Lockdown

From what I can find, the first recorded infection in Spain was on the 30th Jan; the first recorded death was on the 3rd March, by which time there had been a total of 165 recorded infections.

I suppose when you talk about a 'delay' in lockdown, the fundamental problem is at what point in the cycle of infections/deaths would be the 'expert' medical opinion and advice be to go to a lockdown. To be honest what a decision to have to make, it's a 'dammed' if you do, 'dammed' if you don't. 

A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019.

• WHO is working 24/7 to analyse data, provide advice, coordinate with partners, help countries prepare, increase supplies and manage expert networks.

• The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020.

• On 11 February 2020, WHO first announced the name for the new coronavirus disease: COVID-19.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

V

Thanks for all your replies guys. Now can I ask how you feel about the situation has been handled in Spain? Personally I think that the Spanish government have been the most vigilant of all the countries affected. 

OK - asking how we 'feel' about the situation - well this is always going to be a minefield of opinion and contention. But for what it is worth here goes:

I think that in most cases all countries reacted rather slowly, but this is understandable given the unknown vagaries of a variant of a virus that hadn't been seen before. Once the serious of the situation started to hit home I think the Spanish government reacted in a timely manner, not as well as some but certainly better than others. And again, given the seriousness of the pandemic I think the course they have steered since the lockdown has been pretty effective. If you are going to have a lockdown, I think that at least Spain has been more thorough in the implementation of the lockdown compared to most countries. My view is that if you are going to do it, then do it properly.

Time will tell if a total lockdown like we've had here (to date 598 deaths/million pop), compared to the Sweden model of partial measures (to date 384 deaths/million pop) was actually the best course of action.

However there are so many variables (population density/capacity of the healthcare system/financial viability of the individual country - as just a few examples), will there ever be a definitive answer.

Where you have any country where the executive is trying to do its best and they have had to make these decisions, I don't envy them. It's a lose/lose situation.

Sorry if this is more than you wanted.

Thanks again for your input regarding this subject. Interesting to hear other people’s op

Hi i am in the uk also and ithink this person is wrong as it seemed that spain went into lock down very quickly certainly much quicker than the uk it has been 8 weeks now and spains rules were/are  much more strickter than the uk we stiĺl have people flocking to the beaches and parks whenever the weather is good very little policing of the rules here im afraid...

I think spain has done exceedingly well. Far better than uk. It is important that we follow the rules of we want to stay safe and well. UK government is scared to say face masks they say coverings and to wear in supermarkets "if you want". Rubbish. Wear them and shut up or face the consequences. 

I think spain has done exceedingly well. Far better than uk. It is important that we follow the rules of we want to stay safe and well. UK government is scared to say face masks they say coverings and to wear in supermarkets "if you want". Rubbish. Wear them and shut up or face the consequences.