Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Lockdown

Possibly because the Italian testing rate is is pretty low by most European standards, almost half the rate of the UK for example. This is possibly confirmed by the number hospitalised and defined as seriously ill being about the same as the UK.

I don't believe the infection rates in the remote Scottish Isles are higher the Major cities. The North of Scotland is such a massive largely unpopulated area that the map is next to meaningless.

But as you say they could display the statistics using different parameters and the map would be completely different which is my point, If for example the Lighthouse keeper on Sule Skerry stack became infected that would be a 100% infection rate for the particular island. Or maybe a 50% infection rate on changeover day, take your pick.

Well said! In particular the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror reporting is disgraceful, meanwhile I see their owners grabbed a sizeable chunk of government support money.

They could easily be. A remote area with only 100 residents might have 2 positive cases - a rate of 20,000 per million. Uist has 45 cases out of a population of just under 1300, a rate of 34000 / mill.

Basing stats on tests done is not brilliant as the test numbers are volatile and have varied over time, hence a changing base making comparisons useless.
I think hospital admissions gives a more consistent comparison, albeit ignoring positive tests that result in minor symptoms and simple treatment. If testing had been consistent then it would be a more realistic measure.
When our town of about 35,000 was put into a localised lockdown the wider county cases showed 10 new with 8 of those linked to the town. Note the term linked. That gives 228/million rate for the very localised area. The first specific town to be locked down.
I am not impressed with the official press conferences. The regions have been better than the Westminster ones.
Here in Wales I am not a big fan of the First Minister or his Health Secretary but they have been far better than Boris and his entourage. Likewise Scotland and NI have been better. The style, wording, descriptions given are far superior to Boris ones. Boris does not come over as a good orator no matter how he tries to “sex it up” . The clearest and best has been the Chancellor. Simple language and explanations. No political bullshit and non committal, deniability creating rubbish or obvious career politician non information.
Also there is a continuing apparent reluctance to work closely with the devolved governments with repeated failure to communicate for a national strategy.
I feel the Welsh assembly has taken a better attitude to measures especially with identifying the now prolonged hotspot areas. The bottom line is we, the population, are the main cause of spread by relaxing vigilance. The easing of measures coupled with this has caused a move towards a second wave. I think the easing sowed thoughts of the virus disappearing when it is still there.
Christmas is going to be interesting!

And remember, as I've mentioned before, in September, 9,000,000 children, 550,000 teachers and 1,100,000 support staff all went back to work with very little chance of social distancing. Not really surprising that infection rates have increased.

Agree. Within the confines of a small geographic area, if the Lighthouse keeper on Sule Skerry Stack is infected then there's a high risk of the Changeover Lighthouse keeper contracting Covid.

But conversely in the sparsely populated large geographic area of the Scottish Highlands the risk of infection will be far less than in the densely populated parts of the Highlands, yet the map implies the risk throughout the North of Scotland is the same.

That's also why I'm happier to live in a small village than a City.

Then there is This Bloke which imho my mind "boggles" But heh the court case might be fun to watch.

Well, we have more people in hospital now than when we went into lockdown in March. Still no effective T&T, and the 'unprecedented situation' and 'It's easy with hindsight' excuses are all used up.

Looks like it could be a grim winter. Stay safe, everyone.

Finally got our first postive in school (bound to happen). Be interesting to now see if our measures are 'robust' or if it spreads like wildfire.....