CoVid-19 Part VIII - 292 cases ROI (2 deaths) 62 in NI (as of 17th March) *Read OP*

Nermal wrote: »

Like I said, driven by emotion. All of us, parents or not, have to die of something.

I'm totally in favor of looking at things without emotion, and just from a pragmatic point of view.

For instance I have felt that the migrant crisis was dealt with mainly from an emotive, and not a rational position.

If the only vulnerable people were infirm individuals in nursing homes, who are only kept alive due to regular intervention from the nursing home management (due to financial motivation, not ethical) you might actually have a point.

That isn't really the case though.

The later and less radical the response to covid-19, the more economic damage is done. Our current economic woes were generated due to the sluggish and lackluster response by Europe to the threat of covid-19. Their motivation was mainly monetary. How's that working out for them?

The insinuation is that those affected by the disease are predominantly economic burdens. The callous nature of this first has to be addressed. In civil society we implicitly accept that people will be well treated from cradle to grave. It is the reason why our society works, why we surrender some civil liberties to the state, not to mention a lot of the money we earn in taxation. People on pensions aren't a net negative if they contributed to the finances of the state that is caring for them! What incentives are there for people to work towards a better society in the future, if it is clear we are willing to throw a large section of society into the dutbin at the first sniff of a crisis?

Covid-19 also affects people of all ages. Sure, older people are more affected, but so are all people with underlying conditions. Most of these people would be very productive, and many are very young. Malaysia has reported its first two deaths, one being a 31 year old, the other a 60 year old. I'm guessing that both people had underlying conditions. Many people do.

Finally if the health service becomes overwhelmed, which, let's be frank, wouldn't take much, we are going to have deaths indirectly related to covid-19, from people who would normally be suffering from conditions easily treatable in a functioning health service, but who now perish for lack of available care.

I think this is something worth saying. This is much more than just being emotional.

"Good news from South Korea, where the number of new cases is declining."

the South Korean approach is a textbook case on how to deal with outbreaks like this.

Key part : the South Korean police were mobilised to stamp out , and arrest people , spreading fake news and rumours

"We are promptly asking the telecommunications regulator and site operators to delete or block false information that can lead to social confusion"

But with that stick, there was also the carrot - from the Washington Post:

"South Korea was one of the worst-hit countries in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. But an aggressive response has made it one of the exemplars in the midst of the pandemic — thanks to its swift implementation of a mass-scale testing regime as well as its consistent, transparent messaging to the public throughout the arc of the crisis."

mass testing
transparent messaging

Ultimately have the HSE said what the expected infection rate percentage will be if we have success in flattening the curve?

INMO Trolley Watch figures for March 18th 2020

https://www.inmo.ie/Trolley_Ward_Watch

Only 16 beds short today in Irish hospitals.

Most of them in Kerry.

Brown Thomas and Arnotts closing at 5 until further notice

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1240227166148796417?s=20

wakka12 wrote: »

Anyone else still think this feels not real ? I woke up this morning for the first time in a while not thinking about it, momentarily thought it was all a dream

I did for the first few days. Woke up blissfully ignorant then had that horrible "reality setting in" moment a few seconds later. Now, it has just become the new normal. We are both lucky enough to be working from home and are well stocked up so no need to leave for the next month anyway. I was never a crowd seeker anyway, to say the least so I don't notice a huge difference! I miss the office banter though.

I think it is as real as it gets, but I also think the damn media are having a total hard on about it and am getting quite sick of the constant updates. Am trying to limit myself to just reading the news once daily.

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Brown Thomas and Arnotts closing at 5 until further notice

Smart Decision...but that is going to add another 10,000 to the dole que?

Kivaro wrote: »

Bumping, because we should shine a focus on the positives.

Thank you.

We need as much positive news as possible, in a time when many elderly are at home by themselves, we need to help build resolve and show there is something to fight for.

99% of those points were discussed on the Pat Kenny show by professor Luke O'Neill Immunologist from Trinity College Dublin so its not fabricated.

Well on the upside the college assignments I was worried about getting in on time i am now way ahead of.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Anyone who trots out the trite, facile “Sure we all die sometimes” in relation to sick people needs to be shot with tightly-compacted balls of their own excrement. Dopes.

I also think they should be sprayed with some runny ****e as well, just in case they still don't get the point .

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

And if he watered it down and took a softly softly approach, you would be on here in a few weeks time complaining that he didn't call it as it was and warn people. You are simply one of those type people that are never happy and will always find something to complain about.

I have no love or even like for the man but he made a good speech in difficult circumstances.

Couldn't agree more, there was as much good in his speech illustrating the measures taken so far are having a positive impact but that we absolutely could and will potentially need to do more.

He iterated on numerous occasions that essential outlets such as supermarkets and supply chains will be prioritized and not to panic.

There is a storm coming but thankfully we have the luxury of looking into the past to see how countries such as South Korea and China have weathered that storm and are now coming out the other end of it.