Day of Chaos 2: a.Covid-19 thread.

[Jim_Campbell]

Oct 30: Government scientists say it's now too late for a 2-3 week lockdown and it'll have to be longer.

Papers are reporting the government will shortly announce a full-on four week lockdown.

TBH, I've never seen the logic of a two week lockdown. Someone infected just before the lockdown starts could just about still be in the asymptomatic phase, or exhibiting very minor symptoms when the lockdown ends. That's the reason New Zealand (amongst others) went straight to a four week lockdown at the start — it's two full infection cycles.

[JayzusB.Christ]

We're two weeks into a six-week lockdown here in Ireland.  Seems to be having some results at least.

[shaolin_monkey]

We're two weeks into a six-week lockdown here in Ireland.  Seems to be having some results at least.

Keep us updated! Six weeks sounds like it might be just the thing.

Oct 30: Government scientists say it's now too late for a 2-3 week lockdown and it'll have to be longer.

Papers are reporting the government will shortly announce a full-on four week lockdown.

TBH, I've never seen the logic of a two week lockdown. Someone infected just before the lockdown starts could just about still be in the asymptomatic phase, or exhibiting very minor symptoms when the lockdown ends. That's the reason New Zealand (amongst others) went straight to a four week lockdown at the start — it's two full infection cycles.

Agree 100%. In fact there's a whole host of things NZ did that the U.K. didn't, including airport closures/quarantines, and ensuring the welfare of pretty much everyone during lockdown.

[shaolin_monkey]

What do you reckon Johnson's Halloween outfit will be when he makes the announcement?

My money's on this one.

[TordelBack]

We're two weeks into a six-week lockdown here in Ireland.  Seems to be having some results at least.

It's not a real lockdown though, is it? For example, other than the 5km limit nothing has changed for anyone in my household from Level 3. Construction, schools, shopping centers, most offices etc. all still going. The 4 of us are having exactly the same number of contacts as before, we just can't go for a swim. Centra is still full of unmasked builders buying chicken fillet rolls and shouting into phones, the streets are still full of gangs of kids building bonfires.

My unqualified observer's view would be that there's no chance that this will be as effective as the first lockdown, and slightly improved numbers we're seeing are still the very gradual results of Level 3, not the current confusing, divisive, half-arsed lobbyist-wanking measures.

Six weeks of this followed by Christmas socialising and shopping just isn't going to do it, it's just prolonging misery for those not in WFH employment, and afterwards the complete failure will be used to argue against ever trying lockdown again.

[JayzusB.Christ]

Fair enough. I hadn't realised the half-arsedness of it; I suppose living on my own in a small boat community in the sticks has cut me off a bit. And, although I know it's daft, I'm avoiding the news a bit because it causes me so much anxiety. 

[TordelBack]

You and me both, lad. Please don't mind me, I'm no longer remotely rational about this stuff, I've lost the tiniest bit of faith I had left in politicians and their ability to do anything other than graft in their own interests. It's just one deranged rant after another from me now, but obviously I hope against hope that i am as far detached from reality as I feel, and it all does work as advertised.

[The Legendary Shark]

I haven't watched tv (except for films and serials) for about five years now and feel way better for it. It's not easy to break the habit and took me a while.

As to the feelings of fear and disconnection, I sympathise fully. I went through something similar in around 2007 when I learned about certain aspects of certain official narratives. My entire perspective on the world shifted and that was truly terrifying for me, ushering crippling paranoia and paralysing fear into my life.

But these feelings passed, leaving behind a sense of scepticism and a far more relaxed mindset. It was like getting an inoculation to toxic bullshit and was utterly horrid to go through but I'm glad I did.

Everyone I know is constantly afraid, and it's hurting their minds. This is what worries me more than anything else, and what angers me most of all.

Stay well, my friends, and believe in yourselves as far as you can. You will get through this and emerge the stronger for it - because if I can get through it, anybody can.

[TordelBack]

Cheers Sharky, useful perspective.

Kids back to school tomorrow, after a midterm week with little Hallowe'en and no friends or relatives, spent within 5km of the house. This time last year we were reflecting on a great few days tramping around Donegal and Derry, and how we'd have to do it again next (this) year. Tonight my main thought is how nice it was to have a break from wondering if today was the day my kids would come home from school and inadvertently kill my wife. Such larks.

[Definitely Not Mister Pops]

Well, I'm just after getting over this wretched disease*. Just in time for my Birthday, which is nice. I believe I caught it because my eejit of a boss caught a serious dose of job insecurity and had me in the office every day since the start of August for no good reason. I walk to work (about a 5 mile round trip, good exercise) and pass half a dozen educational facilities on the way. Primary secondary and tertiary educational facilities with swarms of unmasked wee plague monkeys in orbit. The on site precautions in schools are meaningless outside the gates. So I caught it.

Now, I've had worse doses of the flu, but it always has shifted in a few days, it's never lasted longer than a week. I'm quite healthy and I've been off the fags for about 5 years** now, so I had no fear of this killing me. But the damn thing wouldn't shift. For most of October I have felt like I've been doing serious workouts without warming up properly. Just constant aching and tired. What little energy I have had has been funneled into fury that I had to go into the office in the first place, and that even though I have been wearing face coverings, other people live in scunthorpe.

I take small comfort in the fact that my manager has been officially reprimanded. He's not a bad skin, to be honest I think he had us in because he was fearful for his job. Middle managers*** are redundant in a WFH environment where efficiency is increasing.

TLDR: Caught the COVID, wouldn't recommend. 0.3333333333333333333333/5

*Tested positive on 5^th October
**Off the devil's lettuce for 6 years n'all
***Glorified supervisors

[TordelBack]

Ouch, sorry to hear that Mr. P,  sounds like a grim month. So much of this unnecessary office nonsense.

[broodblik]

There is no-logic in working in office when you can work from home.  How some of these people can justify the unnecessary risk they put on others, is just beyond me.

[sheridan]

There is no-logic in working in office when you can work from home.  How some of these people can justify the unnecessary risk they put on others, is just beyond me.

Where I work - "because the government recommend it", i.e. the Nuremberg defence.

[JayzusB.Christ]

Well, I'm just after getting over this wretched disease*. Just in time for my Birthday, which is nice. I believe I caught it because my eejit of a boss caught a serious dose of job insecurity and had me in the office every day since the start of August for no good reason. I walk to work (about a 5 mile round trip, good exercise) and pass half a dozen educational facilities on the way. Primary secondary and tertiary educational facilities with swarms of unmasked wee plague monkeys in orbit. The on site precautions in schools are meaningless outside the gates. So I caught it.

Now, I've had worse doses of the flu, but it always has shifted in a few days, it's never lasted longer than a week. I'm quite healthy and I've been off the fags for about 5 years** now, so I had no fear of this killing me. But the damn thing wouldn't shift. For most of October I have felt like I've been doing serious workouts without warming up properly. Just constant aching and tired. What little energy I have had has been funneled into fury that I had to go into the office in the first place, and that even though I have been wearing face coverings, other people live in scunthorpe.

I take small comfort in the fact that my manager has been officially reprimanded. He's not a bad skin, to be honest I think he had us in because he was fearful for his job. Middle managers*** are redundant in a WFH environment where efficiency is increasing.

TLDR: Caught the COVID, wouldn't recommend. 0.3333333333333333333333/5

*Tested positive on 5^th October
**Off the devil's lettuce for 6 years n'all
***Glorified supervisors

Bloody hell. Rough old time for you there.  Glad you're over it now - I think you may be our first infected boarder?

[von Boom]

Glad to hear you're on the mend MP. Shame you got it since it could have been avoided.