Is the corona virus becoming a pandemic

[Seabag]

If you?re in the at risk group, is there any way to be tested?

[Seabag]

Uncle Grim

I didn?t vote Labour, I?m not a leftie or a commie. Tho we do know your politics loud and clear. And my post isn?t about politics, left or right, it?s about competence, and those in charge for this aren?t up to it. To much fckn around trying to bend and curve their empty talk to sound like promise and thoughtful leadership, but when pressed on the detail and meaning, they?re lacking, badly.

Thanks for your input, I know it?s uncomfortable reading for those who voted Johnson and his cabal into power. I?m more of a Rory Stuart thinker myself, I like him best out of that group of ?conservative? politicians.

[DulwichFox]

All Schools will now close from Monday

This will affect 1.45 million children.

[JohnL]

It's not the most important thing at the moment but just checked some financials

US stock market (Dow) down 10,000 this year - Checked one of my pension pots and ?6k has come of the full value this month. ? almost parity with Euro now (that's a measure of how UK performance is seen I suppose).

Even once we survive Covid-19 (a year or so) we have a financial crisis.

[seenbeen]

In November/December there was a bad cold with a cough going around. Relatives in Slough had it and in Kent- although they all use trains from and to London on a regular basis. It necessitated time off work. 2 of the young ones were vulnerable and developed pneumonia needing hospitalisation? Just an observation

[JohnL]

seenbeen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> In November/December there was a bad cold with a

> cough going around. Relatives in Slough had it and

> in Kent- although they all use trains from and to

> London on a regular basis. It necessitated time

> off work. 2 of the young ones were vulnerable and

> developed pneumonia needing hospitalisation? Just

> an observation

The antibody test will eventually show up if Covid19 was around weeks before we thought.

[NewWave]

seenbeen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> In November/December there was a bad cold with a

> cough going around. Relatives in Slough had it and

> in Kent- although they all use trains from and to

> London on a regular basis. It necessitated time

> off work. 2 of the young ones were vulnerable and

> developed pneumonia needing hospitalisation? Just

> an observation

I had that, It was awful..in fact everyone in my department got it and it took 2 weeks at least to go..I was living on Lemsip

[JohnL]

Trump is pushing hydroxychloroquine as a possible cure (and Boris is saying 12 weeks) - maybe they have had optimistic news.

Sorry anything Quinnine based makes me think of Gin & Tonic - I now need one :)

[malumbu]

Rather under the belt, and very political but am I the only one who thinks that having the union flags behind the PM in the televised conferences reminds me of another time?

This is not as facetious as it may sound. Looking back union flags have appeared in the past but they seem to have more prominence now.

[TheCat]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Rather under the belt, and very political but am I

> the only one who thinks that having the union

> flags behind the PM in the televised conferences

> reminds me of another time?

>

> This is not as facetious as it may sound. Looking

> back union flags have appeared in the past but

> they seem to have more prominence now.

Is the fact we're now discussing these trivialities reflective of the fact that there really isn't a great deal to legitimate criticise in the government's actions this week???

[malumbu]

It is not trivial - it is an image of a strong nation that BJ wants to portray I expect. I find it an unnecessary and annoying distraction. Others may think it is a positive thing. This site is full of trivial threads, you are welcome to pick on them.

There is loads that you can discuss/comment on with regards to the government's response - uncertainty for example with schools, shifting sands, lack of action to curtail panic buying, guidance vs compulsion.

[Mark]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Rather under the belt, and very political but am I

> the only one who thinks that having the union

> flags behind the PM in the televised conferences

> reminds me of another time?

It's the national flag of the United Kingdom. I think it's a good thing it's there, nothing wrong with it. Comparing to Nazis is just daft.

[DulwichFox]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Trump is pushing hydroxychloroquine as a possible

> cure (and Boris is saying 12 weeks) - maybe they

> have had optimistic news.

>

> Sorry anything Quinnine based makes me think of

> Gin & Tonic - I now need one :)

I've never smoked Hydroxychloroquine so cannot really comment on any benefits..

[DulwichFox]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Trump is pushing hydroxychloroquine as a possible

> cure (and Boris is saying 12 weeks) - maybe they

> have had optimistic news.

>

> Sorry anything Quinnine based makes me think of

> Gin & Tonic - I now need one :)

I've never smoked Hydroxychloroquine so cannot really comment on any benefits..

Foxy.

[TheCat]

Some positive news....from the graun....

NHS to get thousands more beds, ventilators and extra healthcare staff

The NHS has struck a deal with private hospitals to provide thousands more beds, ventilators and extra healthcare staff from next week to aid in the fight against coronavirus.

The extra resources, which include nearly 20,000 staff, will also help the NHS deliver other urgent operations and cancer treatments.

The deal with independent hospitals is thought to be the first of its kind and will include the provision of 8,000 hospital beds across England, nearly 1,200 more ventilators, more than 10,000 nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other clinical staff.

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said:

This is great news for the hospitals and staff doing everything they can to combat coronavirus.

Under the agreement, the independent sector will reallocate almost its entire national hospital capacity to the NHS and will be reimbursed at cost.

Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS?s chief executive, hailed the deal with the private sector, saying:

We?re dealing with an unprecedented global health threat and are taking immediate and exceptional action to gear up.

The NHS is doing everything in its power to expand treatment capacity and is working with partners right across the country to do so.

David Hare, the chief executive of the Independent Healthcare Providers Network, said:

We have worked hand-in-hand with the NHS for decades and will do whatever it takes to support the NHS in responding to this pandemic.

This significant additional capacity across the country will be a major boost to the NHS?s efforts to treat those patients that need hospital care over the coming period and the independent sector stands ready to maintain that support for as long as needed.

[NewWave]

TheCat Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Some positive news....from the graun....

>

> NHS to get thousands more beds, ventilators and

> extra healthcare staff

> The NHS has struck a deal with private hospitals

> to provide thousands more beds, ventilators and

> extra healthcare staff from next week to aid in

> the fight against coronavirus.

>

> The extra resources, which include nearly 20,000

> staff, will also help the NHS deliver other urgent

> operations and cancer treatments.

>

> The deal with independent hospitals is thought to

> be the first of its kind and will include the

> provision of 8,000 hospital beds across England,

> nearly 1,200 more ventilators, more than 10,000

> nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other

> clinical staff.

>

> Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said:

>

> This is great news for the hospitals and staff

> doing everything they can to combat coronavirus.

>

> Under the agreement, the independent sector will

> reallocate almost its entire national hospital

> capacity to the NHS and will be reimbursed at

> cost.

>

> Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS?s chief executive,

> hailed the deal with the private sector, saying:

>

> We?re dealing with an unprecedented global health

> threat and are taking immediate and exceptional

> action to gear up.

>

> The NHS is doing everything in its power to expand

> treatment capacity and is working with partners

> right across the country to do so.

>

> David Hare, the chief executive of the Independent

> Healthcare Providers Network, said:

>

> We have worked hand-in-hand with the NHS for

> decades and will do whatever it takes to support

> the NHS in responding to this pandemic.

>

> This significant additional capacity across the

> country will be a major boost to the NHS?s efforts

> to treat those patients that need hospital care

> over the coming period and the independent sector

> stands ready to maintain that support for as long

> as needed.

This is what I've been saying we should do.

without this kind of intervention our beloved NHS staff will suffer even more.

As an example of what its like out there a nurse friend of mine who had a mastectomy just after new year has been asked to go back to working on the wards next week -I stress she did not need Chemotherapy so her immune system is not impaired but she certainly is not up to doing long shifts and lifting patients yet

[Alan Medic]

It is good news. I still think we should be in lockdown, as much of the damage has already been done, which will become apparent in the next two weeks. The supermarkets are now probably the worst place you can go.

[ED Bird]

malumbu Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Rather under the belt, and very political but am I

> the only one who thinks that having the union

> flags behind the PM in the televised conferences

> reminds me of another time?

>

> This is not as facetious as it may sound. Looking

> back union flags have appeared in the past but

> they seem to have more prominence now.

offensive & pathetic.

I bet you wouldn't be complaining if it was an EU flag.

[JohnL]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It is good news. I still think we should be in

> lockdown, as much of the damage has already been

> done, which will become apparent in the next two

> weeks. The supermarkets are now probably the worst

> place you can go.

They aren't a good place to be and you get the feeling people know that.

But we still need food so the alternatives are buying from smaller stores, finding someone who will deliver something or knowing exactly what you want and getting it quickly with minimum of contact.

I see military planners are now involved - could we have something more organised in the pipeline - can't help hoping so if the chaos continues (noted reports on here saying its better today - maybe buying moved on to replacements for pubs and gyms)

[lindylou]

It's such a worrying time for us all. Has anyone else noticed that shelves are now stripped of alcohol? Why? Is that such an essential commodity. Well, at least the morons might leave the toilet rolls alone now 😆

[TheCat]

Not trying to excuse the panic buying/stockpiling at all....but something to also consider here is that I read somewhere the UK eats around 8billion meals per year out at restaurants etc....thats about 10-15 percent of meals (by my very basic calcs) and food for thos meals is now being purchased at supermarkets for consumption at home.

Again, the not excusing the stockpiling, and doesn't explain the toilet paper rush!! But there's a few moving parts here I think....

[Sue]

I'm not sure that people who usually eat out at restaurants a lot would now be cooking at home?

I'd have thought that they would have turned to takeaways (which I still call them even if they are delivered!)?

[TheCat]

Shades of Grey is the point.....

[Blah Blah]

The alcohol thing is surely just a reflection of the pubs being closed?

On the news that gyms are to close I thought, I will use the park gym. Then there came the news that the parks are closing, and, I have just bought a cross trainer online :D - See how it goes?

[TheCat]

Home schooling starting earnest across the country....I give it until lunchtime until parents across the nation are losing it. Myself included.