Quote Originally Posted by upthemaggies View Post
Financial Times pushing the idea that half of us may have had Covid already so the death rate could be as low as 0.1% and, basically we can all go back to work and carry on as normal. I hope they're right, but until we get testing sorted out it's just another theory.
Albeit at various speeds, the major European countries have implemented virtual lockdowns in line with the scientific advice. Most would say in this situation that it is better to follow the scientific advice than any other 'noise' and to keep the message to the public as clear as possible, but of course there are no guarantees that it will work.

Over the past couple of days the number of new cases emerging in Italy has reportedly begun to fall, suggesting that the lockdown there may gradually be reducing transmission, but how long can you realistically maintain such a lockdown before the economic effects start to bite deep into people's lives? And what happens to the infection and death rate when the rules are officially eased, or when people in desperation begin to break ranks of their own accord?

Human nature when facing a scary natural phenomenon is to seek ways we can 'control' it, so what we're seeing from scientists and governments at present is perfectly understandable on a social and political level, but it could be a long time yet before we are able to assess whether these actions genuinely reduced the impact of COVID-19, or simply re-phased it. Can we in effect 'beat' nature?

Incidentally, the same website that provides latest statistics on the COVID-19 outbreak…

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

… also offers a separate page illustrating the daily growth in the world population, which will barely be touched by current events …

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

If you believe that human activity is the driving factor behind global warming, then with the population increasing at this rate we're all knackered anyway.

Sorry! It's being so cheerful that keeps me going!