is what the Merkins say!

[Udayana]

I have been watching Jenrick being interviewed on TV this morning, I think he needs help with a couple of phrases he used repeatedly:

ramping up (production/testing) - do fuck all, but say we are doing it in an effort to fool the public.

International comparisons are not useful (particularly with Germany) - we've not acted fast enough, but please don't point out that some other countries actually give a fuck about their population.

(apologies to those who don't like swearing, but really with these sleazy uncaring fuckwits in charge there isn't an option).

This government wouldn't only sell their Grandmothers down the river, they'd take out a loan on them and agree to death of said grandmothers as a reasonable price to pay for defaulting on payment.

"Every nation gets the government it deserves" - Joseph de Maistre

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-31/robert-peston-is-gove-right-that-there-is-a-shortage-of-test-kit-ingredients/

Well I've just talked to the Chemical Industries Association, which represents the UK's very substantial chemicals industry.

It 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 Mr Gove’s office to find out what he means, because it is stumped.

The Association also points out there was an industry chat with a business minister on Tuesday, who made no attempt to find out if there was a supply problem for the vital ingredients of Covid-19 testing kits.

[Aruntraveller]

Trent,

get a grip man, you sound like a whining  whipped pup

Sure will if I ever get close enough to someone's neck.

[Walter]

Sure will if I ever get close enough to someone's neck.

[Nearly Sane]

"different from", not "different to".
I agree: for one thing, the renationalisation of the railways is likely to become permanent, and for another, they won't dare continue underfunding the NHS.

If we have a huge rise in unemployment, there may well be no choice  in what we fund. Thge idea that we'll turn into some socialist nirvana is laughable

[jeremyp]

"different from", not "different to".

I don't think "different to" is necessarily wrong.

the renationalisation of the railways is likely to become permanent

What renationalisation?

, and for another, they won't dare continue underfunding the NHS.

The NHS will always be underfunded. It's the nature of healthcare - and our ageing population. Every government since the war pretty much has increased funding in real terms and yet it is in financial crisis because the cost of healthcare goes up and the number of people needing it goes up.

[jeremyp]

If we have a huge rise in unemployment, there may well be no choice  in what we fund. Thge idea that we'll turn into some socialist nirvana is laughable

Just the measures required to stop people from starving to death during the crisis are likely to hugely increase the deficit, especially if it goes on longer than a few weeks. Not only is the government having to pay out but tax receipts are crashing. I would expect the government to try to slash the NHS to the bone even though it will be hugely unpopular.