egg

Absolutely. The masses are carrying on as normal and minimising it. Comparing it to flu is as relevant as comparing it to toothache.The video that MLG posted on the other thread is horrible but people need to see it. I keep seeing fb memes with death stats that down play it. People look at how many died a month ago and assume that cos flu, malaria or whatever kills lots of people this stuff ain't an issue and carry on as normal. Countries don't close down cos of flu - governments are reacting as they are out of necessity. People need to wise up to this disease and take responsibility for themselves and others.

Perk

Midfielder

That's one perspective. Their perspective is that we'll likely all (or most) get it and that there's wisdom in doing so while there's bed space. It's a view shared by some medics I know with the suggestion of then self isolating. I'm not minimising this one bit, I've recognised the seriousness from day one. I'm distancing big time but many aren't and the spread will be dramatic. Would I rather get it when there's bed/ventilator availability, of course. Will I force it, of course not.

I was speaking to a mate earlier who was talking about having one. Him and his wife have no at risk friends or family, are young and healthy and want them and their kids to get it and have immunity. I'm not sure if accept the invite personally, but part of me would prefer to get it when there is a chance of a hospital bed should it hit me hard.

Sadly you're not alone. The boredom will have us googling bar codes soon.

? Spot on Del. If ever there was a time to support the independent businesses its now.

Yep, muppets galore out there. Use Polish supermarkets as the Poles aren't divs and don't strip the shelves. And the doughnuts are good.

...

60% was the initial UK herd immunisation figure. I thought it had been reported that Merkel had said up to 80% of Germans could get infected, but looking at the NYT article it was 2/3 - still a hell of a lot. Those are the only references to 60/80% I've seen.

Two

All good questions but in life I think the most important words are "I don't know". Other people do know, apparently, so I'll listen to them. Whilst I have questions I want answered, I won't get those answers, and all anyone will get on here is a variety of opinions from people who's opinions are irrelevant. That then leads to the usual suspects - you being one - arguing persistently that their guess is superior to everyone else's guess. I have no issue with that on many subjects, but not on something as vital as this. A cross party working group may well happen, but ultimately scientific and medical matters have been handed over to people with the relevant expertise and personally I see little point in more politicians sticking their oar own. Re staying home, do so if you wish to. Mrs Egg isn't in a high risk group but she's told her employers she's staying home. Individuals can make personal decisions (admittedly easier for some than others) ahead of government policy.

I don't know the numbers but it's irrelevant. Corona ain't flu. Corona has no vaccine thus nothing to stop the spread / impact on the vulnerable. We know how to manage / treat flu. This is new. Frankly I'm getting fed up with all mention offlu. It's about as relevant as mentioning gout or toothache. Many people are blind to the magnitude of this situation.

What that this isn't flu and that drastic means needs drastic measures? The actions of numerous governments, and the £330bn bail out today, and the freeing up of 30,000 hospital beds, suggests it's properly fecking serious. If you mean the numbers, I was referring to last nights leaked report. Don't shoot the messenger pal.

Nice ? Started with the first one. St Jude vinyl now playing. Closer going on next.

Whoa big man, it ain't my story!

Yep, brilliant telly.

Whilst I'm genuinely sorry to hear that, people need to wake up to what this is. The leaked report last night said that the best case scenario would be 250,000 deaths. Quarter of a million, if we're lucky. If we're unlucky, feck knows how many. This ain't flu - drastic means / drastic measures.

Yep. I think a lot of director level people in real world companies won't see anything for some time. In fact, many will put cash in to keep things afloat and keep the staff paid.

This issue goes deeper than just whether kids are in school, but the point is being laboured. I share the view that I find the policy odd, but people with bigger brains than me have made a decision and I'll go with it. I'm not sure what post upon post is achieving. The squabbling on other threads is tedious and it's a shame that this thread has gone down the usual route. Personally I'd like to be able to discuss something as important as this without having petty disputes clogging the thread. If people want to flirt, do it by pm cos it's fecking boring.

Quite. We're at the start of a major crisis and these 2 are going at it like a pair of toddlers. It's pathetic.

Money from where? If sky ain't getting a product the sky money stops flowing. If the punters don't get footy, the sky subscriptions stop.

Man

The need for schools as daytime child care is for the parents, many of who provide essential services for us all. I get that completely, however, the issue is whether that should come at the inevitable cost of the children widening the spread. It's a tough balance and we can all only hope that we've got it right.

SOG has been like a dog with a bone on this but he has a good point. My little one is still in school. She is in contact with countless kids and adults. She may well bring this disease into our home. My work necessitates me coming into contact with people - my little one going to school exposes those people as well as my family. Of course it'd be a pain if school shuts but we'd find a way, and frankly the bigger picture is best served by her being at home imo. My 18 year old is on her a level year. She wants her studies to finish, exams done so that she can plan for uni. She's in a state of flux. If exams are ditched and uni has to be put off it'd be **** for her and thousands of others, but tough, this is a crisis. It's obvious that we need to stop the spread, and it's obvious that if we continue to adopt the keep calm and carry on attitude, that we won't slow it down. Sure, essential service providers have kids in school but the need for them to have daytime child care is not the only consideration here.