Coronavirus

[jeremyp]

Having a system to maintain sufficient stocks for epidemics or other natural or man made disasters is clearly do-able in an effective and efficient manner.

Is it? Tell us how  you would do it.

Even the preparations for brexit are likely to have helped us in the present one. You only need enough stocks - used as a reservoir so it doesn't become unusable - to keep you going until contingency plans, reassigning production as needed, kick in with sufficient fresh supplies. 

How many masks is "only enough"? How many  ventilators? Where do you store them? How do you maintain them? Do you know what's involved in "reassigning production as needed"?

It's easy for us to say these things, but we are not  the ones who have to actually do this. We can sit here smugly criticising the government for not being able to magic up as million masks or test kits and the drop of the hat, but there are people out there in the government and the NHS desperately trying to source the materiel the NHS needs to not collapse. I assure you, it's a lot harder than banging out "reassigning production as needed" on your keyboard.

[ad_orientem]

We actually kept a stock for such emergencies when other countries saw no need for their's and got rid of them. Yes, we're still short, but not as short as we could have been. And yes, they need renewing, which costs money, but this proves it was worth it.

[Udayana]

Is it? Tell us how  you would do it.

How many masks is "only enough"? How many  ventilators? Where do you store them? How do you maintain them? Do you know what's involved in "reassigning production as needed"?

It's easy for us to say these things, but we are not  the ones who have to actually do this. We can sit here smugly criticising the government for not being able to magic up as million masks or test kits and the drop of the hat, but there are people out there in the government and the NHS desperately trying to source the materiel the NHS needs to not collapse. I assure you, it's a lot harder than banging out "reassigning production as needed" on your keyboard.

Yes, of-course, I entirely agree. The last thing you want is idiots poking their noses in.

As a member of the general, ignorant, public, I would expect the government to commission appropriate professionals and experts to determine what was required, maybe even based on simulations of possible events and evaluation of stock levels and supplies, then act on their recommendations.

 - or just bury them for political reasons?

[Aruntraveller]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/12/revealed-value-of-uk-pandemic-stockpile-fell-by-40-in-six-years

Some decisions seem unusual though don't they?

[Udayana]

We actually kept a stock for such emergencies when other countries saw no need for their's and got rid of them. Yes, we're still short, but not as short as we could have been. And yes, they need renewing, which costs money, but this proves it was worth it.

Yes, my impression is that Germany and the Scandinavian countries (possibly apart from Sweden) were better prepared than the UK. ISTR even Italy had more ICU places.

[Nearly Sane]

Lots of questions here, in particular , are we seriously underestimating the numbers of those dead because of Covid 19.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52278825

[Nearly Sane]

Yes, my impression is that Germany and the Scandinavian countries (possibly apart from Sweden) were better prepared than the UK. ISTR even Italy had more ICU places.

Italy had considerably more but that may not be the issue, see this thread I posted earlier.


https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1249127908876128259.html?fbclid=IwAR2MNs3yI3jtphDlwfVXUckfLYiYZzDtcx8DrnNpJMDJY2k_ZwsrK3qBUwc

[Nearly Sane]

....I assure you, it's a lot harder than banging out "reassigning production as needed" on your keyboard.

I am sure it is. Doesn't mean that anyone can't rationally point out failings to use the recommendations from Cygnus, or the lies about sufficient PPE being available, or managing to screw up bulk buying with the EU because of ideology, and lying about that.

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/uk-missed-three-chances-to-join-eu-scheme-to-bulk-buy-ppe/14/04/?fbclid=IwAR0_Xh1bXCu-F2NJPE_MpXWqQ-eftwRA3iwrsl-tvU5bXczGQCOd-Q1z_mo

There are people on the front line dying because this govt lied, were incompetent and didn't plan, but you want to let them away with that and cover up their responsibility.

[Nearly Sane]

My friend has had the tracheostomy. Her husband asked about when she would be well enough to text. 2 weeks.

[ad_orientem]

My friend has had the tracheostomy. Her husband asked about when she would be well enough to text. 2 weeks.

Does this mean she's on the mend?

[Nearly Sane]

Does this mean she's on the mend?

Bit by very slow bit. It's good news but doesn't mean this is a straight road.

[ad_orientem]

Bit by very slow bit. It's good news but doesn't mean this is a straight road.

Cautiously positive. Good news.

[Nearly Sane]

Cautiously positive. Good news.

Thank you

[ad_orientem]

Last week the Finnish goverment started to do random antibody tests and will do till the end of the year, so they can get a clearer picture of how widely the virus has spread. Initially they will only be able to do 750 tests a week in and around the capital but hope to gradually extend testing to the rest of the country. I might see if I can get it done privately. I have a suspicion I might have already had it around the turn of February/March. If it wasn't, it was certainly a dead ringer for it.

The doctor said I qualify for the test. They have drive-in test points near me. I'll do it on the weekend.

[Robbie]

Cautiously positive. Good news.

Agree. Chin up NS.

[ad_orientem]

The doctor said I qualify for the test. They have drive-in test points near me. I'll do it on the weekend.

Managed to get the antibody test done today. Was able to go straight to the lab because I haven't had any symptoms for a few weeks. Anyway, it turned out to be negative. Was hoping for positive, because it would have meant some sort of immunity. Still, useful information in the sense that I now know I still have to be very careful. It just makes me wonder what I had then, because it knocked me for six. Maybe some influenza strain that isn't covered by the vaccine?

[ad_orientem]

Sweden recorded 180 corona deaths yesterday. Adjusted for population, that would be 1200 in the UK. I find it difficult to understand how they justify their strategy. They're willing to sacrifice lives in the hope of saving their economy.

[ad_orientem]

I yearn for the rubber dub.

[ad_orientem]

I yearn for the rubber dub.

And the pool hall.

[Roses]

A bit of good news amidst all the gloom. A woman of 106 has been discharged from hospital after recovering from the virus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-52296196

[ad_orientem]

A bit of good news amidst all the gloom. A woman of 106 has been discharged from hospital after recovering from the virus.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-52296196

Good stuff!

[Nearly Sane]

I yearn for the rubber dub.

I know what you mean. This sketch was originally meant to cover Irish pubs being open on Good Friday but it chimes with me.

https://youtu.be/mdBREoaRVzU

[ad_orientem]

I know what you mean. This sketch was originally meant to cover Irish pubs being open on Good Friday but it chimes with me.

https://youtu.be/mdBREoaRVzU

LOL!

[jeremyp]

The news today in the UK is cautiously optimistic. Number of deaths each day seems to be down from the peak of nearly one thousand. New cases seem to have stabilized and positive tests seem to be on a downward trend. Number of people hospitalized has stabilized and decreased in London - the worst hit region.

[Roses]

The news today in the UK is cautiously optimistic. Number of deaths each day seems to be down from the peak of nearly one thousand. New cases seem to have stabilized and positive tests seem to be on a downward trend. Number of people hospitalized has stabilized and decreased in London - the worst hit region.

Today's deaths are up on those  published yesterday.