Cocooned Day 12
Only 12 days? Jayzus but it seems like twelve months.
In theory, the restrictions end here next Sunday. On the other hand they have just passed a law which gives the police the power to arrest anyone [with a fine of €2,500 or a prison sentence of up to six months] for failing to follow guidelines. No one knows exactly what that means [least of all the police] so this should be fun.
Of course I have been wondering how all this will end.
Currently the rate of infection here is at the very least stable, and possibly on a slight decline. This is of course down to all the restrictive measures. So what will haven when they relax those measures?
The virus hasn’t gone away. It’s still out there [or even in here – I don’t know if I have it] and is just waiting for fresh meat. So people start mingling and there it goes on the rampage again. The infection rate will just shoot up again.
Are they going to continue those restrictions until there is a vaccination? That could be many months and probably into next year. That would be interesting.
Or are they just going to let the bug do its worst? Let nature take its course, cull all the weak and solve all the problems of an ageing population? they must be tempted to do that. Hospitals could relax as all the feeble – the potential patients – have been culled. The gubmint could relax as all those irritating old folk are dead and buried and are no longer a burden on the pension pot.
Don’t tell me they haven’t considered it……
I think the possibility of taking a laissez-faire approach, as Trevelyan did at the time of the famine, would be attractive to certain groups of people.
Just cull the weak and let the strong survive!
As far as I can make out, it's up to the immune system, end of. As far as I know;-[not very far;- especially from here})!
The immune system and copious quantities of whiskey…..
I guess it's something like this: https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-the-hammer-and-the-dance-be9337092b56
That is an excellent summary and somewhat detailed. I haven't read the whole thing but it all makes sense. It's also a bit depressing!
There's a new theory around (but not peer-reviewed and without sources known).
This suggests treatment for serious cases should avoid ventilators and rely on anti-malarial drugs such as hydroxychloroquine:
https://archive.is/mEjnX
If correct, this whole thing could be snuffed out quickly.
There are several treatments proposed but they all have the same problem – they are readily available. Much better to wait until some Pharma produces something they can charge a fortune for?
Of course they've considered it, however most deaths involve family and most people mean something to others – and they vote.
Next is old people make a ton of money for big pharma. The final 2 to 5 years invariably mean life extending drugs, pain management and things from colostomy bags, adult diapers. Then there's the kit, like wheelchairs and special beds.
But let's not forget those "assisted living" places that employ large numbers of people. On the other hand there's the cruise line industry that caters almost exclusively to the bucket list types, plus golf courses.
And they still pay VAT, same as everyone, and they pay investment managers to look after their savings. And most pay pretty hefty income tax.
Plus they baby sit and they volunteer.
I'd argue they're far more valuable to society than many of the benefit scroungers we're carrying.
Plus doctors don't want them dying. Sometimes they do care but most often they don't want to screw up their reputation or promotion prospects.
On the other hand, the main problems raised at the last election were homelessness and the state of the health service. Think of all those homes released onto the market as the owners snuff it, and the health service wouldn't have to clutter up the hospitals with decrepit old wrecks? Two massive problems solved at once. That should please the electorate?