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It's also about giving them power to do things IF a situation does arise where they need those powers, rather than having to rush around after (even though its taken a long time to get into law).
Random people meeting up are unlikely to get caught; a brothel or prostitution ring might however be the kind of thing that might warrant such a law where it relates to sex.
I'm going to pre-empt QAR and go ahead and say that this is fething stupid and the British government has fething lost it.
No sarcasm, this is absurd. I respect the desire to limit the spread of the virus, etc. but this is going far too far.
What a joke. Already covered by existing social distancing, near impossible to enforce, and since when has trying to stop people having sex EVER worked?
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Overread wrote: a brothel or prostitution ring might however be the kind of thing that might warrant such a law where it relates to sex.
Given they are largely illegal already and avoiding the law anyways...
Not like they are a legal industry that could be regulated as such.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2020/06/01 18:10:18
I'm not too surprised that russia and china are making fast advances in these fields, they have a lot of volunteer human subjects (What the rest of the world might call dissidents) to experiment in.
Also there are initial trials testing of a possible vaccine getting underway.
My late grandfather used to tell me of ww2, when people had rationing books, limited meat, sugar, eggs, etc. and no new cars were made from 1942-1946. Looking at how we're handling covid, i dont know if we could win another ww2 level effort.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/06/02 03:18:58
"But the universe is a big place, and whatever happens, you will not be missed..."
I'm not too surprised that russia and china are making fast advances in these fields, they have a lot of volunteer human subjects (What the rest of the world might call dissidents) to experiment in.
.
This doesn't have anything to do with potential illegal experiments (and China isn't involved at all). Russia is fast tracking an existing ~25 year old, Japanese flu drug based on a very small initial test (which hasn't even finished yet), and are basically crossing their fingers and hoping that their 'modifications' will make it effective against Covid.
I'm not too surprised that russia and china are making fast advances in these fields, they have a lot of volunteer human subjects (What the rest of the world might call dissidents) to experiment in.
Also there are initial trials testing of a possible vaccine getting underway.
My late grandfather used to tell me of ww2, when people had rationing books, limited meat, sugar, eggs, etc. and no new cars were made from 1942-1946. Looking at how we're handling covid, i dont know if we could win another ww2 level effort.
Yes, easily actually, because an enemy in a conventional Sense you can conventionally organise and Mobillise against.
Unlike pandemics, which are unseren by the eye, remember at the End of the Day we are just apes with a bigger brain .
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/766717.page A Mostly Renegades and Heretics blog.
GW:"Space marines got too many options to balance, therefore we decided to legends HH units." Players: "why?!? Now we finally got decent plastic kits and you cut them?" Chaos marines players: "Since when are Daemonengines 30k models and why do i have NO droppods now?" GW" MONEY.... erm i meant TOO MANY OPTIONS (to resell your army to you again by disalowing former units)! Do you want specific tyranid fighiting Primaris? Even a new sabotage lieutnant!" Chaos players: Guess i stop playing or go to HH.
I'm not too surprised that russia and china are making fast advances in these fields, they have a lot of volunteer human subjects (What the rest of the world might call dissidents) to experiment in.
Eh using existing drug hoping it works. Pretty much what trump was all in with his drug(that he takes pre-emptively) that is being sold.
Big difference is japanese drug has a) had some positive signs b) isn't bunked yet. Trump keeps advocating drug that has shown just ability to increase death rate
The Turkish use Hydroxycloroquine and believe it works well as long as it is administered early. Their death rate is low, so they are doing something right.
It might be they have a generally youger population, of course. You have to control for such biasing factors when you study these things.
The biggest problem with trying to fast-track drugs is that in order to properly test them for side effects you need a relatively long time. You simply can't fast-track a study that's supposed to be looking at side effects over a 6-12 month period. You kinda need that length of time to do the study. I think anyone hoping for a miracle cure in the next couple of months should be very wary of anyone saying they've found one. The only situation where it might be feasible is something like the Russian trials using an already existing family of drugs, but even then any modifications can introduce new side effects.
Kilkrazy wrote: The Turkish use Hydroxycloroquine and believe it works well as long as it is administered early. Their death rate is low, so they are doing something right.
It might be they have a generally youger population, of course. You have to control for such biasing factors when you study these things.
Or they are reporting corona deaths as "accidentally fell from window" style.
More reliable sources than the authoritian turkey have had people die because of that stuff in tests. Death rate went up. Now whom you believe is another thing but I would be sceptical of turkey and it's kind.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/06/02 09:43:32
Sky News reporting that the UK enquiry into the disproportionate impact of covid-19 on BAME communities has been delayed due to fears of 'stoking racial tensions' amidst the ongoing protests.
I'm fairly sceptical that's why it's been delayed, though If find it believable that they want to hold it back until after PMQs, which will probably be dominated by George Floyd and subsequent events, to avoid having if conflated with it and making what will already be a difficult job for Johnson even worse.
Kilkrazy wrote: The Turkish use Hydroxycloroquine and believe it works well as long as it is administered early. Their death rate is low, so they are doing something right.
It might be they have a generally youger population, of course. You have to control for such biasing factors when you study these things.
Or they are reporting corona deaths as "accidentally fell from window" style.
More reliable sources than the authoritian turkey have had people die because of that stuff in tests. Death rate went up. Now whom you believe is another thing but I would be sceptical of turkey and it's kind.
What exactly is 'its kind'?
Turkish statistics should be treated with some caution, AKP are certainly liable to seek to flatten them, but they're certainly not misreporting them to a degree that doesn't still make them a relative success story.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/06/02 09:58:15
I'm finding it very hard to be positive about the UK situation at the moment - the Dominic Cummings incident has essentially given the 'all clear', either people assuming the risk is not as great as the gov was making out, or thinking "well if he can do it.. "
Now the UK is relaxing lockdown status at a time of higher daily rate of infection than was used as justification when the lockdown began.
Articles I have read from workers within the health service - where they managed to cope previously without being overwhelmed, and in some ways are better prepared for a second wave, but are now exhausted from the massive physical and emotional pressures of the past months. And of course the people who have not been attended to because of the virus, cancer sufferers turning up at hospital just weeks away from death. It is horrible.
And I read about the status of the testing and tracing system being unfit for purpose, and it likely taking some time before it is up to speed. The workers sat twiddling their thumbs because they are unable to log into the network systems, again a decision that was made that has lead us to this path.
Schools partly re-opening, highly vulnerable people now being allowed out again (what the actual feth..?!). The images I saw of VE day celebrations and parties, as though we were celebrating victory over the virus, and numerous other images of crowded groups. It is obvious that the ability of many to continue to isolate has gone and it will be very difficult to put back in place.
I'm not at all convinced that people are capable of strictly maintaining distance when socialising, and the horribly contagious nature of the virus means that it is likely to spread upon any kind of contact.
And to cap it .. Matt Hancock, who had given the impression of being at least well meaning if not competent, now you read that he has been heavily lobbied by the horse racing industry to the tune of over £100k over recent years. Suddenly, the decision to let Cheltenham go ahead, and for horse racing to start again immediately comes into focus.
Even if you really know it in the back of your mind, it is a horrifying realisation to understand (and have it presented in such stark terms) that the government is not really interested in the wellbeing of its citizens.
I understand the antidote for all of this is just to stop reading... but know it's important just for the sake of friends, family and colleagues (who are the only people I hope to be able to support)
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/06/02 10:42:43
And I read about the status of the testing and tracing system being unfit for purpose, and it likely taking some time before it is up to speed. The workers sat twiddling their thumbs because they are unable to log into the network systems, again a decision that was made that has lead us to this path.
If this is at all accurate, then it's going to be a disaster...
One day last week the number of new coronavirus cases registered at Bradford Royal Infirmary jumped to 30. Dr John Wright thinks there could be a link to VE Day parties that ended in fist fights, or in embraces.
The day after the Prime Minister announced an easing of the lockdown, the number of new Covid patients in the hospital fell to a reassuring three. And two of them were my medical colleagues.
The low figure partly resulted from delays in reporting, which happen every weekend, but there was still a collective sigh of relief. Maybe everything was going to be all right after all?
But three days later, on Thursday 14 May, the number of new Covid-positive patients had shot up to 30.
Well, it does, on a local level. The question is whether we'll see things snowball and become widespread.
I was talking to the security guard at Waitose yesterday. He said there had been a noticeable increase in "bad" behaviour -- couples expecting to be allowed in, him being sworn at by groups, and so on. He was in no doubt that it was the result of the relaxation of the rules being taken by some people as licence to do whatever they liked.
Kilkrazy wrote: Well, it does, on a local level. The question is whether we'll see things snowball and become widespread.
I was talking to the security guard at Waitose yesterday. He said there had been a noticeable increase in "bad" behaviour -- couples expecting to be allowed in, him being sworn at by groups, and so on. He was in no doubt that it was the result of the relaxation of the rules being taken by some people as licence to do whatever they liked.
A week or more ago I got that vibe from the local supermarket as well both at the tills and security.
And today activity was very high.
It's hard though - government is with one hand telling people to stay home and stay vigilant, but with the other they are opening shops and places of work; many of which require customers/clients to attend. So people are getting a really confusing mixed message and with good weather and weeks of lockdown many are simply reverting back to their old behaviour. It's understandable and yet at the same time very frustrating; esp when the government appears to be running around doing mad things like justifying car drives for eye tests. Basically showing that the rules can be flouted and aren't all that serious.
Heck its getting harder to convince my parents to remain in proper lockdown - already there are thoughts of drinking coffee with friends; going to play tennis etc... The government isn't helping darn it!
1) Most people don't need support when shopping - there is no need for two (or more) people to perform the task where one can do it just fine
2) Retail outlets attempt to restrict numbers, if they let two people in they have to then wait until those two both leave until they can let two more in. This means fewer individual shoppers moving around. They can let 10 people in to shop each; or 2 families of 5 people. OR they have to let in those two families AND the other 8 and thus they've increased the numbers way beyond what they wanted
3) It doubles the number of people who can be infected from a household and (likely more importantly) doubles the number who might be from an infected household into an enclosed space. It's doubling the risk related to that group.
This has been pretty standard practice through the lockdown - restricting numbers; reducing the amount of people in the store; reducing interactions and contact; attempting to curtail the chances of people breathing out the virus onto others and it spreading.
queen_annes_revenge wrote: ok, so what if that couple dont have a car and they need both people to cart the bags back to wherever they're going?
This sort of thing is why blanket policies like this dont work. because theres too much nuance in everyday life across the general public.
One waits outside the other goes in to shop, completing the shop using a trolley. They come out - produce goes into bags and the trolley back to the depo/person washing trolleys and they go home. They don't both need to go into the store to carry it home, the carrying happens outside (most supermarkets are advising people to bag outside the store not inside to reduce time inside).
Sure there will be people who need a carer or helper to get around who can't use home delivery (it was backed up for a long while and in some ares might still be). But by and large with trolleys you only need one person to walk around a store and put items into it
queen_annes_revenge wrote: ok, so what if that couple dont have a car and they need both people to cart the bags back to wherever they're going?
This sort of thing is why blanket policies like this dont work. because theres too much nuance in everyday life across the general public.
One waits outside the other goes in to shop, completing the shop using a trolley. They come out - produce goes into bags and the trolley back to the depo/person washing trolleys and they go home. They don't both need to go into the store to carry it home, the carrying happens outside (most supermarkets are advising people to bag outside the store not inside to reduce time inside).
Sure there will be people who need a carer or helper to get around who can't use home delivery (it was backed up for a long while and in some ares might still be). But by and large with trolleys you only need one person to walk around a store and put items into it
Or, even simpler, one goes and does the shop, then when they're almost done they call and the other comes and meets them, then nobody has to wait around unnecessarily getting wet/sunburned (delete as appropriate.)
Plus shopping for groceries is one of the legitimate reasons for using public transport so its allowed to call a taxi to drive you and your shop home.
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Kilkrazy wrote: Whenever I go to Aldi or Waitrose there are plenty of cars parked outside with one partner waiting while the other one does the shopping.
It's just a small proportion of people who can't understand why the rules have to apply to them too.
Anecdotally, in my experience couples are usually badly behaved within the supermarket.
I've noticed since the original "go outside as much as you like" easing that people are behaving far worse in the supermarket. Not just couples but parents with children in their mid to late teens, clearly old enough and functional enough to be left home. Last week a full family of four wondering around like a flock of sheep.
Some blame has to go on the supermarket for not enforcing the rules, but then they might in theory, but the personnel I've seen on the door have hardly radiated authority.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2020/06/02 20:34:25
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
Early in the epidemic I went to Waitrose. They had implemented a waiting rule but the door security was a pretty Indian girl who looked about 17 years old and had no authority. Some teenage boy just blew past her while I was waiting. Now they have a tough professional security guard.
Pacific wrote: Even if you really know it in the back of your mind, it is a horrifying realisation to understand (and have it presented in such stark terms) that the government is not really interested in the wellbeing of its citizens.
I understand the antidote for all of this is just to stop reading... but know it's important just for the sake of friends, family and colleagues (who are the only people I hope to be able to support)
It goes a lot deeper. The government is disinterested in the wellbeing of its citizens, but the government is also elected by those citizens. The larger situation is that people are apathetic to their own wellbeing, to which it makes sense that a government made from those people would share such apathy. It seems nonsensical that people would not be interested in their own wellbeing but that is a sum of the population; when the average individual has little concern about the wellbeing of people other than themselves that adds up to a society which is disinterested in its own good. That this is ultimately harmful to the individual is some parts irony and many parts karmic.
Democracy is wonderful in that it allows people to elect the government they deserve.
Kilkrazy wrote: Early in the epidemic I went to Waitrose. They had implemented a waiting rule but the door security was a pretty Indian girl who looked about 17 years old and had no authority. Some teenage boy just blew past her while I was waiting. Now they have a tough professional security guard.
I often have to readjust my perspective, at 6'5" it isn't unusual for people to describe other people to me as tall only for me to realise that yes, that quite small person is in fact 6' and for someone of average height would indeed be considered tall.
With that qualified though, I'm confident i could toss the lad who's been on the door at the local Asda the last two weeks into the bin one handed and at distance.
Thankfully when I've been any queuing has been limited and good natured, god knows what would happen of things got fractious for any reason.
We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark
The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.
The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox
For the vast majority the staff at the door are only there as a reminder and to help people know what to do. Ergo to permit them entry when others leave. Providing a point of minor control/authority on the situation that lets people put them in charge so they don't have to stress about what they should/shouldn't do.
So for the most part regular staff work in the role. It really is only a minority that cause trouble - often more for themselves in the long run than others.
WHO officials were lauding China in public because they wanted to coax more information out of the government, the recordings obtained by the AP suggest. Privately, they complained in meetings the week of Jan. 6 that China was not sharing enough data to assess how effectively the virus spread between people or what risk it posed to the rest of the world, costing valuable time.
“We’re going on very minimal information,” said American epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, now WHO’s technical lead for COVID-19, in one internal meeting. “It’s clearly not enough for you to do proper planning.”
“We’re currently at the stage where yes, they’re giving it to us 15 minutes before it appears on CCTV,” said WHO’s top official in China, Dr. Gauden Galea, referring to the state-owned China Central Television, in another meeting.
...
The recordings suggest that rather than colluding with China, as Trump declared, WHO was itself kept in the dark as China gave it the minimal information required by law. However, the agency did try to portray China in the best light, likely as a means to secure more information. And WHO experts genuinely thought Chinese scientists had done “a very good job” in detecting and decoding the virus, despite the lack of transparency from Chinese officials.
WHO staffers debated how to press China for gene sequences and detailed patient data without angering authorities, worried about losing access and getting Chinese scientists into trouble. Under international law, WHO is required to quickly share information and alerts with member countries about an evolving crisis. Galea noted WHO could not indulge China’s wish to sign off on information before telling other countries because “that is not respectful of our responsibilities.”
...
“It’s obvious that we could have saved more lives and avoided many, many deaths if China and the WHO had acted faster,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
However, Mokdad and other experts also noted that if WHO had been more confrontational with China, it could have triggered a far worse situation of not getting any information at all.
If WHO had pushed too hard, it could even have been kicked out of China, said Adam Kamradt-Scott, a global health professor at the University of Sydney. But he added that a delay of just a few days in releasing genetic sequences can be critical in an outbreak. And he noted that as Beijing’s lack of transparency becomes even clearer, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s continued defense of China is problematic.
“It’s definitely damaged WHO’s credibility,” said Kamradt-Scott. “Did he go too far? I think the evidence on that is clear….it has led to so many questions about the relationship between China and WHO. It is perhaps a cautionary tale.”
WHO and its officials named in this story declined to answer questions asked by The Associated Press without audio or written transcripts of the recorded meetings, which the AP was unable to supply to protect its sources.
...
Sorry for my spelling. I'm not a native speaker and a dyslexic.
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