Italian lockdown

The UK ranks poorly against Italy, and a lot of other countries in terms of critical care beds per capita. Ireland, Scotland and Wales are almost at the bottom.

The facilities available in intensive care units is also an important factor. The low mortality rates in mainland China outside Hubei province (around 1%) have been attributed to widespread use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) when ventilation doesn’t work. The mortality rate has been observed to be much higher (3.2%) in Italy where this treatment isn’t as widely available, even though the number of ICU beds per 100,000 people in Italy (12.5) is higher than the European average (11.5).

There are no ECMO facilities available in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. There are currently only 15 beds in all of the UK that offer this treatment across hospitals in London, Cambridge, Manchester and Leicester, although this can be increased in an emergency; there were 30 beds available at the peak of the 2018-19 winter flu season. ECMO is also provided at the Mater Hospital in Dublin; there are seven available beds in that ICU.

sluggerotoole.com/2020/03/04/northern-ireland-scotland-and-wales-rank-amongst-the-lowest-countries-in-the-developed-world-for-the-number-of-intensive-care-beds/

A female caller on Jeremy Vine Show this morning was saying that her husband drives lorries to and from Italy every week importing fruit and veg. He has not been stopped, does not self isolate for the few days he is in UK before returning to Italy.

Either I do not fully understand Italy is on lockdown or this is just a phrase to appease the masses?

That is very difficult to understand GrannyGravy
I also do not understand why when people were brought home from China they were put into quarantine, but last week, whilst northern Italy was on lockdown, why planes were going backwards and forwards to northern Italy and taking people there and bringing them back with no quarantine and not even a temperature check.

This country could have shut the borders two weeks ago. Nationals coming back could have been put in isolation. We have left the EU, and have control of our borders now. As usual government waiting until thousands of people infected before taking proper action. China and South Korea have drastically cut infections by severe actions and Israel only has 72 cases because it has virtually stopped people coming in.

Proves my point!

This Government is anxious to keep the business community on side and to protect the economy - at all costs, it seems.

Banning travel, movement and large gatherings, etc. would do more to halt the spread, imo. They're not doing that because of the potential economic impact.

Looks to me like they're thinking we'll all get it anyway so what's the point in doing anything other than telling people to wash their hands.

I came across this on Twitter....it makes pretty awful reading;
twitter.com/silviast9/status/1236933818654896129

My son works in the UK for and Italian helicopter company, their lorries from Italy have been stopped from travelling here. Don't know how long it will last, much needed parts.

Dee12 - that's the most frightening article I've read to date. Just forwarded to family as a wake up call. I've had pneumonia twice in past 20 years now v worried. Thanks for sharing.

Nadine Dories has been tested positive for Covid-19 she has been self isolating since Friday.

On Thursday it is being reported that she attended a Cabinet Meeting and a reception at No.10, along with being in H of P and meeting constituents.

The MPs and people she met whilst she was incubating the virus will be traced and I assume be told to self isolate. Today is budget day Parliament will be packed, all the MPs she met/came into contact with will be there.

Am I the only one that thinks this is ludicrous.......an incubator for the virus?

Daisymae ‘A few days ago Johnson said on TV that we should 'take it on the chin without taking Draconian action' ‘

Not that I’m a huge fan of Boris but according to full fact.org the transcript shows he was answering a question from Philip Schofield about taking action now or delaying it and what he actually said was ‘ and one of the theories is, that perhaps you could take it on the chin’ but he goes on to say ‘ I think we need to strike a balance’and ‘ I think it would be better if we take all the measures that we can to stop the peak of the disease being as difficult for the NHS as it might fullfact.org/health/boris-johnson-coronavirus-this-morning/

kissngate, normally I'm very wary of Facebook / Twitter posts but I think the background of those posting was genuine and not scaremongering for the sake of it.

I’ve just read Boris isn’t to be tested. I don’t understand why. If he’s been in contact with ND he must be tested. Also the pists from the Italian doctor brought tears to my eyes. It is becoming more scary by the day.

Sorry typos - posts

See that the foreign office have advised all nationals to return return home.