Covid-19 and Politics

[dann]

Just so long as you keep the bacon coming. The bacon must flow.

In your dreams! We're keeping it all to ourselves from now on!

 

[dudalb]

China now swiping from Stephen King: They are pushing a conspiracy theory that the US military is responsible for the Corona virus.

 

[Darat]

China now swiping from Stephen King: They are pushing a conspiracy theory that the US military is responsible for the Corona virus.

Who is?

 

[dann]

China now swiping from Stephen King: They are pushing a conspiracy theory that the US military is responsible for the Corona virus.

It sounds like sarcasm to me: They've noticed that the U.S. administration is full of lies, that the "numbers" meant to make the (lack of) disease control in the USA appear to be efficient are based solely on the fact that hardly anybody has been tested yet, and that the racist attempts to blame the Chinese for the virus can be turned against them.
It's the obvious thing to do!

 

[Trebuchet]

Sorry, Denmark is closed! (Well, not quite, yet, but tomorrow at noon.)
We expect to open again after Easter!
Statsministeren: Danmarks grænser lukker fra klokken 12 i morgen (DR.dk, March 13, 2020)
The Primeminister: Denmark's borders will be closed at 12 noon tomorrow

Just so long as you keep the bacon coming. The bacon must flow.

You can keep the tins of butter cookies, however. Despite my Danish heritage I find the ones from Scotland much better.

 

[angrysoba]

Here’s an opinion piece: China bought the world time with the containment strategy. The world squandered it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/opinion/china-response-china.html

 

[dudalb]

Who is?

Mother Nature.

 

[dudalb]

Just tead about the theory behind the UK;s government total inaction on the Virus, and, frankly, it isjust about the craziest damn thing I have read.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Just tead about the theory behind the UK;s government total inaction on the Virus, and, frankly, it isjust about the craziest damn thing I have read.

What theory?

 

[Ivor the Engineer]

Just tead about the theory behind the UK;s government total inaction on the Virus, and, frankly, it isjust about the craziest damn thing I have read.

The UK has a dedicated agency for public health who have been planning for pandemics for years. That some or many people don't like the plan doesn't equate to inaction, total or otherwise.

 

[Darat]

The UK has a dedicated agency for public health who have been planning for pandemics for years. That some or many people don't like the plan doesn't equate to inaction, total or otherwise.

I agree but there really does seem some disconnect to me. It's about the testing. We need everyone who has to self isolate to be tested. That way we will know the extent of the infections and have an "army" of people that can ensure critical services and the like can continue because we know they have had the virus.

 

[Andy_Ross]

The UK has a dedicated agency for public health who have been planning for pandemics for years. That some or many people don't like the plan doesn't equate to inaction, total or otherwise.

Yes it's do as little as possible because there isn't anything left after 10 years of austerity to do anything.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Retweeted

Kayleigh McEnany
@kayleighmcenany
When Joe Biden was in charge of the H1N1 Swine Flu epidemic, this happened in America:
60.8 MILLION infected
274,304 hospitalized
12,469 died
By contrast, President @realDonaldTrump has led, taking unprecedented action to stop the coronavirus & protect Americans!

Joe Biden just lied, saying coronavirus tests should be in the millions, not thousands.
Has anyone told Joe that 1 million tests have already been distributed, with 4 million distributed by the end of the week?

Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022)
@TeamTrump
MUST READ: Joe Biden Plagiarizes President @realDonaldTrump’s #Coronavirus Plan!
Joe Biden Plagiarizes President Trump’s Coronavirus Plan
Incompetent Biden bizarrely calls on President Trump to do things he’s already done.
donaldjtrump.com

 

[Ivor the Engineer]

I agree but there really does seem some disconnect to me. It's about the testing. We need everyone who has to self isolate to be tested. That way we will know the extent of the infections and have an "army" of people that can ensure critical services and the like can continue because we know they have had the virus.

My soon to be wife is a GP and we were talking about just that over breakfast. Other than deliberately infecting the workforce I doubt there would be sufficient numbers to handle the workload in time to make a significant difference.

 

[Ivor the Engineer]

Yes it's do as little as possible because there isn't anything left after 10 years of austerity to do anything.

I realise people are scared, but do finger-pointing dramatic narratives like the above do any good whatsoever?

 

[Darat]

I realise people are scared, but do finger-pointing dramatic narratives like the above do any good whatsoever?

This is meant to be the politics thread and I think that is a valid criticism.

The NHSs have always been lean and efficient and 10 years ago the NHSs were in a good place, excess capacity - which you need - fully funded, staffing was still a bit of an issue in some areas. In the last 10 years we have lost all of that. As I've described it elsewhere, there was never any fat to cut so the last ten years have been cutting the muscle of the NHSs away (and at times hacking into the very bones of the services) and we now are faced with a situation that requires a fit and fully functional NHSs and we no longer have them.

 

[dudalb]

UK and Ireland just added to the US travel restrictions on Europe
France shutting down all entertainment facalities, even restaurants.
I think Boris is going to have to do somethng now...as much as he hates to.

 

[pharphis]

2 days ago Ontario, Canada announced closure of public schools for 2 additional weeks (march break is about to start and lasts a week, each year). I'm guessing it will extend much longer, and things might convert fully to online education (now's the time).

 

[Garrison]

UK and Ireland just added to the US travel restrictions on Europe
France shutting down all entertainment facalities, even restaurants.
I think Boris is going to have to do somethng now...as much as he hates to.

Yeah it looks a ban on public gatherings is on the cards for early next week. I think we'll get by mainly because Boris hasn't had time to get rid of all the professionals in Whitehall. I'm less sanguine about will happen when the virus spikes in the USA.

 

[Ivor the Engineer]

This is meant to be the politics thread and I think that is a valid criticism.

The NHSs have always been lean and efficient and 10 years ago the NHSs were in a good place, excess capacity - which you need - fully funded, staffing was still a bit of an issue in some areas. In the last 10 years we have lost all of that. As I've described it elsewhere, there was never any fat to cut so the last ten years have been cutting the muscle of the NHSs away (and at times hacking into the very bones of the services) and we now are faced with a situation that requires a fit and fully functional NHSs and we no longer have them.

Shame labour made themselves unelectable.