That seems an extraordinarily risky strategy for the UK to me. If South Korea, Taiwan, etc. have been able to nip the spread in the bud on this wave, why would they not be able to do the same again? Or at least use the intervening time to expand their ICU provision. Also, how to we know that it will be possible to manage the height and timing of the peak? Italy, for example, is struggling to keep infections to a manageable level despite virtually shutting down parts of its economy.
Isn't it also risky to take a chance on a second peak next winter which may be far worse? That's what you risk with a total lockdown now.
Those screaming for a FR-style total lockdown today have no idea what the psychological cost will be on many, many people when it has to be months and months.
these governments have completely lost their minds. The implications of what they are doing to counteract this virus are much, much worse and more serious than the virus itself. Incomparably worse.
Somebody has to get into their heads and tell them this.
Would I be right in assuming this is gong to massively boost the drive towards online shopping on a permanent basis? The one issue for online shopping has always been the fear of the unknown and getting over that first step - especially amongst the elderly. But once they have been forced by circumstance to take the plunge I wonder if it will accelerate the move away from the high street to online shopping as the norm.
I'm sure it will, but I don't expect the downsides of online shopping especially online supermarket shopping will be improved by this crisis.
Negatives: Delivery slots, for me 2 hours is the maximum I will accept. I hate having to stay in all day for a delivery, and I don't want to pick up the delivery from a point chosen by the driver. I know that supermarket deliveries have 2 hout slots, but the good slots get taken really quickly.
When I tried supermarket shopping the interface was not great and it took as long to "do the shopping" as it takes to physically go to the shops, and online I don't get to see the quality of the produce.
Product replacement. "No, blackcurrent yoghurt is not an acceptable replacement for sour cream when cooking Mexican"
Positives Not having to queue in a line with corona positives Someone lugs the shopping up to the fourth floor for me.
Characteristics of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection and potential evidence for persistent fecal viral shedding https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0817-4 We report epidemiological and clinical investigations on ten pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection cases confirmed by real-time reverse transcription PCR assay of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Symptoms in these cases were nonspecific and no children required respiratory support or intensive care. Chest X-rays lacked definite signs of pneumonia, a defining feature of the infection in adult cases. Notably, eight children persistently tested positive on rectal swabs even after nasopharyngeal testing was negative, raising the possibility of fecal–oral transmission....
I'm not sure if I want to know what fecal-oral transmission is. Sounds like that could lead to some very dubious websites . . .
How the f are others supposed to support the vulnerable if they aren't allowed out of their houses either. One shopping trip but not allowed to take the food to the guy down the road?
Five weeks? There's going to be riots.
Wait until they are told they have to do another five weeks!
I think European governments are making a mistake being so draconian. People won't be able to keep it up for more than a couple of weeks, and we haven't reached the peak.
That is exactly what the CSO and CMO keep warning isn't it?
I don't think so, the British government has been declining to do things that would have prevented things escalating to the level where you'd need a lockdown in the first place, so the thought would be more that people won't work from home for a long period of time or stay away from live music events. (Which may be true TBF, this hasn't been tested beyond a few weeks.)
I think European governments are making a mistake being so draconian. People won't be able to keep it up for more than a couple of weeks, and we haven't reached the peak.
That is exactly what the CSO and CMO keep warning isn't it?
I think 'mistake' is the understatement of the century.
“This has been a wake-up call for me,” the former Tallahassee mayor said in a written statement Sunday. “Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles.“...
Supermarket deliveries were always going to fall over. There's a finite amount of capacity, every delivery costs the supermarkets money so little incentive to significantly invest in more. The idea that people can fall back on the Tesco man doing the shopping for them was always a non-starter.
Had to explain this to my dad. He is not exactly up to speed with new fangled technology but suggested that they would do their first online shop rather than go out. I pointed out that its likely 2 or 3 weeks until delivery so better to go shop. They're old, his chest is buggered, they're largely keeping away from people, but will need stuff.
And no, I can't do the shopping for them as its a long way.
Someone should set up an app /website where people can see up reciprocal arrangements with people in other parts of the country, sort of I'll help your parents out and you can help mine. Though i guess there are lots of local arrangements for volunteers being put in place
I have heard of skint uni students in shared accommodation or halls sometimes doing a group online shopping order to get past minimum spend or free delivery thresholds.
I know a lot of people don't know their neighbours anymore but if a couple of isolators live near each other, or you live nextdoor to someone elderly, shared orders are one way to deal with the slots shortage. Admittedly the admin and money side are a bit of a faff but worth considering. Provides a potential solution when someone isn't computer literate too, so long as someone on the street is!
I'm not convinced. Many seem to be buying more stuff than they will need in a lifetime. I mean kids will be paying inheritance tax on toilet rolls and rice.
Why are people doing this? if they keep stocking the shelves at what point do people come to the conclusion that they have enough?
When they run out of space, and cash. The latter will happen soon enough.
I do wonder about this. Whilst people may be buying more, unless its hand sanitiser, presumably people aren't consuming more? In fact, as people die, consumption will be lower. Plus, a few on here, and myself (who is overweight) have adopted a 'try a lose a bit of weight by eating less' attitude.
If all people are doing is stock piling, there will come a point when they stop stockpiling and start consuming. Then presumably we'll see manufacturers weeping as no purchases of non-perishable items are made for months.
Of course, there are some nutters who are 'stockpiling' perishables. Someone on Facebook posted a picture of the fruit and veg aisle emptied from Asda.
And the alternatives were May still in office, or Corbyn.
Can you imagine the dither over every aspect of the science with May at the helm and only Nick Timonthy allowed in to see her?
Geography can be described as a science degree, as opposed to Classics, so there could be some basic understanding from May.
See straw; clutch!
Does the PM need a science degree right now, or need to put his faith in his scientific advisors?
I think so far *touch wood* the UK response being led by the CSO and CMO who are speaking directly on camera with the PM is working better than eg the US POTUS claiming now to be a virology expert despite never being involved in the subject or anything related, insisting that the CDC can only talk filtered through his Veep.
The prime minister does not need a science degree or to second-guess the boffins. It might come in handy to understand statistical projections, graphs, flattened curves and so on.
How the f are others supposed to support the vulnerable if they aren't allowed out of their houses either. One shopping trip but not allowed to take the food to the guy down the road?
If the French can make lunch last three hours, however long will a shopping trip take???
I think European governments are making a mistake being so draconian. People won't be able to keep it up for more than a couple of weeks, and we haven't reached the peak.
That is exactly what the CSO and CMO keep warning isn't it?
I don't think so, the British government has been declining to do things that would have prevented things escalating to the level where you'd need a lockdown in the first place, so the thought would be more that people won't work from home for a long period of time or stay away from live music events. (Which may be true TBF, this hasn't been tested beyond a few weeks.)
I think that's absolute nonsense. They've been doing all the basics short of locking down that can be done like testing, tracing, quarantine etc
Telling people who don't normally to work from home or stay away from live events etc is part of locking down.
Three Spanish hospitals participate in two international clinical trials to combat COVID-19. It will be tested in two groups of voluntary patients, some severe and others with moderate involvement. Both studies, in collaboration with the Gilead Laboratory, and which have the approval of the Spanish Medicines Agency, are international in scope. In Europe Spain, Germany, Italy and France participate and, specifically in our country, the La Paz-Carlos III, Cruces (Bilbao) and Clinic (Barcelona) hospitals. A drug that has previously been studied for the treatment of other diseases also caused by coronavirus will be investigated.
Meanwhile in the UK , the Health Minister begs companies on twitter to help make ventilators.
Come on Malc! These clinical trials are important but struggled to recruit samples in China. It's very good news (for getting insight into new drugs) that people are willing to participate in these trials since it's our best hope of finding an antiviral therapy in the near future. I'm certain that when our caseload becomes more substantial that we will also participate.
Unfortunately we have been too busy trumpeting about our sovereignty and how we would stand alone etc. We should be part of all this stuff but most countries now realise we are a useless bunch of waffling twunts nowadays.
I think European governments are making a mistake being so draconian. People won't be able to keep it up for more than a couple of weeks, and we haven't reached the peak.
That is exactly what the CSO and CMO keep warning isn't it?
I don't think so, the British government has been declining to do things that would have prevented things escalating to the level where you'd need a lockdown in the first place, so the thought would be more that people won't work from home for a long period of time or stay away from live music events. (Which may be true TBF, this hasn't been tested beyond a few weeks.)
I think that's absolute nonsense. They've been doing all the basics short of locking down that can be done like testing, tracing, quarantine etc
Telling people who don't normally to work from home or stay away from live events etc is part of locking down.
Define "lockdown" like that if you like, but where we came in was about measures that were *draconian*.
There are potential upsides to the draconian lockdown for politicians in France. If the virus moves on relatively quickly and it isn't as bad as expected, they can relax it while both seen to "have done" something, and then bask in the air of a grateful relief, of a public allowed out earlier than expected. If it continues, they can still enjoy a general public confidence that something is being done. The problem comes if it continues for a long time.
There are going to have be very heavy activist and state-led policies pursued by politicians all over Europe to sustain all this, incidentally. Austerity will be a memory.
And the alternatives were May still in office, or Corbyn.
Can you imagine the dither over every aspect of the science with May at the helm and only Nick Timonthy allowed in to see her?
Geography can be described as a science degree, as opposed to Classics, so there could be some basic understanding from May.
See straw; clutch!
Does the PM need a science degree right now, or need to put his faith in his scientific advisors?
I think so far *touch wood* the UK response being led by the CSO and CMO who are speaking directly on camera with the PM is working better than eg the US POTUS claiming now to be a virology expert despite never being involved in the subject or anything related, insisting that the CDC can only talk filtered through his Veep.
A scientist should be able to grasp the details quickly when briefed, but this does not mean that a non-scientist can't do it.
In fact I would regard it as a pre-requisite for a head of government to be able to take in quickly relevant details provided to him from the specialists, make difficult decisions and act quickly. This applies to any kind of crisis, not just a science-related one. The problem is that MPs and the PM do not have to satisfy job requirements and are almost never elected based on this competence.
How the f are others supposed to support the vulnerable if they aren't allowed out of their houses either. One shopping trip but not allowed to take the food to the guy down the road?
Five weeks? There's going to be riots.
Wait until they are told they have to do another five weeks!
Tell me we aren't going to start a curfew here in UK? The only thing keeping me sane is a mate or two popping over for a beer or three at my house of an evening.
A killer virus is sweeping the nation and the computer geeks are rising up in protest....not at the coronavirus, but a graphing library for python has an inefficiency.
I think European governments are making a mistake being so draconian. People won't be able to keep it up for more than a couple of weeks, and we haven't reached the peak.
That is exactly what the CSO and CMO keep warning isn't it?
There is no choice the current peak needs flattening otherwise the icu facilities will collapse.
Those screaming for a FR-style total lockdown today have no idea what the psychological cost will be on many, many people when it has to be months and months.
Why would we have to shut down for a shorter period if we do it later?
That seems an extraordinarily risky strategy for the UK to me. If South Korea, Taiwan, etc. have been able to nip the spread in the bud on this wave, why would they not be able to do the same again? Or at least use the intervening time to expand their ICU provision. Also, how to we know that it will be possible to manage the height and timing of the peak? Italy, for example, is struggling to keep infections to a manageable level despite virtually shutting down parts of its economy.
Isn't it also risky to take a chance on a second peak next winter which may be far worse? That's what you risk with a total lockdown now.
Not as risky as the chance of losing control of the current spread, I'd have thought. And, as I say, there would be more time to prepare for a second wave.
I hope there is something the government isn't telling us, because what I've seen so far isn't at all convincing!
You'd think by next winter there's probably going to be a vaccine and clear evidence for which drugs to use?
Italy is at about 2 months on that curve and will peak in a few weeks time. The UK peaks at about 3 times the maximum in Italy. Wow.
However I don't have any trust that this graph is at all reliable. The give away is Italy and S. Korea having the same curve, ie. it's someone's opinion.
You'd think by next winter there's probably going to be a vaccine and clear evidence for which drugs to use?
According to the experts usable vaccine seems to be at least eighteen months away and maybe longer. Vaccine trial today does not mean it will work not even if it does that it can be produced in time for winter 2020-2021. Charles of this parish is the person to ask though due to his line of business.
There are potential upsides to the draconian lockdown for politicians in France. If the virus moves on relatively quickly and it isn't as bad as expected, they can relax it while both seen to "have done" something, and then relax in the air of a grateful relief of a public allowed out earlier than expected. If it continues, they can still enjoy a general public confidence that something is being done. The problem comes if it continues for a long time.
There are going to have be very heavy activist and state-led policies pursued by politicians all over Europe to sustain all this, incidentally. Austerity will be a memory.
YOu could argue they were simply waiting for the opportunity.
When people are confined to their homes for months on end, they might reflect on how they have allowed their lives and liberties to be destroyed in the name of a virus where the vast majority recover totally.
A killer virus is sweeping the nation and the computer geeks are rising up in protest....not at the coronavirus, but a graphing library for python has an inefficiency.
You think that's bad. Imperial students are supposed to be sitting maths exams online... and no one's quite worked out a solution for maths symbols typology that works under exam conditions... (or so I have heard, having no expertise in these matters.)
You'd think by next winter there's probably going to be a vaccine and clear evidence for which drugs to use?
According to the experts usable vaccine seems to be at least eighteen months away and maybe longer. Vaccine trial today does not mean it will work not even if it does that it can be produced in time for winter 2020-2021. Charles of this parish is the person to ask though due to his line of business.
I think medium term a more realistic scenario is best practice being established. At the moment, nobody really knows what is the best way to treat people, what drugs might assist (and just as importantly any that have the opposite effect), when to deploy them.
You'd think by next winter there's probably going to be a vaccine and clear evidence for which drugs to use?
Italy is at about 2 months on that curve and will peak in a few weeks time. The UK peaks at about 3 times the maximum in Italy. Wow.
However I don't have any trust that this graph is at all reliable. The give away is Italy and S. Korea having the same curve, ie. it's someone's opinion.
It's also unlikely that their second peak will be so much higher than their first one. That said, I'm 100% bought into the UK strategy. I think this graph is illustrative more than anything else.
PSA shutting all car plants in Europe due to Virus
I should think that (the car) industry is one that will not be sorry to have production curtailed. As ICU cars are not selling in historic volumes production needs to reduce.
That seems an extraordinarily risky strategy for the UK to me. If South Korea, Taiwan, etc. have been able to nip the spread in the bud on this wave, why would they not be able to do the same again? Or at least use the intervening time to expand their ICU provision. Also, how to we know that it will be possible to manage the height and timing of the peak? Italy, for example, is struggling to keep infections to a manageable level despite virtually shutting down parts of its economy.
Isn't it also risky to take a chance on a second peak next winter which may be far worse? That's what you risk with a total lockdown now.
I don't see how letting 1% catch the virus now will make any difference to a second wave if it happens.
People, including govts, are losing the plot, there really cant be much danger from going for a walk or to the park if you are not showing symptoms and not physically contacting others.
The idea that we can live in tiny flats for 4 months without significant mental and physical consequences is absurd. Just let people use their judgement about going for a walk or to the park. We will all find our own good balance between the risks.
Would I be right in assuming this is gong to massively boost the drive towards online shopping on a permanent basis? The one issue for online shopping has always been the fear of the unknown and getting over that first step - especially amongst the elderly. But once they have been forced by circumstance to take the plunge I wonder if it will accelerate the move away from the high street to online shopping as the norm.
I'm sure it will, but I don't expect the downsides of online shopping especially online supermarket shopping will be improved by this crisis.
Negatives: Delivery slots, for me 2 hours is the maximum I will accept. I hate having to stay in all day for a delivery, and I don't want to pick up the delivery from a point chosen by the driver. I know that supermarket deliveries have 2 hout slots, but the good slots get taken really quickly.
When I tried supermarket shopping the interface was not great and it took as long to "do the shopping" as it takes to physically go to the shops, and online I don't get to see the quality of the produce.
Product replacement. "No, blackcurrent yoghurt is not an acceptable replacement for sour cream when cooking Mexican"
Positives Not having to queue in a line with corona positives Someone lugs the shopping up to the fourth floor for me.
Negatives: Can't check out the Milf in the supermarket...
People, including govts, are losing the plot, there really cant be much danger from going for a walk or to the park if you are not showing symptoms and not physically contacting others.
The idea that we can live in tiny flats for 4 months without significant mental and physical consequences is absurd. Just let people use their judgement about going for a walk or to the park. We will all find our own good balance between the risks.
You miss the point A walk in park becomes meet up with friends becomes bring a few cans etc. if it is simple then there is no excuse not to comply. I’m afraid people are stupid so you have to over compensate.
I do wonder about this. Whilst people may be buying more, unless its hand sanitiser, presumably people aren't consuming more? In fact, as people die, consumption will be lower. Plus, a few on here, and myself (who is overweight) have adopted a 'try a lose a bit of weight by eating less' attitude.
If all people are doing is stock piling, there will come a point when they stop stockpiling and start consuming. Then presumably we'll see manufacturers weeping as no purchases of non-perishable items are made for months.
Of course, there are some nutters who are 'stockpiling' perishables. Someone on Facebook posted a picture of the fruit and veg aisle emptied from Asda.
I think some of the "panic" buying is driven not by fear of the shops running out of stuff but by the calculation that visiting places full of people (e.g supermarkets) will become more risky as the epidemic intensifies, therefore buy lots now in order to reduce the amount you have to go out (to the shops) later.
And the alternatives were May still in office, or Corbyn.
Can you imagine the dither over every aspect of the science with May at the helm and only Nick Timonthy allowed in to see her?
Geography can be described as a science degree, as opposed to Classics, so there could be some basic understanding from May.
See straw; clutch!
Does the PM need a science degree right now, or need to put his faith in his scientific advisors?
I think so far *touch wood* the UK response being led by the CSO and CMO who are speaking directly on camera with the PM is working better than eg the US POTUS claiming now to be a virology expert despite never being involved in the subject or anything related, insisting that the CDC can only talk filtered through his Veep.
The prime minister does not need a science degree or to second-guess the boffins. It might come in handy to understand statistical projections, graphs, flattened curves and so on.
A little knowledge is a very dangerous thing in statistics, projections etc. Others may have a different take on it but Id say less than 1 in 5 with a science degree have a good understanding of statistics and probabilities. The problem is most think they know more than they do.
A killer virus is sweeping the nation and the computer geeks are rising up in protest....not at the coronavirus, but a graphing library for python has an inefficiency.
My attempts to work from home are being stymied by unreliable Wi-fi at the other end.
Yes I did wonder about whether all the firms asking staff to work from home had the network infrastructure for them all to "dial in". I work for one of the biggest tech companies on the planet and they have just asked people not to sit on the VPNs for longer than necessary to access internal systems.
A pretty pathetic performance really. I'm amazed they didn't already have a WFH framework and infrastructure in place.
I've spent nearly 2 decades working in FMCG, remotely based for a quarter of that. WFH and remote working only gets you so far when you make and distribute food. You might be able to have a crappy meeting with a Tesco sized customer by Skype. You can't with smaller ones. Your average wholesale buyer isn't going to sit staring at a screen. Actual retailers even less so.
Having worked for global companies we used video calls for site to site conference calls in between face to face. You still flew people over for face to face because in the real world you need to be able to see body language and eyeball your counterparts. You may consider it pathetic, I call it business...
People, including govts, are losing the plot, there really cant be much danger from going for a walk or to the park if you are not showing symptoms and not physically contacting others.
The idea that we can live in tiny flats for 4 months without significant mental and physical consequences is absurd. Just let people use their judgement about going for a walk or to the park. We will all find our own good balance between the risks.
You miss the point A walk in park becomes meet up with friends becomes bring a few cans etc. if it is simple then there is no excuse not to comply. I’m afraid people are stupid so you have to over compensate.
I think Austria has banned groups of 5 or more in public. You can still allow people things essential to their mental health like natural daylight and fresh air and keep things simple.
Went out onto my balcony, sighed at the beautiful blue sky and golden sunlight.
Got buzzed by the biggest fucking bumblebee I've ever seen.
Went back inside.
Welcome to your new life in quarantine.
I'm not in official quarantine, just WFH voluntary self-isolation. It feels a bit weird still, but now that I've supplied myself and loved ones with enough essentials to survive for the long term, at least my heart rate and blood pressure are returning to normal...
The Salmond trial, whatever its outcome, is providing fascinating, if grisly, reading about how the Scottish Government conducted itself during the run-up to the 2014 referendum, judging by the testimony so far. The public inquiry which will surely follow will be equally interesting. This will not be going away for a long time, even if the trial is being overshadowed in the media.
My attempts to work from home are being stymied by unreliable Wi-fi at the other end.
Yes I did wonder about whether all the firms asking staff to work from home had the network infrastructure for them all to "dial in". I work for one of the biggest tech companies on the planet and they have just asked people not to sit on the VPNs for longer than necessary to access internal systems.
A pretty pathetic performance really. I'm amazed they didn't already have a WFH framework and infrastructure in place.
I've spent nearly 2 decades working in FMCG, remotely based for a quarter of that. WFH and remote working only gets you so far when you make and distribute food. You might be able to have a crappy meeting with a Tesco sized customer by Skype. You can't with smaller ones. Your average wholesale buyer isn't going to sit staring at a screen. Actual retailers even less so.
Having worked for global companies we used video calls for site to site conference calls in between face to face. You still flew people over for face to face because in the real world you need to be able to see body language and eyeball your counterparts. You may consider it pathetic, I call it business...
In an ideal world, yes. However, the current crisis requires changes in behaviour. You should make your peace with that, and prepare.
How the f are others supposed to support the vulnerable if they aren't allowed out of their houses either. One shopping trip but not allowed to take the food to the guy down the road?
Five weeks? There's going to be riots.
Wait until they are told they have to do another five weeks!
The Salmond trial, whatever its outcome, is providing fascinating, if grisly, reading about how the Scottish Government conducted itself during the run-up to the 2014 referendum, judging by the testimony so far. The public inquiry which will surely follow will be equally interesting. This will not be going away for a long time, even if the trial is being overshadowed in the media.
A typical quote from the trial:
Woman B tells the court she never saw a single member of the Scottish Government challenge Salmond about his behaviour
Not sure if people think this wise or a waste of time but I'm putting together a few reading suggestions for those who are going to have a ton of time on their hands.
Trying to mix it up a little. Currently got: Lone Wolf gamebooks Sharpe series A few Chinese classics Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Complete Works of Shakespeare
Any quick suggestions to add to the list, bearing in mind I'm looking for time sinks?
Edited extra bit: questions should have question marks.
Comments
Somebody has to get into their heads and tell them this.
Sons girlfriend, a nurse working at the coal face has had her test come back negative.
she had been displaying some classic symptoms.
Negatives:
Delivery slots, for me 2 hours is the maximum I will accept. I hate having to stay in all day for a delivery, and I don't want to pick up the delivery from a point chosen by the driver. I know that supermarket deliveries have 2 hout slots, but the good slots get taken really quickly.
When I tried supermarket shopping the interface was not great and it took as long to "do the shopping" as it takes to physically go to the shops, and online I don't get to see the quality of the produce.
Product replacement. "No, blackcurrent yoghurt is not an acceptable replacement for sour cream when cooking Mexican"
Positives
Not having to queue in a line with corona positives
Someone lugs the shopping up to the fourth floor for me.
https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2020/03/15/gillum-withdraws-from-politics-after-link-to-suspected-drug-overdose-1267145
TALLAHASSEE — Andrew Gillum said he would withdraw from public life, closing a chapter in his career that took him from the peak of Florida power to a Miami Beach hotel room where he was found inebriated with a man suspected of overdosing on crystal meth.
“This has been a wake-up call for me,” the former Tallahassee mayor said in a written statement Sunday. “Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse. I witnessed my father suffer from alcoholism and I know the damaging effects it can have when untreated. I also know that alcoholism is often a symptom of deeper struggles.“...
I know a lot of people don't know their neighbours anymore but if a couple of isolators live near each other, or you live nextdoor to someone elderly, shared orders are one way to deal with the slots shortage. Admittedly the admin and money side are a bit of a faff but worth considering. Provides a potential solution when someone isn't computer literate too, so long as someone on the street is!
If all people are doing is stock piling, there will come a point when they stop stockpiling and start consuming. Then presumably we'll see manufacturers weeping as no purchases of non-perishable items are made for months.
Of course, there are some nutters who are 'stockpiling' perishables. Someone on Facebook posted a picture of the fruit and veg aisle emptied from Asda.
https://twitter.com/SciencePunk/status/1239488988584579072?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1239488988584579072&ref_url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/16/coronavirus-live-updates-us-cdc-events-europe-lockdown-uk-deaths-australia-france-italy-spain-update-latest-news
Telling people who don't normally to work from home or stay away from live events etc is part of locking down.
https://twitter.com/DanielFalush/status/1239049733974433798
There are going to have be very heavy activist and state-led policies pursued by politicians all over Europe to sustain all this, incidentally. Austerity will be a memory.
In fact I would regard it as a pre-requisite for a head of government to be able to take in quickly relevant details provided to him from the specialists, make difficult decisions and act quickly. This applies to any kind of crisis, not just a science-related one. The problem is that MPs and the PM do not have to satisfy job requirements and are almost never elected based on this competence.
https://twitter.com/TedPetrou/status/1239544177299525633?s=20
I hope there is something the government isn't telling us, because what I've seen so far isn't at all convincing!
However I don't have any trust that this graph is at all reliable. The give away is Italy and S. Korea having the same curve, ie. it's someone's opinion.
When people are confined to their homes for months on end, they might reflect on how they have allowed their lives and liberties to be destroyed in the name of a virus where the vast majority recover totally.
When will they get these liberties back?
Imperial students are supposed to be sitting maths exams online... and no one's quite worked out a solution for maths symbols typology that works under exam conditions...
(or so I have heard, having no expertise in these matters.)
The idea that we can live in tiny flats for 4 months without significant mental and physical consequences is absurd. Just let people use their judgement about going for a walk or to the park. We will all find our own good balance between the risks.
https://twitter.com/jamesrbuk/status/1239518511132749824?s=20
Having worked for global companies we used video calls for site to site conference calls in between face to face. You still flew people over for face to face because in the real world you need to be able to see body language and eyeball your counterparts. You may consider it pathetic, I call it business...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-51908343
The Salmond trial, whatever its outcome, is providing fascinating, if grisly, reading about how the Scottish Government conducted itself during the run-up to the 2014 referendum, judging by the testimony so far. The public inquiry which will surely follow will be equally interesting. This will not be going away for a long time, even if the trial is being overshadowed in the media.
Woman B tells the court she never saw a single member of the Scottish Government challenge Salmond about his behaviour
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/2076982/live-the-alex-salmond-trial-day-6/
Trying to mix it up a little. Currently got:
Lone Wolf gamebooks
Sharpe series
A few Chinese classics
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Any quick suggestions to add to the list, bearing in mind I'm looking for time sinks?
Edited extra bit: questions should have question marks.