Schools in Denmark go back on 14th April - that has already been announced. Thus far, Denmark has a good track record in containing the virus, partly because they were very quick to shutdown their borders and stop flights when the first cases were detected.

Will be interesting to see whether the infection rate goes up in Denmark once the schools go back, but a lot depends on whether they maintain their strict border controls.

Originally Posted by: Maunder Minimum 

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

An unusually good piece from Lord Hague in the Tele today:

China is emerging from the coronavirus crisis as an even more powerful opponent

The West must take a firmer line, while recognising that the world’s problems cannot be solved without Beijing

The greatest irony of the coronavirus crisis is that it shows every sign of working to China’s geopolitical advantage. Six months from now, the country where the virus was born and that initially suppressed the news of it has every chance of being more powerful.

There are many reasons for this. The most immediately apparent is that the Chinese economy looks likely to recover more rapidly than that of any nation in the West. The very same totalitarianism that led to cover-up and denial at the beginning has permitted ruthlessly effective suppression of the virus once its potency was acknowledged. China has managed to confine the infection to certain areas, while any hope of doing that in Britain or America has been abandoned. The initial data suggests a quick rebound in Chinese industrial production, while every week of lockdown makes that less likely here.

The second reason is the extraordinary absence of global leadership from the US. President Trump has declined even to encourage American states to act together against Covid-19, let alone to orchestrate any co-ordinated international response. One of the reasons that the G20 leaders took so long to hold a video conference – weeks after the scale of the crisis became apparent – was apparently that the White House discouraged Saudi Arabia from hosting it. In every critical global moment since 1945, nations on every continent have been able to look to America for a lead. This time they have had the appalling spectacle of the problem being derided as a hoax, followed by some conspicuous efforts to re-direct some vital supplies from others and no attempt to lead a united international response. Such a terrible vacuum leaves the space for others, including rivals, to expand their role.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/06/china-emerging-coronavirus-crisis-even-powerful-opponent/

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

The Guardian are reporting sources from the hospital saying Boris has received 4 litres of Oxygen the normal threshold for intensive care is 15 litres.

"St Thomas’ hospital sources have told the Times that Johnson was not put on a ventilator but did require 4 litres of oxygen. The following account tallies with what Gove told the Today programme:

Mr Johnson, 55, had not been intubated — where a tube is inserted into the windpipe before ventilation — but needed four litres of oxygen in intensive care, sources at the hospital said. The normal threshold for intensive care is 15 litres, suggesting that he was in better health than such patients generally.

The Guardian has been told that a hospital bed was being prepared for Johnson as early as last Thursday:

The first indication that Boris Johnson was sicker with coronavirus than either he or his aides were letting on came on Thursday morning. The suggestion made by a source was specific: a bed was being prepared at St Thomas’ hospital for the prime minister, whose condition had worsened during his seven-day period of isolation in Downing Street."

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/07/uk-coronavirus-live-news-boris-johnson-spends-night-in-intensive-care

Originally Posted by: Gavin D 

Just to clarify, it’s 4 litres per minute of Oxygen. I think it’s odd he’s in ITU based on that alone.

Originally Posted by: John p 

Just to clarify, it’s 4 litres per minute of Oxygen. I think it’s odd he’s in ITU based on that alone.

Originally Posted by: John p 

Hi Roger,

It’s rare that I disagree with you but on two points here I do disagree.

Firstly, the behaviour of the Chinese authorities, which was not just about what information they provided or didn’t provide but about their deliberate attempts to cover up the outbreak. The subsequent misinformation is a matter of record.

As for preparedness, I wonder if we expect too much. Certainly things could have been handled better but sometimes clarity only comes with hindsight. Occasionally no amount of planning and preparedness can prevent a calamity.

Originally Posted by: Gandalf The White 

Given that he is the PM I think it’s quite understandable that they would move him to ICU before it became essential. Better to have him there already in case further measures are needed, surely?

If only that option was available to more people then the death toll might be rather lower. 

Originally Posted by: Rob K 

Yes but the pm will be getting extra and more treatment than mere mortals. All people are equal in the health services eyes but naturally a few are more equal than the rest.

I hope he is ok and am quietly confident he will pull through,just! The next 48 hours are critical for him.

Originally Posted by: springsunshine 

Yes that is largely true Roger. I believe the concerns would be the documented level of effectiveness for COVID-19 as only small scale studies will have been carried out to date. Given the mechanism of action of the drug and the nature of the pathology of the disease it cannot be assumed that because it is seemingly safe for one condition it will also be safe for the current one. It would be risky to say the least to come to that conclusion.

I recall a few times in the past in the lab looking at all the literature and saying to myself “it is obvious what this drug is going to do” before even starting a study then being surprised/confused upon carrying out the practical work and discovering it either did nothing or more worryingly something different to what was expected.

Originally Posted by: doctormog 

I suspect it will be very marginal. The blunt truth is that treatment of this type of infection is very primitive. It relies on keeping the patient alive until his/her immune system has had chance to destroy the virus. I suspect the anti-viral drugs and the malaria treatment Trump bangs on about will have a marginal impact at best. They could even make the prognosis worse but at the present time there isn't enough data to reach a conclusion. 

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

Suggestions there will be a "clap for Boris" this evening. Similar to the "clap for carers" we've had recently.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

Suggestions there will be a "clap for Boris" this evening. Similar to the "clap for carers" we've had recently.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

Suggestions there will be a "clap for Boris" this evening. Similar to the "clap for carers" we've had recently.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 

This says something important about cause of death stats.

Originally Posted by: four