The Covid problem

And the point of your question is? 

Are you looking for an answer or posters personal opinion? 

Steve 

Either.

My thoughts on this Covid pandemic are completely another matter and couldn't even post on this site without the backlash of comments that I would get.

Countries and economies need to move on but as safe as possible before we are all ruined for many years to come.

So the answer to your question Gary in my own humble opinion would be to "target measures".

I understand your post but can also understand Steve's comment, but I'm assuming you just want to get a feel for this from the members.

I think targeted measures are the only practical solution in the sort to medium term. BUT they have to be realistic, we can't simply confine vunerable people to their homes indefinitely.

Test, track & trace needs to improve massively. People need to identify potential infections quickly and be able to take urgent action to prevent the spread. The current UK system is not fit for purpose let alone world beating.

We also have to accept the some measure, such as face masks and social distancing, need to apply to everyone not just vunerable people. Stronger enforcement for those breaking the rules will be required. 

Spain came up with a novel approach during lockdown where people of different age groups were permitted to exercise at specific times of the day. I don't know if this was successful at reducing the spread, but it has some merit of keeping vunerable groups away from the more social active who tend to contract and spread the infection. 

Paul

Why?

Hello Janice.

I suppose out of curiosity I wanted to guage the feelings of the forum as everyone I know personally seems to have the same view that most or all restrictions should be lifted. A case the cure being worse than the problem. So on the surface it would seem logical to lock down again but it has not solved anything has it? The very strick measures in Spain appear to have no effect. Spain is now the worst hit and I am wondering why. The UK had its own lockdown earlier this year (I was in Spain at the time for 4 months so missed this pleasure) yet the cases are again rising.

Based on this my opinion is we can never beat this. It is a virus now 'in the wild' and must be integrated. Thus I feel life should return to normal for those under certain ages or not 'at risk' groups. They can isolate and must be supported to isolate in every way. However, if we carry on like this there will be no society to go back to 'normal'. The warnings issued today from Downing Street and London's Khan are outdated and belong to the unknown times of early March. We surely have moved on from those days. Now, any lockdown will cause far more deaths from other illnesses and suicides than the Covid death rate, which I believe is 0.01 to 0.02% of infection. This is complete madness.

Gary,

What you are suggesting is that ~25% of the population should be forced to self isolate indefinitely. How do you propose we support them on a long term basis?

And in terms of the messages coming out of No. 10 being outdated. Expert predictions are there may be 50,000 cases per day by October. Based on your 0.01% death rate that's 182,000 deaths a year, or to put is another way, 10 times tge average annual flu deaths. Is this really your solution? Which members of your family would you include in this number?

I'm all for targeted measures, but not for sacrificing 25% of the population.

Paul

No I don't think those in the 'at risk' groups should be mandated to isolate. I am not for forced anything. What I feel is that they should be supported financially and medically if they decide to. If they don't that's fine. The alternative is what? An everlasting on/off lockdown, a depression which will finish off any tax revenues to pay for anyone's healthcare.

Spain and the UK and the world needs to get back to normal. There will be deaths but much less than the number currently being killed from lack of cancer care and all the other non-covid unreported deaths.

Also, these figues are HIGHLY disputed by a raft of other 'experts' Science is never fully set. I tried lately to see my own GP and I could only get a phone interview. I may have had a fatal condition which would never have been picked up by phone. Banding about such huge death rates are not supported by any evidence. We have not had these deaths and will not. This condition is nowhere near as fatal as flu yet we are locking down the world. To see this as anything as a plandemic is crass but you are entitled to your opinion as are others here so....

Please don't personalise this by asking which member of my family I would like to have killed. This forum has moved on and those members banned who used to use such nasty terms. Kindly read Alex's guide on how to conuct yoursel from now on. We have all been there / done that on here and it just puts people off posting.

Keep it nice and polite eh - if you don't agree fine. I can live with that.

Best regards

G

Fully agree.

Targeted but not mandated. We really need to get all economies moving. Failing to do that will mean thousands if not millions of more deaths from the rel killers: Cancer, Suicide, Heart conditions etc etc.

Our children are being psychologically harmed forever with an abnormal isolated upbringing also.

I feel we have all just had enough. Death rates can be believed or not depending on which group of scientists are currently acceptable by No.10, Madrid etc.

What is very clear now, and was not back in March, is the conditions imposed have had little or no impact on reported cases in Spain or the UK. Both countries have had their lockdowns and should be over this by now. So the new agenda? Blame the young. Blame the teenagers being selfish. I will never accept their divide and rule mentality and will never single out any group to get these useless governments with their policies acting like a bobbing cork in water off the hook. We need to focus on what we can see with our own common sense. Ending the reliance on baffoon Boris and his mess of a government is, in my opinion, a duty for those we will leave behind.

The solution to me now is clear. Adults to be treated as such and if I were 70+ (which I am not) or in another at risk group (which I am not I admit) I would not want my condition to end society as we know it. I would want the choice to isolate or take the risk. LIFE ITSELF IS A RISK!!!   That is boomer mentality and is totally selfish plus will just have the reverse effect of what was intended.

best

G