Pandemic panic

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

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?

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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"...

With regard to testing for the virus it seems that they are only doing this at present for those admitted to hospital, but have plans to test more, including I think front line staff.
I don't think they've had enough testing kits.
What the PM did say is that they are hoping soon to start testing for antibodies in those that have probably had the virus, and are likely to be immune, and can therefore return to work.

Yes this antibodies test sounded a very positive step forward.

We all realise that this is not flu, micmc

They do not have enough of many things because this is unprecedented.

Do you realise that NHS beds does not mean beds, it means keeping staff and all else involved per bed on the payroll, immature, who may never be needed in normal circumstances.

I did not type immature!!

I typed 'in store' [relating to the equipment]

micm47 What do you mean there is STILL not a vaccine ?

This virus has only been in existence for 4-5 months. It is a entirely new virus, not like any other, as you yourself say nothing like flu, so previous vaccines cannot be adapted.

What makes you think that doctors and researchers can just conjure up a vaccine just like that. It took several years to develop a vaccine for Ebola disease and that had a fatality rate of 90% to begin with. You are denigrating our scientists, who in this case have already got 2 different vaccines to the human testing phase already, but it will be many months before they know whether it is safe and got the production facilities to mass produce it.

Now more than ever we must focus on the "we" rather than the "me"... What do you mean? I have seen no signs of the head in the sand attitude you mention, nor of people being selfish and self-centred over this disease. The occasional one, perhaps, but the vast majority are willingly doing everything asked of them and thinking of others.

I am still seeing/hearing older folk say that they will ‘take their chance’ with this virus.
If this is their wish then maybe they should sign a disclaimer saying they should not be taken to hospital if they become seriously ill allowing those who were needy of the bed through non selfish reasons to receive treatment.

Joelsnan I think a lot of it is bravado. They will knuckle under when they have to.

What about the older people who have no one to shop for them?

I have tried and failed tonight to shop for a few older people in my dads close . I got a few bits but no eggs, bread, loo rolls, milk ........ I mean for gods sake what are they supposed to do ?

They were rationing at our supermarket and quite right too. There were no eggs, flour or porridge but we have a farm shop not far away so we were lucky to find them there (not porridge).

The supermarkets say they are stocking up as fast as they can, so if they ration everyone it should be better shortly.

Good luck, that is kind of you gillybob, with everything else you have to do.

I went out yesterday to the shop for milk and I was astonished to see a group of about 30 ramblers all of a certain age congregating on the village green. They had all the gear on but some of them could barely walk. When I got back into my car the group were piling into a small cafe so Monica bravado? ignorance? or just pure bloody mindedness?

May7 this the problem, ignorance. My own 70 year old sister travelled the length of the country on public transport, despite governments advice to avoid unnecessary travel. I had spoken to her to try to dissuade her, but she was adamant that that she was coming to see our elderly mother, who lives in a sheltered apartment near our home. We agreed to pick her up from the station and delivered her to Mum’s flat. My daughter, a doctor, was very cross with us because we did that, because she told us self isolate at the weekend as we both take high blood pressure tablets and I have asthma. But we picked my sister on Monday afternoon. Anyway my sister is going out shopping every day and then going back to Mum’s very small flat. Our adult children have offered to pick things up for them, but no, out she goes. I have expressed concern by text several times but just get told ‘stop worrying.’
My point is that my own mother and sister don’t understand the risk, so how many others don’t understand? This ignorance is what helps spread the virus.

I think a lot of it is bravado. They will knuckle under when they have to.

But that time has passed. Yet, here we are. People complaining about the inconvenience, people still at pubs.

People will not do what’s best for all. We are seeing that in those refusing to socially distance! Those in their 20s/30s/40s/50s are doing it fo protect the older generation, and so many just act as if it’s their god given right to do as they please.

Can’t say I blame those who are doing their best for wondering “why bother”

I agree summerlove I think our young ones are doing amazingly good things to help the older generation. They are often called Snowflakeor woke terms that really anger me. When in fact the are usually standing up for something that the older generation just tolerated. I include myself in that category. I see the young ones around me doing all they can to help to help older people to self isolate with “random acts of kindness” I hear people on the radio say I’m very fit and healthy why should I isolate? I must stop listening to Jeremy —whine— Vine Well, yes but it’s not always about YOU is it. Keep safe isolate
I just made up that slogan I think I’ll patent it quick before a spin dr claims it ?

I love the slogan May!

I just don’t get the head in sand mentality.

I'm not sure if it is that some don't understand, maddyone but that some people are just very stubborn.
Or deliberately blinkered.

Sadly some older people do not have anyone to shop for them. There are a few in my dad's little Close. I tried and failed to get a few basics for them yesterday and the little day centre they relied on for a hot meal is now also closed. Poor people.

Yes, that is understandable - is there a good neighbour scheme online gillybob.

I'm surprised the hot meal system has closed - some people are delivering meals to vulnerable elderly.