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It Would Never Work Here

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KARL | 09:25 Mon 27th Apr 2020 | News
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Something tells me the Icelanders are being modest. Based on the population comparison, the UK would need to boldly build up an approximately 32,000 strong tracing team within a very few weeks and get the co-operation of the public to help with its work. Which is easier, for one person to find a lost needle in a given area or 100 people to search for 100 lost needles in 100 times the area ? An immediate recognition would need to without the slightest hesitation acknowledge that whatever it costs is worth it. Or is it really easier for 100 people to build and pay for a house than for 10,000 people to build and pay for 100 houses ? I am unconvinced of the benefit of being a small group unless the smaller one is significantly better organised and more imaginative/determined than the larger one. On the other hand, being truly united in purpose will be a distinct advantage as will having a certain preparedness at different levels (physically and culturally). And there we have some reasons why not......

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-test-trace-isolate-iceland-pm-says-strict-strategy-has-controlled-outbreak-11979125
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No it wouldn’t.

Iceland have had 18,000 c-19 cases and 10 deaths.
They have done 136,000 tests per 1million of its population.

UK have had 153,000 c-19 cases and 21,000 deaths.
We have done 10,000 tests per 1Million population.

The difference in numbers is stark. But Iceland had to contain a far smaller problem and did so.
However, the UK response has been poor and has contributed to the wided spread and more cases.

For example, we are still getting international flights with passengers free to enter without any checks.
We are doing no tracing of contacts of confirmed c-19 victims.
This is why they’re thinking of rolling out the app in the UK
Of course it's far easier for Iceland to control things by 'test, trace, isolate' - they only have a population of 364,000, with one major airport and ports that can be monitored.
Gromit. "For example, we are still getting international flights with passengers free to enter without any checks. "
This puzzles me since we are following WHO guidelines and European guidelines I understand. These are British citizens coming from countries where Covid is generally less prevalent than it is here. Once they land I'm not clear why they should be quarantined or tested any more than you or I should.
What do you think should be done?
I'm more concerned about those coming over in dinghies who aren't briefed on arrival about social distancing and probably don't care
‘ These are British citizens coming from countries where Covid is generally less prevalent than it is here.’

What gives you that idea, ff?
I think it went wrong when Boris started off with herd immunity and bottled it. Because once he started that it was too late to contain it effectively.

I would have totally locked down the over 70s and those with underlying conditions and anyone who was at greater risk and had the herd immunity with a phased lockdown and adequate social distancing.

No gyms, pubs and restaurants, large gatherings (sports or entertainment) or parties in your garden from the outset but businesses that can safely open would be fine.

What about the over 70s who had cancer, or heart disease and needed vital hospital treatment?
it may work for Iceland but not for our population. I think we are inevitably heading for a traffic light smart phone system. Discussed here: https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1704458.html
But what about me - I don't have a smart phone
Well who do you think these people are, Zacs. Aren't they on repatriation flights?
better get one brainiac! you WILL need one
Can't afford one as can't work because of the, er, virus!
//These are British citizens coming from countries where Covid is generally less prevalent than it is here.//

Some of them are but many of them are not. I expanded on this in another thread last week and provided a link to an article explaining who some of them are and why they are here. There were more reports over the weekend of non-residents arriving here for various purposes. The reason I highlighted it was in response to a question which asked how and when the lockdown might be eased. My view is that it won't have to be eased. If no changes are made it will fizzle out by default by about the end of May. People will not stay confined to their homes when they learn that people from across the world are arriving in the UK and being free to go where they like. There are other anomalies with the lockdown too numerous to go into but it was necessarily a hastily drafted piece of legislation which needs urgent amendments. If not it will simply be ignored more and more.
ff, I’m sure lot of the passengers are repatriating brits but I’m not sure you can state they all are. It was more your statement about them coming from less risky countries. A light is about to land at LHR from Dallas.
TTT //better get one brainiac! you WILL need one//
Where has been announced that everyone will need a smartphone? Pure speculation on your part.
Flight, not light
// These are British citizens coming from countries where Covid is generally less prevalent than it is here. /

Nope. These are largely business flights. They are coming from the USA, Italy, Spain. Also flights from India, Pakistan and the Middle East. They are scheduled fights not relief flights.

https://www.heathrow.com/arrivals
Plus it won’t be compulsory to have the app. I’m certainly not installing it on my phone.
I don't mind if 'something is done' about these people being brought back on flights but I think it'd be pretty much a case of doing something just to be seen to be doing something. Would we put them in a hotel/detention centre for 2 weeks? We could test them and then hold them for 3 days then test again if negative the first time.
There's at least as much of a case for pulling out and quarantining those who breach lockdown here.

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