Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[paulkerton]

Only recently. Over millennia we have become immune, or resistant, to hundreds of diseases without vaccination.

 

"Over millennia"

[jthompson]

Thinking of public health in terms of natural selection is just daft. There are a million and one ways in which processes of natural selection can be neutralised for humans. The ability to wear a mask being one.

[mikeprice]

Only recently. Over millennia we have become immune, or resistant, to hundreds of diseases without vaccination.

 

 

 

with a death toll that is massive

 

at the time is was hidden by lack of knowledge and the deaths caused by injury, infection, diet, starvation and living conditions

 

The real problem with the herd immunity concept for this is that it will result in a lot of people (by a lot I mean many thousands in every area) getting ill enough to need hospital treatment

 

Hence the hospitals will fill up and will have no free beds

 

AT that point if anyone else needs to come into hospital then 'someone' will need to decide whether the new person should be turned away

or someone already in a bed is chucked out - one of the two will probably die

 

so who do you choose - the IT Tech or the teacher

The 66 year old retired ex army decorated hero - or the 25 year old single unmarried Mum on benefits

 

The policy has to be - above all - to prevent this situation

 

other things are also important - like the economy

 

but that is the critical point

[Ditto]

On the topic of natural selection, my view is that it has not become non-applicable to humans. We are the result of natural selection and the success of our species due to social and generational passed on knowledge and use evolution of intelligence, is what has got us to be where we are today; as a species. If we continue to survive and succeed it will be because natural selection led us to evolve this way. If we all get wiped out, destroy ourselves by destroying the planet, that's natural selection at work - the world will continue with or without us. Our success of moving forward through and post coronavirus is natural selection at work. Humans find it very hard to process information in the extremely (to us) long time frames that evolution works.

[LeMarchand]

On the topic of natural selection, my view is that it has not become non-applicable to humans.

 

Maybe not totally non-applicable, but technology, "the old boy" network, social care and many other factors mean that forces other than natural selection help out those that might otherwise have perished.

[mikeprice]

For humans natural selection has resulted in greater ability to co-operate and think about how to control the world around us is where it can be seen

 

In other animals this has never applied to a significant extent - so selection by physical ability - or ability to breed has been the most powerful driving force

This has not applied to us as much because of the other factors

 

 

but natural selection has still controlled our development

[Rob_D]

Natural selection still works to our advantage. Less severe or virulent strains of the virus are likely to be more competitive. What's going to last longer something with obvious symptoms that knocks most people out for a couple of weeks or the one 90% of the population hardly notice they have?

[nicholab]

The biggest problem with the travel restrictions is if you have kids in school you can’t just go somewhere to visit family when restrictions end you have to wait for the holidays. So after half term that will be Christmas.

[elsiegee40]

I am currently struggling with whether/how to visit my Mum in the Peak District.

 

I last saw her in December 2019 and didn’t get another visit in before lockdown due to our travels down under. We have a hotel room booked for next weekend so wouldn’t stay in her flat, but I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable at the idea of even going into her flat ... or meeting her in any indoor venue.

 

It’s really difficult. I have no idea what we will decide to do.

[Andrew_C]

I was in the same position. I did manage to see my father over the summer, but won't again until late in the xmas hols. Once I've been away from this place, and kept clear of the "general public" for a fortnight.

[6Foot2]

 

Posted on YouTube: 13^th March 2020.

[stevejp]

 

Posted on YouTube: 13^th March 2020.

 

So much of that programme was so near to reality, it’s difficult to know where to start!

[6Foot2]

Link: Outsourced tracing scheme fails to contact 250,000 people, analysis says [belfast Telegraph]

 

The outsourced test and trace system has failed to reach nearly a quarter of a million close contacts of people who have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a new analysis.

 

Private firms Serco and Sitel failed to contact 245,481 contacts in England either online or from call centres over four months – missing nearly 40% of contacts, the figures show....

[nicholab]

This is very hard if you going to spend time with some one. You not going to spend a hours a day outside to see her and you not going to sit the rest of the day in a tea room!

 

I am currently struggling with whether/how to visit my Mum in the Peak District.

 

I last saw her in December 2019 and didn’t get another visit in before lockdown due to our travels down under. We have a hotel room booked for next weekend so wouldn’t stay in her flat, but I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable at the idea of even going into her flat ... or meeting her in any indoor venue.

 

It’s really difficult. I have no idea what we will decide to do.

[LeMarchand]

Thanks - will ask when I go tomorrow

 

may have to end up paying

 

You may want to retract that thanks. Lady at Tesco says that it's now all online and they only release slots piecemeal.

 

Doing the shop in Sainsbury's next week; if no-go there I'll try the local Lloyds during 1/2 term.

[6Foot2]

Link: People sent to 'non-existent' Sevenoaks Covid test site [bBC News]

 

People with suspected Covid-19 symptoms have been sent to a testing site in Kent that does not exist.

 

The address in Sevenoaks had been listed on the government website, but "is not a test facility", the district council leader said.

 

Angie Waters, 67, drove to the site after booking a slot at 11:00 GMT. "It was an absolute fiasco," she said.

 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said people were no longer being sent to the "incorrect" location.

 

Kent County Council apologised to anyone who had "made a wasted journey" and said it was trying to find out "what went wrong".

 

It said a mobile testing site was to be introduced by the DHSC due to a local rise in Covid-19 rates, but it had not yet arrived "for an unknown reason"...

 

#WorldBeating

[Patrick]

Well I'm in tier 3 now, but still working and can still go training so the only thing I'm missing is going for a pint at weekend. It's a shame but not the end of the world.

[StevieM]

Well I'm in tier 3 now, but still working and can still go training so the only thing I'm missing is going for a pint at weekend. It's a shame but not the end of the world.

I've not touched a drop in 3 weeks!* This is helping to balance out the extra that drank while I was 'supporting small breweries' during lockdown. Looks like I may be in with a chance of hitting my target of 17.5 units per week this year after all!

 

EDIT: *Not that I'm an alcoholic or anything!

Edited October 19, 2020 by StevieM

[Patrick]

I never drink midweek but i do like a pint with my mates on a Saturday afternoon, so I'm going to miss that. I can still go out for a meal with the misses which is nice though.

[Rob_D]

Looks like Wales is going back into lockdown on Friday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54598136

[Andrew_C]

Friday? Great; you've got 4 days folks, spread is as much as you can...

[paulkerton]

I don't think it's a coincidence that the law changes so that from Thursday schools are legally required to provide distance learning.

 

I'm expecting a Boris-a-gram on Friday evening, timed perfectly so Have I Got News For You cannot comment on it an hour later.

[Boredguy]

I don't think it's a coincidence that the law changes so that from Thursday schools are legally required to provide distance learning.

 

I'm expecting a Boris-a-gram on Friday evening, timed perfectly so Have I Got News For You cannot comment on it an hour later.

 

Well as HIGNFY is normally done the day before, Boris could do it Friday Morning, when we've been on half term for 2 days already

 

Then again at least in Wales only Y7 and Y8 are back in secondary schools after the 2 week closure at present

[stevejp]

I can still go out for a meal with the misses which is nice though.

 

As long as there are less than 6 of them, and they’re all from the same household, then you should be OK. Nice work, if you can get it (although, on second thoughts, it won’t be so nice if you have to pay for them all...)

Edited October 19, 2020 by stevejp

[6Foot2]

NOTE: Not a political post: No political replies are expected, nor are they invited.

 

NOTE: NSFW: Expletives in audio and in text (Partially subtitled)

 

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