International COVID-19 Megathread

[CumbrianLefty]

And with a "giant brain" pseudo-eugenicist lurking in the background.

Small wonder that conspiracy theories have thrived.

[CumbrianLefty]

Johnson still playing the now discredited "nudge" game, it appears (cynics also suggesting that not *making* pubs, theatres etc close will save his mates in the insurance industry money)

[CumbrianLefty]

The Islamic State has issued a travel restriction for their terrorists and have warned them to travel to „infected Europe“ ...

Missing a "not" there?

[CumbrianLefty]

The head of the German Robert Koch Institute has just said that the implemented restrictions for the public life could "in an extreme scenario" last two years.

Obviously, this would in practice probably not be sustainable IMO or otherwise it could cause a literal revolution (or unless elections aren't suspended a political party which promises a lifting of the restrictions could outright win). The longer this draws out the more support the "ust let the old farts just die" movement would probably gain traction. More than two months of this and there's gonna be blood in the streets.

Well an "extreme" scenario is by definition also an unlikely one.

Even if no vaccine is forthcoming soon, more effective treatments should become possible.

[CumbrianLefty]

...And Euro 2020 has been postponed for twelve months

Ugh, this hasn't happened since WWII? That's insane.

But assuming it *does* have to be postponed (the safe option at this point) this makes more sense than moving it to the coming winter as had apparently been seriously mooted.

[CumbrianLefty]

On other news, there's been lot of discussion about whether a presidential election, originally expected to take place in May, should proceed or not.

I would be surprised if it is not delayed at least a bit.

[CumbrianLefty]

The British response has been getting a bit of attention. The news here featured it using a Yes, Prime Minister sketch and then showed a load of tabloid headlines that seemed to think it was World War 2 again. Implication being that the UK seems to be having a totally normal one.

We've also had the head of pub chain Wetherspoons (a fanatical pro-Brexit ideologue) openly scoffing at the idea of shutting his establishments down and saying employees will have to turn up to work or be sacked.

[CumbrianLefty]

I've been putting my rudimentary italian to use and reading some of the coverage there, so there are a couple of articles worth sharing which go into a bit more depth about the numbers we've been seeing:

1. Firstly, this chart (which in fairness I got from the cesspool that is Vote UK):

Hell, if that place is a "cesspool" what does that make Facebook and Twitter?

(and yes, as with a few regulars on here I am slightly biased)

[CumbrianLefty]

Sweeping state socialism just announced in the UK.

Pubs* closing after tonight, despite the repulsive Tim Martin's self-interested bleatings.

(*lots of other places too)

[CumbrianLefty]

It won't kill many people (certainly those of non-pensionable age) on its own, but can cause serious long term effects in previously healthy individuals including permanent lung damage.

Another reason why trying to control it ASAP is the best policy.

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes, and several other countries including my own are a matter of weeks "behind" them

[CumbrianLefty]

Countries with *still* no official cases include - DPRK, Myanmar, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan.

And if you believe all that.......

[CumbrianLefty]

A lockdown of 3 to 4 weeks will buy us time to develop treatments (not necessarily a vaccine) that will save lives.

Yes this, I'm surprised at people still assuming its either "a vaccine or nothing".

Increased capacity for testing will help too.

[CumbrianLefty]

UK deaths up by 87 today, ouch. So much for that recent "plateau".

[CumbrianLefty]

Italy *may* be over the worst, I hope so.

[CumbrianLefty]

UK to switch to morning updates on cases/death numbers, which likely means nothing official today.

[CumbrianLefty]

It does seem like Westminster was probably one of the early epicentres of the disease, to be honest, so it's not a great surprise.

Maybe his public boasting of shaking hands with "loads of people" barely a fortnight ago wasn't wise either? At the very least, it perhaps betrayed a lack of seriousness at that time.

[CumbrianLefty]

Our health secretary Matt Hancock has also tested positive.

As has Angela Rayner, who will probably be Labour's new deputy leader a week tomorrow.

[CumbrianLefty]

181 deaths in the UK announced today

[CumbrianLefty]

260 deaths yesterday in the UK, this looks set to peak around Easter.

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes rather unfortunate, but Khan was saying much the same as many others (our PM included) back then.

[CumbrianLefty]

UK's death number today is significantly down, but this may be the "weekend effect".

[CumbrianLefty]

Now in the UK they're talking about a 6 month lockdown...

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52084517

It was actually "6 months before things are back to normal" - not *quite* the same thing.

[CumbrianLefty]

Now in the UK they're talking about a 6 month lockdown...

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52084517

Lmao, that's practically impossible

And as I posted upthread, its not what was actually said.

[CumbrianLefty]

569 virus related deaths in the UK yesterday - up "only" six from yesterday's figure but tbh some of us were hoping for a drop after the previous big jump. New cases also slightly down, though.