COVID-19

I don’t think anyone really knows at this point. One of the biggest challenges right now, is that we know so little about this virus. Regular influenza has been studied for years and we’re still only partially able to combat it. We have seasonal flu jabs, but look how many people still become infected and sadly die from it. And this virus looks to be much more lethal.

Until we’re able to identify a viable vaccine, the world is going to have to think, behave and work very differently. The economic impacts are going to be huge, possibly unimaginable. We could end up in a position whereby on a periodic basis, social restrictions have to be implemented for a number of years, and as a society we have to come up with a means of adapting to it. Maybe not - maybe we identify a vaccine and that becomes the root by which we stay on top of it. Or maybe - sad as this sounds - we combat it simply by massively investing in health care systems so that we’re able to cope with infection spikes and the rest of the world carries on as normal. But the loss of life could be massive.

The problem is in the unknown. We don’t really know how lethal it is, because we don’t really know how long its been around and we don’t know how many people have had it asymptomatically. We don’t know it it will mutate seasonally, we don’t know if its likely to get worse or better. As a planet, we’re completely on the back foot. And that’s assuming that this thing is a natural event, not something man made or more malevolent. It probably is a natural thing, but its a crazy world. And in any event, certain countries will look to take advantage economically. China are going to come out of this thing in a VERY strong position. Look at what’s happening in the US - this could massively undermine their strength. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

However we look at it, the world is changing, in a massive way.

 

Even then, how effective will it truly be?

This is an interesting read. We’ve been studying Influenza for many years and even now, there’s a lot of guesswork that goes into producing the season flu jab. It ‘only’ reduces the risk of infection by 40-60%. Thats not insignificant, but it doesn’t entirely solve the problem. Many people still die from flu and the stats seem to demonstrate that COVID is much more infectious and more lethal. If its able to adapt seasonally as flu does, staying ahead of it could be a huge challenge.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm

 

It will be hard but the alternative is unthinkable.

 

Listening to a guy the other night saying this virus "mutates" (not sure if all viruses do the same) but if they are trying to make a vaccine as it is now, would that vaccine when discovered and tested be a able to kill or help our anti bodies to kill the new mutation this virus has changed to.

Looks like @Dennis answered my question, which is even more worrying.

 

'Wong thread' would have been funnier.

 

Loving the Trump like daily conference today.

Little more positive.

"It's critical business are ready go"

"Under 20k deaths we have done very well"

" 2-3 weeks and should be on top of this"

"More equipment coming but we need to stay at HOME"

- from the tone of this conference I think if we stick to the government guidelines we will see a relax to this lockdown in the coming weeks.

 

The issue I have is what is Yorkshire doing?

What are Leeds & Bradford doing to increase hospital space?

London, Birmingham, Manchester seen to be looking ahead now.

 

I would think that is a government decision not individual Cities.

 

Ring them up and ask them, tell them Manchester and Birmingham are doing more than them.

 

I might.

 

Just don't see the likes of cedar court etc offering their hotels to the NHS.

Need to make sure we are ready in Yorkshire just in case.

 

Well, after being positive about the youth of today in my previous post, here's a story to bring out the grumpy old geezer in all of us...

Once upon a time, in a big city just down the road from me, there lived our heroine, an 18-year-old McD's employee. One fine March day she just didn't feel like going to work -- and who hasn't ever felt that way? -- and called in sick. The end.

Not quite... She presented a doctor's note stating she had the coronavirus; the branch was closed, the employees from her last workday were sent home to self-isolate for 14 days, and an outside company was called in to deep-clean the branch. She has now been charged with public mischief over $5000, fraud under $5000, using a forged document, and producing a forged document. These are Criminal Code offences, and thus she's just dumped herself into a deep deep puddle of the brown stuff.

I suppose that gross stupidity would be a more appropriate charge, but so far that doesn't seem to be in the code...

Bah! Kids today!! Remember to keep it simple; don't over-elaborate and draw attention to yourself!

RCB

 

Have the likes of Leeds or Bradford got facilities like the NEC in Birmingham, ExCel in London or the Central Convention Centre in Manchester not sure we have, maybe the likes of Cedar Court or any other hotel may be confiscated by the government in the future if required.

 

Harrogate Exhibition Centre was closest I could think of

 

Think I read that Cedar Court just closed but hasn't even offered their hotels for NHS. That's why I am using them as an example.

 

News breaking here, Trump considering New Y ork lock down to include some of Connecticut ( sure @ConnecticutBantam might know more)

 

So are only certain hotels closing I would have thought the last thing the government or the hotels would want is people wandering around a hotel in the present situation.
We'd book a hotel in Blackpool for our 50th Wedding Anniversary but had it canceled because of this virus, the Midland Hotel in Bradford is only taking bookings for key workers I'm told.

 

Is the Richard dunns still standing they could use that as a testing centre in bradford ?