COVID-19

Does anybody really take any notice of the plethora of graphs and charts currently flooding the media coverage? A lot of it is contradictory, testing and positive tests seem to be collated differently from country to country depending on what they are trying achieve. The one positive i'd like to see from this virus is that in future we and other countries would be better prepared for something like this in the future. But as with anything beeaurocracy based in this country i wouldn't hold my breath. Just as the extra runway at Heathrow and HS2 have shown, while other countries get shit done we're still having meetings about meeting years afterwards and the handling of Corona will be no different.

 

I don't mind him apart from his bollocks on Brexit, he's pretty intelligent although usually agenda driven which i'm not a fan of. Graham is a good listen, loved his show with Mike Parry.

 

What worries me is the exit strategy they are talking about waiting for us to get over the peak then lessen the restrictions and when it starts to peak again to tightening them again. When is it going to be safe for us oldies to come out again

 

A professor of virology at Leeds Uni was on the BBC saying they've offered testing equipment and trained staff from all universities to the Government because their labs aren't currently in use and they have trained staff. Two weeks ago and they've heard nothing.

 

There seems to be differing advice from scientists advising the government I heard one say last night that testing was a side issue. But surely all healthcare people should be tested and hardly any have

 

Unfortunately mate not until they is a vaccine in hopefully 12-18months and it can be rolled out.

If we follow China then over 65 are not allowed on public transport or to mass gatherings.

 

I think thats part of us as a country though Den, i've got used to us over the years being a country that dithers when big questions need answering. I know of people in the NHS in despair at the organisation of things like supply of PPE to front line workers, something you would think would be a straight forward thing to deal with. But to me that sums up the NHS, great in theory but shockingly run in practice. So disjointed as an organisation, i know this isn't the time to do it and criticism of the NHS is seen as sacrilege by many but in future it needs reform and a full overhaul. Its clear it can't cope with a large scale disaster, neither in terms of front line staff and medical supplies nor administration.

 

It seems like in fighting at the top and that's the problem when you get them to lead. They all have different ideas.

Instead of getting results quickly and using the facilities we have while we wait for equipment etc we will discuss things over and over again then confuse matters.

Testing isn't a side issue. It's vital.

 

If Testing is so vital why don’t countries with more testing have lower death rates compared to their population?

 

Yeah, thats my take on it. Talking to people in the organisation morale has been at rock bottom for years. Staff at the coal face do seem to join with a real intention to help people but behind the scenes its in disarray. When i heard people cheering last week outside their doors and windows i'd like to think they were cheering for the staff on the front line doing an almost impossible job in the circumstances and not for the NHS as an organisation. Because in my experiences, my latest one with mum, its quickly becoming unfit for purpose due to, as you say, being used as a political football.

 

I agree. Its become vitriolic, when what we need is calm, factual dialogue. The testing numbers don't look great and it seems to be problem getting a straight answer as to why. We can't allow this to be a political stick to beat people with - we just need to understand and resolve the blockers. In the immediate term, its essential so we can test health care workers and optimize our capacity to care for people. Beyond that, its key to testing the wider population so we can start to open schools and allow people back to work. And I saw an article yesterday which suggested our ability to ramp up testing will be the difference between starting to relax social restrictions in May, or having to wait until Sept. And that's a huge difference.

 

You could criticise that as Carole Cadwalla chose to do in the Guardian, she spends her whole journalist career doing so. I'm like you, i see it as what can be acheived when authorities are allowed to decision make with as little government interference as possible. Wish the country was run more like this, things seem to move on a pace when the beaurocrats are kept out.

 

Just need to find the 16,000 plus Dr and nurses to staff it now

 

And the testing equipment to test them to make sure they can work.

 

Oh dear wonder if they come with a kite mark ?.