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M.T. wrote: "I am still trying to get my head round why it is such a big deal. I can't...."The media has nothing to panic about after brexit?
I'm like you, I'm not sure what is going on. For example the mortality figures vary wildly between countries, but then some appear only to count as having the virus those treated in hospital which means that by definition they miss the mild ones.
An interesting article here
https://www.livescience.com/why-italy...
In crude terms Italy may have such a high death rate for two reasons, one it's got an ageing population, but secondly it's not testing many people
"Finally, the country may not be catching many of the mild cases of COVID-19. Often, as testing expands within a community, more mild cases are found, which lowers the overall death rate, Gordon said. This was the case in South Korea, which conducted more than 140,000 tests and found a fatality rate of 0.6%, according to Business Insider.
"We probably don't know how many people have actually become infected," Johnson said. People with more mild symptoms, or those who are younger, may not be going to get tested, she said. Johnson suspects that the true fatality rate in Italy is closer to the global fatality rate of 3.4%."
Jim wrote: "Will wrote: "That seems to be a general thing across Goodreads. Losing a little of its audience, perhaps?"I wonder if it's dying in the face of things like facebook. After all there are so many f..."
that's what I was going to say, it isn't just here, the two cat forums I am members of are also a lot quieter recently.
Had a text off my doctor, they have been told to suspend open surgeries from Wed. While I can kind of understand it, how does that work for hospitals? I’m sure there will be more people on the ward for my neighbours injection on Thu than my doctors surgery.I think there were similar things with bird flu MT, we definitely did more at work about it. I mentioned the sepsis thing to a colleague yesterday and his explanation was that sepsis isn’t contagious like corona is.
Woke up this morning and my jaw was really sore, could barely open my mouth to brush my teeth! Seems to be easing a bit now, eating breakfast was uncomfortable (I eat dry cereal, but did bring some porridge just in case I couldn’t manage it!). Going to the chemist after work, eyes are quite itchy at the moment. Pleased about the interest rate, means my mortgage will come down – not that I will accept that, but it increases my overpayments. I checked my toilet rolls, while I have enough for 2 weeks, I’m probably going to buy some this week just in case. Colleague went to Costco last night, they had sold out of pasta, beans and toilet rolls, and were restricting sales of kitchen rolls! I do find it ironic that the health minister has coronavirus!
I don't know about this virus. I really don't.Some commentators are talking it down. Others are talking it up. WHO have just declared it to be a pandemic. The UK Govt are not yet imposing travel restrictions.
I don't know, so I am not going to pretend that I do.
Will wrote: "I don't know, so I am not going to pretend that I do...."everybody else does :-)
Will post properly later, day off but up earlier than I do to go to work, as have to take my neighbour to the hospital for 9, am going to try and find a quiet place to finish my book while waiting. Then got to go and collect the hire car at 1.30 and a vet visit at 2.40. Need to get some milk on the way back from one of those, and might do the ironing.
sounds like you might need a day at work for a rest Desley
Jim wrote: "sounds like you might need a day at work for a rest Desley"Yeah, you could be right!
What a busy day, ready for bed now! We set off later than planned, but only took an hour to get there. Despite being told we had to be there for 9, she didn't get called till nearly 10, I went and had breakfast, then thought I better wander over to M & S to get the sandwiches before settling down with my book, was just on my way back to the ward to wait when she rang to say she was finished! As we had finished early, we nipped to the retail park for her to get some cat food, went to get the hire car, they have given me a Hyundai i10, its very whiny, I'm used to small automatics being a bit noisy when changing gears, but this one was even when I didn't have my foot on the gas! Brakes are very keen. Interesting vet visit, lots of signs up and she told me some of their contingency plans. I did end up there longer than planned as she forgot about me! I was enjoying my book and Lucy was asleep so I stayed, I was going to finish my chapter then remind people, but the vet nurse remembered me. Then put the bin out and went to co-op, got back just before the rain started. Very windy now and noticed we have a weather alert for wind, not surprised, wheely bins are being blown over, so I've parked the hire car in the spare place, so it doesn't get damaged! Needless to say as I'm only just sat down with a cup of tea, the ironing will wait.
Hiya, I haven't been on here since 116 posts ago. However, I have read them all and am up to date now. What have I been doing? I really don't know - just bits and bobs!! We had one online book festival, am prepping for another on the 28th, writing when I can and the day job has gone bananas. Just not enough hours in the day, I guess.Our supermarket shelves are the same as everywhere else. The pasta aisles are empty by closing but, strangely, not the jars of sauce. But the boat comes in every day (weather permitting!) and the shelves get filled again.
Kelly wrote: " The pasta aisles are empty by closing but, strangely, not the jars of sauce...."Somebody isn't thinking ;-)
Our facility is on strict rules - no unessential visitors, no outside groups, no groups larger than 20, and very careful rules implemented about food (servers instead of helping yourself at the buffet, people encouraged to take their food home).Hatches battened down, one can only hope it slows the progression.
All three of my kids are at home - no going in to work.
Hope your government is taking appropriate measures.
The problem we have is that if we shut the schools in this country is who looks after the children. So for example over 70% of women are in employment and 80% of men. Of the rest a lot are retired and the sort of people who ought to be self-isolatingSo if we shut schools, a lot of people will have to stop work to look after children. This will cause chaos, supermarket supply chains might break down because we've not got the people to drive the wagons, load the wagons, or work out what does on the wagons.
Similarly with us, even if we kept milking have they the staff to collect the milk, process it or even to ensure when we order dairy feed, it arrives?
You would get, in an instant, a lot of the problems that we fear if people are laid off with the illness
The trick seems to be to manage the contagion so that everyone is not sick at the same time, and it doesn't overwhelm medical facilities and personnel, especially help with breathing.That's what I fear the most.
Surprise concert at my son's school last night. Well ... it wasn't a surprise to the normals and organised people but it was to me. Thoroughly enjoyed it. What struck me was how many kids were doing music - they are all taught to read music as standard, like kids in other schools are taught to read and write. Also the teachers had chosen some cracking things to do, including a string quartet version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, with lots of plucking/pizzicato which made it sound like Purcel or some such. Dead impressed. Finale was my son playing drums for Smoke on the Water in 'Rock Band'. He's actually rather good. Had to video it all for his dad but it was great fun.
Cheers
MTM
Urgh, got woken up at 6.15 by Lucy being sick, then realised my jaw was really sore again, could barely open my mouth to call her name. I did discuss with the vet last night whether we need to stop the acupuncture and look at something else, I’ll do it next month as she had her boosters as well yesterday, before fully deciding. Think it’s cos I ate some crunchy veg last night, so had porridge for breakfast rather than my usual dry cereal, and have soup for lunch. We have introduced a load of measures at work, including encouraging working from home, so the office is a bit quiet! I might do it one day next week. Ironically I’m a bit nasally today as my colleagues decided to bring some daffodils in to brighten the office, as they didn’t think cut flowers affected hayfever. Going food shopping after work, will be interesting to see what is on the shelves. No rain so far today, I did struggle to turn the windscreen wipers off this morning, as I’d had to use them on the way back last night. Forgot to mention, when I was sat in the café yesterday having my breakfast, I’ve never seen cleaners spray so much disinfectant on a table. Randomly there were two of them, both had gloves, one had a disposable apron, the other didn’t! Nice to see you Kelly, I was wondering if everything was OK. How bizarre that dry pasta is going, but not the things you would put with it! Seems a very sensible plan of action Alicia. I wondered that Jim, it’s OK closing schools, but if parents can’t get the time off, who can look after them? Grandparents will be in the higher risk category. Love how you had a surprise concert MT!
Alicia wrote: "The trick seems to be to manage the contagion so that everyone is not sick at the same time, and it doesn't overwhelm medical facilities and personnel, especially help with breathing.That's what ..."
That's what the UK plan is all about, 'flattening the peak'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-en...
Well, that was an interesting food shop, Aldi looked normal till you got to the toilet rolls, which was completely empty - even their basic stuff that I've never seen anyone buy were gone! Apparently the dried pasta was too, but I didn't notice that while buying my couscous. So walked to Lidl after I got back, unfortunately they were also out of toilet roll! Annoyingly my neighbour had been to the cheap shop who had some, but didn't think of checking if I wanted some, so can only share what she bought for her! Just tried eating some breakfast, and found a hard crunchy bit, that pesky crown I went for last week just fell out. Luckily dentist is open, and I rang early enough to get the emergency app they have on a Sat, so am going at 11.10. Will nip to Home Bargains on the way back for the stuff I was going to get from the village (ironically including toothpaste!). Not much housework, and going to a friends after tea for a couple of hours. Do hope we can try and do something with this virus, having over 200 cases in one day seemed scary, but now they are stopping counting cases.
Jim wrote: "That's what the UK plan is all about, 'flattening the peak'"Well, that is what they are claiming. The problem is that just about every other country is doing it differently. Does this mean that the UK is different from everywhere else? Or perhaps we have smarter scientists?
Today we have a WHO spokesperson criticising the UK approach.
I would like to think that we could trust our Government to listen to the advice from clever folk and do the right thing by us. I could accept if that means we do something counter-intuitive because sometimes science is counter-intuitive.
But do I trust this lot, with their track record of not telling the full truth? Ah, no. Colour me sceptical.
A spot of normalcy: after dinner with friends (nothing special - just the daily dinner, but served because we aren't allowed to get near the food any more), I went and floated around in the warm therapy pool for 45 minutes. It had been three weeks - I've been at home recovering from the flu, and even less energy than usual - and there wasn't another soul around. All for myself!Really needed that. Came back by way of the outdoor route - and got out a few minutes for the day. Still no word from China on fixing my steed - and then, once we get it figured out, it will probably take weeks by ship to get the part. Talk about wrong place, wrong time!
Will wrote: "Jim wrote: "That's what the UK plan is all about, 'flattening the peak'"Well, that is what they are claiming. The problem is that just about every other country is doing it differently. Does this..."
Countries are very different. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/... gives interesting statistics as the proportion of women in the workforce working full time.
Similarly very few countries have children starting school as early as we do, so closing the schools has more impact on more people in the UK https://expatchild.com/school-startin...
Apparently when we start our families, we've moved further from our parents that they do in a lot of countries.
All sorts of comparatively small factors add to the picture. Once you start feeding this sort of stuff into epidemiological modelling, you start getting very different answers.
Shaikh wrote: "Will somebody will help me?"What can we do for you?
Thanks for the replyM.T. McGuire
Why don't you ask him ? he may have he will give it to you ,I would not mind this
He would give it to you he would not mind this ?
Are these lines are good English?
Whay was the fight about ? What was the qourrel about ?I don't know what exactly happen to him /they were in an argument and there was an acrimonious xç conversation was going he instantly /suddenly got out of the car and began beating him ?Actually what was the qourrel about ?
I don't know what was the qourrel about ,there was plenty of time to stop them they were not holding back each other /there was plenty of time to stop /I tried to stop them plenty of time but we tried to stop them ,plenty of time but they were not holding back each other /
please Help me to correct the given lines I shall be happy
It is my painful request to all the group members....
Jim - yes and apparently we don’t use trains and planes or go to football matches or concerts like anyone else either.When WHO questions the UK’s approach it goes far beyond anything that can be justified on demographics.
M.T McGuire I respect you and all the members .. because you are the writer..
you are senior ..than me..
But still I am requesting to all the members to help me..
because I am learning British language...
And I love it very much...
Don't get me wrong at all ...I am your junior....
Will wrote: "Jim - yes and apparently we don’t use trains and planes or go to football matches or concerts like anyone else either.When WHO questions the UK’s approach it goes far beyond anything that can be ..."
The government has done what it always does in these circumstances, it just dumps it into the hands of the epidemiologists. Given that thanks to FMD and other diseases ours are probably as close to cutting edge as any
It may be that other countries have just given into political expediency
The problem is that you cannot stop the virus. We managed with fmd but they won't let us use those techniques
So you have to accept it will spread through the population, if not now, then next winter. So the only decent solution is to build up our herd immunity whilst protecting the vulnerable. Once we have a decent level of immunity within the population, the vulnerable will safer
But let us assume they shut schools. The fear is that with the virus, the NHS might lose 25 to 30% of the workforce. Shut the schools you might achieve nearly that figure without the virus taking part.
Also one problem we have here, our foodbank has been approached by a school. If they close, who is going to provide meals for the 240 children who have free school meals? Will the foodbank do it?
The answer is we haven't the food, our volunteers are predominantly over sixty, and we cannot do cooked food.
Also for a lot of these children the cooked meal at school is the only cooked meal they get each day. So could we organise a feeding station where they could all come and get their one cooked meal?
But wouldn't that rather defeat the point of shutting the school?
Well, dentist was able to re-glue my crown back on, and we can still do the root canal next month, unfortunately the toothache is now worse than it was a few weeks ago, I was on the verge of going back and asking her to take it back off, but I'm going to give it till Mon in case it just needs to settle down. Home Bargains was way busier than normal, with no toilet rolls. Forgot the toothpaste until I saw the person behind me putting some on the belt! Nipped to local cheap shop for my neighbour, the woman in front of me was commenting on how much sanitiser she had, apparently her husband is a wholesaler, but he has been told the next batch of Cussons handwash will be more expensive, so that is clearly the next issue! Just read a scary statistic that 21 people have now died, which is nearly double than yesterday.
Jim wrote: "Will wrote: "Jim - yes and apparently we don’t use trains and planes or go to football matches or concerts like anyone else either.When WHO questions the UK’s approach it goes far beyond anything..."
I think the plan sounds sensible, personally. I'm not sure what else can be done. If we're all on lock down there'll be no-one to treat the sick and they'll still die, plus we still won't build up any immunity and we'll just be stuffed next year, instead.
Just to add to the joy, I've gone deaf in one ear so I'll have to go and get that syringed.
Cheers
MTM
M.T. wrote: "Just to add to the joy, I've gone deaf in one ear so I'll have to go and get that syringed...."Remember to shout when you're answering M.T. :-)
Shaikh wrote: "No body is helping me I. am helpless now"I'm not sure we quite understand your question
I’m just so relieved we didn’t go to France last Sunday as planned. France has now closed schools and all bars, restaurants etc. Which is hell of shock. My concern is still not for me but for our daughter - the sequels of meningitis are seriously affecting her. Balance, head pains, Her sight and hearing are both affected. If they confine the oldies like us I shan’t be able. to be much help and that worries me more than catching it myself.
I’m not convinced it wasn’t about long before Christmas as my healthy neighbour went down with an illness and had to see a pneumonia specialist. I had something similar which lasted for about 6 weeks while daughter was in hospital. I just had to keep going as I had the little boy to look after. It wasn’t flu and my husband didn’t get it. There’s been some nasty bugs about.
It’s really worrying, a lot of commerces and businesses aren’t going to reopen afterwards. I’m trying not to go down the ‘what if and what about ‘ route as I don’t want to overthink the situation but I must admit I’m very worried.
Had a lovely evening with my friend, but a bad night sleep due to my teeth! At 1am I was tugging on my crown in the attempt to pull it off, it was hurting so much. It has settled down now, but the other side is painful, I couldn't lie on that side, might have to increase my anti-inflams. Glad I don't have much on today as I had to have a lie in, and still feel drained. I bet you are so relieved that you didn't go to France Lynne. How close to your family do you live? I still haven't shaken off my cough from the virus I had before Christmas, despite two lots of antibiotics, at least my chest x-ray was clear. I have seen posts on facebook about supporting local businesses during this to help them survive, makes me wish I'd not gone to Home Bargains yesterday as I could have got everything from my local cheap shop and pretty much the same price.
If I walk to daughter it’s about 12 minutes. If I drive it’s about 10 by the time I open and shut garage doors etc. So not far at all. I seldom get into 4th gear on the drive there as it’s very built up and lots of parked cars. . Harry’s school is very close to her house about 10 minutes with a reluctant 5 year old. Although he’s been much happier lately and quite keen to get there.
Is there anyway of all living together so you can all self isolate?
Hello, each. I'm still here, but locked in my editing cave. Look after yourselves and each other.
I'm trying to write a witty, pithy set of emails for people who sign up to hear about my audiobooks. I'm guessing I should make them the same as the one people get when they sign up to hear about my books with audio-centric sprinklings but if I do that, folks from my list will have seen it already.Ho hum ...
Cheers
MTM
No chance of that Desley. She has two cats, three terriers and i have a Dobermann idiot dog. Her partner works so he’d be coming in as well from work - Harry is at school until it either closes early or for Easter.
My luck is changing. I’ve just had a text from ‘ T VLicen se ‘. Looks really official does it not? apparently I’m owed a refund 275.43 As I’ve never had one in my own right I somehow think it’s a scam. scam alert.
Neighbour asked if I wanted to nip to retail park and cheap shop earlier, so I said yes. Cheap shop was heaving, never seen so man people, and apparently it had quietened down! Then we nipped into Aldi, what a difference less than 48 hours makes! They had put signs up limiting items to 4 per customer, but the shelves had been decimated! She chatted to one of the managers she is friendly with, they have been asked to do 70 hour weeks to try and keep shelves stocked. She needed milk, but Aldi had none at all, so we had to call at Co-op, which did, but they were out of bread and beans! That made her panic, so she wants to bring forward our quarterly trip for cat litter. She ordered it as I'm off on Wed, but then realised they are closed on Wed, so am going to see if I can get half a day off on Thu to collect it. Tooth is still niggly and eating is tricky, I bought some soft food while we were out.Yeah, that would be an interesting household Lynne! Sorry you got a TV licence scam
I was just thinking how hard it is going to be to deal with things like dental emergencies, Desley - hope you can avoid actually having to go in, and still get rid of the pain.
Shaikh, just stop. This is not the place to ask for money, if that is actually what you're asking because frankly it is hard to understand you.Morning all. Kind of in limbo here, not quite sure what to do with myself...
Just popped in to see how everyone is doing and it looks like we've got a spammer.Would you like the honour Rosemary, or shall I?
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I wonder if it's dying in the face of things like facebook. After all there are so many facebook groups now all doing pretty much what goodreads could do, but with pictures