Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[elsiegee40]

Comparisons are difficult for the reasons highlighted, yet in the daily briefings the medical experts and politicians talk about collaboration and shared learning by comparing across countries. Difficult to do, doesn't mean we don't or shouldn't, but understanding the differences in detail is necessary. I'd be interested to hear what the views are on which countries are 'most like' the UK.

 

Drawing ideas from other countries is essential, but scientific advisors are helping governments with the comparisons and (we hope) helping them understand what the limitations are of of doing so.

 

The armchair epidemiologists are quite regularly getting the comparisons wrong and/or oversimplifying argument.

[the_quick]

One of the main comparison we could (imo) use is amount of testing. And I think we should try to catch countries that test more, not compare ourselves to countries that test less. I think government was acting to late, at the beginning mocking countries that did lock down and now have fever deaths. But I think there is something in British exceptionalism that lead the government and bit of Trumpism - we doing great, we are the best etc. I would like to see more modesty and more honesty.

[smurfomatic]

One of the main comparison we could (imo) use is amount of testing. And I think we should try to catch countries that test more, not compare ourselves to countries that test less. I think government was acting to late, at the beginning mocking countries that did lock down and now have fever deaths. But I think there is something in British exceptionalism that lead the government and bit of Trumpism - we doing great, we are the best etc. I would like to see more modesty and more honesty.

 

Agree - "positive tests per 1000 tests" and "tests per 100,000 population" would help show the differences between countries.

 

For example, I have a friend living in Vietnam. They have had 270 positive tests and zero deaths. This in a country of 95 million. So is this due to their extensive testing regime? No, as they've done less than 200,000 tests. They have a significantly higher positive testing ratio that everywhere else, because they have full contact tracing and isolation for every infected case.

 

So, Vietnam would have a higher first number, but a much lower second number, than the UK.

[mikeprice]

An American has worked out who caused this problem - and is giving the evidence in a clear and detailed manner

 

[stevejp]

An American has worked out who caused this problem - and is giving the evidence in a clear and detailed manner

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]57795[/ATTACH]

 

And the really, really, REALLY sad thing, is that she won’t be the only one who actually believes it.

[mikeprice]

And the really, really, REALLY sad thing, is that she won’t be the only one who actually believes it.

 

The maths or that it is Obama's fault?

[stevejp]

The maths or that it is Obama's fault?

 

Both!!

[StevieM]

The maths or that it is Obama's fault?

 

The 5 has been changed from a 6 to make her look stupid...As if she needed any help with that!!

 

I've just made myself look stupid...and I didn't need anyone's help with that either!

Edited April 28, 2020 by StevieM

[6Foot2]

An American has worked out who caused this problem - and is giving the evidence in a clear and detailed manner

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]57795[/ATTACH]

 

Before the placard was Photoshopped:

 

[LeMarchand]

Virgin Media are allowing you to pause your payments to Sky Sport and BT sport for the duration of the lack of live sport

 

Apparently you will still be able to watch the channels - you just don;t pay for them

 

Payment starts again automatically when sports start again

 

just search for virgin pause payment sky sports - then fill in a form - you will need you account number which you can find from "My Virgin Media"

 

Well, that worked!

 

Thanks again!

[6Foot2]

Link: Royal Mail scraps Saturday letter deliveries UK-wide due to coronavirus [The Mirror]

 

Royal Mail has scrapped Saturday letter deliveries until further notice due to coronavirus.

 

From this weekend onwards, the group will "temporarily" no longer deliver letters on a Saturday.

 

Deliveries already do not happen on a Sunday, so more people will face waiting into the following week for their letters to arrive.

 

However, Royal Mail insisted "most" parcels, as well as Special Delivery, Tracked and all non-account services, will continue being delivered six days per week.

 

Saturday collections from businesses, post office branches and post boxes also continue as normal.

 

It's understood the firm took the decision to reduce the burden on staff. The nature of some posties' work has had to change due to social distancing rules. Some are also off sick or self-isolating due to the virus, which means there are fewer staff to deal with incoming post.

 

But the move was blasted by the Communication Workers' Union, which represents posties and hinted it could even lead to a strike...

[04amh]

What's everybody's online learning engagement like?

 

I was feeling a bit down in the dumps recently, feeling like it was all a disaster and had my name all over it, however today I ran a few percentages and it certainly cheered me up!

 

We have 96% who are engaging entirely online. Leaving only 4% of children who are working on paper packs.

 

Out of the parents that were struggling, 81% of queries were solved with 1 email!

 

That did cheer me up to see that. I think generally all the emails that I saw were negative, which did reflect onto me, however when you consider it in the grand scheme of things, the negative outcomes are such a small percentage compared to the school as a whole!

[smurfomatic]

What's everybody's online learning engagement like?

 

I was feeling a bit down in the dumps recently, feeling like it was all a disaster and had my name all over it, however today I ran a few percentages and it certainly cheered me up!

 

We have 96% who are engaging entirely online. Leaving only 4% of children who are working on paper packs.

 

Out of the parents that were struggling, 81% of queries were solved with 1 email!

 

That did cheer me up to see that. I think generally all the emails that I saw were negative, which did reflect onto me, however when you consider it in the grand scheme of things, the negative outcomes are such a small percentage compared to the school as a whole!

 

 

We just had a survey back from our parents in years 3 to 8.

 

Typical answers, complaining about the amount of screen time but wanting online lessons in full rather than just being set assignments!

[caffrey]

I've had very little communication from school, I'm just keeping things ticking along and answering a few queries but it's all gone quiet. The thing is I'm just not missing it at all, and I'm worryingly enjoying being at home and not facing the outside world (I didn't go out too much pre C19 to be honest). All motivation is circling the drain

[6Foot2]

...All motivation is circling the drain

Similar, but I think my motivation has disappeared down the plughole and is now deep in the mire.

 

[StevieM]

The thing is I'm just not missing it at all, and I'm worryingly enjoying being at home and not facing the outside world

Thanks for posting that. I was getting a little concerned that I was in a minority of one!

 

While I am missing some of the social aspects of life (going for a pint with friends, going to concerts, etc) and worrying about my elderly mum, I'm also really enjoying being at home without as many of the day-to-day pressures of life. Mentally and emotionally, I'm in the best place I've been for a few years. I'm really not looking forward to things going back to 'normal' (whatever normal is). I think I'll cope even less than I did before.

[the_quick]

I'm exactly the same. Around week ago I have notice I really enjoy being more at home, have more freedom and such. Don't like the idea of going back to work as normal, but we are lucky ones, still fully paid.

There rumors here we might open after May half term for year 10 - classes of 10 pupils. Apparently most staff will be expect to be in but management is worrying how to deal with distancing of staff. And t o be honest we are here to educate, I don't think kids at home do much now. Still I will enjoy it, while it lasts

[caffrey]

I really feel like not going back, it's not like my time in quarantine hasn't been stressful (probably more so) but I'm certainly not missing the IT life. All this time to reflect has really made me think a lot. Before all this I was fighting with low budgets, projects and the general workload. Still there's bills to be paid and I'm too young to retire so I guess it's just a case of plodding on.

[Davit2005]

First couple of weeks I was enjoying working from home, was on a project and it suited me as I could start at 7am get my head down and bang out the work and finish at 3pm with a small 1hour break for lunch. I've actually arrived at work for 7am for the last 10+ years and that has meant getting up at 4:30 when I was commuting by train.

 

Last few weeks I am struggling to motivate my self to start at 9am, seems the most productive part of the day has gone for me, always been an early starter even my first jobs were 6-8am starts. Most Sundays I am running at 6:30 and Saturdays up by 7am pre-lockdown as was ParkRun day (either running or volunteering) and that is a go at the moment :-(

Edited April 29, 2020 by Davit2005

[keyboards]

Even when getting a bit angered at times, I'm finding it some much more soothing to be in my own house, away from the environment, I can do things at my own pace, can have a podcast/music on in the background, I think it's been a revelation mental health wise in the professional sense, almost makes me realise how much unnecessary strength we go through in most cases for not much thanks or renumeration

[6Foot2]

https://youtu.be/Rmy8R0H8kYI

 

Story posted on Jennifer Aniston Instagram.

[6Foot2]

Link:

[Picture Tweet]

 

For a bit of company during lockdown I've fostered a dog

 

[mikeprice]

Link:

[Picture Tweet]

 

 

 

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Finally someone comes up with a reason to drink Fosters

[stevejp]

Finally someone comes up with a reason to drink Fosters

 

It would take more than that to make me drink that rats’s piddle!

[Davit2005]

It would take more than that to make me drink that rats’s piddle!

 

Could be worse, XXXX .