agent69
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Post by agent69 on Mar 14, 2020 10:16:58 GMT
High risk group are mainly pensioners. If a large enough portion of this group passes away the government would save billions. Not sure if it's in the government's interest to protect people over 65. I have a modest DB pension due in a few years time. Like many similar schemes it is run at a deficit.
Initially I was concerned that the fall in the markets would make the situation worse, but having given it some consideration I wonder if this is the case. The problem with DB schemes is that if you get run over by a bus the day after you retire you lose all the value you have built up over the years. If a lot of older members were to die then that could represent a big saving to the scheme.
PS: Great time to fly. Currently there are business class flights to Aus available for <£1000 (assuming they will let you in).
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agent69
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Post by agent69 on Mar 14, 2020 10:20:07 GMT
We will be where Italy is now in approximately 5 weeks. The UK government yesterday suggested we're 4 weeks behind them. BUT oddly... UK cases today = 798 and Italy passed that figure only two weeks ago (with 655 cases on 27/2/20, and 889 on 28/2/20). So currently we would seem to be just two weeks behind them. Italy today (two weeks later) = 17,660. Italy's climb out trajectory is slightly steeper than ours, but whether we move out to being as much as 4 weeks behind them remains to be seen. Per head of population Italy appears to be the worst affected country. Why does everyone assume we are going to be on a par with them?
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Post by bracknellboy on Mar 14, 2020 10:20:41 GMT
Ventilator production stepped up in Europe
Faisal Islam
BBC economics editor
German and Italy are ramping up production of medical ventilators to meet expected peak epidemic demand. They cost $17,000 each.
According to Reuters, Germany has ordered 10,000 ventilators, Italy has ordered 5,000.
Factories in overdrive in Europe. Italy is getting the army involved in helping the production line.
As far as I’m aware, the UK has one small manufacturer of ventilators that has 40% market share.
Be interesting to know if this is true.
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Post by gravitykillz on Mar 14, 2020 10:39:41 GMT
Is covid 19 a virus you can get repeatedly ? I mean if you got it then got better could you get it again ?
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Mar 14, 2020 11:10:00 GMT
Is covid 19 a virus you can get repeatedly ? I mean if you got it then got better could you get it again ? There isn't a clear answer to that at the moment. I think (and am happy to be corrected) that the default assumption is that the answer is no, you can't. However there have been a few reports out of China that people have become reinfected. There is some scepticism about the validity of those tests though.
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m2btj
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Post by m2btj on Mar 14, 2020 11:13:30 GMT
Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi recovered from the virus within a few days & Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is felling much better after being diagnosed earlier in the week. It would appear that the effect of the virus on these young, fit individuals has been nothing more than a slight setback. Does that mean tom Hanks who is in his 60's is going to bite the big one ? I'm sure that Tom Hanks is getting the finest treatment his millions can buy. It would appear that some people can just shake it off without experiencing anything more than a heavy cold. A 103 year old woman in China recovered following 6 days of treatment. Anyone with existing respiratory problems seems to be hit hardest. www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-survivors-lay-bare-symptoms-and-what-having-covid-19-really-feels-like/ar-BB11aa5h?li=BBoPWjQ&ocid=mailsignout
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Post by bracknellboy on Mar 14, 2020 11:18:21 GMT
thanks for the reminder ;-)
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bernythedolt
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Post by bernythedolt on Mar 14, 2020 11:24:06 GMT
The UK government yesterday suggested we're 4 weeks behind them. BUT oddly... UK cases today = 798 and Italy passed that figure only two weeks ago (with 655 cases on 27/2/20, and 889 on 28/2/20). So currently we would seem to be just two weeks behind them. Italy today (two weeks later) = 17,660. Italy's climb out trajectory is slightly steeper than ours, but whether we move out to being as much as 4 weeks behind them remains to be seen. Per head of population Italy appears to be the worst affected country. Why does everyone assume we are going to be on a par with them? I'm not sure anyone has assumed that. But it's natural to compare with Italy, given our experts announced two days ago that "we are about four weeks behind Italy".
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bernythedolt
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Post by bernythedolt on Mar 14, 2020 11:56:09 GMT
I did see a candid warning from a doctor to old people that if they went to hospital with this virus, they would most probably be "entubated" and could die on a hospital bed with these in place. They might consider trying to ride out this illness at home instead. That was the gist of it. Would such intubation mean continual light sedation, or fully knocked out, or put into induced coma, or what? Perhaps preferable to "exit" that way, zonked out, oblivious and under medical care, than at home fully conscious? Any doctors here please? As captainconfident suggests, many of us pensioners could have difficult choices to face and any guidance would be welcome. I'd be happy to give up my ITU/ECMO place to a younger person with more life ahead, or a family to care for, but if that option isn't available, it would be nice to know the best alternative to aim for. Older people and those with comorbidities will not be intubated. We do not have enough ventilators, beds or staff to look after such patients. The outcomes in this group are extremely poor. If you get intubated with covid you will be on a ventilator for weeks and most likely need to wean with a tracheostomy. It’s looking very grim Thanks for your reply. We've gone from " old people would most probably be intubated" to " older people will not be intubated" in the space of a few posts. No criticism of either poster. I suppose this just illustrates the nature of such an unprecedented event in our lifetime. Nobody really knows.
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agent69
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Post by agent69 on Mar 14, 2020 12:50:07 GMT
High risk group are mainly pensioners. If a large enough portion of this group passes away the government would save billions. Not sure if it's in the government's interest to protect people over 65. I have a modest DB pension due in a few years time. Like many similar schemes it is run at a deficit.
Initially I was concerned that the fall in the markets would make the situation worse, but having given it some consideration I wonder if this is the case. The problem with DB schemes is that if you get run over by a bus the day after you retire you lose all the value you have built up over the years. If a lot of older members were to die then that could represent a big saving to the scheme.
PS: Great time to fly. Currently there are business class flights to Aus available for <£1000 (assuming they will let you in).
Or possibly not.
Jet2 have just cancelled all flights to Spain, including Canary islands. 5 flights on route today have been turned around (not certain what happens to people waiting for their return flights).In other events Apple have reopened their stores in China, but closed all others world wide.
7 weeks after Wuhan was shut down it looks like the West might finally be taking things seriously.
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Mar 14, 2020 14:18:41 GMT
Great news, it's not all doom and gloom. Stop looking at Italy, check out Norway. www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/Death rate is under 0.1% in Norway, so far 1 death out of 1035 cases. |
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Post by stan88 on Mar 14, 2020 14:25:57 GMT
I noticed that the coronavirus is called the Wuhan Flu here however my sister tells me her kids call it the boomer remover at school (kids can be cruel). I wonder has anyone heard any other names for it and will they last. I don't think it's going to be up there with Spanish flu, Black death or sweating sickness but who knows.
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Post by martin44 on Mar 14, 2020 14:28:16 GMT
Not wanting to miss an opportunity.. i'm due to travel to Dublin April 6th for 4 days, flights booked but not hotel, checked the hotel prices last week on Trivago, and checked again this morning and the prices have gone up... i was completely expecting the opposite.
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Post by bracknellboy on Mar 14, 2020 15:40:18 GMT
Not wanting to miss an opportunity.. i'm due to travel to Dublin April 6th for 4 days, flights booked but not hotel, checked the hotel prices last week on Trivago, and checked again this morning and the prices have gone up... i was completely expecting the opposite. have st Patrick's day events been postponed until early april ?
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james100
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Post by james100 on Mar 14, 2020 15:49:20 GMT
I noticed that the coronavirus is called the Wuhan Flu here however my sister tells me her kids call it the boomer remover at school (kids can be cruel). I wonder has anyone heard any other names for it and will they last. I don't think it's going to be up there with Spanish flu, Black death or sweating sickness but who knows. I saw that term on twitter and tbh it disgusts me. I don't even consider myself a terribly kind person, but as a child I would certainly never have found fun in the fears of the elderly (whether medically merited or not). I'm in my 40's by the way - not taking it personally, just raised to have a bit of respect and empathy for others. It's all getting a bit too Lord of the Flies for my liking..,
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