When it really happens: SHTF...

[Aragorn243]

The news coming out of the US tonight, that individual states are competing (and bidding against each other) for ventilators and protective equipment is disturbing, massively driving up the price of this critical life saving equipment.

I wouldn't put too much stock into that article. It's Cuomo making the charge and he simply ignored this until it was too late. He's also demanding more than he needs at the expense of the other states. Between Cuomo and DeBlasio the mayor of NYC, they set themselves up for a perfect storm. They and their underlings were telling people to "go to the parade", "go to the theater", "if you're not sick, act as if it's normal, your New Yorkers after all". Cuomo is demanding 30,000 ventilators when the Federal reserves are 20,000. Trump has the auto makers ramping up production but it's going to take some time. He's also released an additional 4000 ventilators from the National stockpile. That's now 22% earmarked for a single state. Most other states didn't screw up so bad and the rate of infection is much slower. Even in California, the most populous state by far, they are no where close to the problems NY has right now. PA right next door is also at a fraction of NY. Cuomo screwed up big time and is now trying to divert blame and make a name for himself. There are hopes he will be the actual Democrat nominee for President when this is all said and done, because of his "great" leadership through all this. He is getting his face all over the TV, that's for sure. Sitting in front of a whole warehouse of masks and gowns and complaining he has none and holding up the distribution of those. Cuomo also had the opportunity to purchase 16,000 ventilators a few years ago specifically for a potential pandemic. He refused, the reasoning being there wouldn't be enough trained people to operate them. He has managed to procure 7000 now, not sure if the 4400 coming from the Feds is included in that number.

[Flying10uk]

500,000 deaths in the UK

My understanding is that this figure was calculated on the basis of what could have happened before the UK government changed it's policy to "stay at home". Initially the policy was to "allow" healthy people to simply catch the virus in the hope of obtaining "herd immunity" but then it was realised that if this policy was pursued hospitals would likely be inundated with shed loads of casualties and so government policy "evolved".

Although the UK now has the "stay at home" policy many people are still expected to work. This means that unless you are able to work from home or are able to grow very long arms, you may still have to go into work. The UK is slightly different from many other countries in that it hasn't stopped all "non essential work". This could still happen, of-course, if the UK government deemed it desirable in order to control the virus.

[mrclark303]

I wouldn't put too much stock into that article. It's Cuomo making the charge and he simply ignored this until it was too late. He's also demanding more than he needs at the expense of the other states. Between Cuomo and DeBlasio the mayor of NYC, they set themselves up for a perfect storm. They and their underlings were telling people to "go to the parade", "go to the theater", "if you're not sick, act as if it's normal, your New Yorkers after all". Cuomo is demanding 30,000 ventilators when the Federal reserves are 20,000. Trump has the auto makers ramping up production but it's going to take some time. He's also released an additional 4000 ventilators from the National stockpile. That's now 22% earmarked for a single state. Most other states didn't screw up so bad and the rate of infection is much slower. Even in California, the most populous state by far, they are no where close to the problems NY has right now. PA right next door is also at a fraction of NY. Cuomo screwed up big time and is now trying to divert blame and make a name for himself. There are hopes he will be the actual Democrat nominee for President when this is all said and done, because of his "great" leadership through all this. He is getting his face all over the TV, that's for sure. Sitting in front of a whole warehouse of masks and gowns and complaining he has none and holding up the distribution of those. Cuomo also had the opportunity to purchase 16,000 ventilators a few years ago specifically for a potential pandemic. He refused, the reasoning being there wouldn't be enough trained people to operate them. He has managed to procure 7000 now, not sure if the 4400 coming from the Feds is included in that number.

Thanks for the information, it's going to certainly take some solid national leadership and federal control by the 'short and curlies' to make sure everyone pulls in the right direction and does what's right by their respective citizens.

[Surpmil]

The UK has finally got it's act together, a bit late, but a true national effort is underway on a massive scale, with over half a million members of the public forming a volunteer army to assist in all areas of the coordinated national response.

The NHS is now on a war footing and going 'full tilt' to meet the coming **** storm.

Companies all over the country are now involved in the rapid prototyping and production of ventilators and other medical equipment.

Unfortunately here in North America there are apparently no such efforts to involve the populace in a volunteer effort.

Nor is there any apparently organized attempt to support the vulnerable or those who must isolate themselves by delivering the necessities to them.

It is much preferred here that the populace remain passive blobs; a role an ever-increasing number clearly prefer.

The UK is going to come out better and stronger and with a well-justified sense of collective self-satisfaction if that effort you refer to pans out.

[Flying10uk]

Trouble is I am not sure that the UK has got it right by not having a complete lockdown? It could be that other countries have got it wrong by having a complete lockdown and the UK has it right, or it could be the other way round. I am not convinced that the UK has got it right by not having a complete lockdown but only time will tell.

[Surpmil]

Trouble is I am not sure that the UK has got it right by not having a complete lockdown? It could be that other countries have got it wrong by having a complete lockdown and the UK has it right, or it could be the other way round. I am not convinced that the UK has got it right by not having a complete lockdown but only time will tell.

There's nothing like a complete lockdown here, nor can there be anywhere I suggest: people have to go out to buy the necessities and there are some tasks and obligations that cannot be avoided or delayed.

The lists of "essential occupations" are long enough to ensure that.

Grocery deliveries to customers are falling far behind here, and many of the elderly cannot afford to pay couriers for everything even if they can get deliveries made.

[Aragorn243]

Not sure exactly where you are but here there are plenty of volunteers and almost everyone is delivering for free. That's why it baffles a lot of us on why people are hoarding toilet paper. Even McDonald's is delivering and I never thought I'd see that. Plenty of places to call if you need help also. On the TV all the time.

[beachdog77]

Northern California here.
Stores locally decided that when they open their doors in the morning, they let in only seniors citizens and let them do their shopping. After an hour or so they let the hoard of soccer moms, starbucks residents and IT Dept. guys pillage the store. There have been several charitable elderly food delivery services that sprang up pretty quick. Food banks are hard pressed but they are taking care of seniors first luckily.

[Surpmil]

China's death toll much higher than reported?

[beachdog77]

China's death toll much higher than reported?

They cant lose face by report real numbers, that might have far reaching implications.