Surprised to hear UK Deputy CMO say yesterday that WHO advice on testing is only for poor countries & UK has strong enough health service to treat our way through outbreak. Don't know any country which has this capacity, rich or poor & burden falls on health staff unnecessarily.
— Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar) March 27, 2020
It's not only surprising, it's also untrue. If the WHO's recommendations were only for poor countries, they would have said so. They're called the World Health Organization, not the Third World Health Organization.https://t.co/JVHeD4PhJh
— James Kelly (@JamesKelly) March 27, 2020
This clip is quite shocking. If this is the CMO/Deputy CMO view they should resign. That only low income countries should do viral PCR testing and contact tracing?? That we traced every case initially? Many UK areas still have low intensity +would still benefit from test/trace! https://t.co/KycjZGf9zc
— Anthony Costello (@globalhlthtwit) March 28, 2020
As I feared this clip is British exceptionalism at its very worst. We know best. Is this the view of the SAGE?? Please could someone ask Sir Patrick Vallance.
— Anthony Costello (@globalhlthtwit) March 28, 2020
I follow this more from a political policy perspective. This is consistent with what Vallance and Whitty have been saying all along. Journalists seem to only focus on the hazy language of the PM and Health Secretary that they intend to "test more".
— Mr Patel (@patelshop) March 28, 2020
I am watching this clip in horror - in absolute horror. The responsibility of where we are now rests on their shoulders. There will be an inquiry when this is over but for so many it will be too late.
— Saleyha Ahsan (@SaleyhaAhsan) March 28, 2020
Is the deputy CMO gaslighting the whole country?
— Suffolk Jason🌹 (@SuffolkJason) March 28, 2020
I really dislike it that our leading Government scientists are looking increasingly like rationalising, shifty politicians
— Eric Herring (@eric_herring) March 28, 2020
"To support our call on all countries to conduct aggressive case-finding and testing, we’re also working urgently to massively increase the production and capacity for testing around the world"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 27, 2020
Note here that he says *all* countries should conduct aggressive case-finding and testing. *All* countries. Not just poorer countries, as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer falsely and cynically claimed the other day.https://t.co/DNrz8yCfRE
— James Kelly (@JamesKelly) March 28, 2020
I am an academic & cannot fight political spin & constant excuses for delay. Also face daily pressure to be quiet. What keeps me going is seeing change in the right direction (however slow) & getting notes from front-line staff. Herd immunity is not an acceptable plan.
— Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar) March 28, 2020
It feels like this gov't is being dragged along. First on physical distancing measures to buy time for NHS & research. And now on testing for front-line staff. Next is appropriate PPE for health workers & putting real commitment into testing & contact tracing. https://t.co/8GNcZQPrZG
— Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar) March 28, 2020
If the govt are aiming for 20,000 or fewer deaths, that means a suppression strategy - it means no more than 4 million infections in a country of 67 million. It's obvious that contact tracing in low-intensity areas would help towards that goal, and yet they refuse to budge.
— James Kelly (@JamesKelly) March 28, 2020
This is the question that unwittingly explains how we ended up in this disaster. There aren't many countries where it would even occur to people to ask "but surely our own scientists outrank the WHO?"https://t.co/GrqwwzWVxc
— James Kelly (@JamesKelly) March 27, 2020
Thanks for that info about England James, when is the post coming out for Scotland not following WHO guidelines on contact and trace? Or are you just going to complain about another Governments health policy and not your own countries health policy.
ReplyDeleteDon't be so bloody ridiculous, I've been making the point for weeks that Scotland has got itself boxed in with this "Four Nations" approach, and that questions will be asked when this is over about why we didn't resist the 'herd immunity' strategy when Vallance was quite openly pushing it. I was also heavily critical of Jason Leitch's Grand Complacency Tour of the TV studios when he was telling people there was no need to close schools and that going to mass gatherings was totes fine - indeed, that he would do so himself.
DeleteIt's not my fault if you haven't been bothering to pay attention.
Of course Scotland should test and trace. Of course we should break off the UK shackles and do that ourselves.
Scotland continues to test at a ~40% higher rate than the rUK.
DeleteNo it hasn't, there are only 2 labs currently able to do mass testing in Scotland. Or you think that nhs Scotland just waves a wand and staff and equipment and expertise appear?
DeleteMore are planned soon.
I see nothing wrong with what Scotland is doing within the current framework we are stuck with due to existing powers.
If independent we could diverge more from England than we can at present. Eg close borders, had shut down earlier.
Scotland only got powers to shutdown on Friday.
And Scotland is diverging with community testing which will allow to see if hotspots develop.
England is currently not doing this.
For reference, my testing numbers (per capita) are simply from that released each day by respective governments.
DeleteAnonymous.
DeleteTests for coronavirus are currently carried out in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary which is the latest to join the group.
Yes I agree and once other labs are on stream, capacity will increase.
DeleteEarlier in week only glasgow and dundee labs were testing.
DeleteThis is because they have expertise in pcr testing.
Edinburgh virus lab has been testing from the beginning. All virus labs in Scotland have expertise in testing using PCR techniques which have revolutionised virus testing in the last 10-20 years.
DeleteIn addition to the virus labs in Scotland some of the larger Microbiology facilities have virus testing capabilities.
University research departments also have PCR technology and could, with minimal adjustment, contribute to the testing of samples from those suspected of being infected by the virus.
Some more data to feed into things. It's from the Herald, so once again I have to apologise for using disreputable websites:
ReplyDelete"New data from the Italian National Health Institute covering 6801 patients who have died reveals that just over 70% are men.
It reveals that less than one in ten of the deceased are over 90.
Around one in seven are under the age of 70...
The analysis reveals that of those that died, 4789 were men and 2012 were women...
The latest Italian analysis reveals that around three in four of those who died suffered from two or more chronic diseases. Half had suffered from three or more chronic conditions."
Balacullush doing the best strategy in all Britain, we should all be following suit to keep everyone well, shows great community spirit and logic,
ReplyDeleteWas on channel 4 news
Those are my experts, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
ReplyDeleteAnon: Comment deleted for a silly (and frankly rather desperate) attempt to spread disinformation. You're talking about a subsample of fewer than 100 people, not "a poll". Better luck next time.
ReplyDeleteLmao so you're going to ignore a subsample this time.
DeleteThought so.
Independence is dead.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteUntil at least such a time that we can actually leave our homes to vote, I'd imagine it is yes. Nobody in their right mind would support a vote for independence 'tomorrow' (the standard question if read literally) at present.
ReplyDelete