Anyone Else Getting Sick Of Hearing About The Corona Virus On The Tv News?

[dave50]

Also tired of hearing the words safe, safely, save lives, control the virus, infections, lock down etc etc. Every news bulletin invariably has some bad news about the virus and even if they can bare to give anything encouraging, there's always a 'but' at the end. I have stopped watching the news on TV now, I'm sure they revel in the doom and gloom.

[fiction-factory]

NJ is clearly a very educated and intelligent person so he must see that he is using sleight of hand again.

1) The comparison between the UK and NZ regarding quarantining is not a good one. Before Covid the numbers flying into UK airports was about 20 to 30 times the number flying into NZ. NZ rightly acted quickly to restrict entry and numbers have plummeted fro around 20000 a day to 200 a day in July. Putting 200 people a day in hotels is achievable.

The UK on the other hand still, despite the fall in holidays over a hundred thousand passengers arriving daily, mainly returning holidaymakers. There is no possibility whatsover of detaining these people in hotels at the airports for 2 weeks- we'd need millions of rooms.

I have never been a fan of blanket quarantining. It makes more sense to quarantine people living in hotspot areas here or even random young people in pubs rather than in airports. I think I agree with NJ on one point then- quarantining arrivals is more trouble than it's worth. I also agree with ichkeria that some sort of random or blanket testing of passengers from just hotspot areas abroad, would be better (plus more tests in the worst areas in Leicester, Bolton, Blackburn etc , especially the Asian areas).

2) The comparisons with 1968 flu are flawed. Okay the numbers are in the same ball park (although we've only had 6 months of Covid deaths so far). In 1968 as NJ says we just got on with things, and the media didn't focus on it. We probably didn't really notice the full effect at the time. But the 2020 Covid situation would have been far worse without any measures. Maybe 100000, maybe 200000- who knows- but certainly way more than 50000.

There is simply no way today any government would get away with doing nothing and telling people to just get on with it. The Scottish and Welsh governments are certainly not doing that and won't whatever Boris says about 'get a grip' 'get on with it'.

I agree though that some sort of escape route is needed but i think it may have to wait until after the winter flu season and expected Covid search. We simply don't know what impact the current spikes will have. I know some medics are very worried, Nicola S is worried re Scotland (almost in tears the other day) and I think the government is expecting another surge on the NHS and knows it cannot risk a severe second wave this winter.

[Old_Geezer]

Got sick of hearing about it months ago.
The peak has been flattened, goal achieved; we should be back to normal, or near normal at least, now. And normal ought not be newsworthy.

[naomi24]

Yes - and I’ve been sick of it for some time. I just want life to get back to normal and I see no rational reason why it shouldn’t. In my opinion it must - and the sooner the better. That said, I feel rather sorry for the government with all the criticism it’s receiving. It clearly can’t please all of the people all of the time but if it hadn’t acted it would have been slated - and when it does act it’s slated. It can’t do right for doing wrong.

[dannyk13]

OG //The peak has been flattened,//
Not in Burnley where it as spiked to 99 in 100,000, the highest in the country.

[TonyV]

I am self isolating, just doing essential shopping locally. My partner is in a high risk category and hasn't been out since the virus was announced. IMO it seems under 30's are ignoring isolation and meeting in groups, some will pay the ultimate price soon.

[Old_Geezer]

Somewhere has to be highest. Burnley is a small percentage of the UK, and presumably is nearer the goal of herd immunity.