International News Covid-19 .....

[Sheik djibouti]

I wonder whether any thoughts have been put together behind the scenes as to whether and how the steadily growing cohort of people who have had the virus and come out the other side can be utilized for the good of the nation over the coming weeks?

I strongly suspect that unless they have been tested and have had a confirmed case of Covid-19, then they will still need to stay at home and keep their distance just like everyone else should be!

Unless and until there is a widespread and reliable antibody test to confirm whether a "recovered" person has indeed had it, then I would think it is a high risk strategy to allow people who simply think they've had it to be exposed to others who might have it.

 

[Sheik djibouti]

My sentiments entirely.
However, some good is emerging.
Locally to me there have been deliveries of food by local businesses that had surpluses. Our local pub owner made personal deliveries to a local company with disabled employees who can’t currently work.
My accountant has been put on unpaid leave and despite having two children she has to care for is at the forefront of helping elderly people in the area who’ve been confronted by empty shelves in the supermarkets.
The toilet roll shortage amazed me. Then I realised the closure of the pubs meant there would be increased demand for beer elsewhere.
The upsurge of local food shops doing well might also be a sign that the consumer is tiring with the supermarkets. Anyone notice that three for two in shops is all but gone?

I am genuinely heartened by the way (in parts) people have adapted and many local businesses in particular are being patronised like never before. I do hope that people change and move away from buying bulk cheap cr@p and shop locally, more sustainably and little and often.

Unfortunately it simply is not an option for many because they can't afford to, they don't have time to....or simply don't care and can't be arsed.

 

[oxford1985]

I strongly suspect that unless they have been tested and have had a confirmed case of Covid-19, then they will still need to stay at home and keep their distance just like everyone else should be!

Unless and until there is a widespread and reliable antibody test to confirm whether a "recovered" person has indeed had it, then I would think it is a high risk strategy to allow people who simply think they've had it to be exposed to others who might have it.

and, as has happened in Japan, you can "re-catch" Covid-19...

 

[MalaysiaYellow]

Here in Malaysia, I keep trying to think of the short and long term impacts of C19, socially and economically. I can see the DJIA and FTSE spiked yesterday and some names like Boeing and United Airlines jumping 20%. But I think people are being foolish if they think people are going to jump back on planes and start travelling soon. Even when they say its "safe", me for one will take quite a while before I fly again.

For Sport, or large events with Crowds, I cant see them happening for a long time.

Any others?

 

[Yellow River]

I heard a Professor of something on Radio 4 last week saying that the world will refer the Covid-19 outbreak in future using the initials BC ( before Corona) and AC (after Corona) such will be the magnitude in how we will view the crisis.

There will be a ‘new normal’. Society will change, some of it voluntarily, some of it forced. Some of it for the better, some of it not.

International, National and local economies will take a huge hit, it’s going to take not take just weeks, months or years to recover, but probably decades.

Governments all around the world are borrowing eye watering amounts. Loans to businesses and citizens will still need to be paid back, grants will be recouped by various tax measures, it won’t be free money!

 

[Essexyellows]

Some NHS news......
3.5 million antibody test kits in production and a central testing facility being set up.

Our Trust (3 main hospital sites) has 26 confirmed cases and, sadly, 6 deaths so far.

Worst case scenario we will exceed our ITU capacity in 7-10 days.

Stay well, stay safe, stay at fudging home!!

The virus can not move!! If we don`t move it doesn`t move!! Stay at home!

Working from home today to allow the lab staff to use my office so they can distance, this is the reality for now and the next few weeks.

STAY AT HOME.

If you think you should be at home and you aren`t a key worker your boss is thinking more about ££££`s than you.

STAY AT HOME.

 

[Gary Baldi]

I believe Boeing could be bailed out by the US Govt, probably why the shares bounced. But there is controversy about the contingency money they used to buyback shares and if Boeing should really be bailed out.

Just been out to the garage for the drop off - the Govt are still looking at the issue so felt in a lose/lose. I'm sure the Garage are happy for the money, but I do feel guilty about going. Nonetheless, the power walk was really nice. Just need to fit the pick up into my busy morning!

 

[Sheik djibouti]

Here in Malaysia, I keep trying to think of the short and long term impacts of C19, socially and economically. I can see the DJIA and FTSE spiked yesterday and some names like Boeing and United Airlines jumping 20%. But I think people are being foolish if they think people are going to jump back on planes and start travelling soon. Even when they say its "safe", me for one will take quite a while before I fly again.

For Sport, or large events with Crowds, I cant see them happening for a long time.

Any others?

DJ seeing it's biggest single daily rise in something like 83 years...mostly on the back of the (hopelessly out of his depth) Presidents assertions that the country would be back open for business as usual by Easter....he has not got a f##king Scooby! And all the experts are saying that the peak is far bigger and happening far sooner than they had anticipated/predicted in the US (no sh!t!) because they (he) refused to take it seriously from the start.

If ever there was a modern day Nero....he is it. A hopelessly out of depth narcissistic amateur who will drag many others below with him.

 

[MalaysiaYellow]

I believe Boeing could be bailed out by the US Govt, probably why the shares bounced. But there is controversy about the contingency money they used to buyback shares and if Boeing should really be bailed out.

Just been out to the garage for the drop off - the Govt are still looking at the issue so felt in a lose/lose. I'm sure the Garage are happy for the money, but I do feel guilty about going. Nonetheless, the power walk was really nice. Just need to fit the pick up into my busy morning!

I think that was part of it, part was also the indication "America would be back for business 1st of April". Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, the two biggest airlines in Asia have cancelled 96% of flights for the next quarter. I think the airline industry in particular is in huge trouble. There will be a huge amount of planes mothballed.

 

[MalaysiaYellow]

DJ seeing it's biggest single daily rise in something like 83 years...mostly on the back of the (hopelessly out of his depth) Presidents assertions that the country would be back open for business as usual by Easter....he has not got a f##king Scooby! And all the experts are saying that the peak is far bigger and happening far sooner than they had anticipated/predicted in the US (no sh!t!) because they (he) refused to take it seriously from the start.

If ever there was a modern day Nero....he is it. A hopelessly out of depth narcissistic amateur who will drag many others below with him.

Totally agree. Travel and Leisure industry has been hardest hit, guess where DT's money is in?

 

[Gary Baldi]

I think that was part of it, part was also the indication "America would be back for business 1st of April". Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, the two biggest airlines in Asia have cancelled 96% of flights for the next quarter. I think the airline industry in particular is in huge trouble. There will be a huge amount of planes mothballed.

I suppose they could be talking about the protracted bailout deal that is having all sorts of non-essential stuff like abortion funding (among many others) put into it, that could pass through congress.

And they have now agreed the package. So the jump makes a little more sense

 

[Gary Baldi]

Good news from Ineos, every little helps:
Hand sanitiser factory 'up and running' in days



UK chemical giant Ineos is set to build a plant within about 10 days dedicated to hand sanitiser near Middlesbrough. It’s thought that it will produce one million bottles a month.
Tom Crotty, the firm’s director, spoke to the BBC’s Today programme.
“We already make the fundamental raw material, ethanol, at one of our sites. It was apparent that there just wasn’t enough gel in the market for people to get - certainly not enough for the NHS, but even on the supermarket shelves. So why not make the gel ourselves, bottle it and get it out there?”
He added: “We already have expertise in this area, we have a spare building we can use, we’re installing the new kit as we speak and we’re hoping to have production up and running within those 10 days.
“Normally, we’d spend six months researching a market. But we’ve done none of that - we thought let’s just start and see how it goes.”

 

[Big Ronaldo]

Going forward ( and we are a long way from this point in so many ways) I really hope that all countries will see the benefit of setting up a funded pandemic response team and a huge research body behind it with clout that can be deployed anywhere.
The sheer weight of this virus and its tidal wave of death and financial ruin must surely be addressed.
We are at a crossroads, we will undoubtedly see more corona virus epidemics in the future that will need to be robustly and readily fought.
Our very existence requires it.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Coronavirus Update - 24th March 2020

Following the Government statement of 23rd March, we, like the rest of the UK, are adhering to government guidance and many of our sites and offices are now closed.

www.srm.com

SRM confirm that all major construction sites will be shut down.

 

[chuckbert]

and, as has happened in Japan, you can "re-catch" Covid-19...

Everything I have read suggests this is not actually true.

 

[mooro]

Some NHS news......
3.5 million antibody test kits in production and a central testing facility being set up.

Is there any indication how long it is likely to be before these are available to the non NHS/key priority cases?
There are a lot of people who think they'might' have had it, but aren't sure, so it will be good to get them all tested so that we know where we are in terms of spread/herd immunity

 

[Oxymoron]

A new study from Oxford University was published yesterday (albeit unreviewed) which suggests that C19 was spreading undetected in the general population in January.

The only way we are going to know is to get these testing kits out - and in the words of the head of the WHO "Test, test, test"

 

[SteMerritt]

and in the words of the head of the WHO "Test, test, test"

I think you'll find Daltrey actually said "Who are you? Who who? Who who?" when asked about the number of people with immunity.

 

[Yellow River]

Is there any indication how long it is likely to be before these are available to the non NHS/key priority cases?
There are a lot of people who think they'might' have had it, but aren't sure, so it will be good to get them all tested so that we know where we are in terms of spread/herd immunity

Clearly health workers need to be checked first, but the antibody testing will be extremely important in getting the country and in particular local economies, services and volunteers, up and running again.

 

[Yellow River]

A new study from Oxford University was published yesterday (albeit unreviewed) which suggests that C19 was spreading undetected in the general population in January.

The only way we are going to know is to get these testing kits out - and in the words of the head of the WHO "Test, test, test"

Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.