Brexit, for once some facts.

[oldgroaner]

Into the Abyss
https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/tom-swarbrick/epidemiologists-coronavirus-lockdown-could-last-18/

There is a possibility that lockdowns could last over a year if the government are waiting for a vaccine to coronavirus.

Then someone had better throw a few Billion pounds and huge resources at finding a cure, hadn't they?
Or simply issue cyanide pills to the elderly (purely to reduce the transmission rate)
A suitable explanation would sound like this
When the Great Fire of London was at its height, we blew up rows of houses to create firebreaks

 

[Woosh]

I think the article is oversimplistic and the lockdown is only for a few weeks until its effectiveness can be assessed.
It's not like we don't have any antiviral treatment, it's just that we have not had enough time to go through systematically all the CSRs. At present, it's up to the doctors to try out various antivirals for those under extreme danger and there are more than 100 antiviral compounds to try plus many more in the pipeline.
The most talked about treatment tried in Wuhan was given only to 70 patients. Not a very large number.
Human trials of a vaccine started already in the US.

 

[oyster]

Human trials of a vaccine started already in the US.

Good to they have got that far but a long way yet to go:

Despite the rapid progress, even if the vaccine is proved safe and effective against the virus, it will not be available for at least a year.

 

[Woosh]

while waiting for a vaccine, let's hope that the doctors will come up with some treatment plans for those with underlying health conditions. Some of us will be more than 10 times at risk of dying compared to someone of the same age and healthy.

 

[oldgroaner]

De Pfeffel demonstrates how to turn a question into another policy rant

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1240019479402340352

 

[Woosh]

De Pfeffel demonstrates how to turn a question into another policy rant

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1240019479402340352

I can see the reasoning behind both question and government's loan guarantee.
The tax income is about half of the GDP, if government allows companies and individuals to suspend their tax payments, government will be forced to borrow a lot more. The loan guarantee does not cost anything right now.
The onus of paying wages has to be placed first on businesses with the state in second.

 

[oyster]

while waiting for a vaccine, let's hope that the doctors will come up with some treatment plans for those with underlying health conditions. Some of us will be more than 10 times at risk of dying compared to someone of the same age and healthy.

Completely agreed. Better understanding of how to treat everyone who get serious issues, and the specific best treatments for each person/underlying condition.

In my little niche, we are still utterly unsure at the impact of low or excessive thyroid hormone levels, and the main cause of hypothyroidism in the UK - autoimmune disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis).

Most of the time it is, simply, ignored. Despite it being a huge number of people - when I first looked, it was 2.1% of the people registered at my then GP surgery. It has gone up significantly.

I have uncovered that the thyroid hormone triiiodothyronine (understandably, usually called T3), drops and that is a well-known issue in serious disease. But no information whatsoever as to whether adding some T3 helps, or not.

Massive level of ranting about vitamin C - in doses that are probably unachievable for most of us. Even 200 grams a day. (Even quite ardent supporters usually only suggest 500 milligrams to two or four grams a day.) Ensuring vitamin D is adequate. And whatever China has said - though Italy will, I am sure, be pushing out some information.

And some intriguing suggestions about various other alternative medicines.

 

[Barry Shittpeas]

De Pfeffel boobs again
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/boris-johnson-politico-claim-on-ventilators-1-6565843
Boris Johnson joked his ventilator appeal could be dubbed ‘operation last gasp’

This dangerous man is costing lives
We are a nation lost in a wilderness , led by Vultures and Hyenas

The man is a ******* idiot. We need someone to tread the thin line between conveying the gravity of the situation and not spreading panic. This **** misses both and is still using his clown act to mask his incompetence.

 

[oyster]

Japanese flu drug 'clearly effective' in treating coronavirus, says China

Shares in Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, which developed favipiravir, surged after praise by Chinese official
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/japanese-flu-drug-clearly-effective-in-treating-coronavirus-says-china

Wiki entry is moderately interesting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favipiravir

Its patent says it is simple to make! And China in 2016 signed an agreement with Fujifilm to be able to use the patent.

A kind of synthetic method of Favipiravir


Abstract

The invention discloses a kind of synthetic method of Favipiravir, include following steps：1) pyrazine compound is dissolved in organic reagent I, carries out nitrogen oxidation reaction, obtain white solid matter；2) gained white solid matter pyrazine dinitrogen oxide is added in organic reagent II and carries out chlorination reaction, obtain faint yellow solid；3) by gained faint yellow solid and the aprotic polar solvent dried, the fluorine ion donating agent of drying, TBAB is well mixed, and stirring reaction obtains faint yellow solid；4) the obtained formonitrile HCN of 3,6 dichloropyrazine 2 is subjected to aromatic ring fluoro-reaction with fluorization agent；5) 6 fluoro-reaction products are directly catalyzed through hydrogen peroxide, carry out cyan-hydrolysis reaction；6) cyan-hydrolysis reaction product is directly catalyzed through aqueous alkali, carries out aromatic ring hydroxyl substitution reaction, and Favipiravir is made in then purified processing again.Raw material of the present invention is simple and easy to get, and synthesis technique is simple, with good industrial value, environmental protection.
https://patents.google.com/patent/CN107226794A/en

https://www.fujifilm.com/news/n160622.html

 

[Barry Shittpeas]

I think the article is oversimplistic and the lockdown is only for a few weeks until its effectiveness can be assessed.
It's not like we don't have any antiviral treatment, it's just that we have not had enough time to go through systematically all the CSRs. At present, it's up to the doctors to try out various antivirals for those under extreme danger and there are more than 100 antiviral compounds to try plus many more in the pipeline.
The most talked about treatment tried in Wuhan was given only to 70 patients. Not a very large number.
Human trials of a vaccine started already in the US.

At this time the most effective strategy is to try and control the rate of infection whist simultaneously trying to increase care capacity. I don’t think they are achieving either objective.

 

[oyster]

At this time the most effective strategy is to try and control the rate of infection whist simultaneously trying to increase care capacity. I don’t think they are achieving either objective.

And in some ways it is even worse that they can't even know the rate of infection. It is staggering that they don't even allow self-registration of having it while in self-isolation. The only evidence they will have is secondary - those who are scooped up due to severity, deaths, etc..

 

[Barry Shittpeas]

And in some ways it is even worse that they can't even know the rate of infection. It is staggering that they don't even allow self-registration of having it while in self-isolation. The only evidence they will have is secondary - those who are scooped up due to severity, deaths, etc..

Astonishing isn’t it. It’s like trying to fight a fire with a blindfold on. Where do you squirt the water?

 

[oldgroaner]

And in some ways it is even worse that they can't even know the rate of infection. It is staggering that they don't even allow self-registration of having it while in self-isolation. The only evidence they will have is secondary - those who are scooped up due to severity, deaths, etc..

The clear implication is that they don't want to know the severity in the hope it will go away somehow.

 

[oldgroaner]

I've been at it again
"






James O'Brien@mrjamesob
·
15h

Sunak is very impressive. He seems to be right across his brief and to have given this a lot of very serious thought. He's communicating complicated ideas clearly and concisely. The devil will be in the detail but he makes quite the contrast with the bloke standing next to him.

oldgroaner@oldgroaner Replying to
@mrjamesob
Don't be too impressed, the average Chimpanzee would shine by contrast

 

[oldgroaner]

And another one
James O'Brien@mrjamesob
13m

Any data on newspaper print sales?
Oldgroaner@oldgroaner
Replying to
@mrjamesob
With the lack of toilet rolls the Murdoch press should be making a killing

 

[Woosh]

Astonishing isn’t it. It’s like trying to fight a fire with a blindfold on. Where do you squirt the water?

I think the government knows more than they let out, otherwise they would not have gone for lockdown.
Our fatalities are quite low in number at present and the growth rate of fatalities seems to be much slower than Italy's at the point in time. Possibly thanks to our doctors.
Government aims to limit the fatalities to 20,000. It's an astonishing target.
I keep my fingers crossed as I belong to the high risk group.

 

[oldgroaner]

Astonishing isn’t it. It’s like trying to fight a fire with a blindfold on. Where do you squirt the water?

On yourself would be my choice! (and make a run for it)

 

[oyster]

I guess that as it has been submitted from an independent advisor, this might not fall into the usual category of slipping out unpopular/bad news behind even worse.

Windrush lessons learned report finally submitted to Home Office

The final version of the Windrush lessons learned review has been submitted to Priti Patel, the home secretary, its independent adviser, Wendy Williams, has announced. In a statement Williams said:

I have today submitted my report into what lessons should be learnt from the Windrush scandal to the home secretary. I now encourage the home secretary to publish the Windrush Lessons Learned Review report as soon as possible.

A draft of the report obtained by Channel 4 last summer accused the Home Office of being “reckless” in the way it implemented the “hostile environment” policies for immigrants that led to the Windrush scandal. But whether these comments have survived in the final version remains to be seen.

 

[flecc]

Our fatalities are quite low in number at present and the growth rate of fatalities seems to be much slower than Italy's at the point in time. Possibly thanks to our doctors.

I doubt it's anything to do with our doctors. I think it is logical and it's why I'm so optimistic and have ignored Italy's data.

The Italians socialise far more than we do, aided by their more clement weather, so transmission has many more opportunities.

It seems our native reserve, poor weather and car driving culture have been very helpful.
.

 

[oyster]

Now the government is really making a huge mistake:

Labour MPs alarmed at Covid-19 laws being passed without vote

Emergency measures would be in place for two years with no plans for review