Contrary
Of course, just about everything is being cancelled this year because of the pandemic that the uk government is doing very little to try and stop – the fact is, the coronavirus is going to act like a cold, so having it once might make your immune system more alert to it but it won’t necessarily confer absolute immunity. So Boris’ plan to let us all get it and hope for herd immunity will allow the virus to spread and increase the likelihood of mutations (like the ‘common cold’ – it mutates too fast so that it’s impossible to get the time to manufacture vaccines). We should be keeping it at bay until a vaccine is made, so that the vaccine has maximum effectiveness! I’m sure it will be useful anyway, but the effectiveness might be reduced. The virus might not behave this way, of course, it’s just one possibility.
But, with Boris allowing the virus to spread, and not putting together proper financial plans to support businesses and public services, well, the economy is likely to tank. Prof. Murphy expects another budget announcement in a few weeks to try and patch over the cracks. If there is a chance large numbers of people are unable to work, and with reduced number of events and travel restrictions, many businesses are at risk of failing, and the government is meant to be there to give support – otherwise I’m not sure why we bother with government at all.
And the Scottish Government is at the mercy of the U.K. Government on this, without fiscal autonomy, the ScotGov’s hands are tied – they can’t issue gov’t bonds, or extend gov’t backed lending etc. It’s very frustrating. Also the secret plans – I know it’s secret to prevent panic, but still – for a pandemic that is only fed to us in dribs and drabs, so last week’s advice is not this week’s advice ,,, very frustrating.
Anyway, the Faculty of Advocates conference (Scotland in Europe after brexit) is now cancelled:
https://mobile.twitter.com/FacultyScot/status/1238470982450511878
It’s unfortunate, but they hope to reschedule for later in the year. The longer we can delay the virus spread the better – however much the UK gov’t doesn’t care.
Of course, that would mean any campaigning for any vote would be impossible right now – possibly later on in the year but not before July I’d think (have to see how things go). But the court case will give us firm footing, and the SNP can put a firm date on an independence referendum. Not everything needs to, or can be, put on hold because of the pandemic. We’ll get through it.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
The usual suspects suggest independence becomes impossible because of the virus.
Oddly they don’t make the same connection with Brexit separation.
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Odd that isn’t it.
I make an aside comment on Richard’s blog, in relation to Scotland being wholly dependent on uk government response, wondering if more people would realise independence, and so fiscal and economical autonomy, would be a better choice: getting one snarky remark that I was politicising the pandemic! The response to the pandemic is political, the actions taken to resolve or prevent it are political, we are wholly reliant on the political for this – and the U.K. Gov’t is doing party political point scoring using it, but I’m politicising it because I mention independence?! Honestly. Some people.
I say we’d be better off with our own government with the full range of fiscal and economical levers to do what’s best for Scotland and its people – we can’t guarantee that a future Scottish gov’t would do such a thing, but it’s far more likely than the absolute certainty that the uk gov’t will NOT do the best thing for Scotland.
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What better way to wile away the weary hours in quarantine or isolation than exploring and developing the narrative of Indy ? Ensconced in our angst bunkers , surrounded by a protective layer of toilet rolls , waiting for the pandemic to pass , we can at least be thinking of a brighter future in an Indy Scotland .
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Why does everyone moaning about herd Immunity being ineffective talk about a vaccine working? If contracting the actual disease doesn’t create immunity then a vaccine won’t work either. I expect better from an actual MD than the same nonsense spread by the msm.
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MD?
Firstly, the definition of ‘herd immunity’ penguin is that it means that you have already vaccinated the population (up to a certain percentage) to stall spread of the virus so it has a stable growth rate & limits the number of people it kills.
If the virus is allowed to grow in the population uncontrolled and is persistent, then it might mutate, not enough is known at present of course… But the virus has to be the same one as the one the vaccine was created for for it to be effective – that’s why the common colds we get never have a vaccine (the don’t generally kill, and they change so fast it’s a never ending battle) and flus do get a vaccine (different for each year usually – because they can kill and they don’t change so fast). Apparently some of our common cold viruses are corona viruses so I think they expect more cold-virus-like behaviour. Which means, we should limit the spread (so reduce the chance of mutation) until we get a vaccine that will then limit the spread for us and we can go back to being happily grubby. If we get the vaccine first before widespread infection, it will be like any other cold, albeit a very nasty one; it’ll be in the population but not laying everyone out low all at once.
Does that make sense?
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A different explanation:
A vaccine is just used to control a disease, it is NOT a cure. You have to take the vaccine BEFORE becoming infected, so you don’t become infected (for long anyway, or it is more minor), and so you don’t spread it. Less people off work at the same time: the economy might survive. Slower spread of infection: fewer vulnerable people catch it and they find it easier to avoid.
Just allow everyone to become infected: 50% of working population off sick at the same time, no work getting done, economy tanks. So many people infected at the one time there will be no avoiding it for more vulnerable people. This is not controlling an epidemic.
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Leie Riddoch was thinking the same thing Brian, and tweeted her Nation films for folk to watch:
The responses on her twitter were not very, em, supportive. I’m assuming now that all messages of ‘don’t talk about indy, we have a pandemic to think about’ is state sanctioned trolling.
I’m actually running low on bog roll now, wish I’d stocked up…
Remember the good ol 80s where we were told to protect ourselves with a mattress in the event of nuclear attack? I wonder if a fortress of bog roll will protect us from pandemic virus, can’t wait for the infomercials.
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If Boris Johnson’s idea is to let this virus run it’s course then what happens when a majority are sick & self-isolating?
Will the lights stay on? Will the water still flow from our taps? Will our sewage be processed & our rubbish taken away? Will our farmers stay healthy? The lorry drivers taking our food from the suppliers to the shops? Will public transport still run? Will factories and shops and supermarkets close their doors?
How many will die when those treating them – the health professionals – succumb in large numbers?
This could be a cluster-f**k of apocalyptic proportions.
I worry about my children and grandchildren.
I worry about us all.
Apologies and I hope there is no reason to worry so much.
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Judging by the the lack of soap in the shops I think people are taking health warnings seriously, and I think if people are considerate and do keep to what is being called social distancing – that is if we all take steps to not catch any colds and not spread any, there is a good chance the virus will be slow enough to spread, and the NHS will cope. Remember that for most people the symptoms will be mild, and the youngest are least affected too.
Looking on the bright side (?) even at worst it won’t wipe out the whole population, we will survive. Sensible precautions in the short term and we might beat the statistics – at least we have more information now than those countries that were hit early on. Even Italy and the parts of China affected have kept shops selling food open – that’s an essential, and is likely to be a priority.
We can’t let it worry us too much – it’s an illness that most of us will recover from and I have some faith in my fellow Scots to be considerate and sensible. The next few months are unlikely to be fun, but it will be temporary.
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Thanks for the reply Contrary. I’m a bit of a worrier. Sorry. I think it’s because I’m in an ‘at risk’ group (I suffer from a form of heart failure) and also suffer from depression.
Anyway, thanks again. Hope you and everyone else stays safe.
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Take care Jim.
Best wishes
John
What are you doing for the depression?
All I’ve found is to keep busy and walking lots preferably with a dog.
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Jim, I was about to launch into a bit of a chat there about once you get into a cycle of generalised worrying (we can’t affect the big stuff, so it’s best to avoid worrying about it as it won’t change anything), then you can start to feel more powerless leading to a low mood that could make the depression worse (and lead to more worrying!) – so it’s necessary to break the cycle at some point – but you can break it at any point you choose. I realise it’ll be more difficult with heart problems that probably affect your mobility, or how you feel about your effectiveness in saving the world. I’d say, forget about the wider world and look after yourself, and your loved ones – do something like use Skype or other video conferencing so that your family does not worry about you, while keeping safe?… Other ideas are available.
Well, I started rambling anyway, but I wasn’t going to when I remembered I’d watched a pop-up video ad on an article in the Independent, & so had to search there to find it again. It seems to be a WHO advert talking about health anxiety, and I thought it was quite good – it’s very short and might help a bit (it suggests not watching the news 😉 ) – do try it out:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-immunity-reinfection-get-covid-19-twice-sick-spread-relapse-a9400691.html
(i hope the video pops up, the article itself isn’t very interesting)
If you try the suggested exercise, you can think about things like – if the lights do go out, do you have a torch and candles and do you know where they are? Can you keep a spare container of water in case the water does go off? (it won’t! Scottish water is too dedicated to let that happen) Just to alleviate some of the worries that you can affect. Then you will be effectively saving the world, because your family knows you are safe and taking care of yourself, and they won’t worry and be in far better health as a result. It really is good to separate out thoughts into categories and try and think in different ways about them.
Taking a dog out for a long walk is also good for the soul! Lots of comfort eating and treats help too. And cups of tea.
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Thanks for the help, Contrary.
I’m sorry folks, I didn’t mean to hog.
The wee video was quite good – and, yeah, comfort eating (Sour cream & onion Pringles) and cups of tea help.
Finally, I’m honestly cheered by both you and John taking time to ‘chat’. It’s very much appreciated.
Take care & all the very best. (I’ll be sure to keep sharing your articles on facebook and twitter. Good work.)
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Jim, you can hog away any time you like. It’s also easier to share worries outside close friends and family, and its good to talk about them so you can get other views. I always like to hear other people’s opinions (most of the time anyway!), and yours is as important as everyone else’s.
Keep writing things down, and looking at positive things you CAN do without too much strain, and keep looking after yourself – I find interspersing the (in my case sugary) treats with something like a sprig of parsley allows you to pretend you are eating healthily, which is apparently good for you 😉
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