Mark .Y.

For the first bit - hopefully. For the last bit - almost certainly 🙂

A couple of extracts from the ONS site that might explain it Aggy (figures are from a little while ago but the principle is obviously the same) ........ Our definition of COVID-19 includes some cases where the certifying doctor suspected the death involved COVID-19 but was not certain, for example, because no test was done. Of the 32,143 deaths with an underlying cause of COVID-19, 1,325 (4.1%) were classified as “suspected” COVID-19. Including mentions, “suspected” COVID-19 was recorded on 4.7% of all deaths involving COVID-19. In this bulletin, we use the term “due to COVID-19” when referring only to deaths with an underlying cause of death as COVID-19, and we use the term “involving COVID-19” when referring to deaths that had COVID-19 mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, whether an underlying cause or not.

Yes, well each to their own Purple, and nothing wrong with preparing for the worst in any case. So far, as much as I can see, there have been no second waves in any country that has lifted restrictions. Of course, the vast majority still have social distancing etc in place so that may be what is actually suppressing any second wave (there have been local "hotspots" in many countries) - but it does give me cause for optimism.

Seriously KG, cheer up - you'll do yourself in 🙂 For every expert that says there willl be a second wave, there is one who says there won't be. I've read lots of stuff about people who have definitely had the virus but no antibodies are showing, and there are reasons why this could easily happen and doesn't mean that they have not gained immunity - though how long that would last, I don't think anybody knows. But hey, it's been a lovely day here, and I'm sure it has been down in your neck of the woods, so look on the bright side 🙂

Or a slightly fuller verison................... "Although these samples were taken at the end of April, the Public Health Agency said: "The numbers reflect the state of the epidemic earlier in April, as it takes a few weeks for the body's immune system to develop antibodies." It it is not clear exactly how these numbers line up with the Public Health Agency's earlier model that predicted a quarter of the Stockholm population would have had the virus by May 1st. But state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said the figures were "not far off" those in the model. "We aren't at seven percent [infection rate in Stockholm] now. It was seven percent around week 15, so that is quite a long time ago. These people were immune in week 18 [the week ending May 3rd], that means they fell ill at some point in week 14 or 15. We are somewhere around 20 percent plus in Stockholm now," Tegnell told journalists at the press conference. It is still unclear what level of immunity previous infection by the virus provides. But several studies have suggested that people who have been infected do have some antibodies that according to the World Health Organisation would likely "provide some level of protection" against re-infection. But there is still no evidence to show whether people are fully immune, or for how long."

Interesting point of view about lockdown.............. Sunetra Guptra

Yes, I didn't kind of mean ring fencing within the hospitals, I just meant that they are probably well sorted out now and have good control of their operation. My sister-in-law works in the "super hospital" in Portsmouth (Queen Alexandras) and she is much more comfortable than she was during the earlier days.

Yes, finally somebody who agrees with me that the testing isn't the be all and end all 🙂 On the rest of your points, Surfer, I think the first thing to do is to ensure all care homes and staff etc are properly ring-fenced and protected. I think NHS hospitals probably are now, so that just continues. I think the learnings should come out of properly conducted cross-party investigations/reviews once we are properly through it. The only way to repair the economy is to get people back to work as soon as possible, nothing else will help more in the short term. As for the longer term and repairing the finances - I really don't know, I'm afraid I don't have the financial expertise to answer, or even suggest anything. The one thing I would say is that there are numerous countries in the world in exactly the same position - and although instinctively that feels like a bad thing, maybe it isn't ??

I get that he is making a stance at the moment and appearing popular but this is a guy with a very chequered past. Hopefully he did his time and is fully rehabilitated. Nothing to do with the current crisis but not sure he is much of a role model. attack Leaves wife

We've more chance of succeeding at it than anybody else 🙂

Yes, I understand your seasonality points. However, Australia and New Zealand are obviously both Southern Hemisphere countries and have done relatively well. Brazil and Ecuador have both Southern and Northern Hemiphere areas as the equator passes through them, but it is obviously close 🙂 Brazil is likely to be an outlier because of the beliefs/actions of the President but I still do believe it has more to do with population density and poverty than anything else.

I would have thought cycling and angling are two of our strengths

I thought the temperature thing had been pretty much dismissed ?? I think, in the South American places above, it is much more likely to be density of population, general poverty of a great deal of people (crowded slum areas) and lack of decent healthcare that is making it bad.

I agree. The more I have read about actions taken in different countries, the more I have come to the conclusion that Germany and South Korea are the "best performing" nations because they immediately protected their care home population. In my opinion, that is the one thing that really sets them apart from the likes of us, France, Italy, Spain, the USA etc, even Sweden. It meant that even if your trace/test/isolate plan was not 100% (which, lets be honest, none ever would be), the vast majority of the people who contracted the virus would have few or no symptoms and would not require hospitalisation.

I think he may well feel "obliged" to leave if he loses the support of the ever-influential backbench Tories. And, I do get what your are saying but to me, he looks a tired man - weary from the pressure of power.

Agree with a lot of this, what happened to a balanced view and the ability to see both sides of an argument. Guess it has to be led from the top, but we may be waiting for a long time. Regarding Johnson, FWIW, my opinion is that he will "resign" from his position in the next year or so (maybe after he has delivered Brexit, but maybe before) to spend more time with his partner and new baby.

Well, I know it means a reduction in money for each individual club but I think expansion for the PL for the next 2-3 years with an extra club going down each year makes most sense for avoiding the possible lawsuits.

Yeh, just hadn't heard any kind of explanation and wondered why it was. Being cynical, I guess it is something to do with the availability of some part of the tests or it would be being announced that it was somebody else's fault 😉

So, regarding testing. Does anybody know why the target keeps getting missed. We are told the capacity exists and the tests are now open to a huge number of people but the "magic" 100K hardly ever gets achieved, I haven't yet heard an explanation from anybody why this is. Any ideas ??

I can see that happening in the EFL too, PPG for each league and promotion/relegation decided on that basis. The PL is, quite literally, a different league though, and I think it might be tough for them to relegate on the same basis.

Who on earth does that 😂🤣

I think Max looks best equipped for the Prem but Jamal not far behind. I think they will attract the most attention. Ben still has a bit to learn but I hope he stays as I think he is a natural born leader, and you always need those in the club. Not sure we would get offered enough to tempt us for EMI or Teemu but wouldn't be surprised to see a fairly large offer come in for Todd as he seems to be able to step up to each challenge as it presents itself. Would love them all to stay but reckon we'll lose the full backs.

Speaking as somebody who works for ExxonMobil (as a contractor now, rather than an actual employee any longer), I'm really quite surprised that they are a bit of an outlier as far as Petroleum companies go, they still believe that fossil fuels will be around a long time yet and haven't made purchases of "new" technology companies as some of the other majors eg BP have done. Personally, I think that if the same amount of R&D money went into hydrogen fuel cells as has gone into batteries, they would probably be the way to go. Relatively simple to install a hydrogen tank into an existing forecourt location and then nobody has range issues.

Saw that story too...…………. loved it 🤣

Yes, I have seen that opinion put forward by a couple of others sonyc........... it does seem to make sense to me, lets hope they're right and it happens soon