Covid-19

[CRAZY-HORSE]

firearms sales in the US have doubled and even trebled in some areas as people fear "the end is neigh"

[Jerome]

We are all wise after the event but it would appear that the best way to deal with this crisis is to clampdown heavily for a period of weeks. That gives the emergency services time to absorb the impact and prepare for the next onslaught. USA and UK are going to be the next in line to come under severe pressure due to both their leaders twiddling their thumbs. One of the reasons Italy has been hit so bad is that they did not test people who were not showing symptoms - maybe they did not have enough test kits or something - anyway while the virus was going ape-shit in China, they were hosting Chinese delegations and having trade fairs etc. etc. And the wine bars in Milan were overflowing. Also there is a very big connection between Milan and Wuhan - the rag trade. Constant movement of people between these two centres all the time. Anyway, I hope somebody comes up with a vaccine pronto or the world's economy is simply going to come to a standstill. People are losing their livelihoods at an alarming rate (140 000 in Ireland last week alone) and those of us who are lucky enough to still be employed are going to bear the brunt once the whole shebang is over. IF we are still employed, that is. And as far as mankind not looking after this blue marble we all live on - maybe the chicken has finally come home to roost after all. Who knows what's in store...

[CRAZY-HORSE]

as of midday Monday, in Australia, by decree of the Federal Government:

all pubs, clubs, casinos, cinemas will close.
cafes and restaurants will only be allowed to serve take-away orders, no dine-in.

we now have 1,349 confirmed cases of Covid-19 here in Australia with 7 deaths

[Jerome]

The USA overtakes Spain, Germany, Iran, South Korea & France with regard to the number of confirmed cases. I don't know what the population is in each of these countries but it's a bit worrying that the number of cases in the USA has climbed so quickly. On the other side of the coin, Japan seems to be keeping head above water, even though they have the world's largest number of ageing people. Could it be something to do with discipline? And to be fair, the USA is a big, big country. Mind you so is Australia. Who knows where this is all going.

[Ruby]

Lockdown for us from midnight Thursday – the military and police will be enforcing. We will only be allowed to leave home to get food supplies or to use emergency/health services - all other businesses will be closed except banking, petrol, health and those related to the food supply chain. We’re on 402 confirmed cases so far – Cyril is not taking any chances. Good to see such a decisive move and there seem to be plans in place re financial relief etc., - let’s hope this works!!

[Music Head]

The USA overtakes Spain, Germany, Iran, South Korea & France with regard to the number of confirmed cases. I don't know what the population is in each of these countries but it's a bit  worrying that the number of cases in the USA has climbed so quickly. On the other side of the coin, Japan seems to be keeping head above water, even though they have the world's largest number of ageing people. Could it be something to do with discipline? And to be fair, the USA is a big, big country. Mind you so is Australia. Who knows where this is all going.

more testing = more confirmed cases

[Jerome]

Yes you're probably right MH.

Good to see SA actually making a decisive move. Cyril knows that if this hits the informal settlements it's going to be mayhem.

[Jerome]

On a lighter note, some residents in Dublin whose apartment blocks face each other decided to have a game of Bingo between themselves. They were shouting out the numbers to each other across the street from their balconies. Hilarious.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
im pretty sure the old saying "where theres a will, theres a way" was first used by the Irish, theyre a very adaptable people.

[Jerome]

No, where there's a will there's a relative!

Just thinking, the French air traffic controllers always go on strike every year just before the holiday season kicks in. Wonder what they're going to do this year...their chicken has definitely come home to land!

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Don't know if this is correct or not but on the news (radio) they are saying that the infection rate in New York is doubling every day. Not good.