Media Coverage of COVID -19

[45107]

Good possibility that today's may be the final triple-digit figure we see. Saturday week ago bounced back but not to the extent of the previous Tuesday. Last Friday bounced back but again not to the extent of last Tuesday.

I like your optimism. if I look through the various threads, this is repeated on regular basis but not achieved.
A bit like the “EU will collapse next week’.

 

[DB]

More doom and gloom. Reported on a news feature that Boris has said that if we follow rules we may be able to relax things by middle of next year, does he, or they (if from report's point of view) realise that some of us are having our mental health destroyed by this and middle of next year may as well be 10 years away. I'll be in mental health institute by then, if this nonsense carries on. Being melodramatic, don't think so.

Do these politicians really believe their own rhetoric? It's not going to be eliminated by next year, or the year after - it's now spread throughout the world and will take many years to eliminate, if at all. Trying to suppress it is going to cause more problems than the virus itself - including (as you mention) mental health ones, and also significant economic ones.

Radio 3 news this morning was leading with the news that obese people are more at risk. Why is this the top news item? It was established and reported on months ago, and there's not really anything anyone can do about it. If further research has again found this, so what? It just comes across as having to find doom and gloom coronavirus stories to headline the news with, every single day.

 

[45107]

Remember the 110 figure is untrustworthy due to the mechanism used to develop it.

So is the true figure higher or lower ?

 

[HSTEd]

So is the true figure higher or lower ?

It should be lower.
It includes all deaths where someone has tested positive for coronavirus, even when coronavirus had nothing at all to do with it.
The ONS figures are better in this regard.

 

[Class 33]

More doom and gloom. Reported on a news feature that Boris has said that if we follow rules we may be able to relax things by middle of next year, does he, or they (if from report's point of view) realise that some of us are having our mental health destroyed by this and middle of next year may as well be 10 years away. I'll be in mental health institute by then, if this nonsense carries on. Being melodramatic, don't think so.

Yes I saw that. And that's contradictory to what he said about 2 weeks ago, when he said "We may MAY be able to scrap social distancing altogether from November at the earliest.". I was feeling a little more optimistic when I heard that, and hoping Boris wouldn't let us down on that. But now, well I don't know! God forbid if social distancing is going to continue until at least the middle of next year!!! If so, the economic fallout from this is going to be absolutely devastating. It just can't continue for that long! This is absolute madness! More and more job cuts, more and more unemployed, more and more businesses closing down. It's economic suicide.

I mentioned in a recent post that I hadn't heard any mention of "The new normal" on the news for a couple of weeks, instead hearing a number of mentions of "A return to normal". But over the past couple of days, I've heard numerous mentions of "The new normal" again. I don't believe it!

 

[yorksrob]

"The new normal" must be crushed.

 

[Huntergreed]

Who wants this 'new normal'? It certainly isn't the majority of the public in my own experiences and observations.

Indeed there is an extremely vocal minority of people who want us to lock down until a vaccine, but this is simply unviable and unrealistic and their highly vocal nature makes them seem larger than they actually are.

It's not in the interests of businesses, it's not in the interests of the government with the economy continuing to suffer badly, I have to wonder, who actually benefits from this 'new normal'?

 

[DB]

Who wants this 'new normal'? It certainly isn't the majority of the public in my own experiences and observations.

Indeed there is an extremely vocal minority of people who want us to lock down until a vaccine, but this is simply unviable and unrealistic and their highly vocal nature makes them seem larger than they actually are.

It's not in the interests of businesses, it's not in the interests of the government with the economy continuing to suffer badly, I have to wonder, who actually benefits from this 'new normal'?

It's not even in the interests of many of these people who want to stay locked down until there is a vaccine (they seem to be taking it as read that thee definitely will be one) - a lot of them will be furloughed and sitting at home, but seemingly don't appreciate that if this carries on much longer there may well be no job for them to go back to.

No doubt if that happens it'll be somebody else's fault that they were made redundant, though.

 

[kez19]

More doom and gloom. Reported on a news feature that Boris has said that if we follow rules we may be able to relax things by middle of next year, does he, or they (if from report's point of view) realise that some of us are having our mental health destroyed by this and middle of next year may as well be 10 years away. I'll be in mental health institute by then, if this nonsense carries on. Being melodramatic, don't think so.

Yet I find it a bit odd that they will mention about mental health and other treatments being affected by this but give the impression of we don't know when things will get back to normal.

 

[kez19]

Do these politicians really believe their own rhetoric? It's not going to be eliminated by next year, or the year after - it's now spread throughout the world and will take many years to eliminate, if at all. Trying to suppress it is going to cause more problems than the virus itself - including (as you mention) mental health ones, and also significant economic ones.

Radio 3 news this morning was leading with the news that obese people are more at risk. Why is this the top news item? It was established and reported on months ago, and there's not really anything anyone can do about it. If further research has again found this, so what? It just comes across as having to find doom and gloom coronavirus stories to headline the news with, every single day.

Some politicians believe in their own rhetoric but believe that it can be eliminated but I guess they haven't heard of the common cold? Regarding the CV19 to obesity, they been going on about obesity nearly every year but on the other is not been hypocritical they rushed to open places like McDonalds but places like gyms get left to last? If they cared about mental/physical health wouldn't it be the other way round?

In Scotland in terms for gyms supposedly we are left in limbo of when they are opening but hey politicians on this seem to know more than joe public!

 

[Andyh82]

I have noticed if there is a day when there hasn’t been a development, they will lead on the opinion of an ‘expert’, it’s never explained who they are or whether they are known for sensible opinions or extreme opinions

“Tonight at Ten, Coronavirus could be with us for another five years, experts warn”
“Tonight at Ten, The UK is heading for the worse recession in living memory, experts warn”

It’s as if the momentum of bad news has to carry on every day

You also get stuff like

“More countries could be added to the UK’s quarantine list” (viewers ears prick up)
“The government has not ruled out on more drastic action could take place if other countries see a spike in cases”
(So basically nothing has happened today, they are just worrying more people)

 

[Richard Scott]

I have noticed if there is a day when there hasn’t been a development, they will lead on the opinion of an ‘expert’, it’s never explained who they are or whether they are known for sensible opinions or extreme opinions

“Tonight at Ten, Coronavirus could be with us for another five years, experts warn”
“Tonight at Ten, The UK is heading for the worse recession in living memory, experts warn”

It’s as if the momentum of bad news has to carry on every day

You also get stuff like

“More countries could be added to the UK’s quarantine list” (viewers ears prick up)
“The government has not ruled out on more drastic action could take place if other countries see a spike in cases”
(So basically nothing has happened today, they are just worrying more people)

Media seem to have a supply of experts for a multitude of scenarios. I always wonder who these experts are as even they can't agree. Perhaps I'll label myself an expert in something as have a few qualifications!

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Shock, horror. The BBC put out a piece of video, asking people’s views on the sudden implementation of quarantine measures for those returning from Spain, and it includes someone who criticises past behaviour of government officials.
Catch it quick, before they pull it...

Coronavirus: Spain races to save tourism as cases surge https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53551863

At 1m16:
‘Yeah, well I’m gonna carry on pretty much as normal. Because members of the government decided, namely Dominic Cummings, he can disappear off and not adhere to the rule’

 

[GrahamD83]

Media seem to have a supply of experts for a multitude of scenarios. I always wonder who these experts are as even they can't agree. Perhaps I'll label myself an expert in something as have a few qualifications!

Yes but it only ever seems to be experts who predict negative/gloomy scenarios. Never a report of an expert who says the virus will disappear in a few months.

 

[Bletchleyite]

At 1m16:
‘Yeah, well I’m gonna carry on pretty much as normal. Because members of the government decided, namely Dominic Cummings, he can disappear off and not adhere to the rule’

A friend pointed out that Grant Shapps may be technically exempt because he's in Government. However I think a lot here rides on whether he does actually quarantine, regardless of what he may or may not technically be allowed to do.

Yes but it only ever seems to be experts who predict negative/gloomy scenarios. Never a report of an expert who says the virus will disappear in a few months.

Does anyone with knowledge of the situation genuinely expect this? It may well go (or evolve to become something less deadly) in a year or two, but while it going in months would be nice I doubt it.

 

[PHILIPE]

A friend pointed out that Grant Shapps may be technically exempt because he's in Government. However I think a lot here rides on whether he does actually quarantine, regardless of what he may or may not technically be allowed to do.



Does anyone with knowledge of the situation genuinely expect this? It may well go (or evolve to become something less deadly) in a year or two, but while it going in months would be nice I doubt it.

Another Dominic Cummings ?

 

[Skymonster]

A friend pointed out that Grant Shapps may be technically exempt because he's in Government. However I think a lot here rides on whether he does actually quarantine, regardless of what he may or may not technically be allowed to do.

Shapps being permitted to avoid 14-day quarantine would be a monumental misjudgement both on his part and on the part of the government as a whole. Being a government minister does not somehow miraculously give a person immunity.

• Shapps is no more or no less likely to contract the virus while he away than anyone else
• Shapps is no more or no less likely to pass on the virus when he returns than anyone else
• The public will not take any more of this "one rule for you and another rule for us" thing after the Cummings fiasco

If he comes back and does not quarantine, it will totally undermine the quarantine rules and will result in the public widely ignoring them too.

 

[Mag_seven]

I have noticed if there is a day when there hasn’t been a development, they will lead on the opinion of an ‘expert’, it’s never explained who they are or whether they are known for sensible opinions or extreme opinions

“Tonight at Ten, Coronavirus could be with us for another five years, experts warn”
“Tonight at Ten, The UK is heading for the worse recession in living memory, experts warn”

It’s as if the momentum of bad news has to carry on every day

You also get stuff like

“More countries could be added to the UK’s quarantine list” (viewers ears prick up)
“The government has not ruled out on more drastic action could take place if other countries see a spike in cases”
(So basically nothing has happened today, they are just worrying more people)

I remember when the news used to cover err the news i.e. things that had happened not things that might happen.

 

[Bantamzen]

The Beeb are now trying the pet angle, with a report of a cat in the UK with covid & a "cute" picture of a cat wearing a visor.

Before this becomes the social media thing, can I please ask never, never put things over cats faces like that. This causes them a huge amount of stress, and prolonged abuse like this will shorten their lives substantially.

 

[Yew]

“The government has not ruled out on more drastic action could take place if other countries see a spike in cases”
(So basically nothing has happened today, they are just worrying more people)

Indeed, the media sensation of making a story about a refusal to deny, condemn etc is something that really irritates me.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Shapps being permitted to avoid 14-day quarantine would be a monumental misjudgement both on his part and on the part of the government as a whole. Being a government minister does not somehow miraculously give a person immunity.

• Shapps is no more or no less likely to contract the virus while he away than anyone else
• Shapps is no more or no less likely to pass on the virus when he returns than anyone else
• The public will not take any more of this "one rule for you and another rule for us" thing after the Cummings fiasco

If he comes back and does not quarantine, it will totally undermine the quarantine rules and will result in the public widely ignoring them too.

[dons cynic hat and puts tongue in cheek]
So, if Johnson has painted himself into a corner, not wishing to look weak against Sturgeon and bowing to a noisy campaign to make face-coverings compulsory in shops, even though he personally believes it unnecessary, how can he reverse the policy, or even assign a prospective end-date, when the virus may never be eliminated? He’ll look weak(er) and risk the wrath of the maskivists.
What would cause the reluctantly compliant masses to say ‘this is a load of spherical objects’ and throw off their masks?
A high-profile government minister making a mockery of the public by insisting the rules don’t apply to them??
[cynic hat off, tinfoil one on]

 

[Mag_seven]

Can we stick to media coverage of COVID please. Thanks

 

[adc82140]

Just for a laugh I visited the Daily Express website. Headline-- "panic as France heads towards a second lockdown". Article says nothing of the sort, in fact the French PM has said that local restrictions might be needed, but not right now, and a second national lockdown has been effectively ruled out.

The Express is now about as close to the facts as the Sunday Sport.

 

[MikeWM]

Guardian breaking out the fear porn again

Don't be blase, warns Covid-19 patient after months on ventilator

The Scottish pilot who spent 10 weeks on life support in a Vietnam hospital has urged people not to be blase about the threat posed by Covid-19.

Stephen Cameron, 42, from Motherwell, said he was a “living example of what this virus can do” after enduring multiple organ failure, numerous blood clots and 68 days on an intensive care ventilator.

Speaking from University hospital Wishaw in Lanarkshire, where he is completing his recovery, Cameron said it was essential people followed all the physical distancing and hygiene advice from the government.

“People might grumble about having to put on gloves or social distancing, 2 metres apart, and all this sort of stuff but, you know, I contracted it and I was under for 10 weeks on life support,” Cameron told the BBC.

“It’s no laughing matter. It’s a very serious thing. And I think people can’t be blase about this until we have eradicated it.”

Or... man was unlucky and got nasty case of disease, and became known as 'Asia's sickest patient'. So probably *not* a *typical* case of the disease, then.

(and... gloves? Did no-one give him the memo that it is masks at the moment? Maybe gloves are next for the orchestrated government/media/'experts' push, after all...)

 

[DB]

(and... gloves? Did no-one give him the memo that it is masks at the moment? Maybe gloves are next for the orchestrated government/media/'experts' push, after all...)

And if we think masks get manky quickly, just imagine what can happen with gloves!

 

[AdamWW]

Guardian breaking out the fear porn again

Don't be blase, warns Covid-19 patient after months on ventilator

Or... man was unlucky and got nasty case of disease, and became known as 'Asia's sickest patient'. So probably *not* a *typical* case of the disease, then.

Indeed. It's the usual problem: understandably, it tends to be rare events that make the news, which can lead to a very skewed appreciation of risk.

 

[kez19]

Nicola Sturgeon denies error to lift Spain quarantine then reimpose it three days later

The First Minister said her air bridges list of quarantine-free destinations was not "set in stone" or "entirely black and white."

www.telegraph.co.uk

Ms Sturgeon told STV News: "I don’t think it was a mistake. These things aren’t entirely straightforward or black and white.


“We’re dealing with a situation which is inherently uncertain and unpredictable right now. When we added Spain to the exempt list and made that announcement about a week ago, the days that followed I was at pains to tell people that it was not set in stone for any country."


She added: "We are dealing with a virus that does not behave entirely predictably so there is always going to be uncertainty.”

Aye OK then....so as I say above there was a spike in Spain she could have just went the delay route rather than apply the 2 weeks or behind England approach, it seems more like Ms Sturgeon hasn't a clue about reality but lives in her own "social bubble".

 

[Bantamzen]

This one made me chuckle from Auntie Beeb....

The North Korean government has imposed a complete lockdown on the city of Kaesong and control of the border with the South has been tightened to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Reports say districts are being screened and test kits, protective clothing and medical equipment supplied.
On Sunday the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, declared a state of emergency for the region after officials said a person suspected of being infected with Covid-19 returned from South Korea.
North Korea, a secretive state, had previously not reported any virus cases - but analysts said this was unlikely.

I mean, North Korea tightening borders and lockdowns? North Korea? Shock....

 

[AdamWW]

This one made me chuckle from Auntie Beeb....

I mean, North Korea tightening borders and lockdowns? North Korea? Shock....

There cannot be many borders with less scope for tightening than the one between North and South Korea

 

[LAX54]

Indeed. It's the usual problem: understandably, it tends to be rare events that make the news, which can lead to a very skewed appreciation of risk.

1 person ...out of how many ? bit like C19 itself ! anymore more doom and gloom from the media. over the next year if you hace had C-19 you may get SEPSIS ! you have to ask...is iot worth living amnymore with all this doom / gloom / end of the world reporting !