​First patients enrolled in clinical trial of possible Covid-19 treatments

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The first UK patients have been enrolled in a clinical trial for possible Covid-19 treatments. Researchers from the University of Oxford have launched a new clinical trial to test the effects of potential drug treatments for patients admitted to hospital with the virus. There are currently no specific treatments for the coronavirus and it is possible some existing drugs used for other conditions may have some benefits. Scientists say the randomised evaluation of Covid-19 therapy (recovery) trial will provide doctors and the health service with information they need to determine which treatments should be used.

The treatments initially included in the study have been recommended by an expert panel that advises the chief medical officer in England. They are Lopinavir-Ritonavir, which is normally used to treat HIV, and the steroid dexamethasone, which is used in a wide range of conditions to reduce inflammation. The side effects and safety of both drugs are already well known.

Other potential treatments will also be assessed by the trial in the future. Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health in the Nuffield department of medicine, University of Oxford, and chief investigator for the trial, said: “There is an urgent need for reliable evidence on the best care for patients with Covid-19. “Providing possible new treatments through a well-designed clinical trial is the best way to get that evidence.” 

https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/national/18327465.first-patients-enrolled-clinical-trial-possible-covid-19-treatments/

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PM will give it a few days before doing anything else - I think we are probably a week away from any type of lockdown

Listening to NS in Scotland, I get the same impression.

Apparently the time is 4-5 days which means you assumption is quite correct. This means we cannot compare positives on a day to the number of tests. Its a right old mess.

I really don't trust our figures at all. The only figure you can trust sadly is the number of fatalitys.

Trump signals change in coronavirus strategy that could clash with health experts

Trump tweeted late Sunday that the White House would ‘make a decision’ after 15-day period of social distancing ends

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/trump-social-distancing-coronavirus-rules-guidelines-economy

PS: It looks as though the Tweets he made have now been deleted. Very difficult to know what the thinking is.

Is it ?

According to the Telegraph, all shops other than those considered "essential" will be told to close.

I know people are expecting an increase and an explosion in numbers , at the moment this really isn't happening is it ( which is good ) 

The authorities in Lombardy have started publishing 'mobility' stats using mobile phone GPS data. 100% benchmark was on 20 Feb, then 34% on 15 March and 23% yesterday.

A lot of these seem to be closing anyway.

Yes. Importantly I picked up that line as well. She specifically mentioned salons, building sits etc. 

I'm going to look like a yeti by the time this is over - I really need a haircut, but can't get one as I'm in self-isolation.

I'm assuming petrol stations will be immune from closures too...

Me too. I'm not in isolation for any reason other than I don't want to catch it! Having my hair cut by someone who may have caught the virus from another customer is too much of a risk IMO.

"Pay at pump" could stay available without having to interact with any staff member. However most of them sell groceries which seems like a more appealing option than supermarkets which take longer to get around.

I will soon need a haircut too, but I think I'll join you, come May there might be an army of Yetis 

I also had a 'smart' meter installation today. I didn't speak to them much and kept a large distance, but one of the guys asked to use the toilet. I told him to take a leak in the garden.

you,rotter, Xioni! 

No 1 all over Darren the easy option it won’t matter as it’s always very hot in your place

Indeed !  Since it has become impossible to  get stuff delivered I have been using  village local shops - including  the local filling station with a Budgens attached.  I'll extremely pissed off if they close and I'm forced to  go into Newbury and traipse around a Superstore with hundreds of other people - Totally counterproductive

Greece stops all flights from/to the UK with immediate effect citing the lack of strict measures in the UK.

I wonder how some of these Boots stores will act, the ones with a Pharmacy within the store, they'll have to keep the pharmacy open but surely not the rest of the store and with the same amount of staff.

They'd need a couple of days to remove all non essential stock I'd imagine to stop those using the pharmacy also picking up a Lipstick for Doris and Hair Dye for Mavis

Toiletries are pretty essential.

Someone in my transmission chain is possibly getting tested today. Will be interesting to see if it comes back positive.