Forum Topic

Coronavirus Cases Halved Yesterday

There is a lot of scary news out today particular the Imperial College study which the government is quoting to justify its new measures. However, it is worth pointing out that the number of new coronavirus cases in the UK halved yesterday compared to the previous day.I'm not for one minute suggesting that people shouldn't follow the advice as it is based on the recommendation of experts rather than the musings of Dominic Cummings as previous government policy was. However, there isn't something quite right about a PM basically destroying a lot of restaurant and theatre businesses and then making a statement about it to a packed house of Commons. The fall in cases may be an outlier but if the government wants everyone to take them seriously they should be moderating their behaviour in the same way they are asking others to do for instance by limiting the number of MPs allowed in the Commons at any one time. They should also announce the immediate suspension of any non-critical government business including talks with the EU over a revised relationship.

Francis Rowe ● 2424d17 Comments

Apparently there were 171 new cases yesterday

Loraine Pemberton ● 2424d

Yes but over 350 cases the day before.There is a faint hope that this is a trend and the government has got this horribly wrong but the likelihood is that will be dashed in the next few days.

Paul Corcoran ● 2424d

Since the end of last week, we've only been testing people who are being treated in hospital. Before that, anyone who had symptoms could be tested. When the method of measuring changes drastically like this, we can't make comparisons with the earlier figures.

Ian Douglas ● 2424d

My view, external pressure from WHO, reacting to the measures EU are taking and of course to protect those more vulnerable and ensure the NHS can cope with treating all patients. In reality no one really knows how this will pan out that’s the fear.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2424d

Thanks Ian. That could explain the fall and the death toll remains well below the Italian experience. Long may that continue although it doesn't look like it will.

Francis Rowe ● 2424d

Someone renting a room from a friend, has been really sick, in pain/ breathing issues,  they have rung 111 twice asking for help/test etc and both requests have been denied. (and can't get hold of paracetamol)  My friend has been told to isolate the patient but not self isolate.  She works with young people with underlying health issues. (she told them this, still told her no need to self isolate)  If we don't test we don't get the right number of cases.

Lucy Dunkerley ● 2424d

The real number of cases is an order of magnitude higher than the reported number of cases.

Paul Campbell ● 2424d

And then there's those who were lining themselves up as suicide bombers. Some will surely change method and be looking for ways to get themselves infected and then spread it wherever possible. They need to be contained. They might keep communities of infected people and release them anywhere, over time. Roll on the jab.

James Petri ● 2424d

The Times reported yesterday that ISIS is advising its operatives to stay away from Europe for fear of infection. So there's that.

Susan Kelly ● 2424d

They stopped testing unless in hospital,  WHO have said we should Test, Test, Test so we can work out what is happening.  Apparently we are 2-3 weeks behind Italy.It isn't just ventilators we need but all the personal protection stuff for hospital and health centre staff.

Philippa Bond ● 2423d

Does anybody know whether there is a test to test for whether you have had the virus (but didn't even know)?

Anne England ● 2423d

As with many diseases, having had a disease leaves markers in your blood that show whether you have had a particular disesse and developed antibodies against it.  In some cases it can tell how long ago the antibodies were developed - ie whether you have had it recently or a long time ago.  This is certainly the case with animals.  I have been worried about coronavirus in cats for some 15 years - it is not the same of course and specific to cats but in some cats it will mutate, as I have written on here before, into the always lethal FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). A blood test will show the amount of antibodies the cat has/is producing against the disease (unless the disease has gone so deep in the body it can't be detected which does sometimes happen).  Who knows how similar this disease is to the one that cats get?  I repeat again, coronavirus in cats and FIP in cats CANNOT jump the species barrier, but assume parallels between coronavirus in humans (there are several strains) and those in animals (also several strains) are being studied by scientists.  Concensus seems to be that this one did jump tha animal species barrier because of grotesque Asian treatment of wildlife.  For anyone who always wants to shout 'racist' happy to supply those too lazy to Google with several links from reputable sources.  Carl.

Claire Moran ● 2423d

Carl?

Ken Munn ● 2423d

If Claire now self-identifies as Carl, we need to accept that without question.

James Tickell ● 2423d

She/he might want to avoid the Gents in Sainsbury, even so.

Ken Munn ● 2423d

Just on the test as to whether people have had it, I got second hand information on this question yesterday. Apparently it has not been developed yet but when it has it will make a massive difference particularly for health care professionals.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2423d

Does make me wonder how many people who think they have it actually have. Without testing, there's no way of telling. Think back, most winters haven't you had a bit of a cold, a cough, a sore throat, a slight temperature? I can see why the WHO says test, test, test.

Ken Munn ● 2423d