Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

Did they have pasta mista?

This 100%

I deleted the picture of Ian Macdonald as I didnt want to offend Lowbrows who is obviously working very hard on this, but here it is again as I do think its valid

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Gonna have to look out those “prison fitness” routines I’ve so regularly mocked, or just enjoy getting fat.

Can’t believe I even bothered to type that first sentence, of course I’m going to enjoy it.

This is me

Also we'll all have to learn to cut out own hair. Bowl cuts and buzz cuts will be the hot trends of 2020.

Mate, resident in south west France, approx 90 minutes drive inland from Bayonne,
reports in addition to schoold closing from last Thursday,
'lockdown' will start from Tuesday.
Only legitimate journeys will be to gather food and visit pharmacies.

Cheers.

I'm not (comparatively- remember I'm currently and primarily- until we shift- a surgical trainee.)
I'm just as frustrated but in a different way, and for different reasons.

People are working hard.

No matter what you think of this government, and I think (as do most of my colleagues) very little of them, you have to hope that they have made a decision where they know the severity of the outcomes, a truly horrible decision, with some sort of scientific process, and logic.

We are talking about possible deaths vs probable deaths.

This is the complication that people are perhaps missing.

And most of all- when we attack the government about health policy - it is never them that faces the outcome of that change.

With regards to enforced social isolation, I cannot envisage it working.
Not even in the short term.
I suspect that horse had bolted a while back.

PS.
(Who's Ian Macdonald?)

There is a certain "fuck em all" attitude in Leeds. Wasn't born here, I hasten to add.

My wife is a nurse at the large local public hospital (Drome/Ardeche region of France). Since the end of last week all nurses (and, I guess, other medical staff) have been put on "plan blanc", which means that on top of their standard hours, they can be called in to work at any time. Yesterday (Saturday) she was informed that the hospital itself has now been put into quarantine due to overwhelming numbers of Covid-19 cases. This means no members of the public are allowed into the hospital, and the staff must wear face masks at all times. There are other steps taken too, but I don't know exactly what they are.
The hospital she works at is locally acknowledged as being badly managed and organised, compared to most French hospitals in general, but the number of cases is starting now to become severe at many hospitals.

What now...?

And tobacconists.

Yeah I am not criticising the health policy at all. Just the comms in front of it.

The irony last week that people were quoting Jeremy Hunts questioning of the approach, yet he was at the helm when the serious damage was done during the last decade. Oh the ironing!

Ian Macdonald was a civil servant who appeared on the 6pm news every day for 2 months during the falklands conflict in 1982 to provide the daily government update on what had happened. People waited for his updates and it became the establish source for what is happening.

Ian Macdonald

Bit different from socialising via Peston and then Hancock mumbling what might happen on Sunday morning

Thats good to hear, course you'll be fine as you're northern.

Mrs 116 has no immune system due to chemo so that's an additional worry.
I'm resisting panic buying, just trying to get the usuals and struggling, that coupled with the fear of job losses (Mrs 116's company is only really one or two months off bankruptcy) and lots of outgoings atm (all essential, no luxuries) has me kinda stressed.

We will increase publicity about the need for good hygiene measures

no mention of comms

?

I don't really understand what you're looking for: A fancy communications strategy with research, objectives, strategy, implementation and evaluation? (What civil servants call ROSIE)

I'm sure that exists, but they're not going to release it to the public.

I think maybe we're talking a bit at cross purposes, because I agree with you that the politicians themselves are doing a shit job of communicating, but the information that the public need is available (and being widely reported by the media).

What else are you looking for though, genuine question?

Those weird noodles you tried once and didn’t really like, weird tins of beans, a half bag of oats etc.

Uncanny. Also ... so many nearly-finished bags of various coloured lentils and odd short-grained rice types.

Do we need a ready, steady, isolate thread?

Stay strong. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.

https://behroozh.shinyapps.io/COVID19/

I think Chris Whitty is pretty good and could have done that in 1982 but the media landscape has changed massively. Fragmentation and non-linear broadcast mean that you couldn't take that approach now.

because I agree with you that the politicians themselves are doing a shit job of communicating,

That bit, so I honestly think we agree. Although I think if that was clearer, people would understand more and they would be able to get the full social distancing measures in earlier, something many think they are not moving quickly enough on.

Thanks for this info and all your hard work.

It's very appreciated.

Cheers. 2019 was shit, was really hoping 2020 things might actually be good....

Yeah Chris Witty is excellent. Why not have that role? 5pm briefing every day by a spokesman. Not a politician to take the politics out of it. Actually shouldnt be Chris Witty, sure we have better things for him to do?