Alex P

Looking at Worldometer has the current epicentre officially moved to the Americas yet? Brazil are reporting 6,000 cases today and 500 deaths. They will be ahead of the UK on a continual basis soon it seems. The US deaths up again to 2,400 today no sign of these really decreasing at the moment. Seems the US measure their groupings in an unusual way they count Prisons and the military outside each state and also the American Indian areas. Cases are also fast growing in the Veteran Affairs category is this retired military or care homes not really clear? Also not clear on how India is keeping cases and deaths relatively low are we assuming this is under reporting and lack of testing.

I have had it also, well I suspect, no taste, no smell, headache, fever but it generally cleared up within a few days. I work in a big office in Central London and at least ten people I’m aware of had symptoms in my team this was back in March just after I self isolated so I really do think this disease has been widespread for months and has probably swept through London at least in way higher numbers than we realise.

The story in there that relates to the person having the stroke was particularly grim. I can’t help but feel this virus just generally destroys the body of anyone who has health conditions whether these are known or unknown and causes the body to react in various ways. I found it particularly scary when the British 21 year old died of it with a suspected heart attack then it turned out she had a heart attack was rushed to hospital and contracted covid there. So it seems to be difficult to tell whether the same applies to person above who had the stroke. I do not think the time we have had since this outbreak started to now has been enough for the relevant experts to fully understand the disease and how it operates over time and given the amount of resource and funds being poured into all areas of this disease it is likely there will be more understanding over the coming months I think one of the key things I’ve noticed from it is chosen health through maintaining a good diet and not being overweight seems to be extremely important I know a few nurses and they are all saying similar stories that 99% of people they are treating and end up in a bad way are very overweight or were already in poor health. The world does need to be a lot more health conscious I think rather than terrify yourself you do need to try and remember that the morality rate of this disease is still going to be relatively low and the advice from the begging has been this is a mild illness for most people the article made it seem this is a death sentence for us all.

I think the government have put the general public in the position of fear mode of not contacting the relevant authorities for help now they are saying we should. A lot of mild conditions may have become serious due to being ignored through fear of contacting or going to the doctors. It has been handled very poorly. However, I do think the British public are a lot to blame for some of the scare mongering, I have lost count of the amount of mums I have seen on social media who are not letting their kids out of the house under any conditions and won’t be letting their children return to school until there is a vaccine messages like this spread as people start to think coronavirus is a death sentence if you get it.

Again on the New Zealand point which is a really bad example of a country to compare us to which people continue to do. New Zealand has a population of 4 million, is in the middle of nowhere and has no major cities than can even compare to the likes of London. All major businesses started to move very quickly when it became clear that stay at home recommendations we’re going to be implemented. How does anyone think we can shut the country down one day and expect the correct infrastructures be in place to allow many companies to work from home the next if a fast and swift lockdown was implemented. I fully agree where we did fail was the continuing of mass gatherings, however, I do feel that additional week we didn’t lockdown gave the country the time to prepare. There was one death on 14th March in the UK the government would have never got away with shutting the country down with one reported death. Hindsight tells us otherwise that it would have been a good idea knowing what we know now but it was completely impractical to shut down any earlier if you consider it logically.

The children dying of side effects comment is really not accurate and potentially scaremongering. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-matt...vid-19-11979869 This article shows it is a suspected relation of covid-19 and no children have died from it so please check sources before you post misleading news.

Your tone is quite rude and not really any need for it. I think the I’m not bothered hundreds of people are dying is such a bog standard response when people can’t hold a debate properly. I’ve stated in previous posts that what I am finding the most difficult is no relaxation on people who live alone being able to visit others not like I am sitting here saying I want to go to Glastonbury the fact I have been isolated alone since 12th March demonstrates I do care about people dying but thanks for making me feel even worse when I was seeking discussion on support hopefully you now have in your mind have you have made someone feel like crap who is already struggling.

It has been revised downwards to 2,700 so must have been an error.

The answer to your strict question depends on what we are regarding as strict I have already stated that our lockdown measures are not strict in comparison to other countries but this way of life is strict and is not easy. I live in a central London flat with no garden. All of the options you have suggested are things that I have been doing but as I stated earlier in this post I have been doing this since 12th March so all of your suggestions can be done but this is obviously going to impact people eventually as it is a prison sentence with no release date. I don’t think the mental health of people should be questioned and advised there are other things people could be doing when they are obviously doing everything they can. I do appreciate your suggestions though.

Spain’s new cases have shot up to 9,000 today I sometimes question the timing and accuracy of the numbers on Worldometer.

I am pretty sure the peak was earlier this month when we had 3 days of 900+ over the course of four days. We have not hit 900 since April 11th and actual deaths per day excluding backlog are showing a downwards trend.

Cheltenham, Crufts, Lewis Capaldi and Stereophonics tours being the key issues. I think these were more of a problem than the lockdown being delayed pretty much all major companies in London were working from home from 12th March. Canary Wharf was a ghost town from early March so people had started to take notice and apply their own rules I am not sure how much impact an extra week of lockdown would have had if a mass gathering ban was in place.

I’m not sure how only being able to leave your house for essential shopping and one walk a day is not regarded as ‘strict’ in the context of other countries it is not strict but in the impact of life and health it is. I think it was announced today for New Zealand they would look to ease travel restrictions with Australia only in the near future but their main airline carrier seems to be suspended until April 2021 which would mean their next summer season a write off.

Also regarding your New Zealand point they are opening restaurants and schools on a smaller scale from Wednesday so they are really not moving to what we are now they have eased restrictions more.

I think the constant comments I read that the lockdown isn’t strict are wrong. It is not strict in comparison to countries like China where they were boarded up in their homes, however, what I am living with personally is strict and I refuse to let anyone tell me otherwise. I do not understand how people can say being confined to your home day in day out is not strict. I am not sure a comparison with New Zealand is the best as the UK are not going to ease lockdown when infection rates are zero otherwise we would be in this current form until 2021. I personally think we locked down only one week late the error in judgement was still allowing mass gatherings to go ahead with what was happening in Italy.

That is another frustrating point it is being extended longer than the three weeks each time due to how long it takes them to do the review. Why they can’t just give a clear proposed end date like all other countries is beyond me. I have historically voted Tories but they have lost my vote for good after this and their lack of transparency. Thinking we have another 5 weeks minimum of this is really hard to deal with.

Yeah that’s against the rules and shouldn’t be happening. Which is where the issue comes in as I have followed the guidelines not visited anyone but given how long this is dragging on and the government is not being clear or offering any hope I will probably take the decision into my own hands if the lockdown is extended a further three weeks.

No one knows regarding 7th May extension and it is just speculation at this point. Personally I think they will extend it but if they do I think 2 weeks would be more reasonable as opposed to 3. The next extension will be the test as people will be becoming extremely restless by then. And agreed on your point this is where the vast difference in situations occur people living with partners and friends and those on their own. I am hoping at the next extension that some restrictions such as seeing friends or family members are relaxed otherwise I’ll be seriously considering doing it anyway.

Yes agreed I am also completely tired of this commentary specifically comparing it to World War II, it is a completely different scenario. The people who went through that dealt with a completely different situation and I am not even going to compare the two. I fail to see any reason how people can say we shouldn’t complain about this when we have been put under house arrest with no parole date. I think it is also frustrating in the media when they target people in a park sitting on the grass themselves, appreciate this is against current guidance but this could be a person with mental health issues stuck in a small flat with no garden or balcony and they need fresh air to keep themselves sane and are probably exhausted. Knowing how hot it gets in London in July and August particularly in homes I seriously do not know how they can continue this through then of only being allowed out one hour a day it will send people to their deaths or a mental ward. Something has to give on this soon as I can feel the anger and unrest brewing.

The denial that they are thinking about anything that happens next is the worst part of how they are managing this crisis for me. You have Whitty and Raab continuing to appear on tv implying strict measures will be in place all year yet giving zero guidance on what this actually means and there are many people I know who it is tipping over the edge as they believe they will be in lockdown for all of 2020. We then see other countries coming out of this crisis and setting target dates. How can Italy who were extremely overwhelmed be communicating plans for reopening areas yet the message we are receiving is the end of the year, it is completely shambolic.

I’m glad you are going through a similar experience to me on this. Whilst I appreciate the severity of coronavirus, my parents have already had it and recovered thankfully, it is extremely tough on single people and those who live with strangers to be isolated for this length of time. I fully expected the 6 weeks lockdown to 7th May and I think I’ve mentally prepared myself for another 3 weeks after that but then I really thing people in these circumstances will start to get extremely restless and no longer follow the guidance. I also think there is not enough discussion around this group of people and the impact it is having on them that a large amount of the young and healthy population are developing mental health problems. I’m generally a happy, outgoing person who lives life to the full but this has completely destroyed me. I have been isolating since 12th March when I moved to home working and I don’t know how much more I can take to be honest.

I guess next week is week 6 of lockdown, probably been the most painful experience of my life mentally. And agreed hard to put a timeframe on anything but I do find it baffling we have media reports no friends or family until December, no Christmas, no restaurants yet we have other countries who were more overwhelmed than us planning for these things Mid to late May it doesn’t really add up.

Are there any thoughts as to why it is speculated in the media that we will have closures on many things such as restaurants to the end of the year yet even Italy are proposing to open restaurants on 18th May. I am finding it extremely hard mentally living in a flat alone when I hear stories in the media everything will be closed until the end of the year and we won’t be able to meet friends or family it seems that other countries like to give the public more hope yet our government and media like spreading as much fear and panic as possible. It is causing extreme mental health issues amongst people having to sit and think each day that they may be stuck alone for the rest of 2020 when it seems to be the opposite in other countries.

I would put it down to more places being opened. Takeaways and places like B and Q being opened are going to result in more traffic on the roads. I also know of many people who were on furlough have started to be called back to work now social distancing measures have been implemented in their workplace. A further thought I had was that perhaps in the first three weeks many people were isolating and have now recovered from their symptoms.

It is a selfish response.