Coming together - NOT amateur radio

Last night, at 9pm UK time, quite a few of us on our close came together to sing a Vera Lynn song for VE day. It was a real binding moment, even though we all stood 2m apart!

There was an excellent turn out and it was a good chance for neighbours to meet and chat. Coronavirus is a dreadful disease, but it is bringing out the best in people.

The photo shows a small part of our gathering. Sadly the picture of the whole group was very blurred.

Coronavirus vaccines - NOT amateur radio

The race is on across the world to find a safe and effective vaccine against Coronavirus. Although this could be 12-18 months away, one UK group is so confident that it intends to produce 1 million does by September in parallel with trials.

In the meantime, I certainly hope they can repurpose some existing drugs to help us fight the pandemic.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52329659

Boris Johnson in intensive care - NOT amateur radio

The news tonight was that the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has gone into intensive care in hospital suffering with Coronavirus.

Whatever our political persuasion, we all wish him well and hope he gets better.

This is a worrying time for his family and all in the UK government. He was spearheading the UK's battle with Coronavirus. This is a most difficult job.

Coronavirus step change - NOT amateur radio

In the last week we have seen a step change in the UK over coronavirus. A week ago we were hardly affected, whereas now we seem to be on a war footing.  People seem to have changed.

Please watch this - NOT amateur radio

I was told of these videos from Dr John Campbell by Chris M0PZC. The "delay" phase is trying to reduce the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, so that health services are better able to cope. This is to help the community.

Children, in general, are not badly affected, but they can spread the disease. Older people with pre-existing health conditions can become seriously ill and die.

Your help is imperative. Do what you can to slow the spread of the virus. Thank you. Your actions could save lives!

With a vaccine readily available being some way off despite great effort, our best hope is some antiviral treatment that may improve outcomes. From what I have read, the best hope is remdesivir, although I am no expert.

That crash - NOT amateur radio

Anyone looking at the stock markets, oil prices and currencies in the UK will realise this was a very bad day.

Clearly people are spooked by the Coronavirus and how it is being dealt with. A year from now we will, hopefully, look back at this time in amazement. I think the biggest thing is the uncertainty: nothing quite like this has ever happened in our lifetimes and we are all grappling with uncertainties. The virus seems more easy to catch than flu. At the moment we have no immunity.

With luck and good hygiene, these very bad times will pass and things will recover. In the meantime, batten down the hatches!

Amateur radio and coronavirus cancellations

In the months ahead, we can expect more amateur events to be postponed or cancelled. At the moment (as far as I know) Dayton and Friedrichshafen are still on. If these were cancelled it would be a huge thing.

Corona virus, what next? - NOT amateur radio

Here in the UK, we are waiting.

Most of us expect some sort of lock down, but we are not sure what and when. The economic impact of all this is sure to be severe, even if things return to normal within a few months.

Travel firms and the hospitality industry will be most badly impacted. Would you want to be on a cruise now?

The UK budget is later today and the Bank of England has already slashed inter rates.

Black humour? - NOT amateur radio

This was posted on Facebook earlier. It made me smile although for those stuck on cruise ships it is anything but funny: it must be a nightmare.

We all hope that this virus will run its course, burn out and that a vaccine is made available as soon as possible.

Risk averse? - NOT amateur radio

Having just cancelled a 2 week holiday in Corfu, I am wondering if I am becoming more risk averse as result of my 2013 stroke or old age?   My basic concern was corona virus.

The thought of having to spend 2 weeks self-isolating abroad or in a Greek hospital filled me with dread.  In all, we would have to spend about 5 hours in planes and 4 hours in airports, plus the 2 weeks in the hotel. I decided that it would be better to self-isolate at home or, if required, be treated in a UK hospital. 

My wife is upset (as am I), but we can always have a 2 week holiday another year.                       

Corona virus fears - NOT amateur radio

This morning, many stock markets have tumbled, probably because of the fear that a coronavirus pandemic could badly impact world trade.

We have yet to see the impact of Chinese lock-downs on their exports. Most goods now say, "made in China", so the impact of goods not being shipped from China could be very disruptive.

As I understand it, the virus can be easily passed on, although the death rate seems less severe than in flu for example. I guess the great fear is that it could mutate into something worse. As you can tell, I am no virologist!

These days, the world is far more interconnected than in the deadly flu pandemic after WW1.

UPDATE 1150z:  I see that oil prices are down over 4% suggesting demand has fallen.

Coronavirus - NOT amateur radio

It is understandable that governments are being very cautious: at the moment there are no vaccines and it is not totally clear how it is spread. It could yet become a global pandemic. At the moment the death rate seems pretty low.

Several things are certain:

• As many things are now made in China, supplies will be disrupted. 
• Demand for oil is falling in China. 
• Cruises will become less popular. 
• The impact on the global economy could be massive.

A lot will depend on the next few weeks.

That new coronavirus - NOT amateur radio

It is still too early to tell how dangerous this is. Certainly with air travel all over the world, it can spread very quickly. With long incubation periods when people are healthy, but capable of spreading the disease, it could spread very widely, very quickly. There is always the danger of mutation.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51254523

Chinese new coronavirus - NOT amateur radio

We do not yet know what we are dealing with. With modern travel viruses can spread worldwide in a few hours, so containment becomes all but impossible.  At the moment it is mainly a few hundred cases in China. In a weeks' time?

It could turn out to as harmless as the common cold or it could be lethal. There is little doubt that at some point a worldwide pandemic could be a threat to all human life. Hopefully this is not it.