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

Also pretty clear that nudge theory doesn't hold up in a acute health crisis, people need a shove not a nudge to get a sense of urgency

^ exactly

Yup, still not sure whether my housemate realises how serious it is and he’s an intelligent social worker. He has been on annual leave for over a week though so probably missed the escalation.

Perhaps if the government provided an honest explanation of what will happen if people don't follow the guidance behavior might change. Explain to people what dying of ARDs without a ventilator or any medical care is like, and how many people face that unless we massively change our behaviours. Instead of sunny optimism and 'we will win in 12 weeks'.

Anyone with kids knows that it is important to explain the consequences of behaviour. I guess Boris hasn't had much involvement in raising his.

His wanker dad told everyone to go to the pub as well.

What a stupid suggestion

Dr on Marr painting a very bleak picture.

Why? It is difficult to understand an abstract chart with no values on the x and y indices, and talk of flattening the curve. The government should level with people. Sheltering people from the reality is not a good strategy. They need clear and understandable explanation of the consequences if government advice is not followed. That is not fear mongering.

Good visualisation of the difference self distancing can make early on in a transmission chain.

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Just look at the hoarding going on now. Imagine what that world be like if there was imminent and gruesome death being talked about?

And who would be effected worst? Yeah, you'd be ok probably but what if you're old, disabled or something else. You're fucked.

Impressive. It's not realistic to expect most people in this country to have undertaken that degree of care with the expectation that they can maintain it for another 3 weeks though (imo).

It’s not that difficult to avoid going to the pub or gym or avoiding Cheltenham festival if the motivation is to save your parents life. Unfortunately I have house mates who haven’t changed their behaviour so I’m still very much at risk.

This appears to be a cultural issue as supposedly Italy's supermarkets aren't experiencing the problem to the same extent as us

My sister tried going to the Tesco NHS only hour in manchester and said it was bedlam, massive queues out the door and cars were backing up out the car park and so she just came home.

The panic buying and hoarding is a consequence of the vacuum of effective communication. The government should have explained on very clear terms and consistently repeated the communication that there was no risk of food shortage and no risk of disruption to supply chains. They didn't say that clearly until yesterday.

They need to over communicate, and educate people about what this is really about, i.e. probable massive shortage of NHS capacity to deal with crisis and the consequences of that.

Instead they let people engage in a bout of panic buying that has probably accelerated spread of the virus.

Once again, appy polly loggies if this has been posted already.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-doctors-blunt-speech-about-covid-19-hit-home-across-the-country-read-her-full-speech/2241815/

Agree - the official reassurances have come too late. And the "hard hitting consequences" stuff is left to social media which is not a good/controlled way to inform people, and more likely to lead to both panic and denial.

Sadiq Khan on Marr is so much clearer with the message and urgency in his delivery than we are getting from Government Ministers

Btw - I'm not making his argument solely on party political bias. We will never know, but I think Corbyn and McDonnell would have been an unmitigated disaster. I am also grateful that we have a clear majority government during this. And I think Sunak was really good on Thursday.

Unfortunately I have house mates who haven’t changed their behaviour so I’m still very much at risk.

So you're not self-isolating

No, I’ve been to get food, very much social distancing though.

Boris has been banging on about the food chain being fine for about a week now - 'food to fork' as he calls it.

People panic when they are scared, leading to all kinds of destructive behaviours. The government being super honest and transparent will lead to more of these behaviours.

There's a good degree of arrogance in this thread.

"Oh we know all sorts about it and what the government should be doing while all the other fucktards get their only news from Boris at 5pm"

I think you are confusing disagreement with arrogance.

Sorry I didn't reply yesterday.

I agree with this and I'm glad you've posted it - I was asking because I felt the discussion lacked clarity.