Unfortunately, one of those human mistakes was to think that he was invincible and indispensable (for him much more than averagely so), and to push on with leading the Government when for his own good and probably for the effective running of the country he should have taken time out to rest and recover.

But best wishes to him now he is where he is.

---

Indeed, he’s not a bad bloke at heart but he always likes to be the one ranting about how terrible the Tories are. He clearly overstepped the line and was told so at the time in no uncertain terms!

---

 And the fact that greatest shedding from the throat occurs on the fourth day.  Which I suspect would be before infection becomes apparent, or before any confirmation of test results.  

---

I understand the criticism of the government for their handling of the crisis, however, I also know that a lot of the negativity comes from certain individual’s political leaning. I am no Tory and I totally believe mistakes have been made, however, I do think that the government is managing this well based on the ever changing data they are presented with. Our NHS is currently handling the situation and medical staff are doing a brilliant job and hopefully they will get through this testing week with all the resources they require.

I can’t think of any country that has yet got their strategy correct except perhaps Taiwan - how long will they need to lock down for though? A lot of us lauded the response of Singapore but now they have had to implement measures similar to ours. SK was due to reopen schools today but that has been pushed back due to an uptick in cases. The world is learning and adapting as this virus progresses and we can only hope that we get on top of it sooner rather than later.

---

Sounds like the non invasive ventilator I mentioned yesterday he was probably on.

---

With regard to antibody/antigen.  Not everyone did Human Biology GCSE.  And not many understand their own bodies, sadly!  

---

Any policy can be improved with hindsight

---

Here's a specific example of what at best could be considered poor communication and at worst could be considered misleading. It comes from Professor Neil Ferguson. The bottom line is last week he suggested antibody tests could (I know some of you will use that to get him off the hook but it doesn't wash with me) be ready in days. Today the Times is reporting they are months away.

 

UK epidemic is slowing; antibody test could soon be ready - advisers

LONDON (Reuters) - The coronavirus epidemic in the United Kingdom is showing signs of slowing and antibody tests could be ready in days, Neil Ferguson, a professor of mathematical biology at Imperial College London, said on Monday.

...

He said antibody tests were in the final stage of validation and could hopefully be ready in “days rather than weeks”.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-epidemic-idUSKBN21H0SA

[Published March 30th]

Britain has millions of coronavirus antibody tests, but they don’t work

Professor John Newton said that tests ordered from China were able to identify immunity accurately only in people who had been severely ill and that Britain was no longer hoping to buy millions of kits off the shelf.

....

Instead, government scientists hope to work with companies to improve the performance of antibody tests and Professor Newton said he was “optimistic” that one would come good in months. 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/britain-has-millions-of-coronavirus-antibody-tests-but-they-don-t-work-j7kb55g89

[Published April 6th]

 

---

I am sure I read somewhere that if Boris did succumb to this nightmare, the markets here would take another heavy fall.
Given what I have been reading on here rightly or wrongly, the FTSE has opened UP over 2% which is not massive by recent standards. But, you would have thought the way markets respond early sometimes to build 'things in', that is a positive rise in more sense of the word, unless there is other good news masking it.

I think the positive news is that Italy and Spain are planing to ease their lockdowns as soon as next week. If they do I hope we will watch and learn for a few weeks before trying another similar or different.

---

 Apparently there are eight strains of this virus circulating at the moment. Source BBC Science.THis might explain the very different levels of severity and also the possibility of re-infection although 2nd time round it would be highly un-usual to be so bad.

Good post!

We can’t really say that any country has got this right yet, or that there are better ways of dealing with it because we simply don’t know the lasting effects of any measures.

Something in the Queen’s address last night comes to mind and puts it in perspective.  This is an unprecedented event, in as much as it’s a global problem and we’re all fighting the same cause. 

---

Are they? Next week?

---

Stock markets in Europe have made a strong start to the week amid hope cases are starting to slow in some of the worst hit European countries

Europeam markets liked data showing slowing growth of both new coronavirus cases and the fatalities globally, with dax just under positive 3 also markets  await opec and Russia agreement on production cuts.

Dow F +800

 

Interesting theory (not sure how well founded) being advanced on 'Start the Week' Radio 4 by geneticist Sharon Moalem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Moalem that the greater survival rate for Covid 19 for women is due to their having two X chromosomes. The X chromosomes contain genetic info for the antibody system, so if you have two X's rather than one, you have a better chance of being able to trigger the necessary immune response.

He linked the superior immune response to the universally better survival rate of girls to their first birthday, and to men requiring a higher dose of certain vaccines to have the desired effect.

---

Thanks for the replies on the european markets. Our rise currently is pretty much in line with theirs. With the way markets build in, if Boris was not far from death's door as one post would suggest, I would have thought our markets would be lower because of this.
As its not, I am taking that as positive in the PM's favour.

EDIT: Just read our gains have been capped by Boris being in hospital.

That might account for Man-Flu too. It’s real!

---

I enjoyed the practical lessons.

---

Italy is planning to use swabs and blood tests to establish who can return to work safely. The regions of Veneto in the north and Lazio around Rome are proposing to prioritise health workers and public employees.

The gradual relaxation could begin from April 14, depending on epidemiological data, and is expected initially to be in the building, agricultural, pharmaceutical and health sectors.

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/italy-and-spain-glimpse-a-way-out-of-coronavirus-lockdown-09qqc6267

 

---

Hearing that Johnson has been put on a ventilator

---

 Woman claims that she won't get sick because she is 'covered in Jesus' blood'. Just one woman admittedly but feel sure there are probably a lot more.

 

To laugh or cry or rage. That is the question. pic.twitter.com/PWJ4zrcYRQ

— Amarnath Amarasingam (@AmarAmarasingam) April 5, 2020

Agree completely, Brian.

I am really sorry to hear that Boris Johnson seems to be rather more unwell than first appeared to be the case and I sincerely hope he can pull through this. Having said that, the current plight of the PM and the general massive damage this virus is doing to this country both in terms of the human cost and economic damage IMHO only serves to further highlight how essential it was that the government dealt with this issue head on, as best they could, a couple of months ago.

Speaking as a layman, my own honest view is that had more been done at the time the virus was first known to have reached the UK in late January, we may well not have been in the very precarious situation we are now in.

---