Coronavirus/Covid-19 Discussion Thread

[DaytimeFan]

 

I was dismayed to hear about what was happening in Melbourne. I visited Australia's east and south coasts in 2018 and was so impressed with the kindness and enthusiasm of the Australian people. Terrible to hear about Melbourne's numbers but hopeful at the swift response. 

 

I am dismayed at the route England is taking. 

[Toups]

 

 

Canada's federal, provincial and local governments (whether they're on the left, centre, or right) are pretty much all on the same page (when it comes to Covid19).   Imagine if the Democrats and Republicans were all on the same team to battle this virus - things would look a lot different.  Unfortunately, there's too many stupid and selfish people in America (from the President to those people in Alabama who intentionally tried to get the virus).

 

 

 

[DaytimeFan]

 

Indeed. And as stated in the CNN clip, Canadians, and our federal, provincial, and local governments, remain on guard and have not declared any form of victory over this virus. The situation remains in flux until there is a reliable vaccine. Canadians were fortunate our governments removed politics from the response, relying on objective science and respect and compassion for each other. In my view the Canadian people would not have settled for anything less.

 

I am so afraid for the United States and I wish everyone on SON who is in the United States good health and safety. 

[I Am A Swede]

Interesting read.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53188847

 

I had no idea that Japan has used the same tactic, more or less, that we have used here in Sweden. No complete lockdown, only recommendations, yet only around 1000 deaths.

 

[OzFrog]

I’ve wanted to ask you actually... what have you thought of Stefan Löfven’s leadership throughout this pandemic? Stockholm is one of my favourite cities in the whole world, and I have considered maybe shifting there in about 6 months, depending on what further unfolds with the pandemic. 

 

It’s a shame, because so many people have been affected by this lockdown that they’ve had enough and are looking for any excuse to go out and socialise, even if the death and case rate is still relatively high. And the government led by BoJo and his cronies have been vague in terms of their communication and justification for easing restrictions, to the point where I believe that if the rates spike up again (as has happened already up in Leicester), they are simply going to blame the public for “not following the rules”.

[I Am A Swede]

 

To be perfectly honest, while I think that we made the right choice to keep society as open as possible, I think that our politicians have been too passive during this whole situation. They are supposed to be the leaders but they have handed all the responsibilities over to the Public Health Agency. In times like these we look to our leaders for, well.... leadership. And that is an area where they have been found to be seriously lacking. And that goes for all our politicians, not just those in the government, even though the opposition parties are starting to play the blame game. They were all in agreement that the strategy we used was the right one, and that we should keep our society open and avoid a complete lockdown. Now though they are trying to distance themselves from decisions they agreed to back then and instead blame the government for our death toll.

One of the reasons we have a comparatively high death rate is that the virus unfortunately found its way into retirement homes and nursing homes. Close to 90 percent of those who have died were 70 years or older.

But things are looking up. All the numbers are going down and the restrictions that were imposed have been relaxed a little.

[OzFrog]

This was Soho in London a few hours ago. God help us all...

 

 

[DaytimeFan]

 

What has happened in Leicester is very sad and a stark warning to the rest of England. There is really no justification for easing restrictions in England to the extent that they have except that the economy has fallen apart and the English people want to get out to the pub. 

 

 

In Canada, our political leadership (and opposition parties) have all deferred to the Public Health Officers (at the federal and provincial levels) and the messaging has been very consistent and the politicians have backed up the Public Health Officers unwaveringly. That, in my opinion, is the best of both worlds because our political leaders have been very visible (indeed, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, provincial Premiers, and provincial Health Ministers, have been seen or heard daily) while the Provincial Health Officers have taken the lead on policy - because these are not "political" decisions - these are public health decisions - and the politicization of Covid-19 is what has trapped the United States in the nightmare it is in. 

 

 

Case in point. What an absolute disaster. God help them and us all. 

[victoria foxton]

 

  

[I Am A Swede]

 

We've done more or less the same, except for the bolded part. Our political leaders have been much too invisible.

I agree that this issue shouldn't be politicized, but I would have liked to see a little bit more leadership from our elected leaders.

[victoria foxton]

 

  

 

Edited July 5, 2020 by victoria foxton

[DRW50]

The Fire Island incident is such shitty, selfish behavior, with far more consequences than the vapid beachgoers even recognize. One man who was there has COVID and has said he wants to spread it to other people (he also doesn't support the current protests - shocker).

 

The sheer selfishness and entitlement and the homophobia this has sprung up (including comments about gays being responsible for spreading AIDS) are another reminder of how much damage even one or two nasty people can do.

 

I was watching the Macy's Fireworks special last night, which was moving, if depressing, and one segment was devoted to praising those who pitched in to help with PPE (making masks, sending masks), knowing the supplies were so limited. The message was, basically, we know and you know you can't depend on the government. Where are we as a country that this is now just accepted and we have moved on? And what kind of a future can we even have?

[DramatistDreamer]

Oh my.

 

[Toups]

Here's the full video:

 

 

Amazing.

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[Taoboi]

@DramatistDreamer @Juliajms and @Huntress thank you for the information. Sad about the recent Australia outbreak, but it seems that perhaps monitoring all the places you all mentioned might give up some good ideas on how to manage it here in the U.S. better. So I will try my best to keep track. Thank God someone is also updating the John Hopkins Coronaboard consistently which is why I try to check it every day. 

YES, IT HAS. It should not be a matter of politics, but one of common sense and science hand in hand regardless than people using it as an excuse to let the worst sides of people's personalities to show. 

As someone said upthread and I was just discussing with a friend of mine who needed to take a mental health day from this craziness (and I think I have more or less been taking one today myself), sadly, we gays care waaaaay too much about pardon the phrase getting off than the fact that we should be trying us best to do what we can to get this virus under control. But like I told my friend, I have accepted, but DON'T LIKE that we are still going to be on some form of lockdown until 2021. 

WAIT?!? THOSE PIECES OF A--- ##$%^

 

What does that say of our country? We don't have much of one. Unless you like dystopian novels, but I don't do shameless plugs.

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At this rate, there is no future until something seriously changes. And I am afraid there is only one way that is going to change. And there will be lots of blood.