pubs, bars and restaurants still open with social distancing rules

That seems sensible. You cant lock people down for too long as we will find out soon in Italy etc

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

Was it really worth wrecking the economy for? Other reports say half the population have already had it, so there is no need to extend the lockdown any longer than is necessary. I'm please that both Trump and Boris hope to get things moving again ASAP

When Boris and Prince Charles recover without incident, the public will become a little less hysterical about this.

The Cure must never lead to a worse outcome than the original problem. You don't demolish your house because you a bit of damp.

I know everyone here disagrees, but there will be many more deaths from economic collapse and poverty related issues, not to mention mental health, suicide and physical health issues arising from forced isolation - obesity, drug abuse, alcoholism. also domestic violence. You cannot lock people down for long, as we may find out soon

Just from anecdotal evidence, I can see the strain and stress in people's faces when I go for my walks and I go to Tesco and other shops that are open. In the mornings, the booze aisle in Tesco if fairly full, when I come back at 9pm it's been cleared. People are self medicating.

This is not sustainable and I pleased King Boris seems to agree with me

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

My cousin (who's been tested positive)   has  a profound loss of a sense of smell and taste.    She's hoping both will return but she's over the worst of it now and so far neither have. :(

Originally Posted by: Bugglesgate 

Exactly, arrogance and a strong sense of exceptionalism can often cause problems, but occasionally they can be lethal too. Our politicians, journalists and even scientists should show more humility.

Originally Posted by: xioni2 

 Interesting...

My wife and I have been isolating at home for the last week, both of us with many of the symptoms of this virus and its not been a pleasant experience.

We are slowly recovering, but both of us have completely lost our senses of taste and smell for the last 2 or 3 days.

This morning, i made a good strong espresso and finally there was a very slight taste of coffee, so I'm hoping things are starting to return. But eating and drinking have just been a necessary activity with no real enjoyment!

Originally Posted by: Steve 

So if Boris or Charlie boy are ok , everyone will breath a sigh or relief and say " well that was a fuss about nothing" Come off it , that's a ridiculous comment

Originally Posted by: Gooner 

In Bavaria, more than half of confirmed cases had a loss of taste and smell.

Originally Posted by: xioni2 

Imperial College says only 6000 deaths now

If true, the govt's approach will be vindicated

Once we have mass testing and discover that most of us have already been exposed, then we can lift the lockdown, hopefully by the end of April

I have to say I am very impressed with Boris, and you know what I think of the Tories

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

“Forget lockdown—we are going into meltdown.” “When I was country director in many conflict zones, we had better preparedness.” “The hospitals in London are overwhelmed.” “The public and media are not aware that today we no longer live in a city with a properly functioning western health-care system.” “How will we protect our patients and staff…I am speechless. It is utterly unconscionable. How can we do this? It is criminal…NHS England was not prepared…We feel completely helpless.”

Originally Posted by: The Lancet 

This is what I wrote   in response to someone who came the same line as you via email - i.e  stuff all the old and vulnerable people - I want to get on with my life !

A civilised society *always* seeks to look after its most vulnerable people.  It's baked into the actual word civilisation.

 - to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization.

The cult of the individual over the entire  community is one of my major bones of contentions  with Thatcherism.   Bringing the time frame up-to-date you can see her wretched  attitude in the likes of the odious Tim Martin, who despite overwhelming scientific advice, sought to keep his  "Spoons" pub chain open until his hand was forced by the Govt.   Another one was the revolting Mike Ashely  (also known for treating his workers like something he trod in) trying   to be an exception to the rule for personal gain.

I seriously don't want to be  bracketed with these wretched creatures and side with money maximisation over the welfare  of a vulnerable section of society.

Widening  it all out philosophically,  just "bashing on" and  condemning  a minority to die is  just hideous and the thin end of a  massive wedge.  I know we all  snig*er at the clumsy way "politically correct"  stuff  is portrayed, but it's fundamentality  the way to go.  Everyone must be treated equally,  the old, and  those with underling health issues would certainly be treated as  a lower class if we just let "nature take its course".  Once that precedent has been set, what are we left with ?  Different people in society having different "worth" and a correspondingly different levels  effort made  to ensure their welfare ?  You end up with an unmodified  Indian caste system - is that really acceptable in the 21st Century ?  Extrapolate it a bit further and you end up  with groups being actively disadvantaged  and stigmatised - that continuum ultimately  leads to the cattle trucks and Dachau  :(

This will change things without a shadow of a doubt but   I'm surprised and encouraged by  the Govt. approach and I agree with it 100%. - especially the support being given to individual and businesses.  Changing the Excel Centre into a hospital in that time scale  is brilliant - and we sneered at our ability to do that kind of thing  when the Chinese did similar !

The economy will recover, but it will be different.  People will adapt.  I am already massively encouraged  by the support that is being shown to  local communities by local business.  Our local shop will take phone orders and deliver to older  at risk people.  The local pub  has started a  substantial take away   service in the village.  In the adjective village , there is a  prescription   delivery service, fruit and  veg boxes from  another pub   with a volunteer delivery service and Scats  are delivering dog food.   All this is in real contrast the  niggardly  "lets sacrifice them all" POV "so we can carry on with our life without annoyance and inconvenience".

WE ARE CIVILISED !!!

Originally Posted by: Bugglesgate 

Was it really worth wrecking the economy for? Other reports say half the population have already had it, so there is no need to extend the lockdown any longer than is necessary. I'm please that both Trump and Boris hope to get things moving again ASAP

When Boris and Prince Charles recover without incident, the public will become a little less hysterical about this.

The Cure must never lead to a worse outcome than the original problem. You don't demolish your house because you a bit of damp.

I know everyone here disagrees, but there will be many more deaths from economic collapse and poverty related issues, not to mention mental health, suicide and physical health issues arising from forced isolation - obesity, drug abuse, alcoholism. also domestic violence. You cannot lock people down for long, as we may find out soon

Just from anecdotal evidence, I can see the strain and stress in people's faces when I go for my walks and I go to Tesco and other shops that are open. In the mornings, the booze aisle in Tesco if fairly full, when I come back at 9pm it's been cleared. People are self medicating.

This is not sustainable and I pleased King Boris seems to agree with me

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

I will say in the shorter term, families here are rediscovering each other, walking and talking together, cycling and gardening. Children seem more desperate to get outside, because they can't; they're growing radishes in 3-storey-flat window boxes and dancing in their little gardens. It heartens me, because I sometimes wonder if we've got the bigger picture wrong and it's in a harsh way, being mended right now.

Originally Posted by: Bertwhistle 

542 new deaths in Lombardy according to early reports

Originally Posted by: Gavin D 

Is it just me, but a lot of these reports, journalists and tweeters going with the 260 peak and 6k deaths are all on the right?

Originally Posted by: Heavy Weather 2013 

So another week passes and we are still nowhere near 10,000 tests per day let alone 25,000. In fact it appears we have only been able to increase our daily test capacity by between 1000 and 2000 since the crisis started.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

I accept all that, but its about finding the right balance. Locking down too hard  will IMO lead to more social, emotion and physical problems than the virus itself

We dont have a vaccine and until we do, the virus will start spreading again anyway once restrictions are lifted. 

We just have to accept a certain number of deaths that our health system can cope with, until herd immunity is achieved by default 

HMG seems to have got the restrictions about right, though I would like pubs to reopen with social distancing. We are able to go for walks and to supermarkets, unlike the Italians, so people can release the tension a bit

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

Is it just me, but a lot of these reports, journalists and tweeters going with the 260 peak and 6k deaths are all on the right?

Originally Posted by: Heavy Weather 2013