Pandemic panic

Any ostriches out there... please get your heads out of the sand. Seasonal flu kills up to 8,000 per annum in UK. "If we handle it right"... and it's a big if, we may get away with 20,000- fatalities from Covid 19. Get it wrong, and it could be up to 250,000. So please, no more platitudes about it being "just another flu virus". It's not. This is unprecedented in our lifetime, and there's still neither a vaccine nor an effective cure. Now more than ever we must focus on the "we" rather than the "me"...

The sheer practicalities of large scale testing are very hard. Who does it? Where? Home visiting teams in fast cars rushing from house to house? Walk in places for potentially sick people to get themselves to? A postal scheme like the bowel screening kits?
People's infection status can change from day to day. Monday all fine then Wednesday ooops now they've got it.
No easy answers.

GGMK3 I would really like it if everyone who feels they have the virus could be tested. How on earth can anything be planned for when the extent of the problem isn't known?

Government figures for yesterday said there were only three confirmed cases in Norfolk - what a load of ***! Less than a week ago there were apparently none in Norfolk at all, and we were all going around, out and about, U3A etc, thinking the virus hadn't got here yet when all the time it was alive, well and spreading fast. People who dialled 111 weren't being tested, so didn't get reported, didn't know if they actually had it and went back to work when they felt better - and the virus had a field day. Now we all know people who may well have it. Possibly. Who knows. But at least most are now self-isolating.

GG3 at one point the strategy was indeed aiming for herd immunity, by allowing a proportion of younger people to be infected, but I think that idea has been dropped.
It will probably still happen in Newcastle though.
Last night’s local news showed the pubs and bars in Jesmond full of students whiling away the day because the colleges had closed.

A doctor has written an article in the Guardian saying that he can't get tested although he is having to self isolate. However I notice that the rich and famous can pay £350 for a private test. Why can't the government compulsory purchase so that they go where they can do more good?

They are not "wittering on" about "magical natural immunisation" just trying to smooth out the curve. They certainly don't seem to be keeping any plans secret. What do you want them to do that would actually improve what is happening NfkDumpling?

Its worrying me that here in Norfolk they seem to be only testing people who go to hospital. Until a few days ago the county was apparently virus free - but it would seem like that wouldn’t it, since no-one was being tested. It was only when four people were hospitalised that the figures registered.

How will the Powers That Be know when we’ve reached that magical natural immunisation they’ve been wittering on about? And is that their secret plan?

Thank you craftyone nformative as always. I read your post and stopped my husband using Ibuprofen which he actually overused anyway. Paracetamol for us

The only exercise I'm getting at the moment is walking the dog. But it concerned me today when walking down a nearby lane, to see a cyclist spit onto the pavement just after he rode past. I hadn't thought to wash my dogs paws after walks and don't quite know what would be effective but harmless to the dog if I did.

Have you seen the information released today about using paracetamol and not ibrufen? I am hoping that the ones who read a very early post of mine have been able to get enough over time, to see them through. The cheap paracetamol is made in india and they are keeping it for their own people. It is difficult to find any right now. Ebay did have some about 2 weeks ago at about £1, there is some still available at £3.69 but most is now at spiv profiteering prices

Thanks for reminding me about Dr John Campbell; I'll utube him.

I agree that even if they had more ventilators they will not have enough staff trained to use them. Our local hospital has 30 staff fully trained. (Information correct mid December 2019) bearing in mind someone on a ventilator almost always needs to be put into an induced coma and needs 24 hour one to one care, simply building more machines (assuming that were even possible in the short term) will not be enough.

But even if they get more ventilators they don't have the staff to work them. And they will, quite soon, close schools. Why can't they be honest about it to give people time to make arrangements [ok; I know it's to stop people panicking, but....]

I think they are being honest. As far as they have it they are giving us the information.

I'm giving it a go GrnTheftAuto I will report back

I don't think I was being unfair janeainsworth. Craftyone could have explained where her knowledge comes from but it wasn't that she couldn't, she said she wouldn't. It would have been perfectly easy for her to say "this is where I read it", or "these are the sources of research". She did not have to come back at me like that - it was a reasonable question and one, surely, we would all ask. There seemed to be some expectation of praise but I truly don't understand why that would be.

Dr John Campbell on You tube is amazing. He has been keeping the public informed about coronavirus,what to do, what not to do, facts figures and common sense. He is well worth watching for lots of answers and adds more everyday. Unbiased genuine caring man.

More ventilators is more complicated than it seems. One of the major medical ventilator manufacturers says, that modern medical ventilators are complex and plans to produce lots more in a hurry is not realistic. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51914490

I once read that cherry brandy is very good for chesty coughs....

I know this is a long shot but does anyone know if maintaining a high blood alcohol content would be of any help?

But Labaik, they have been perfectly honest about it. Its nothing to do with panic, it's about appropriate timing. This thing is going to last a long time. When schools close, there is an immediate problem with vast numbers of medical and emergency workers needing childcare support. Its a massive balancing act.

I think if I needed ventilator support, I'd feel very reassured if it was made by Rolls Royce.....

But even if they get more ventilators they don't have the staff to work them. And they will, quite soon, close schools. Why can't they be honest about it to give people time to make arrangements [ok; I know it's to stop people panicking, but....]

dragonfly46 I'm very impressed at such a quick response from my GP. The articles in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet were confusing: they raised a plausible question but nothing in evidence. And in these strange times, evidence matters. I'm also inclined to agree with the previous poster: we should be cautious of vitamin and mineral supplements unless deficiency has been proven. Some can interfere with the action of prescription drugs.

Thank you GrannyLaine I feel there is a lot of misinformation on here.

Our local paper has reported on two cases of people reporting to one of the Coronavirus pods. No soap no sanitisers, various medics popping in but nothing much happening, No test administered. Very disturbing.