Corona-virus - Impact of the Health Situation worldwide

[gordon s]

As one of the higher risk patients (Group 4) I have received this from my hospital this morning. I suspect it will form the basis of the letters coming out later in the week. I can't see anything to worry about as it just confirms all the things we have been told already. I had hoped to start playing golf again this week, under the social distance rules, but it's not to be....

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

[robert17649]

12 minutes ago, Baby Deltic said:

Apparently untreated high blood pressure was a major factor in a lot of the fatalities.

problem is with untreated high blood pressure is that often you don't know you've got it until you've got it.

 

 

As a GP( retired many years ago) the estimate was that for every type 2 diabetic you diagnosed there was another one out in your practice population, and the same applied to hypertensives especialy middle aged men.

 

My own BP was normal until I had a stroke after which it was high  fortunately it is controlled and stable!

[John Tomlinson]

1 hour ago, gordon s said:

As one of the higher risk patients (Group 4) I have received this from my hospital this morning. I suspect it will form the basis of the letters coming out later in the week. I can't see anything to worry about as it just confirms all the things we have been told already. I had hoped to start playing golf again this week, under the social distance rules, but it's not to be....

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Thanks for posting this.

 

It appears to have a different composition to earlier advice, in that it doesn't automatically include over '70's, nor for example, people in the earlier (pre dialysis) stages of kidney disease. Or am I missing something?

 

Fact remains, we're all acting sensibly by minimising contact with others, whatever our condition.

 

John.

[Re6/6]

I don't like and have never agreed very much with Piers Morgan but he's hit the nail on the head with this.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8141685/Theyre-MORONS-risking-lives-elses-Piers-Morgan-blasts-Covidiots.html

 

 

Edited March 23, 2020 by Re6/6

[Nearholmer]

1 hour ago, John Tomlinson said:

It appears to have a different composition to earlier advice, in that it doesn't automatically include over '70's,

 

I think that's because its very specifically for people who are vulnerable due to underlying health conditions, irrespective of their age, rather than vulnerable simply because of their age. Doubtless some unfortunate people fall into both brackets of vulnerability.

[bourneagain]

Just heard on the lunchtime news that Boris is now considering closing all the UK Ports, Airports and Eurostar? in order to try to contain this virus. Well I would have thought that this should have been his first course of action, 2 months ago. With most of Europe now in lock-down just what countries are those entering the UK now coming from? And I very much doubt if any are now being placed into the 14 day quarantine that the boat people were subject to. With the virus only being active for 14 days we may have had a chance to contain it. Too little, too late.

We are an island and as this virus can only be passed from person to person this would have been the obvious way to contain it. But we British are just too nice and we don`t really want to upset too many of our foreign friends by locking them out. So we are now paying the price.

[Gwiwer]

Quote

Individuals who have been given a prognosis of less than 6 months to live, and some others in special circumstances, could decide not to undertake shielding. This will be a deeply personal decision

 

Found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

 

Somewhat troubling.  Not because it affects me nor anyone I know personally that I am aware of.  But because it seems to be offering an "exit strategy" whilst not treading too close to the line of assisting departure.  

 

The next sentence in that paragraph is also critical: 

 

Quote

We advise calling your GPor specialist to discuss this.

 

[jjb1970]

5 minutes ago, bourneagain said:

Just heard on the lunchtime news that Boris is now considering closing all the UK Ports, Airports and Eurostar? in order to try to contain this virus. Well I would have thought that this should have been his first course of action, 2 months ago. With most of Europe now in lock-down just what countries are those entering the UK now coming from? And I very much doubt if any are now being placed into the 14 day quarantine that the boat people were subject to. With the virus only being active for 14 days we may have had a chance to contain it. Too little, too late.

We are an island and as this virus can only be passed from person to person this would have been the obvious way to contain it. But we British are just too nice and we don`t really want to upset too many of our foreign friends by locking them out. So we are now paying the price.

 

Think about that for a minute. We are reliant on imports to feed people, keep the lights on and for the equipment and systems necessary for the economy to function. Shut ports and airports and you switch off supplies of essential drugs, medical equipment and pretty soon we will have issues keeping the lights on, keeping transport functioning and feeding people. Is that really sensible in a medical crisis?

[Gwiwer]

9 minutes ago, bourneagain said:

Boris is now considering closing all the UK Ports, Airports and Eurostar

 

There are very few passenger flights in or out now.  Only those moving the last few to or from their home nations.  Maybe still a few UK domestic flights.  Ports he needs to be careful with because of the need to import some commodities including fuel and foodstuffs even if those imports are slowed for the time being.  Ships at sea can be anchored off but not for too long if carrying perishable cargo.  It is the potential for infection by crew that he may be worried about.  Eurostar is down to a couple of return trips between London and Paris now and canning those will make little difference other than to the activity levels of staff concerned.  Employment should be assured under his provisions and 80% wages paid.  

Edited March 23, 2020 by Gwiwer

[gordon s]

3 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

 

Found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

 

Somewhat troubling.  Not because it affects me nor anyone I know personally that I am aware of.  But because it seems to be offering an "exit strategy" whilst not treading too close to the line of assisting departure.  

 

The next sentence in that paragraph is also critical: 

 

 

I read that more to spend time with your direct family and close friends, rather than being shut away on your own. If I were in that position I would certainly discuss the issues with my family and assess the risks. There is none to them if you are negative, but the love of your close family is essential if you are in that position.

 

I felt they were sensitive to that situation.

[gordon s]

5 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

 

There are very few passenger flights in or out now.  Only those moving the last few to or from their home nations.  Maybe still a few UK domestic flights.  Ports he needs to be careful with because of the need to import some commodities including fuel and foodstuffs even if those imports are slowed for the time being.  Eurostar is down to a couple of return trips between London and Paris now and canning those will make little difference other than to the activity levels of staff concerned.  Employment should be assured under his provisions and 80% wages paid.  

  
 

Strangely we were in the garden yesterday whilst the sun was out when my wife said ‘oh there’s a plane’.

 

Never gave it a second thought as we are on the flight path into Heathrow just miles away. It took a few seconds to realise I hadn’t seen a plane for some time.

[AY Mod]

5 minutes ago, gordon s said:

  trangely we were in the garden yesterday whilst the sun was out when my wife said ‘oh there’s a plane’.

 

Never gave it a second thought as we are on the flight path into Heathrow just miles away. It took a few seconds to realise I hadn’t seen a plane for some time.

 

It's something I've been observing for a few days as we have good visibility of several corridors here. There were quite a few domestic prop services during the morning slots and a few transatlantic still during this afternoon.

 

I took the opportunity to go to a local isolated spot earlier today to get loads of sky pics for layout shoot backgrounds. It's not often you get high cirrus cloud across the whole vista with no vapour trails. It's a little bit post 9/11.

[woodenhead]

8 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

It's something I've been observing for a few days as we have good visibility of several corridors here. There were quite a few domestic prop services during the morning slots and a few transatlantic still during this afternoon.

 

I took the opportunity to go to a local isolated spot earlier today to get loads of sky pics for layout shoot backgrounds. It's not often you get high cirrus cloud across the whole vista with no vapour trails. It's a little bit post 9/11.

Or that eyaawhatchamacallic volcano a few years back.

 

Probably coincidental about the nice weather, but wouldn't it be lovely if this is what happens when you cut down the pollution.

[Sidecar Racer]

 

Yet this still shows a lot of air traffic , go look at Europe and the USA.     

 

https://www.flightradar24.com/35.61,-86.21/6

Edited March 23, 2020 by Sidecar Racer

[woodenhead]

17 minutes ago, Sidecar Racer said:

 

Yet this still shows a lot of air traffic , go look at Europe and the USA.     

 

https://www.flightradar24.com/35.61,-86.21/6

But nothing like normal - Manchester has shut down two of it's terminals.

[Nearholmer]

Personally, I can't see ports, airports etc being closed to goods for all the reasons that JJB states, and an indicator of the importance of goods movement is the fact the EU has now got a big push going to make sure goods flow more freely than they have in the past few days, because newly-introduced controls at borders within the schengen zone have clogged things up a bit.

 

Any talk of 'closure' must surely mean closure to the residual dribble of passenger traffic.

 

As to "Boris is considering", I'm sure that the various people who meet in Cobra to discuss strategy and tactics will be considering all sorts of options; that's what they're there for. They will have considered every option that anyone could dream-up, looked at expert assessments of impact, accepted some, rejected some, and put lots in a queue to be drawn-upon if circumstances dictate.

 

BTW, not having been near a shop for ten days, what is the salad-vegetable situation? I ask because most of our out-of-season stuff comes from Almeria Province in Southern Spai on a very "just in time" basis, and lack of salad veg would be an early manifestation of  accidental strangulation of the supply of goods.

[bourneagain]

There appears to be plenty of salad, vegetable and fruit about. It`s these items and others that can`t be stored for a long period of time that the stock-pilers have left untouched.

[woodenhead]

5 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

Personally, I can't see ports, airports etc being closed to goods for all the reasons that JJB states, and an indicator of the importance of goods movement is the fact the EU has now got a big push going to make sure goods flow more freely than they have in the past few days, because newly-introduced controls at borders within the schengen zone have clogged things up a bit.

 

Any talk of 'closure' must surely mean closure to the residual dribble of passenger traffic.

 

As to "Boris is considering", I'm sure that the various people who meet in Cobra to discuss strategy and tactics will be considering all sorts of options; that's what they're there for. They will have considered every option that anyone could dream-up, looked at expert assessments of impact, accepted some, rejected some, and put lots in a queue to be drawn-upon if circumstances dictate.

 

BTW, not having been near a shop for ten days, what is the salad-vegetable situation? I ask because most of our out-of-season stuff comes from Almeria Province in Southern Spai on a very "just in time" basis, and lack of salad veg would be an early manifestation of  accidental strangulation of the supply of goods.

I predict lockdown begins Thursday when the current laws passing through parliament get enacted into law.

 

For the shops, I went to Asda this afternoon - lots of fruit and veg, didn't look at meat as that wasn't on our list - it was veg for the mother in law who is now confined to her home and some dairy free stuff for the wife.  Hot chickens available though and whilst the pasta aisle was empty as was the rice the rest of the store looked relatively healthy except perhaps for ladies goods (as delicately as I can put it) - some lines were missing.

[Gwiwer]

Hattons seem to have had a nod that something significant will happen effective from Thursday. 
 

A stroll to the Green and Sainsbury’s Local (never a reliable source of what you want here) found fresh veg absent but other staples were just about available - lamb steaks, sausages and bacon for the carnivores. And a small selection of frozen meals. 

[AY Mod]

5 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Hattons seem to have had a nod that something significant will happen effective from Thursday.

 

I would say it's more of a pre-emptive position in case of enforced closure of non-essential retail rather than restrictions on distribution - I have not heard of instances of the latter in other countries.

[Baby Deltic]

The new Coronavirus benches have arrived:

[Nearholmer]

43 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Hattons seem to have had a nod that something significant will happen effective from Thursday. 

 

One possibility is that what Hattons term "despatch operations" (I think that is internet/mail order businesses in ordinary language) will be closed to free-up 'last mile' distribution capacity to get food and other essentials to people in deep SI.

 

All those 'white van guys' could be redirected, and distribution centres like Amazon could be re-purposed, quite simply, as ways of supplementing the creaking Ocado/Tesco etc systems.

 

Amazon stated that they were taking no more non-essentials into their warehouses last week, so presumably a week of continuing to send out stuff we don't really need has created space, which may already be filling-up with pasta, loo rolls, tinned food etc. as we speak.

 

A quick combo of commercial and military logistics expertise and capacity (which are the same things with different logos anyway) could look after all of us, not just the vulnerable, in extremis.

 

Rationed food, delivered to the door, all shops shut, including supermarkets, which would take away the final places of social interaction (=virus transfer).

 

Presumably a lot of this thinking is already in contingency plans for just such emergencies and for war.

 

As ever, just musing.

 

Edited March 23, 2020 by Nearholmer

[gordon s]

We all have friends and family across the world and ever mindful of the situation in Spain, we were concerned about my widowed Brother in Law and how he was fairing on his own. He sent us a little video this evening....

 

Apologies for the language...

 

 

Edited March 23, 2020 by gordon s
Parts of the text were missing...:-)

[jcredfer]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

 

I would say it's more of a pre-emptive position in case of enforced closure of non-essential retail rather than restrictions on distribution - I have not heard of instances of the latter in other countries.

 

Absolutely.  There are moves by all sorts of organisations to increase the distribution capabilities, which do include [a so far largely unspecified] military contribution.  The logic is simple, one white van man can supply many houses, without any of those occupants having to venture into areas where they would be very vulnerable.  Food, Pharmacies and many other essentials will need distribution to  those totally locked in.  How much will eventually be directed by Gov't can't be long, before being evident.  I can only imagine that Hatton's will, understandably, be making their own survival arrangements, aside from those made for essential commodities. 

 

Julian

 

[Nearholmer]

3 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

 

My good lady has now received notification by text that she falls under this heading by reason of chemotherapy that she had c15 months ago and the precautionary drugs that she continues to have to take.

 

We had a couple of months of following the regime before, when very hefty chemo coincided with the height of seasonal flu, and it ain't easy with two children, but it was do-able. It might actually be easier this time, because then the big worry was bugs bought home from school.

 

Now, the 'big issue' is shopping, because that's where/how I could pick-up the bug and bring it into the house, so the sooner the army put in an appearance the better!