Perhaps the Swedish approach is the correct one - from the BBC:

"Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief state epidemiologist, believes his country's decision not to impose strict lockdown measures has "worked in some aspects because our health system has been able to cope".

Sweden's approach has been controversial. It has seen more infections and deaths than its Nordic neighbours, with 2,021 deaths and 16,755 cases

.

But Dr Tegnell has told the BBC that at least half the deaths have been in nursing homes and "it's a bit unclear to us if a lockdown would have stopped this from happening or not". He also argued that the decision not to impose strict restrictions meant that there was an immunity level of up to 20% in the capital, Stockholm, "so we hope this will make it easier for us in the long run"."

- the point is that the strategy concentrated on preventing the Swedish health service from being overwhelmed, rather than in saving lives.

More utter idiots - and this sort of reply doesn't help.

"Enough. I havent seen my kids and grandchildren in over 4 weeks. Sorry but enough is enough. I plan to travel and see them. If it ends up in court, as i will refuse to pay any fines, i will simply site precedence that contact is allowed and apparently encouraged."

I think that is key as our health system would never have able to cope without a lockdown. They’re a much healthier nation too compared with us.

This point was made in the thread late yesterday. If members of the emergency services openly flout the rules then you can understand why the rest of society can't understand why they are bound by them.  It's no surprise the lockdown is starting to unravel when people see this. The law has to be seen to apply to everyone otherwise it is held in contempt.

You say that like it's a good thing. What if it keeps increaing by 5-10% during the 'lockdown'? 

Also, I assume Mark meant to type anecdotes.

He most definitely should me miked up when he goes to the toilet for a number 2. It would be the only honest thing that comes out of him and probably the most presidential. 

Yes, and there are other factors previously mentioned that make it easier, for want of a better word, for Sweden.

 Try Snus ,that strong stuff blows your head off.

I loved those movies. The character in Back to the Future - Biff Tannen is actually based on Trump. In the second movie, he takes over America as a Casino tycoon and mistreats Marty's mum and gives her a boob job

But seriously, the actual expert standing next to Trump did say that UV light and humidity is very effective and explains why so many tropical countries have few cases, and also why Miami and other US cities in the South have been less badly affected than New York and Chicago

During the Summer, this will peter out, despite lockdown being lifted, But it may return in Autumn when things cool off

You may mock, but we have him for 4 more years. The plebs love him and he is going to smash "Sleepy Joe" who has got dementia (allegedly)

So that is how Sweden did it! Snus is very popular in Sweden - many men use it at least (and we know men are more susceptible to the virus).

I have tried it myself when in Denmark - it is vile, tastes nasty and I would not recommend it. Apparently, long term use can lead to cancer inside the mouth too.

But those who use it, stick the pouch in the upper mouth between the teeth and the cheek, leading to a hamster look.

I very much doubt Yemen is covid free. More like the civil war means there's no testing to know.

It was firmly believed in the Great Plague in London in 1665 that smoking prevented you from catching the disease, because (it was said) that no tobacconist had ever died from the plague. Yes, I know that was bacterial, not viral, but the foundation for the belief sounds on a par with Trump's knowledge.

More evidence (if it were needed) that intubation and ventilators are not the panacea they were touted to be:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/only-a-tenth-of-new-york-ventilator-patients-survive-coronavirus-920vg6dtp

The push for mass ventilator production appears to have been misdirected  - the CPAP machine produces a far better survival rate.

However, it is impossible to determine how many of those put on ventilators would have survived if CPAP had been used instead.

From the article:

"Little more than a tenth of Covid-19 patients who have been put on ventilators survive, according to the largest and most comprehensive study of sufferers in the United States who were admitted to hospital..."

Who is Harries?

If it takes hold and you don't get rid of it within a week, it can do serious damage. We need more studies on T cells. If it has done damage to these, then you will be more vulnerable to other things

Shows what an amazing virus this thing is and why it spreads so well

Just looking at smoking rates by country but am not sure how reliable the figures are. Austria and Germany have the highest percentage of smokers in western Europe as far as I can tell. Greece which may be classed as "west European" politically but not geographically has a significantly higher percentage.  

Greece 42.65%
Austria 35.15%
Germany 30.35%

Spain has a slightly lower percentage of people who smoke than Germany. Italy and the UK have significantly lower percentages. 

Spain 29.20%
Italy 24.00%

Sweden 20.6%
United Kingdom 19.15%

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/smoking-rates-by-country/

As ever cause and effect. However, there does seem to be the possibility of a correlation between higher levels of smoking and lower levels of corona virus infection. Many other factors come into the equation, e.g population density, living conditions, lockdown. 

You need to be careful in all seriousness about the Swedish figure - it is genuine that sucking on SNUS is very popular there.

 I forget that. According to Wiki about 12% of Swedes use SNUS. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snus). Therefore, it could (obviously don't know if many people do both) mean tobacco use levels are similar to those in Germany and Austria.

DIY stores for house repairs rather than renovations.

Food shopping

Short drive to somewhere to walk

Topping up the battery

pre ordered take away

etc. etc.

???

B&Q are reopening 155 branches as part of the UKs essential service stores that can open.

Hairdressers face the prospect of having to close for 6-months as they can't avoid close contact.

I think they would have never closed in the first place if they had been able to sort out the "social distancing" aspect earlier.

Did a click and collect for a load of builders sand at Wickes in Ashford (for ‘repairs’ to a wall). Was surprised by the amount of cars out and about. Seems to me that the lockdown is petering out.

Tobias Elwood MP, on Newsnight, says he would work without protective clothing in a care home if it were his job. I remember Boris Johnson boasting of meeting Covid-19 patients and shaking all their hands.
This is bravado that threatens us all.#Newsnight#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/NORoom0tFq

— David Williams (@MrDaveyWilliams) April 23, 2020