Coronavirus Death Thread

[Lee]

According to Andrew Neil, France is about to go into mental lockdown. As you get to leave your house once a day lockdown and only for a food shop. Which presumably is why they moved quite early to protect people's pay. They knew it was coming.

We've got our first few cases now, with some in ICU. There's a weird atmosphere about. Lot's of clinical people who know there's a storm coming. All of my meetings have been cancelled (because they rely on clinical people to make them useful) other than one which has been established to give us a daily update on what's happening. I expect the work from home order is going to come quite quickly.

I'm starting to hear anecdotal evidence of it spreading too. One lad here has a cousin and a friend who have been tested positive. Both in their twenties, both okay, but ill enough not to be able to get out of bed. In this context I think 'mild symptoms' means been knocked off your feet for a bit rather than a bit of a sniffle.

I have a bit of a cough, which I've deemed to be intermittent rather than continuous, but how the fuck do you know? The reason I'm in is my temperature is at 36.7 and I have a bit of a runny nose which apparently doesn't really happen with this. My approach underlines the issue though - people are going to spread it because they'll do what I'm doing.

[Shindig]

Yeah, the symptoms are always going to be a point of contention. I've not got a fever (although I'm not checking, I'm just going by how a fever's likely to make me feel), I've got a sore throat and, as a result of that I'm doing this kind of throat clear cough. If I was working this fortnight, I'd be in but I'll be steering clear of my parents until I'm 100% for at least a week.

We need to really batten down the hatches to at least be ready for the when the rest of Europe clears it. Do it way before the back breaks.

[Kikó]

Mild symptoms (according to that video of the guy on MSNBC) ranges from a slight tickly throat to pneumonia where you don't need help to breath.

Pretty extreme.

[Lee]

Yeah, the symptoms are always going to be a point of contention. I've not got a fever (although I'm not checking, I'm just going by how a fever's likely to make me feel), I've got a sore throat and, as a result of that I'm doing this kind of throat clear cough. If I was working this fortnight, I'd be in but I'll be steering clear of my parents until I'm 100% for at least a week.

We need to really batten down the hatches to at least be ready for the when the rest of Europe clears it. Do it way before the back breaks.

I'm stopping away from my parents and we're all sitting apart from one another at work as far as is possible. Washing my hands basically every time I touch a new surface.

[Bernanke]

I read something about flights still happening because airlines need to "keep their slots at airports" or something? Sounded absolutely mental but it seemed they were just shuffling empty flights around for show.

[niko_cee]

They've stopped that flight thing now, haven't they (although it was a thing).

More cases in Jersey, the filthy buggers.

[Yevrah]

Any news on today's numbers?

[Shindig]

I believe EU have relaxed that or are at least going to. It happens with trains in the UK as well but that's more down to government requirements. Basically, there are required routes they have to run so you get ghost trains between rural areas just to keep the contract.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...e-obligations/

[Magic]

Any news on today's numbers?

171 confirmed cases in Scotland.

[Lee]

Any news on today's numbers?

Increase of 171.

Dunno how many tested.

[niko_cee]

It's only deaths Yev's interested in, he can extrapolate cases back from that.

[Shindig]

1543 positives. 44,105 tests. As of 9am this morning. 1 new death?

On 11 March NHS England announced that testing in NHS laboratories would increase from testing 1,500 to 10,000 per day.

We're doing between 2,500 and 4,500 tests per day.

[Yevrah]

the DHSC are dragging their heels...

https://twitter.com/DHSCgovuk?ref_sr...Ctwgr%5Eauthor

And yeah, given our approach, the number of cases and tests are now meaningless.

[Lee]

the DHSC are dragging their heels...

https://twitter.com/DHSCgovuk?ref_sr...Ctwgr%5Eauthor

And yeah, given our approach, the number of cases and tests are now meaningless.

Given they're hospital only tests they're useful in telling us how prevalent it is among patients presenting with respiratory symptoms.

[Yevrah]

Given they're hospital only tests they're useful in telling us how prevalent it is among patients presenting with respiratory symptoms.

Pretty sure 'very' will suffice on that score soon if it doesn't already.

[Lee]

Pretty sure 'very' will suffice on that score soon if it doesn't already.

Under 5% of total tests yesterday. Was nearer 9% the day before. Test numbers 3,800ish today compared to 2,500ish the day before. Certainly at my place many more are testing negative than positive. Very early days though.

[Yevrah]

That does sound promising for us being 4 weeks behind Italy rather than 2.

[Lee]

I think what they're aiming for is South Korea without the testing. It's arguably more extreme but dependent upon human behaviour. South Korea test and isolate. We're saying even if you have any kind of symptoms whatsoever, isolate.

[Shindig]

You can gather as well that widespread daily testing can only be so effective. Hospital cases are the more likely to turn out positive and they're the ones you'll go back to, again and again, for an eventual negative result.

[Baz]

I'm stopping away from my parents and we're all sitting apart from one another at work as far as is possible. Washing my hands basically every time I touch a new surface.

What an absolute shambles this is.

[Shindig]

Just got my parents' opinions on the Over 70s isolation plan. They're not having it. They need carers to come in for my mam. In fact, they're looking into sheltered accommodation. Mainly for the onsite care as my dad gets on in years. Only essential appointments are being done so my mam's asthma check-up is on whilst her dentist check-up is not.

[Giggles]

I’ve avoided the news all day and it’s been wonderful.

[randomlegend]

As foundation doctors we usually rotate to different specialties every 4 months. We were due to change on April 1st. They've cancelled it for the foreseeable future so I get to stay on paeds

[Luca]

Cracking time for my best mate’s wife’s water to break. Hospital on full lockdown. Probably won’t get to see the child until he’s a teenager.

[Yevrah]

So we've still had no death number for yesterday.

My gut would be it's bigger than anticipated and a number that may scare people that they're holding back from people until the press conference so they can explain it in context.

[Giggles]

So we've still had no death number for yesterday.

My gut would be it's bigger than anticipated and a number that may scare people that they're holding back from people until the press conference so they can explain it in context.

Can only hope anyway.

[Waffdon]

She’s still full of a temperature and coughing but refusing to phone NHS or whatever. I’m only allowed to stay off work if I start showing any symptoms even if I’ve been with her and she’s diagnosed apparently

[Boydy]

Is anyone elae getting no sound on the bbc website for this briefing?

[Yevrah]

I think I was right, we're closer to 2 weeks away from Italy than 4.

[Dave.]

She’s still full of a temperature and coughing but refusing to phone NHS or whatever. I’m only allowed to stay off work if I start showing any symptoms even if I’ve been with her and she’s diagnosed apparently

From Boris speech today: "Anyone who lives with someone who has a cough or a temperature should stay at home for 14 days."

[Shindig]

Well, they walked back the 7 day isolation for severe symptoms pretty quick. 14 days it is.

[Yevrah]

As far as I can see they've appreciated they've got the numbers wrong and are reacting accordingly. I don't know whether it's enough though.

[Alex]

Every time I see Chris Witty or Patrick Vallance I just think, imagine being in the big chair when it comes to making these sort of decisions? I just wouldn't fucking sleep.

[Magic]

Is that an admittance of getting it totally wrong?

[Dave.]

As far as I can see they've appreciated they've got the numbers wrong and are reacting accordingly. I don't know whether it's enough though.

I haven't heard the speech as I'm at work so I'm restricted to the summary on BBC website but it all seems a bit wishy-washy to me. "Avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues", does this mean these sort of places will be closing down? Or do we just have to be trusted not to go to them? And why is going to the pub and other forms of social interaction strongly discouraged yet me going to work (on a train to a crowded office) is still compulsory?

[Yevrah]

It's rapidly dawning on me that the last thing you want in the middle of this shit is a liberal democracy and a liberal society.

[Yevrah]

"Looks like we're more like 3 weeks behind Italy"

I was more right than the fucking government and scientific experts. Jesus fucking Christ.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just had a thing with my work, we're all still going in, they are so laughably behind the times. I just hope I don't get it or spread it because of these mongs.

[Ian]

Is there anything that would stop you doing your job from home?

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Second person in the office won't be in tomorrow now, her mum has been confirmed as having it and she has a fever.

I swear I've also got a slight shortness of breath now but you start to wonder if you're being a hypochondriac. We'll see after a stint on the exercise bike tonight.

[Magic]

Where are you Ross?

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

As in work?

[Magic]

Aye.

[Shindig]

I can see a staged lockdown. London's being first on the block. All I can wonder is if Boris and co. are tying to buy time as they get the resources ready to enforce it.

[Kikó]

I haven't heard the speech as I'm at work so I'm restricted to the summary on BBC website but it all seems a bit wishy-washy to me. "Avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues", does this mean these sort of places will be closing down? Or do we just have to be trusted not to go to them? And why is going to the pub and other forms of social interaction strongly discouraged yet me going to work (on a train to a crowded office) is still compulsory?

Basically meaning none of them can claim on insurance for losses with wishy washy language.

This press conference should have been done ages ago. Much better.

[Shindig]

TT 2020 cancelled. Right call.

Vaccine trials are underway

Alright. Fingers crossed on that.

[Waffdon]

From Boris speech today: "Anyone who lives with someone who has a cough or a temperature should stay at home for 14 days."

I don’t live with her, but been with her and stayed with her most of the last week

[Byron]

Still no guidance from work, I've told my manager outright that I'm not coming in and I'll WFH tomorrow.

By that point it'll be enforced WFH anyway.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Aye.

Montrose.

The NHS site only lists the fever and cough as symptoms. Would have thought they'd include shortness of breath too given it seems to be listed elsewhere-

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

[Yevrah]

Where are yesterday's death numbers? Have we turned into sodding North Korea.