Mutating Corona Virus

[brassnecked]

Some decent reading material today, on Track & Trace, Guardian moving in similar direction to Dr North

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/04/way-behind-the-curve-test-trace-and-a-local-credibility-gap

 

Here is his thoughts for today about how the current T & T cannot be made to work., link to his new platform, as the EU referendum one might put some off from reading it

 

https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/news/corona/coronavirus-tractor-production/

[honeybee13]

HMG have signed various contracts with IT firms without tendering them or putting them to scrutiny, under special Covid powers. They've refused to release information from FOI requests but OpenDemocracy and Foxglove mounted a court case. Shortly before it was due to start, the details have been released of contracts with AI firms Faculty and Palantir,  plus Amazon, Microsoft and Google.

 

Palantir is run by Peter Thiel, a mate of Trump's. Faculty used to be called ASI from memory and were involved with Vote Leave and possibly Cambridge Analytica. The head honcho of Faculty is Marc Warner whose brother is special assistant to Demonic at no 10. I'm not clear whether Ben Warner still works for Faculty as well.

 

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/under-pressure-uk-government-releases-nhs-covid-data-deals-big-tech/

 

https://bylinetimes.com/2020/04/22/palantir-coronavirus-contract-did-not-go-to-competitive-tender/

 

[brassnecked]

All dodgy stuff going on with it.

[honeybee13]

Something isn't right, is it?

[brassnecked]

Definitely, those documents will be analysed, and I'm sure it will bite Hancock on the bum.

[honeybee13]

One concern for me is that Palantir and Faculty are specialist data miners and have access to a lot of NHS patients' personal information. Also, why is Palantir doing this for £1 when its US contracts have cost millions? What do they plan to do with the data?

[brassnecked]

Try to offer services to NHS?

[honeybee13]

Services are one option, I agree.

 

I've also read that NHS data is so complete on virtually every individual in the country that it's a goldmine for IT firms for medical research. If they're being sold and especially on the cheap, I think we should know.

[honeybee13]

This article in the Indy has some interesting views on how Brexit has affected the Uk's response to Covid.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/coronavirus-lockdown-government-death-toll-boris-johnson-a9551516.html

[honeybee13]

Fascinating stuff about Ceredigion council from WalesOnline and how they beat Covid.

 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/area-wales-missed-coronavirus-simple-18348215

[brassnecked]

That Ceredigion response is similar to what Dr North was saying was a better way.

[tobyjugg2]

Wouldn't work now - or for many places ever

Can only work when there is trust and a belief we actually are all in it together

Edited June 7, 2020 by tobyjugg2

[honeybee13]

Being a bit more optimistic, I wonder if local government led initiatives could make people feel a bit more involved.

 

HMG seem to be trying to hand more and more of the management of this over to local authorities with very little warning or funding. Local public health should have been there at the beginning.

[brassnecked]

More out of desperation than design, they might be having second thoughts about Data Loss Dido, and the greedy useless Serco and G4S.

[honeybee13]

I do hope so, BN.

[brassnecked]

Looks like lockdown discredited, by BLM protests/riots, we will see in 21 days or so if  Covid cases rise again, there will be further unrest, but then the BLM lot will clearly be to blame.

 

Other worrying trend is the intention of Bailiffs to restart Enforcement, and Debt collectors are also being recruited, as the Credit card people are worried that they won't get their cash, as people prioritise Mortgage and Rent.  Councils are also allegedly going to go all medieval on people who have accrued Council tax arrears, as they haven't granted any Payment Holidays, its still pay up or else.

 

The bailiff and DCA forums are going to be busy

 

https://www.yourmoney.com/credit-cards-loans/bailiff-visits-to-return-as-lockdown-measures-eased/

[London1971]

Although it’s worth noting there was no spike in cases after the much maligned VE Day holiday. Where potentially millions got drunk and touchy freely again.

 

I’m inclined to think the protests won’t make a difference either. Mainly because it’s outdoors, I think there is a seasonal aspect to this too, which doesn’t apply in the tropics.

 

i think Australia and NZ are going to have

problems in the winter. Whatever happens it’s also going to hit us hard this winter also.

[brassnecked]

Here is one reason they should have had local Track Trace and Isolate, and keeping Covid out of general Hospitals, the impact on other patients in emergency and with long term illness and conditions.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/08/britons-life-threatening-conditions-denied-care-coronavirus-pandemic

[tobyjugg2]

OH has received an invite/request to go for the blood test for antibodies

 

 

 

Of course, despite working in a hospital, where they take bloods ...

 

* She has to travel into one of the Local cites at her own expense and arrangement to have her blood taken

* and has been told she has to go on her own time on her day off

 

rather than  literally a few yards away from where she works where they take blood samples and have for years

 

 

Its quite clear that the pi** ups starting again later in the month will also lack proper management/organisation, be they in a brewery or elsewhere.

 

Edited June 8, 2020 by tobyjugg2

[honeybee13]

That's ridiculous, TJ. Is this one of the outsourced firms organising it? Knees up in brewery doesn't begin to describe it really.

 

Depressingly but well done them, NZ has announced it has no cases.

[tobyjugg2]

On 05/06/2020 at 07:44, honeybee13 said:

This is a good article on how to try and spot whether a phone call about Track and Trace is genuine.

 

https://fullfact.org/online/test-and-trace-scam/

 

Fist response you should use is

 

Who claims I've been near them and when?

[tobyjugg2]

56 minutes ago, honeybee13 said:

That's ridiculous, TJ. Is this one of the outsourced firms organising it? Knees up in brewery doesn't begin to describe it really.

 

Depressingly but well done them, NZ has announced it has no cases.

 

I personally think its the 'costing

 

If the hospitals took the bloods they would have to be paid for doing that, rather than the money going 'wherever' - - probably some Tory ministers mates' private 'health provider' setup

 

 

besides, taking the bloods by the professionals at the site would be far too efficient and remove the need to travel across the county wouldn't it? and the opportunities to seed any infections into the herd and boost the badly hit petroleum industry would be lost

I mean - its not like she should be going to some castle on her day off...

 

Edited June 8, 2020 by tobyjugg2

[honeybee13]

The non-government Independent SAGE group have realeased another report. They say the test and trace system isn't it for purpose and that it should be led locally.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/09/uks-test-and-trace-system-not-fit-for-purpose-say-scientists

[tobyjugg2]

Cant see it saying:

 

If you believe you have Coronavirus or have come into contact with someone who has coronavirus (preferably both)

 

* First go home

 

* Then go back to work and tell everyone you want to tell that you are sick and that they are NOT to tell anyone else. After all, its far to dangerous for everyone if you ring them as some tabloid might hack your phone and people might expect you to follow some rules if they know you are sick.

 

* Then go home again and collect your family, including any children whether infected or not

 

* Travel 260 miles to the childs' grandparents property and your second home, Ensure if you stop you remember to deny it.

NOTE: You MUST take a child with you to elderly parents/grandparents, else you cant go.

 

* Lock down for a few hours a couple of times during the next 11 days or so, but ensure you don't  drag it out to 14 days for any reason, and It is of course a requirement to leave the house from time to time during this period - especially to pick someone up at hospital, or go for a wander around which is part of the regular testing required to ensure you are fit to drive.

 

* Travel 60 miles to a beauty spot for the day to ensure you are rested and your eyes work and your child has a P (take bolt croppers as toilets are shut) before the long trip back to London, because you know he'll never make a trip that far without one, 

and DO be sure to ensure that the trip is carried out  before the 14 days absolute maximum quarantine period is over

(14 days is the absolute maximum upper limit of course, not a minimum)

 

 

 

 

Surely they haven't changed the rules?

No-one wants to be thought of as lacking in integrity by failing to follow the above instructions now do they.

 

 

oops

Silly me - of course the above I refer to is the Sage that Cummings sits in on and you are referring to the independent one aren't you HB.

Everyone else except Cummings mistake.

 

 

 

[tobyjugg2]

UK COVID-19 death toll nears 52,000, Reuters tally shows

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-casualties/uk-covid-19-death-toll-nears-52000-reuters-tally-shows-idUKKBN23G10E

 

"New data for England and Wales brought the toll to 51,766, the highest in Europe and putting the UK behind only the much larger United States"

 

"The Reuters tally comprises fatalities where COVID-19 was mentioned on death certificates"

 

"About 64,000 more people than usual have died in the United Kingdom during this year’s pandemic, according to the latest available data, an expert from the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday. "

 

 

"In March, Britain’s chief scientific adviser said keeping deaths below 20,000 would be a “good outcome”.

In April, Reuters reported the government’s worst-case scenario was 50,000 deaths. "

 

 

 

... Hence the government 'official' figures working so hard to stay below 50,000

 

 

 

 

See also

https://www.ft.com/content/2e0a7116-5930-4c7c-aa7b-05a5bd554113

 

 

Edited June 10, 2020 by tobyjugg2