Yes, that's the way it works, the editor will say "Go and find somebody who is saying X" and the poor journo has to go and do that even if it means totally misrepresenting what they actually said.

---

Not wrong Andy. 

Most journalists are parasitical, a problem we won't be able to eradicate even if we're able to put a brake on this other unwelcome growth.

---

Makes sense. I guess the minister is saying ‘We will look to

open schools if we can in May or June’

Paper: Minister says looking at opening schools on May

---

I did mention this early on in the lockdown wrt the effect it was having on the homeless, toilet and washing facilities.

---

When the time is ready I would let back all of the non vulnerable as originally defined. So over 70's and underlying conditions not. Otherwise I don't see how it can be managed. I would also put a massive emphasis on continuance of hand washing and social distancing and hopefully most people should realise that has to continue.

---

I understand but, bluntly, if the choice is between dirty and dead it's not a difficult one.  We need to sort out the homeless problem; ideally permanently but at least for the duration of this pandemic.

---

It is for me. Especially after the tee I never go near anybody else till the next hole!

---

I also read today it's a big problem for delivery drivers too.

---

When this all started, I remember hearing quotes that they’d be getting them off the streets and in to accommodation. I guess that never happened?

---

I had this debate with someone on Twitter a couple of weeks ago:  those under 40 or even 50 are at much lower risk but they will carry the virus to others - and even the under-50s are still at some risk of severe episode and death.

I think the next phase has to involve face masks when in public, hand sanitiser gel at the entrance to every shop and workplace, temperature checking (not foolproof but it helps) and then lots of testing and tracing.  Yes, that comes at a price but the price will be less than the on-gong damage to the economy and cheaper than dealing with people in an ICU bed.

---

Where would these masks come from and how often would people need to change them?

---

Funnily enough, there is an in between. The homeless need to wash their hands but they did also get drinking water there as well. Our local Council did well in managing to house most of them. Of course it begs the question how they couldn't manage it during the cold winter months!

---

 

I'm expecting to read this a lot more from you over the coming months/years.

 

---

 

Although, most prominent politicians will have friendly journalists who they can use to float ideas/policies.

Both politicians and journalists use each other when it suits.

---

 

Many/most don't want to, because accommodation means having to follow some rules.

The majority of homeless people suffer from mental problems, which are exacerbated by their 'self-medicating' with drugs and/or alcohol.

 

---

I heard earlier (think it was sky news) that 91% of those that died in England & Wales had underlying conditions. Do we have any data on the other 9%? I have my own thoughts and think a significant proportion will be smokers, heavy drinkers and the overweight.

---

I think I saw this mentioned on the BBC site too. Not sure how this news is any different to the previous info that the vast majority of deaths have underlying issues.

---

Does smoking PROTECT against coronavirus? That was the amazing claim from David Hockney but multiple scientific studies now suggest he might be on to something

A leading infectious disease expert at University College London, Professor Francois Balloux, said there is 'bizarrely strong' evidence it could be true.

And data from multiple Chinese studies shows that COVID-19 hospital patients contained a smaller proportion of smokers than the general population (6.5 per cent compared to 26.6 per cent), suggesting they were less likely to end up in hospital. 

Another study, by America's Centers for Disease Control of over 7,000 people who tested positive for coronavirus, found that just 1.3 per cent of them were smokers - against the 14 per cent of all Americans that the CDC says smoke.

The study also found that the smokers stood no greater chance of ending up in hospital or an ICU. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8214749/David-Hockney-claims-smoking-cigarettes-PROTECT-against-coronavirus.html

 

---

Or, they had unknown underlying conditions.  And that is the big unknown that we should all consider!

---

Exactly! To be honest if you get to your 70s or 80s without any underlying conditions you are doing pretty well.

Also I note that the Fail is presenting these figures as

and 10% of victims have NO underlying conditions

<sigh>

 

---

👍👍

---

Moving 7 day average

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

 UK broadly in line with what I expected around this time this week, and still tracking Italy. Sweden looks to be losing its status as the non-lockdown poster child but we will see.

Canada is still low but rising - I think I would have expected lock down to start affecting things by now. However https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-canada-surge-hospitals-icus-deaths-1.5533391 includes a report suggesting that it will be next week before things start going down. At the moment hospitals are coping although the care home situation has some grim cases.

There was also a worrying report yesterday (which I now can't find...) about a shortage of key workers possibly leading to food supply and power issues here. Still, you've got to laugh..

---

After debate's about clarity for this, I still can't believe this does not feel right.
From the BBC ticker:
"Exercise guidelines
On exercise, the guidance lists driving to the countryside for a walk as "reasonable" if "far more time" is spent walking than driving.
But it adds that driving for a "prolonged period with only brief exercise" is not reasonable.
That would appear to indicate that someone who drove for an hour to a beauty spot for a two-hour walk would not be contravening the rules".

That last paragraph, I cannot believe it. What's all this stay at home etc. Just means more out on the road, going into filling stations where there are others, beggars belief.

This makes me very uncomfortable.
https://goodlawproject.org/covid-19-deaths/

‘Doctors are asked to use the standard MCCD (Medical Certificate of Cause of Death) form to certify death. ‘Pneumonia ‘or ‘community acquired pneumonia’ are acceptable at 1(a) on the MCCD. There is no requirement to write COVID 19 as part of the MCCD. It may be mentioned at 1(b) on the form, should the doctor wish.’

---

It isn’t just the older generation either.  I lost a son and a brother, both suddenly, both in their forties and neither know they had the conditions they died from.  They only showed through autopsy. 

---