Coronavirus

[Barrington Womble]

44 minutes ago, S.i.t.M aka The Boring One™ said:

Brazil have stopped reporting the cumulative total as they have now surpassed 35,000 deaths. Now they will only report cases in the previous 24 hours.

 

I wonder how long it will be before our illustrious - leaders who have a system that is the envy of the world - takes up a similar method seeing as they have a figure higher than even Brazil.

Do they think people can't add up to see the latest cumulative number?

[Section_31]

4 minutes ago, Barry Wom said:

Do they think people can't add up to see the latest cumulative number?

That's how these populists roll. Windbags with mouths, no care for detail (or lives, really) when they're challenged they simply attack the people doing the challenging, stop reporting facts or simply lie. No different to Trump and Johnson. This has got to be the last gasp of the populist leader now surely. People may like their theatrics and bluster, but surely they don't want to die at their hands.

[Barrington Womble]

6 minutes ago, Section_31 said:

That's how these populists roll. Windbags with mouths, no care for detail (or lives, really) when they're challenged they simply attack the people doing the challenging, stop reporting facts or simply lie. No different to Trump and Johnson. This has got to be the last gasp of the populist leader now surely. People may like their theatrics and bluster, but surely they don't want to die at their hands.

It's sadly in the hands of Americans. If they fuck trump off, I think it'll trigger a mood of change everywhere. But while trump hangs on, I think they will everywhere. 

[The Golden Eel]

6 hours ago, Captain Turdseye said:

You haven’t included the Members Forum there. And rightfully so. 
 

Rico’s trolling of TK last night was woeful, even by his standards. As was the stock response of “Bellend” 

 

Disappointing all round really, and I’d like to think the standard will improve now that everyone has sobered up. 

Bellend. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Dougie Do'ins said:

Scotland has apparently recorded it's first day without a Coronavirus death.

I bet Scotland are envious of England.

[Jennings]

5 hours ago, Sugar Ape said:

 

If you can't answer that hypothetical question then you probably don't have a plan.

[Dougie Do'ins]

US-China virus row flares with senator's comments

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52954697

[Colonel Bumcunt]

40 minutes ago, Jennings said:

If you can't answer that hypothetical question then you probably don't have a plan.

There is currently no such power for local authorities to impose regional lockdowns.

There is a growing problem of local councillors not agreeing with the Director of Public Health on what should happen.

I've made the point to our local authority that we need to scrutinise DPH's in the same way health scrutiny works for the NHS providers.  IE, show us your evidence.

It's catastrophic.  This government is headed for a crash.

[Red_or_Dead]

11 hours ago, Rico1304 said:

I think he feels he should. Don’t get me wrong, work have been brilliant. He was actually on probation as he was quite new. Work ended it as soon as he was diagnosed so he was entitled to all benefits and even sorted him out with £250 for every night he was in hospital. His boss is trying to convince him to stay off longer. 

If he pops his clogs can I have his job?

[Rico1304]

12 minutes ago, Red_or_Dead said:

If he pops his clogs can I have his job?

Up until 3 months ago his job was to travel the world inspecting manufacturing sites.  Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece and Romania.  Still interested? 

[TheHowieLama]

20 minutes ago, Rico1304 said:

Up until 3 months ago his job was to travel the world inspecting manufacturing sites.  Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Greece and Romania.  Still interested? 

What line are you in then? Sex tourism?

[Rico1304]

3 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

What line are you in then? Sex tourism?

Edible bats. I mean, what could go wrong? 
 

(Energy) 

[TheHowieLama]

1 minute ago, Rico1304 said:

 

(Energy) 

Nice, all kinds or just the one?

[Rico1304]

11 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

Nice, all kinds or just the one?

Ha, it’s asset funding in the energy industry. About as dry as you can get. 

[Mudface]

New Zealand appear to have eliminated the virus and are to remove all restriction except border controls. If only we had a competent government here, we could be doing the same but no, we're still getting more infections each day than NZ have had in total.

 

A couple of public health experts make some recommendations to keep the virus eliminated here- https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/jun/08/five-ways-new-zealand-can-keep-covid-19-cases-at-zero

 

Five ways New Zealand can keep Covid-19 cases at zero
Modelling shows it is very likely New Zealand has eliminated coronavirus. Keeping it that way is the next big challenge
Michael Baker and Nick Wilson


Today, for the first time since 28 February, New Zealand has no active cases of Covid-19.

According to our modelling at the the University of Otago, it is now very likely (well above a 95% chance) New Zealand has completely eliminated the virus. This is in line with modelling by our colleagues at Te Pūnaha Matatini (a research centre based at University of Auckland).

It is also the 17th day since the last new case was reported. New Zealand has a total of 1,154 confirmed cases (combined total of confirmed and probable cases is 1,504) and 22 people have died.

Today’s news is an important milestone and a time to celebrate. But as we continue to rebuild the economy, there are several challenges ahead if New Zealand wants to retain its Covid-19-free status while the pandemic continues elsewhere.


It remains important that good science supports the government’s risk assessment and management. Below, we recommend several ways people can protect themselves. But we also argue New Zealand needs an urgent overhaul of the health system, including the establishment of a new national public health agency for disease prevention and control.

What elimination means
Elimination is defined as the absence of a disease at a national or regional level. Eradication refers to its global extinction (as with smallpox).

Elimination requires a high-performing surveillance system to provide assurance that, should border control fail, any new cases would be quickly found. Agreed definitions are important for public reassurance and as a basis for expanding travel links with other countries that have also achieved elimination.

It is important to remind ourselves that active cases are not the ones we need to worry about. By definition, they have all been identified and placed in isolation and are very unlikely to infect others. The real target of elimination is to stop the unseen cases silently spreading in the community. This is why we need mathematical modelling to tell us that elimination is likely.

Avoiding complacency – and new outbreaks
New Zealand’s decisive elimination strategy appears to have succeeded, but it is easy to become complacent. Many other countries pursuing a containment approach have had new outbreaks, notably Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

New Zealand has spent months expanding its capacities to eliminate Covid-19. But maintaining elimination will be challenging. Airports, seaports and quarantine facilities remain potential sites of transmission from overseas, particularly given the pressure to increase numbers of arrivals.

New Zealand’s move to alert level 1 will end all physical distancing restrictions. If the virus is reintroduced, this creates the potential for outbreaks arising from indoor social gatherings. New Zealand is also moving into winter when respiratory viruses can spread more easily, as is seen with the highly seasonal coronaviruses that cause the common cold.

Just as New Zealand prepared for the pandemic, the post-elimination period requires “maximum proactivity”. Here are five key risk management approaches to achieve lasting protection for New Zealand against Covid-19 and other serious public health threats.

1. Establish public use of fabric face masks in specific settings

Health protection relies on multiple barriers to infection or contamination. This is the cornerstone of protecting drinking water, food safety and borders from incursions by biological agents.

With the end of physical distancing, we recommend the government seriously considers making mask wearing mandatory on public transport, on aircraft and at border control and quarantine facilities. Other personal hygiene measures (staying home if sick, washing hands, coughing into elbows) are insufficient when transmission is often from people who appear well and can spread the virus simply by breathing and talking.

The evidence base for the effectiveness of even simple fabric face masks is now strong, according to a recent systematic review published in the Lancet. The World Health Organization has also updated its guidelines to recommend that everyone wear fabric face masks in public areas where there is a risk of transmission. Establishing a culture of using face masks in specific settings in New Zealand will make it easier to expand their use if required in future outbreaks.

2. Improve contact-tracing effectiveness with suitable digital tools

New Zealand’s national system for contact tracing remains a critical back-stop measure to control outbreaks, should border controls fail. But there is significant potential for new digital tools to enhance current processes, albeit with appropriate privacy safeguards built in. To be effective, such digital solutions must have high uptake and support very rapid contact tracing. Downloadable apps appear insufficient and both New Zealand and Singapore are investigating bluetooth-enabled devices which appear to perform better and could be distributed to all residents.

3. Apply a science-based approach to border management

A cautious return to higher levels of inbound and outbound travel is important for economic and humanitarian reasons, but we need to assess the risk carefully. This opening up includes two very different processes. One is a broadening of the current categories of people permitted to enter New Zealand beyond residents, their families and a small number of others. This will typically require the continuation of routine 14-day quarantine, until improved methods are developed.

The other potential expansion is quarantine-free entry, which will be safest from countries that meet similar elimination targets. This process could begin with Pacific Island nations free of Covid-19, notably Samoa and Tonga. It should be possible to extend this arrangement to various Australian states and other jurisdictions such as Fiji and Taiwan when they confirm their elimination status.

4. Establish a dedicated national public health agency

Even before Covid-19 hit New Zealand, it was clear our national public health infrastructure was failing after decades of neglect, fragmentation and erosion. Prominent examples of system failure include the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak in 2016 and the prolonged measles epidemic in 2019. The comprehensive health and disability system review report was delivered to the Minister of Health in March and was widely expected to recommend significant upgrading of public health capacity. This report and its recommendations should now be released.

We also recommend an interim evaluation of the public health response to Covid-19 now, rather than after the pandemic. These reviews would inform the needed upgrade of New Zealand’s public health capacity to manage the ongoing pandemic response and to prepare the country for other serious health threats. A key improvement would be a dedicated national public health agency to lead disease control and prevention. Such an agency could help avoid the need for lockdowns by early detection and action in response to emerging infectious disease threats, as achieved by Taiwan during the current pandemic.

5. Commit to transformational change to avoid major global threats

Covid-19 is having devastating health and social impacts globally. Even if it is brought under control with a vaccine or antivirals, other major health threats remain, including climate change, loss of biological diversity and existential threats (for example, pandemics arising from developments in synthetic biology). These threats need urgent attention. The recovery from lockdown provides an opportunity for a sustained transformation of our economy that addresses wider health, environmental and social goals.

Michael Baker and Nick Wilson are professors of public heath at the University of Otago

[Spy Bee]

The UK had far and away it's best day since the peak of this crisis yesterday, and we still came 8th on the most deaths table. Of thos above us, only Chile and Peru have smaller populations.

[Mudface]

Just now, Spy Bee said:

The UK had far and away it's best day since the peak of this crisis yesterday, and we still came 8th on the most deaths table. Of thos above us, only Chile and Peru have smaller populations.

And it was a Sunday as well, we'll get the usual bump today and tomorrow no doubt.

 

Scotland seems to be doing pretty well, almost 50% reductions in deaths and infections for a few weeks, and about 25% last week.

 

 

Wales looks to have a bit of a hotspot around the Betsi Cadwalladr area, but there's big reductions in infections over the last fortnight, so hopefully that'll continue.

[Spy Bee]

9 minutes ago, Mudface said:

And it was a Sunday as well, we'll get the usual bump today and tomorrow no doubt.

 

Scotland seems to be doing pretty well, almost 50% reductions in deaths and infections for a few weeks, and about 25% last week.

 

 

Wales looks to have a bit of a hotspot around the Betsi Cadwalladr area, but there's big reductions in infections over the last fortnight, so hopefully that'll continue.

I live in that region. Betsi accounts for 25% of the entire population and it was late to get any decent level of testing going on. Also, a nursing home not far from us had 26 out of 31 residents test poisitive. I believe in the Denbighshire and Conwy areas, they had similar hotspots. Per capita Betsi is doing okay really, but then it should do because of the whole it's quite rural and relatively spares compares to South Wales.

[Mudface]

1 minute ago, Spy Bee said:

I live in that region. Betsi accounts for 25% of the entire population and it was late to get any decent level of testing going on. Also, a nursing home not far from us had 26 out of 31 residents test poisitive. I believe in the Denbighshire and Conwy areas, they had similar hotspots. Per capita Betsi is doing okay really, but then it should do because of the whole it's quite rural and relatively spares compares to South Wales.

Yeah, my Mum and aunt and uncle live near Mold and we grew up in Prestatyn. It's a big area.

[clockspeed]

Overlooked in covid fog. I know main quotes are from Express however this would not surprise me one bit.

 

 

 

 

The UK is reportedly looking to change the terms of its Brexit withdrawal agreement to fix “unfair defects”.

Much of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was borrowed from Theresa May’s, which was rejected by UK parliament three times.

Read more: ‘No significant progress’ in latest round of UK-EU Brexit trade talks

 

The key change he made was in regards to the Northern Ireland backstop.

The Sunday Express reports that a source close to the UK chief negotiator David Frost said Johnson believes there were “unfair defects” in May’s deal, which the government did not have time to fix last year.

The Prime Minister reportedly is now looking to make changes as the UK and EU rush to agree to a free trade deal before 31 December.

Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data

“Unfortunately we couldn’t fix every defect with the withdrawal agreement last autumn – we had to prioritise abolishing the backstop and getting Brexit done in the face of a parliament that was trying to stop us,” the source said.

 

[Barrington Womble]

1 hour ago, clockspeed said:

Overlooked in covid fog. I know main quotes are from Express however this would not surprise me one bit.

 

 

 

 

The UK is reportedly looking to change the terms of its Brexit withdrawal agreement to fix “unfair defects”.

Much of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was borrowed from Theresa May’s, which was rejected by UK parliament three times.

Read more: ‘No significant progress’ in latest round of UK-EU Brexit trade talks

 

The key change he made was in regards to the Northern Ireland backstop.

The Sunday Express reports that a source close to the UK chief negotiator David Frost said Johnson believes there were “unfair defects” in May’s deal, which the government did not have time to fix last year.

The Prime Minister reportedly is now looking to make changes as the UK and EU rush to agree to a free trade deal before 31 December.

Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data

“Unfortunately we couldn’t fix every defect with the withdrawal agreement last autumn – we had to prioritise abolishing the backstop and getting Brexit done in the face of a parliament that was trying to stop us,” the source said.

 

This is just a distraction from the fact they're trying to crash out. Everyone who was involved in attempting and failed to pull together a government when Johnson was on his arse last year want fucking. They could have taken control and at least taken a deadstop off the table permanently. Instead they all fancied themselves at the polls instead. 

[suzy]

What New Zealand has done is brilliant and I always thought we should have stopped planes etc from the beginning. However we are very densely populated compared to them so surely that has some bearing? How are the Netherlands doing? they are densely populated but I haven’t heard any figures for them.

[Dr Nowt]

Japan is roughly twice the land mass with twice the population.

 

Not had one thousand deaths yet.

 

Gerrymandering of figures re the Olympics accepted, but even still.

 

Widespread use of face masks in all situs throughout.

[suzy]

12 minutes ago, Captain Milk said:

Japan is roughly twice the land mass with twice the population.

 

Not had one thousand deaths yet.

 

Gerrymandering of figures re the Olympics accepted, but even still.

 

Widespread use of face masks in all situs throughout.

Hmmm so we really have ballsed it up then!

[cloggypop]

31 minutes ago, suzy said:

What New Zealand has done is brilliant and I always thought we should have stopped planes etc from the beginning. However we are very densely populated compared to them so surely that has some bearing? How are the Netherlands doing? they are densely populated but I haven’t heard any figures for them.

Numbers are way down here. Schools are partially open, you can get a haircut, and pubs and restaurants opened on Monday. 

 

Official numbers (in Dutch) 

 

https://www.rivm.nl/coronavirus-covid-19/actueel

 

Yesterday 2 died and 4 were admitted to hospital. Population is about a quarter of the UK. 

 

Slightly out of date but in English

 

https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/coronavirus-update-june-5-47152-confirmed-cases

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-06-05/netherlands-coronavirus-lockdown-dutch-followed-the-rules?fbclid=IwAR0eUpUMlPFj0m0tNs88MJ0_lph4bKDhu9sk2YHf2TZVnYQ9R6qDWgNBZfs