Morning AllI appreciate that many of here have different views to me, but I stand by mine that hysteria has now taken over: - Whilst cases in the UK have risen, as a % of total tests they continue to fall - The number of critical cases in hospital has plummeted since Spring. Yesterday across there were just 70 across the whole of the UK (that's critical with Covid, not necessarily critical from Covid) - Daily deaths are now regularly in single figures, particularly in London. Again deaths recorded are deaths with Covid, not necessarily deaths from CovidMeanwhile: - The number of 'missed' cancer appointments (the difference between total cancer-related appointments in 2020 vs 5-year average) has now topped 1 million. Macmillan predicts this will result in 150,000 premature deaths from cancer over the next 10 years - The British Heart Foundation predict that over 30,000 people in the UK are walking round having had an undiagnosed heart attack- The Stroke Association are reporting that the numer of diagnosed stroke patients fell by 70% between April - JuneI get that during the peak days of Covid (March - mid-May), these stats were due to the pressure the NHS was under and the need to cancel non-critical appointments. Since June, however, the NHS capacity is there and yet GP surgeries and hospitals remain significantly under-utilised. Why? Because many people are too scared to seek help believing that they will contract Covid or simply do not want to be a burden on an NHS that is perceived to be on its knees dealing with the effects of the pandemic. I have friends who work in A&E and in both cancer and stroke units - they report that in all their years in the NHS they have never been quieter than they are now. My friend in the stroke unit talks about a patient who was brought to her having had a massive stroke. He likely had several smaller ones last month but neither he nor his wife wanted to call an ambulance because 'we know how busy you are with the virus' She's not - nor has she been for four monthsAt the peak, firm action needed to be taken, but the stats show that the risk has significantly reduced. Yet every day the press still pick out the most negative headlines they can find using the best hyperbole they can muster - if daily cases increase for one day we are told they have 'spiked' or 'soared' When daily deaths inched from 10- 12 it was reported that 'deaths rise by 20%' with the actual numbers buried further down the story. Little wonder that a YouGov poll showed that nearly 25% of the population think the actual number of UK deaths to be 10% of the population (that's 6.6 million) rather than the actual 0.06%. The headlines no longer match the facts - that to me is hysteria And now we're seeing the economic cost of this prolonged lockdown. It was entirely appropriate when dealing thousands of daily deaths and an NHS under huge strain - we had to slow the trajectory. That objective has been achieved and yet measures remain. For what purpose? It seems that we are no longer about dealing with the here and now, but trying to fend off an anticipated second wave. I'm not aware of any region of any country in the world where a significant second wave has been experienced (happy to be corrected on this.) Instead areas experiencing high numbers of cases are those experiencing their first wave - the South and West of the US; South America; Barcelona; North-West France; North-West England etc. So how long are we going to exist like this in anticipation of something that may never materialise? Until a vaccine is discovered and administered to everyone? - because that's months, if not years, away. And if a second wave does come, are we then going to live in fear of a third wave; a fourth?? This lockdown comes with huge costs. I've already outlined the lives that will be lost to other diseases, but there is a wider economic cost too that's starting to come to fruition. I was out last night commisserating with a friend who was told yesterday that he is being made redundant. He has a young family and took out a large mortgage last year as his job seemed secure. How is he going to find another job in travelright now - or indeed any job? And he's just the first of our group. All but one of us (the A&E doctor) are working in jobs where mass redundancies are openly being talked about - 25% seems the average figure - and none of us are confident about having a job by January. These were good, stable well-run businesses in secure industries just 12 months ago - retail, travel, construction; engineering, charity. All have been tanked by ongoing lockdown measures and the fear of a second wave. This is a sotry that I suspect is being replicated up and down the country. Hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of lives and livelihoods are being destroyed. I no longer know what the benefit of all this is. Even if I did I would woeder whether it's worth the cost...apologies for the essay and for the numerous typos! Happy Friday all
Craig Fordham ● 2058d