Covid-19

[keith1879]

I repeat, has there ever been a February 2024 before?

Yes or no?

(and will repeat this question ad nauseum to deflect from the fact I’m wrong, writing this in small font at the bottom of the post for no apparent reason)

There would have been if Corbyn had been in charge.....

[Volvoclaret]

Only if Diane Abbott was counting the days.

[ksrclaret]

This recovery is to be applauded.

Nurse out of intensive care after 45 days

A nurse in the UK has left intensive care after spending more than 45 days there with coronavirus.

Felix Khor, who is being treated at Southend University Hospital in Essex where he has worked for 15 years, gave a "thumbs up" as he was moved out and thanked those who helped to save his life.

The hospital said colleagues lined the main corridor and there were applause, cheers and a few tears as Mr Khor was moved to a ward.

Mr Khor said: "I'm incredibly grateful to all of the hospital staff who have helped keep me fighting, and for the huge love and support from colleagues and friends.

He added: "There is still a long road ahead but it has meant so much."

What happened to the positive corona thread? I've just noticed it's no longer available to view and I really liked reading that one.

[Volvoclaret]

Guess it was pulled because of all the usual suspects fighting in the playground. Pity because we could all do with positive news.

[bfcjg]

Guess it was pulled because of all the usual suspects fighting in the playground. Pity because we could all do with positive news.

It would appear that some sour faced miserable sods couldn't stand people just wanting to read positive spirit lifting news, the sort of bores who are so egotistical they feel it's their mission in life to have an opinion on everything even when not wanted or warranted. The mods should have banned them instead of pulling the thread IMHO.

[ksrclaret]

Weird because that thread always seemed very pleasant and was an enjoyable read when things were really bad. I took a lot of comfort from reading it.

I've no problem with disagreements, I get involved in plenty myself, but I just didn't see it coming on that thread.

[bfcjg]

Weird because that thread always seemed very pleasant and was an enjoyable read when things were really bad. I took a lot of comfort from reading it.

I've no problem with disagreements, I get involved in plenty myself, but I just didn't see it coming on that thread.

Usual suspects ruined it. The more left wing you are the more miserable you become.

[Grumps]

Be nice, or this thread might go the same way

In my opinion, most of us are grown up and more often than not this thread gets self policed

Those that do get some stick are probably big enough and ugly enough to take it, or just withdraw for a while

Hopefully the mod/mods see that and leave it alone.

[ksrclaret]

Usual suspects ruined it. The more left wing you are the more miserable you become.

Well I wouldn't go with that. I'd class myself as left wing but, to the best of my own self awareness, I don't believe I'm miserable.

Looking back through this thread though it seems like Tiger is posting his good news on here now. Positive news.

[FactualFrank]

Be nice, or this thread might go the same way

I'd sooner this one had gone instead.

[Ptangyangkipperbang]

It would appear that some sour faced miserable sods couldn't stand people just wanting to read positive spirit lifting news, the sort of bores who are so egotistical they feel it's their mission in life to have an opinion on everything even when not wanted or warranted. The mods should have banned them instead of pulling the thread IMHO.

It seemed to me it was just one poster trying to wind people up and was told off quite a few of us to keep off the thread if they had nothing positive to say.I personally have not seen this poster since although I try and keep away from negative and political threads.I wonder if they have been banned?

[FactualFrank]

Government 'hopeful' pubs will reopen in July.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavi ... =ACERDHP17

[AndrewJB]

Taken from social media:

"Open the House of Commons now! Let our MPs be heroes."

I don't think it'll happen.

[Blackrod]

Anyone wanting to go to the pub or a restaurant in July ? I’ve got used to doing without either for a while longer yet. Don’t fancy sitting in a segregated cubicle with a face masked waiter and would only want a bottle in the pub unless the bar staff were face masked and gloved. Would prefer to have a beer in the garden.

[FactualFrank]

Anyone wanting to go to the pub or a restaurant in July ? I’ve got used to doing without either for a while longer yet. Don’t fancy sitting in a segregated cubicle with a face masked waiter and would only want a bottle in the pub unless the bar staff were face masked and gloved. Would prefer to have a beer in the garden.

I'm sure I read that only pubs with beer gardens will be allowed to open initially.

But I've gone around 10 weeks without any alcohol, and can't say I've had a problem.

[Grumps]

A beer outside would be nice, but I wouldn't want to drink inside a pub where you couldn't stand round in a group having a chat.

[Devils_Advocate]

I have a few friends who are teachers and we always have a good session around the start of July. The girls all go to the beauty parlour and get their hair and nails done and then we hit the pubs.

Its normally around start of July cos thats when term finishes so hoping the pubs and hairdressers are open for then as with all the stress the teachers are under I think it will be a madder session than normal.

I reckon even the male teachers might hit the hairdressers first with the state of the barnets we've all got at the moment

[tiger76]

I have a few friends who are teachers and we always have a good session around the start of July. The girls all go to the beauty parlour and get their hair and nails done and then we hit the pubs.

Its normally around start of July cos thats when term finishes so hoping the pubs and hairdressers are open for then as with all the stress the teachers are under I think it will be a madder session than normal.

I reckon even the male teachers might hit the hairdressers first with the state of the barnets we've all got at the moment

How can teachers be stressed they've got a cushy job according to many on here,all those extra holidays and in-service days,blimey they'll be expecting a pay rise next

[Devils_Advocate]

How can teachers be stressed they've got a cushy job according to many on here,all those extra holidays and in-service days,blimey they'll be expecting a pay rise next

The sacrifices they make for our children and what thanks do they get! Nobody claps for them, pop starts aren't organising special concerts for them - its nothing short of a disgrace.

I think when the pubs open they should be made top priority to be allowed to use them, I mean thy'll need to do something in the daytime whilst the rest of us are working

[Grumps]

I have a few friends who are teachers and we always have a good session around the start of July. The girls all go to the beauty parlour and get their hair and nails done and then we hit the pubs.

Its normally around start of July cos thats when term finishes so hoping the pubs and hairdressers are open for then as with all the stress the teachers are under I think it will be a madder session than normal.

I reckon even the male teachers might hit the hairdressers first with the state of the barnets we've all got at the moment

I hope the ones who hit the hairdressers are the ones who have been in school. Far more risk having your haircut

[Devils_Advocate]

I hope the ones who hit the hairdressers are the ones who have been in school. Far more risk having your haircut

Get yourself a Murphy's

[Lord Rothbury]

According to Worldometer the UK has now done more virus tests than Germany per head of population.

[Swizzlestick]

Do you really want to go down the road of comparing our virus response to Germany’s?

It’s almost as if they realised the importance of testing lay in its timing and targeting the right areas rather than setting pointless, arbitrary quantity targets like some **** quiz show.

[tiger76]

According to Worldometer the UK has now done more virus tests than Germany per head of population.

And yet despite that we still have more than 4 times their death toll,and we still have more patients in intensive care.

Usual site that worth noting these stats amidst all the doom and gloom.

More than 5m cases,325k deaths,but nearly 2m recoveries.

Details

ACTIVE CASES

2,709,374
Currently Infected Patients

2,663,953 (98%)
in Mild Condition

45,421 (2%)
Serious or Critical

CLOSED CASES

2,301,789
Cases which had an outcome:

1,976,368 (86%)
Recovered / Discharged

325,421 (14%)
Deaths

Sad as all the deaths are there's an awful lot of folks recovering,and this needs highlighting to put the risk into perspective.

And these numbers don't account for the many cases which are not being diagnosed.

[keith1879]

Sad as all the deaths are there's an awful lot of folks recovering,and this needs highlighting to put the risk into perspective.

And these numbers don't account for the many cases which are not being diagnosed.

(Snipped out a lot for clarity)

Thoroughly agree.....we should remember the victims but keep things in perspective.

[LoveCurryPies]

What’s massively socially and economically different about France and Spain that would make our response to a pandemic different?

Possibly our excessive drinking, generally being overweight and being totally irresponsible re social distancing.

[paulatky]

Government 'hopeful' pubs will reopen in July.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavi ... =ACERDHP17

And then they announce the track and trace app is weeks behind which will scupper plans to open more businesses as that is one of tne 5 key factors for further releasing of lockdown

[tiger76]

Blimey testing's jumped which is great but without a track and trace strategy it's all a bit pointless.

A further 363 deaths have been recorded across the UK in the past 24 hours, Oliver Dowden says.

That takes the number of those testing positive who have died so far, according to Department of Health figures, to 35,704, although it is widely accepted that the overall figure is much higher.

The culture secretary also confirms 177,216 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.

That’s the biggest daily total to date and a huge increase on yesterday’s figure of just below 100,000.

This, however, does not correspond to the number of people actually tested as some individuals are tested more than once.

[lakedistrictclaret]

I think you mean hours rather than years, tiger!

[tiger76]

Sweden to investigate care homes

A national review of medical treatment in care homes has been announced in Sweden. It follows concerns - reported by the BBC on Tuesday - that some regions have not automatically made oxygen available for patients.

Care home residents account for nearly half of deaths linked to Covid-19 in Sweden.

The government's health and social care inspectorate (IVO) said it had carried out preliminary checks on 1,000 homes in April and found “serious deficiencies” in the care given to one in 10 residents.

“What we have seen and what has been reported in the media is serious,” said IVO director general Sofia Wallström in a statement.

Further checks are planned at all 1,700 care homes for elderly residents across Sweden during the first two weeks of June.

[tiger76]

Virus mutating?

Latest Chinese cases suggest virus could be changing

Experts in China say the Covid-19 patients they are seeing in the north-east of the country show “different symptoms" and require “longer incubation” than those in the central city of Wuhan at the beginning of the country's outbreak. Qiu Haibo, one of the country’s top critical care doctors in the National Health Commission’s top medical team, spoke on the national CCTV-13 news channel about the fresh observations his team were making. Dr Qiu said his team were seeing new cases in north-eastern Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces had a longer incubation period, and their clinical symptoms were not typical.

They don’t have a fever, he said, but are suffering from either fatigue or a sore throat. Some have no symptoms at all. He added that the new cases appeared to be carrying the virus for much longer.

According to the national Global Times newspaper, “tests on Wuhan patients normally came back negative within a week or at most two weeks” after a patient shows symptoms.

But now, even though the cases are more curable, people appear to be carrying the virus for “longer periods”.

According to the official Xinhua news agency, 25 people are currently receiving treatment in hospital in north-eastern Jilin.

Heilongjiang province discharged its last patient on Saturday.

[tiger76]

People flocking to the English riviera despite being told to stay away https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-52742519

If they're that bored maybe they should go back to work

[TheFamilyCat]

People flocking to the English riviera despite being told to stay away https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-52742519

If they're that bored maybe they should go back to work

Thing is, unless they are travelling in cars with people from outside their household or meeting people there, they're not actually doing anything wrong.

(Different interpretations of what is wrong; I'm defining it by the government guidelines)

[aggi]

People flocking to the English riviera despite being told to stay away https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-52742519

If they're that bored maybe they should go back to work

If you're going to tell people that it's fine to travel as far as you want to have a day out then that's going to be what happens. If people weren't meant to do this then there shouldn't have been advice encouraging them to do so.

[dsr]

People flocking to the English riviera despite being told to stay away https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-52742519

If they're that bored maybe they should go back to work

"An estimated 300 people were on Perranporth beach", says the article. As if we're supposed to be concerned? Perranporth beach is two miles long. 300 people lining up in single file would have 10 metres each; but taking into account family groups and the fact that they aren't lined up in a straight line, there's vast amounts of room.

And note that the picture does not say "Perranporth beach today". Presumably it was taken in high summer when the beach was actually busy.

They may well have a story to tell - but why not tell it straight? Why fill it with half-truths and non-news, unless it's to cover up that there isn't really a story at all? Or is there really a story and the BBC just doesn't know how to tell it?

[lakedistrictclaret]

It is my understanding that although you can drive to different destinations now, you can only do this for exercise ( not to sit on a beach ).

[Tall Paul]

I drove by the beach at Crosby this afternoon and there were as many cars and people there as there are on a normal summer's day, including a cafe open with people sitting drinking coffee outside.

[TheFamilyCat]

I drove by the beach at Crosby this afternoon and there were as many cars and people there as there are on a normal summer's day, including a cafe open with people sitting drinking coffee outside.

Sounds grand, that's tomorrow's plans sorted.

[Devils_Advocate]

They may well have a story to tell - but why not tell it straight? Why fill it with half-truths and non-news, unless it's to cover up that there isn't really a story at all? Or is there really a story and the BBC just doesn't know how to tell it?

[Grumps]

It is my understanding that although you can drive to different destinations now, you can only do this for exercise ( not to sit on a beach ).

You can also do it for.... Outdoor activity... Which can include sitting on a bench etc as long as its an open space

[tiger76]

I think you mean hours rather than years, tiger!

Oh! just noticed that blame the Beeb i copied it from their live reporting,i'll edit it.

[bfcjg]

We need to turn this one into a positive thread as well.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/monkeys-infec ... 51025.html

[tiger76]

I'm supposed to post good news so I've managed to dig a few positives up.

The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has fallen below 10,000 for the first time since March.

Mr Dowden said talks about the Premier League playing behind closed doors could create a "win-win" by allowing additional matches to be broadcast free-to-air. He said existing TV rights could be respected, but concerns about competing with matchday attendances would be removed.

NHS services 'to resume in next weeks and months'

There's a question about when NHS staff who have been redeployed to fight Covid-19 will return to their regular jobs.

Dowden says there will be more "capacity" for regular services as the UK exits the peak of the virus.

Powis says regular healthcare services will resume over the "next weeks and months".

He adds that it was the "right thing to do" to prioritise Covid-19 care during the month of April.

New cases 'stable, perhaps even falling'

He says despite an increase in the rate of daily testing, the number of new cases is "stable, or perhaps even falling".

This shows the prevalence of the virus in the population is continuing to fall, he adds.

San Francisco, US, has announced two more "safe sleeping villages" where homeless people can set up tents while practising social distancing

Thousands of UK troops stood down from Covid-19 alert

The Ministry of Defence is to scale back its military “Covid Support Force” by standing down thousands of troops who had been placed on high readiness.

More than 20,000 armed forces personnel from all three services were put on alert in March to help the government response to Covid-19.

However, only about 4,000 have so far been deployed – fulfilling tasks such as helping construct the Nightingale temporary hospitals, delivering protective equipment and carrying out testing. Their work will continue.

But thousands of other service personnel who have not been used will now resume normal duties. The MoD is expected to issue a statement later today confirming that the Covid Support Force will be reduced to fewer than 10,000 personnel.

[tiger76]

London records no new coronavirus cases for full 24 hour period

London has recorded no new cases of coronavirus for a full 24 hour period, the latest official data shows.

Public Health England data shows that none of the Covid-19 swabs taken in the capital on Monday came back positive.

It was a fall from 19 cases the previous day.

Officials put the steep decline down to a technical hitch in the patient notification system over the weekend, with NHS England confirming it "did not operate for a period of time" on Saturday.

But the latest data is the first sign that the capital, which was ravaged by the virus early on in the outbreak, is starting to see light.

[tiger76]

Coronavirus: Further fall in Scotland's death rate

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-52 ... m=custom7

[CombatClaret]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j949
Good bit of testing from 12:30 on testing

Govt includes in it's numbers test by ONS and Universities for research purposes, over 30k a day currently. These are being used for statistical & research purposes but they are not being used to diagnose cases.
The numbers do not count these as 'People' being tested but are counted as tests 'Carried Out' and are key to allowing the govt to claim they're hitting the 100k target.

Remove the postal kits (as we don't know when or even if they are used) and remove the above research tests then on May 15th we go from the headline figure of 136k to 69k test carried out for actual diagnostic purposes. Applying this criteria to all days and the 100k target has never been met.

Of these the 69k test on May 15th they were done on 43k people. This can be to double testing of a single person but also when a saliva sample and throat swab are taken at a testing center they are often counted as two separate tests. A bit like a pair of gloves being counted as 2 pieces of PPE.

[martin_p]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j949
Good bit of testing from 12:30 on testing

Govt includes in it's numbers test by ONS and Universities for research purposes, over 30k a day currently. These are being used for statistical & research purposes but they are not being used to diagnose cases.
The numbers do not count these as 'People' being tested but are counted as tests 'Carried Out' and are key to allowing the govt to claim they're hitting the 100k target.

Remove the postal kits (as we don't know when or even if they are used) and remove the above research tests then on May 15th we go from the headline figure of 136k to 69k test carried out for actual diagnostic purposes. Applying this criteria to all days and the 100k target has never been met.

Of these the 69k test on May 15th they were done on 43k people. This can be to double testing of a single person but also when a saliva sample and throat swab are taken at a testing center they are often counted as two separate tests. A bit like a pair of gloves being counted as 2 pieces of PPE.

It’s no big surprise. It’s no wonder there was never a description of the difference between ‘people tested’ and ‘number of tests’.

[TheFamilyCat]

The numbers claimed then are about as useful as 'expected goals'.

[Devils_Advocate]

If you are questioning things like why people don't trust the govt with their data for the NHSX App and why teachers and unions want transparency around seeing the govts evidence for their decision on schools returning then the above is the problem in a nutshell.

The govt expects its people to trust them but throughout this crisis it has done nothing to earn that trust and when we come to look back on this crisis this could well turn out to be the biggest failing of the govts handling of Covid-19

[dsr]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j949
Good bit of testing from 12:30 on testing

Govt includes in it's numbers test by ONS and Universities for research purposes, over 30k a day currently. These are being used for statistical & research purposes but they are not being used to diagnose cases.
The numbers do not count these as 'People' being tested but are counted as tests 'Carried Out' and are key to allowing the govt to claim they're hitting the 100k target.

Remove the postal kits (as we don't know when or even if they are used) and remove the above research tests then on May 15th we go from the headline figure of 136k to 69k test carried out for actual diagnostic purposes. Applying this criteria to all days and the 100k target has never been met.

Of these the 69k test on May 15th they were done on 43k people. This can be to double testing of a single person but also when a saliva sample and throat swab are taken at a testing center they are often counted as two separate tests. A bit like a pair of gloves being counted as 2 pieces of PPE.

If your whinge about the testing has as much validity as your whinge about gloves, then it can be safely ignored. Medical gloves are always counted singly and you want to save your complaints to medical professionals generally, not for the government.

I don't recall seeing that the government's target of 100,000 excluded tests done for research. You aren't suggesting that research is a bad thing, are you? Are you suggesting that other countries don't do research? Are you suggesting that research doesn't help fight coronavirus so the tests don't count?

Perhaps you could go back and find anything relevant whereby the government made it clear that research testing didn't count as testing; then you might have a case. I don't think it occurred to anyone else that research and statistical testing was so irrelevant that it shouldn't be counted.