kai2: I think if you read various reports from the UK, you will see that...
+ the UK has -- like many other countries -- been woefully behind in preparing for such a pandemic
+ they are seeing that containment -- using earlier European examples -- is physically impossible and at this time is a misuse of resources.
+ with containment being impossible, they have to pivot to simply trying to slow the virus' through means such as self-isolation / quarantine (which has shown promise in some parts of Italy where the spread became much more manageable by local medical resources)
Their words still come off as them saying "why contain it or even try?", that they don't mind more being killed due to this, and that they want people to allow themselves to get infected to build this "herd immunity"....that is what I(and others as well most likely) took issue with more than simply the plan itself.
kai2: 1) No country yet has had a particularly good response to COVID-19 (although Korea has probably been the best). That would suggest that countries -- although having ample warning over the years of just such an issue -- chose not to take those warnings seriously. Going forward there should be a serious conversation on "why?"
As said before by me: A combination of denial(to themselves and others) that it will ever happen(as in the Mass Effect series) or will be as bad & wanting to bicker back-forth more over party lines/etc and other short term stuff.
kai2: 2) Hoarding has come less from "bad" people as much as from scared people. If our governments were providing clear guidance alongside reasonable strategies, hoarding would be a minimal issue. But hoarding grows as official messaging contradicts and government strategies seem chaotic. In essence, hoarding is more the effect than the cause.
This
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Flyingfluffypiglet: Don't beat yourself up, I've only myself found out recently by sniffing around the Web on who truly were those best prepared for another big nasty to fall upon us. ;-)
Speaking of such....I wonder how Madagascar is handling this so far? :\
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StingingVelvet: My local grocery store, Shoprite, limited sales of household essentials like toilet paper to 4 items per customer. The result? I went in last night and there was tons of all that stuff, no issues. All stores need to do is limit purchases.
They did where I am at, on TP/Paper Towels/sanitizer/bleach/Water/etc.
The result? TP/Paper Towels/Sanistizer all gone or mostly gone, and bleach half gone. Yet food is still mostly plentiful(minus stuff like ramen, etc), and water as well.
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Flyingfluffypiglet: France's turn to be the latest casualty in feet been dragged. Macron had finally decided to get universities/schools/nurseries closed on Monday, but now hands have been forced: from midnight tonight all except markets, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, petrol stations will be closed.
From what I've read, panic buy reared its ugly face there too.
So people will have nothing to do(outside I mean) and have to all huddle up like elderly waiting to get sick/worse in yet another country?
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To all here: Tbh if we're all forced to live like virtual prisoners for months is it really worth it? Why can't people wash hands/not touch face/wear masks(if they have any) and meet in small crowds/maintain safe distances? =================================
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dr.schliemann: Some graphs about the evolution of COVID-19 in Italy (updated 14 March).
I see they still aren't reporting re-infection numbers rates....I wonder if they are doing that on purpose? :\
(This isn't a dig on you or anyone else, btw.....I just find it odd they aren't reporting re-infection rates....seems it'd be easy enough to do while the systems aren't too strained)