You have someone to shave you? 

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Picked up a click and collect at Dover Tesco then drove it to drop off on front doorstep of mother in law. A2 deserted apart from EU trucks, A268 empty, Thanet Way empty. Amazing.

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I think that's a little bit of an optimistic summary of the first two graphs, without saying you are wrong in reality. But if you look back to April 1-4th it appeared to be clearly leveling, more so than the last 4 days. Fingers crossed.

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I've just heard of the first death from coronavirus of someone that I actually knew - a former colleague, not a close friend, he could be a real pain at times, but it makes the crisis seem that much closer. Underlying health problems? Not that I knew of, but he was distinctly overweight and aged around 80.

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Yes, I would say the vast majority around here are playing it my the book.  The pillocks stand out and annoy in such circumstances, but they are few.   

I was looking at the cars on the road during my walk this morning.    Very few but 3 definite types.  The salubrious BMW  / Audis - one could surmise there are people far too important for lock-down to possibly apply to them.  Herbets in "soupled up" cars with body kits and "baked bean can" exhausts - dullards.   Finally,  people in beaten up Fiesters and Corsa's - probably key workers. 

 

 

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LOL.  Many a true word spoken in jest.

 

You've absolutely nailed it!

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I will add Vauxhall Astras to that list, going by what I see raand 'ere 😁 The rest is eerily accurate 😶

Matthew Parris in The Times today - he makes some perfectly valid points:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/we-say-everything-will-change-but-it-wont-7rk539k0t

"In commentaries, phone calls and conversations conducted at two-metre range during this coronavirus emergency, it has become almost obligatory to remark that “after this is over”, “nothing will ever be the same again”, and we must “learn the lessons” it can teach us. Each makes a wrong supposition. First, there will never be a moment when we can say that “this” is “over”. Second, in due course and very gradually, most things will indeed be the same again. Third, it’s very doubtful we shall spend time and money learning the Covid-19 pandemic’s lessons.

Experience suggests a gentle slipping back, after much handclapping for the NHS and levels of self-righteousness that I’m beginning to find unbearable, into our bad old ways. A corrective is needed to the conventional wisdom that when the pressure’s off we’ll still want to do all the things we’re resolving to do now the pressure’s on. We won’t. We so rarely do.

...

We too will revert this time. But that is not to say that the Covid-19 emergency will be without consequence as, bit by bit, messily and patchily, we return to normal this and next year. The shadow it will cast will not be over attitudes, lifestyles or values, to which our attachment (and in which our inertia) runs deeper than we know. We’ll just be the same, but poorer and, sadly, somewhat fewer. In a brutal and clumsy attempt to zap a virus, we’ve zapped our whole economy good and proper. I’ll wait with what patience I can muster for this to sink in."

 

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This graph doesn't get much viewing.
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-covid-deaths-per-million-7-day-average

Sweden and Belgium added, Canada and South Korea removed.

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-covid-deaths-per-million-7-day-average?country=ITA+ESP+USA+GBR+SWE+BEL

 

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Speaking of car types on the road, am I the only one who has noticed a higher quantity of idiot drivers about? It seems the mostly clear roads are giving people a free ticket to drive like absolute plonkers. The number of people I've seen who must be doing 60-70mph in 30 mph zones and running red lights is more than normal.

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Hmmm  - hadn't realised there was a tag to Audis like BMWs till recently, otherwise I probably wouldn't have bought one! Not entirely sure why though. I bought it as a small hatchback (A3) for its comfort, 1.0 litre , 50 mpg fuel consumption. Plus because of its low depreciation was cheaper than my previous Seat Leon hatch and a Golf. Maybe I should have stuck to my Skoda - less stigma attached 

Take your point though. Neighbours have BMW, Big SUV and son has souped up Honda Sports all with personalised similar number plates. And they seem to have to "pop out" quite a lot although have been pretty much adhering as far as I know from what they have told me.

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More info on criticals here. Before we go down the BMI route again let me remind you that "More than two-thirds of men and 6 in 10 women were overweight or obese" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_Kingdom) Therefore, the correlation exists but it isn't as strong as some people may think. The key take out is this is hitting men a lot harder than women.

Breakdown of UK patients in critical care

An analysis of 3,883 Covid-19 patients admitted to 229 critical care units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland up to Thursday has been published by the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre.

Of these patients, 871 have died, 818 have been discharged, and 2,194 were last reported as still receiving critical care.

The average age of the patients was 59.8 years. Some 72.5% were male, and 27.5% female. Some 66.4% were white, 14.4% Asian, 11.9% black, and 1.3% of mixed race.

Nearly three-quarters of the patients had a body mass index higher than the recommended healthy level of 18.5 to 25. Some 35% had a BMI of 25 to 30 - the overweight range. And 38.5% had a BMI over more than 30 - putting them in the obese range.
93.2% had previously been able to live without assistance in daily activities. Only 6.7% previously needed some assistance, and just three needed total assistance.
Focusing on the 1,053 patients who needed advanced respiratory support, the average age on admission was 61.9 years. 73% were male, 27% female. Out of this group, 66.3% died, and 33.7% are alive.
Examining the final outcome for patients admitted to critical care, for the 133 aged 16-39, 76.7% were discharged alive, and 23.3% died. For the 484 aged 60-69, 43.6% were discharged alive, and 56.4% died. For the 434 aged 70-79, 31.3% were discharged alive, and 68.7% died. And for the 107 aged over 80, 27.1% were discharged alive, and 72.9% died.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52252981

 

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I wonder if 1 of the reasons for higher vulnerability in older men is because of subtle damage to their lungs, say from past smoking, air pollution or working in hazardous environment (hazardous substances like CO, diesel fumes, dusts, including asbestos, etc).

That is one of the reasons being cited. However, there is also evidence that men have weaker immune systems than women. (First ref I could find here https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927192352.htm). 

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Apparantely Boris came very close to death on Monday.

 

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Surely if that was the case he would have been put on a ventilator?

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BBQ, followed by fire pit and toasted marshmallows. Plenty of Budweiser and red wine. All four (five if we count the dog) sat out, having a laugh as a family. 

Could get used to this 

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.... and all day I'd thought he was just "very poorly". Just shows you can't believe these briefings. Source?

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I see following his recent brilliant media performances Oddchecker has shortened Trump's odds of being reelected  President from evens to 19/18 on. Only in America !

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Despite the high death rate, government approval goes up from 52% last week to 61% this week (Opinium).

As I understand it everyone's immune system becomes less effective with age

The difference between the sexes has been discussed a number of times recently: women have two X Chromosomes and that's claimed to enhance their immune system. 

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Exclusive tommorow on it, I don't know any of the details.

Mail on sunday I think.

 

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVWpKTwXkAg0FPD?format=jpg&name=large

Full article.

You will need to zoom in.

 

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An interesting opinion poll. There's the perception among the Italian people that the EU has done absolutely nothing to help them in their hour of need. Whether or not that is the case is a case for argument, but it's caused overall opinion of the EU to plummet by 20 percentage points!

49% of Italians now say they would vote to Leave if a referendum was held in Italy, whilst 51% say they would Remain. The "don't knows" have not been counted.

Italy, Tecnè poll:

European Union membership referendum

Remain: 51% (-20)
Leave: 49% (+20)

(14% don’t knows excluded)

+/- vs. 23-27 November 2018

Fieldwork: 9-10 April 2020
Sample Size: 1,000#Italexit #coronarvirusitalia

— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) April 11, 2020

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Bullsh.it.

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