Forum Topic

West Putney Covid Hot Spot?

Just reading this on the front page.... the cafes and restaurants seem to be doing well down here on the LRR, I wonder why the rise?The numbers are very small and there are a lot of young people around here, rowing and going out, not blaming them, but us oldies seem to be pretty responsible.  I suppose its quite a busy and popular area, but I don't see 5 people infected as a disaster, especially as the young don't seem to become too ill.  I guess the thing for us in the older age group to continue being very careful.

Bunny Payne ● 2031d21 Comments

Mike you are absolutely right!

Marie Byrom ● 2028d

Bunny, If you read half of your prescriptions you wouldn't take them. Thalidomide was dreadful just for sickness what happened to all those little children, so sad.

Barbara Stevens ● 2030d

I think they are definitely volunteers.  I'll never forget my Mum telling me that, while suffering morning sickness while pregnant with my much younger sister, she was advised to take Thalidomide.  Thank God she didn't.

Bunny Payne ● 2030d

Do you think we should force people to be the 'guinea pigs' in drug trials?  If not then surely they are going to be volunteers.  A lot of people volunteer for altruistic reasons although altruism is not something that so many seem to hold  with respect in this increasingly me-me-me mine-mine-mine world.

Philippa Bond ● 2030d

I think you (and Gabrielle) may have too much common sense for this forum Bunny ;-)Meanwhile increases in deaths due to cancer, heart attacks, suicide and doubtless other causes totally ignored, as are the issues around “you oldies” as you put it being left in pain or with issues around lack of replacement hips and knees are all totally ignored.As are the issues around the poverty which will likely be responsible for killing many globally due to younger people being unable to work and feed themselves due to global lockdowns and the way rules are stopping many businesses operating.The pandemic is far from unprecedented (indeed far less lethal than the Spanish flu it used to be compared to which killed c.2.7% of the global population compared to the 0.06% and counting from this one, the thing that is unprecedented is the level of government response and fear that has been created).Meanwhile I see over in Sweden where they have taken a different approach current infection rates are now being reported as lower than their neighbours and showing no signs of spiking despite not shutting down their economy in the way some countries in the UK did.https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/sweden/Let’s get people to take reasonable precautions as you say and those that are more concerned can take higher precautions whilst letting children learn in a non dystopian school or university environment and go about their lives - better to let them have some fun now, they still have to live with the disastrous consequences of lockdown economics longer than the rest of us.

Mike Warman ● 2030d

Yes Matt they called them the Elephant Men, one was left brain dead, this was in 2006. Also another drug in America hundreds died Actemra. TGN1412, also Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes I should know I've R/Arthritus for 19yrs. So I do read what I take.

Barbara Stevens ● 2030d

Dont think anyone died Barbara but yes a horrific incident!https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-559760/Elephant-Man-drug-trial-victim-set-win-2million-payout-losing-toes-fingers.html

Matt Palmer ● 2030d

Yes a few years ago people were paid to test a new R/Arthritus drug. made their heads swell and I think one died. All because they needed money.

Barbara Stevens ● 2030d

Yes a few years ago people were paid to test a new R/Arthritus drug. made their heads swell and I think one died. All because they needed money.

Barbara Stevens ● 2030d

It's standard practice and there has apparently already been one other pause. It's to be expected when tens of thousands of individuals, some elderly, are involved in the trials. It may be nothing to do with the vaccine but specific vaccines aren't appropriate for everyone. For example, flu vaccines are suitable for those with egg allergies.

Michael Ixer ● 2030d

A medical bod involved in this trial was on LBC this morning.  He explained that there are two groups of guinea pigs (my words not his) in this particular vaccine trial.  One group is taking the potential vaccine and the other group is taking a placebo.  Until it is confirmed which group the infected person is in and whether they go on to develop the disease, the trial has been halted.

Sue Hammond ● 2030d

Elizabeth. It's a hospitalisation not as death.

Michael Ixer ● 2030d

Meanwhile, to put things into perspective, "the weekly rate [for the whole of Wandsworth] for August 24 to August 30 is 17.5 cases per 100,000 people ... a slight increase of last week’s rate of 17.2." By contrast, the rate in, for example, Caerphilly is 71 and in Bradford it's 69.

Richard Carter ● 2030d

Is it a death, or a hospitalisation?

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2030d

Just read on the bottom screen of the News Vaccine has been stopped as somebody who was given it has become ill.

Barbara Stevens ● 2030d

You can't stop the young from wanting to go out and I don't really blame them.  At this point, speaking as a person over 65, I think everyone in my age bracket has to safeguard themselves.If there are more cases of Covid and nobody gets really ill, then there's no problem.  All us oldies have to protect ourselves.

Bunny Payne ● 2031d

Agreed, Ed. And I spoke to soon: the Oxford vaccine trial has just been suspended while the death of a participant is investigated. Probably nothing related to the vaccine but that's why trials are done!

Michael Ixer ● 2031d

With testing still a mess and tracing never happened it's the only tool in the bag!

Ed Robinson ● 2031d

The concern is obviously that younger people will pass it onto parents, grand parents, teachers, lecturers, etc then the death rate and cases of so called "point Covid" will increase. I guess the government is trying to quash increased transmission earlier than they did in March. Perhaps you should be criticising the idiots who don't wear masks or follow social distancing rules? Still news on vaccines is quit promising: https://theconversation.com/oxford-scientists-these-are-final-steps-were-taking-to-get-our-coronavirus-vaccine-approved-144623

Michael Ixer ● 2031d

This new limit on gatherings is just ridiculous. We have 600 odd people in hospital in England versus 1,250 NHS hospitals. If the case increases are in the young (39 and younger) which has a stupidly small mortality rate why the push again. We are literally crippling our economy and people's futures... Remind me what happens if we never get a vaccine?

Gabrielle OMahony ● 2031d

"I don't see 5 people infected as a disaster, especially as the young don't seem to become too ill" "I wonder why the rise?"Cause - effect.

Michael Winstanley ● 2031d