Re: Coronavirus
 

A promising development

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-52...newshealthcvd]

Interesting article by Niall Ferguson

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/corona-wars"Last year, the new Global Health Security Index ranked the US first and the UK second in the world in terms of their ‘global health security capabilities’. Wrong. A new league table of coronavirus health safety by the Deep Knowledge Group puts Israel, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Taiwan at the top. (Iceland deserves an honourable mention, too.)

The key point is that there are diseconomies of scale when a new pathogen is on the loose. Four of those small countries, in their different ways, had reasons to be paranoid in general and laser-focused on the danger of a coronavirus made in China. They had learned the lessons of Sars and Mers (also caused by coronaviruses). By contrast, the big global players — China, the United States and the EU — have all done terribly, each in their own distinctive way."

Re: Coronavirus
 

Sadly it does appear to be true, can't work out the mentality of people like that.... they think they are being smart but they are just undoing all the good work done by the rest of us. Maybe he was a crazy bog roll buyer at the start of this!
Sometimes the "Koolaid" as he puts it is essential medicine.

As Danny B says though hes obviously not very bright....filming himself in full view, not only flouting the law, but encouraging others....then posts it online! duh!!

Re: Coronavirus
 

Canada/US border closed for a further 30 days.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Now is not the time to be shit stirring with the base Donny.

Re: Coronavirus
 

This is a great looking COVID-19 dashboard for the BC residents. Really good numbers.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experi...9e3cda29297ded

Re: Coronavirus
 

Genuine question. What is good about those numbers?

Re: Coronavirus
 

The difference in confirmed cases between Ontario & Quebec.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Do you mean when comparing confirmed cases in BC with those in Ontario and Quebec?

If so, why is having low numbers a good thing? Doesn't that mean that the restrictions will be required for a longer period of time? Isn't the best way forward to have the largest numbers possible while keeping the admissions to hospital just below their maximum capacity?

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, that is exactly what I mean, the rate per 100,000 is much lower for BC.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...88c5a3372b.jpg


Regarding the best way forward, this is the million dollar question that no one really knows. Can you beat COVID-19 without a lockdown? Honestly, I don't have a clue. Part of me wants to go out and catch it so that's it's over with, the other part of me says stay the hell indoors for the next 3 months until more information becomes available. Both options aren't great.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I agree.

It appears to me that, from what we can tell, those that do not require having to go to hospital have, relatively, minor symptoms, if any at all, and most people appear to fall into this category. That being the case, it appears to me that everyone should go about their normal business and those that are known to be susceptible to a more severe reaction can remain isolated and can make their own choice as to whether they wish to do so.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I was reading this article the other day and it seemed to suggest that disease severity increased with BMI. God help the USA if the floodgates are opened too soon.

Re: Coronavirus
 

That's interesting. Thank you for that.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Several friends in the UK seem to have had it (couldn't be tested) and it wasn't fun. Friend's partner rang the NHS number as partner pretty ill. Got told to call 999. Rang and they said has he passed out yet? She said No. They said ring back if he does ...

So I wouldn't agree you're either not very ill or severely ill. I think you can feel pretty rough but not need hospitilization.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I see that the BBC are reporting that clever people at Oxford say they will have a million doses of a vaccine by September l. Great if they can. Using my phone so can't provide a link.

Re: Coronavirus
 

pretty much all the Sunday UK papers are reporting same. They also think the vaccine will have an 80% success rate.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes. My friend's sister is in that boat. Was taken to hospital with quite some symptoms and sent away after being told it was flu so no test. Was returned to hospital about 5 days later with respiratory difficulties and was admitted so then received the test. No admission = no test from what she was told. Was discharged yesterday or so as improved but is now back in again as all is definitely not OK at all. She will be under 50 yrs old I think.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I'm just so glad that my nan didn't die from the Coronavirus and it was only complications from gonorrhoea that killed her. She did like the young ones. :(

Re: Coronavirus
 

As a diabetic yourself and therefore more susceptible to a more severe reaction, is that what you and your family are doing? They can go about their normal business while you decide whether you want to isolate yourself from the increased potential of them bringing something back into your home?

Re: Coronavirus
 

That is exactly what we are doing and, to be honest with you, I am simply going to work as I usually would, keeping my distance from others as, without doing so, I receive no income.

If I was concerned about the effects to me, I would have to lock myself in a room.. I see it as being about personal tolerance to risk.

My oldest daughter is still working at her part time job at Petsmart most days.

Re: Coronavirus
 

From the WHO

Although the majority of cases remain mild, almost 40% result in hospitalization and 5% require intensive care.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I went to Can Tire this morning to pick up a 20 pack of disposable masks for my co-worker (she's high risk and isn't supposed to go out) and ran into an old friend at the check-out. These days he is maintenance man in an 84 unit senior's complex. I asked how they were doing, and he said great! Two weeks before all this started, the elevator motor burned out in the building, and it took 2 weeks for Otis to come in, replace the motor and upgrade all the cables and test it, etc, during which time hardly anyone left or entered the building, so there was minimal opportunity for infection.

Re: Coronavirus
 

:) A nice story of misfortune becoming good fortune.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Will be interesting to see if individual towns take this approach:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...h-flu-pandemic

Re: Coronavirus
 

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl, but she doesn't have a lot to say.
https://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN2200EZ

Re: Coronavirus
 

People who still have jobs at the airport in Vancouver have been posting photos, man its a ghost town, almost looks abandoned. Just about everything is closed, and appears the airport has combined international and domestic into one terminal, US departures still depart from the segregated US departure terminal of course.

As the curve is petty flat in BC, if it stays on current trend looking at about another month before they relax restrictions based on comments made today.

Re: Coronavirus
 

When I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer, I learn pretty quick to take more care next time and to wear thick gloves in future.. just in case.
Incidentally I learn that hard objects survive where soft objects don't, it's all a learning experience.
This pandemic is a learning experience, or it should be, the question is whether it'll be understod as such.
Very few will remember what life was like in the era before anti-biotics but if you examine the site freebmd.com and search for deaths for any name you'll understand how fragile life was at a time when living conditions were poor and medical defences were less developed than they are today.
Today we think we're fairly secure but this pandemic has demonstrated that we need to watch out and prepare for the future. As a species we've become a little too conceited.
This death toll has taught us that it's been the little things that matter.
It's the provision, not for aircraft carriers, fighters, nuclear weapons or the need to invade countries we don't like, it's the preparation for hospitals, for beds, for gowns, for masks, for the simple things like gloves that can be used to keep the species alive.
This virus isn't dead it's waiting and there are anti-biotic resistant bacteria out there. It's not rocket science, the lessons are here today for those with minds open enough to learn from them.
I really hope that in the future, funds will be found even at the cost of a few fighter jets, to adequately prepare for an attack from the next virus to target the human species.
We'll be bailing out the airlines, banks in fact anyone lobbying hard enough for cash; let's hope we'll not forget the Civil Defence Against Pandemics and Preservation of Human Life as well.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Looking like large events wont be allowed to take place this summer in BC, festivals, weddings, fairs and such.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Except for those seniors that had doctor's appointments, needed groceries, medication or daycare workers.

Re: Coronavirus
 

That's lovely to read for those folks. Silver linings and all that. Sounds like they are doing just great & I bet the most of them are greatly relieved all round. .

Re: Coronavirus
 

So they all died of their ills, went hungry, and were totally neglected because the only way to get in and out was via stairs. You never hear about these horrible things because the news is focused on nursing homes and hospitals where people are dying in droves because they were out and about before the lockdown.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, obviously. I was referring to caretaker's friend.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I wasn't. :confused:
I am sure these people are all well cared for and their needs looked after. Otherwise Caretaker's pal would have reported otherwise & they would be expiring all over the place as I type.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I'd call it a lucky coincidence. Because residents in these places are healthy enough to have their own apartments they probably wouldn't be karking it like level 3 and 4 patients in a nursing home, but would all still be high risk due to age. Even though there would have been traffic in the form of relatives bringing in groceries and visiting and some people going out anyway, the broken elevator keeping those with mobility issues at home may have saved them. Anyway, that's what he said, they're great, he's great, his wife is great, his idiot brother moved back home to NS, and we spent 10 minutes in the parking lot catching up shouting at each other from 2 meters apart.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I no longer know or care who was talking about whom, I just made a comment to Caretaker and it just snowballed :lol:

Re: Coronavirus
 

Another month and we will know if Sweden got it right.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...-within-weeks/

Re: Coronavirus
 

It's not often that I get "British "..
I left a long time ago, and my heart is not there....BUT I I thInk her majesty has done a fantastic job and I take my hat off and put my face mask on to the woman. Well done...where would we be without her...

Re: Coronavirus
 

I'm not British but I love the queen, +1.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I see that there are protests in the US against stay at home policies and well publicised they are.
But it's a little one sided when those who disagree with the protests are staying at home as their state officials request, unable to get their voices heard.
What you don't see referenced in the press are numbers like..
1k protesting, 10M staying at home.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Went to Rexall pharmacy to get a refill on my Ventolin puffers, was told they didnt have any and would be 3-4 weeks. I have 5 weeks supply left. I take one puff Ventolin, 3 puffs of Atrovent four times a day. Luckilly i have a good stock of the atrovent so should be ok. Is anyone else having problems getting their medications.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Not so far but we were warned about potential shortages and refills were limited to one month instead of three to try to avoid problems.

So maybe there was something in it after all and perhaps not just greed and exploitation eh Dave_J? :whistle: