Q & A’s 👌
🐑 why arent you a wearing a mask ?
🙂 because nobody here is ill & besides they dont work.
🐑 your mad this virus is very deadly !!
🙂 not really the infection to death rate is 0.004 % if your under 70, 0.026% if you add the over 70s.
🐑 it killed lots of people in Wuhan
🙂 Wuhan has an elderly population full of respiratory problems & terrible air pollution. Perfect place to declare a new pandemic, plenty of scope to redesignate cases & deaths.
🐑 but what about all the people we saw dead in the street on the news ?
🙂 hmm yes how many people have you seen dead in the street here ?
🐑 ok but what about Italy ?
🙂 once again Lombardy has terrible air quality & an elderly population full of respiratory problems perfect for redesignation.
🐑but i saw videos of people really ill in hospital.
🙂the footage was proven to be fake.
🐑 but after the lockdown cases in china plummeted.
🙂 very convenient that the first lockdown happened in a communist country, where people have no rights & could then be presented to us as a success.
🐑 but the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic.
🙂 the world heath organisation has massive financial ties to Bill Gates, China and Big Pharma.
🐑 but the computer models said we were all going to die.
🙂 the models were produced by colleges funded by bill gates ... they have got it wrong every time.
🐑 yes but that’s because the lockdowns saved us all.
🙂 no they didnt, Japan had no lockdown, they have double the population of the UK, 122 million living in densely packed cities, they have had just over 1000 deaths.
🐑 but the nhs was almost over run. We had to build field hospitals.
🙂 no it wasnt, not even for a minute .. the field hospitals were virtually never used & are now closed .. normal hospitals are empty.
🐑 but the virus is very contagious.
🙂 really ... who do you know thats had it ?
🐑 Boris & Prince Charles both had it.
🙂 yes two of the most protected men in the country .. what are the chances ?
🐑 but what about all the hospital covid cases back in April?
🙂 most people were diagnosed on symptoms ... flu like symptoms.
🐑 yes but they test more people now.
🙂 yes with an innaccurate test that does not directly test for the virus.
People who were never even tested have received calls saying they have tested positive !!
🐑 but what about the antibody tests ?
🙂 even worse ... according to the CDC it has trouble distinguishing between covid 19 & other corona virus's including the common cold.
🐑but what about the excess deaths ?
🙂 what did you think would happen if you shut down half of the nhs & delay treatment & diagnosis to seriously ill people ?
🐑 but they say the deaths are down to covid 19 ?
🙂 many people were never tested or given a post mortem, thousands of relatives of the deceased are complaining about falsified death certificates.
🐑 but what about all the deaths in care homes ?
🙂 thats what happens when they send elderly people with flu symptoms back to care homes full of vulnerable people, & pressure as many as possible to sign ‘do not resuscitate’ forms ..
all to protect the nhs of course.
🐑 but the government wouldn’t lie.
🙂 really ... politicians dont lie ?
Remind me how many weapons of mass destruction where found in Iraq?
🐑 hmm ok .. but why lie about this ?
🙂 many government advisory bodies such as GAVI have huge financial links to Bill Gates & big pharma ..
🐑 yes but why would the BBC lie ?
🙂 the BBC receive millions from Bill Gates
🐑 and the rest of the media ?
🙂 mostly owned by the one percent who own big pharma. Plus bad news sells.
🐑 but what do the governments gain ?
🙂 massively increased state control & a chance to implement massive social changes we would never normally accept, as in operation ‘Lockstep’
🐑 what is operation lockstep ?
🙂 a scenario modelled in 2010 by the Rockerfellers, simulating how the state could gain increased powers and control following a global pandemic originating in China.
🐑 and what do pharma companies get from this ?
🙂 vast profits from larg
🐑 why arent you a wearing a mask ?
🙂 because nobody here is ill & besides they dont work.
🐑 your mad this virus is very deadly !!
🙂 not really the infection to death rate is 0.004 % if your under 70, 0.026% if you add the over 70s.
🐑 it killed lots of people in Wuhan
🙂 Wuhan has an elderly population full of respiratory problems & terrible air pollution. Perfect place to declare a new pandemic, plenty of scope to redesignate cases & deaths.
🐑 but what about all the people we saw dead in the street on the news ?
🙂 hmm yes how many people have you seen dead in the street here ?
🐑 ok but what about Italy ?
🙂 once again Lombardy has terrible air quality & an elderly population full of respiratory problems perfect for redesignation.
🐑but i saw videos of people really ill in hospital.
🙂the footage was proven to be fake.
🐑 but after the lockdown cases in china plummeted.
🙂 very convenient that the first lockdown happened in a communist country, where people have no rights & could then be presented to us as a success.
🐑 but the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic.
🙂 the world heath organisation has massive financial ties to Bill Gates, China and Big Pharma.
🐑 but the computer models said we were all going to die.
🙂 the models were produced by colleges funded by bill gates ... they have got it wrong every time.
🐑 yes but that’s because the lockdowns saved us all.
🙂 no they didnt, Japan had no lockdown, they have double the population of the UK, 122 million living in densely packed cities, they have had just over 1000 deaths.
🐑 but the nhs was almost over run. We had to build field hospitals.
🙂 no it wasnt, not even for a minute .. the field hospitals were virtually never used & are now closed .. normal hospitals are empty.
🐑 but the virus is very contagious.
🙂 really ... who do you know thats had it ?
🐑 Boris & Prince Charles both had it.
🙂 yes two of the most protected men in the country .. what are the chances ?
🐑 but what about all the hospital covid cases back in April?
🙂 most people were diagnosed on symptoms ... flu like symptoms.
🐑 yes but they test more people now.
🙂 yes with an innaccurate test that does not directly test for the virus.
People who were never even tested have received calls saying they have tested positive !!
🐑 but what about the antibody tests ?
🙂 even worse ... according to the CDC it has trouble distinguishing between covid 19 & other corona virus's including the common cold.
🐑but what about the excess deaths ?
🙂 what did you think would happen if you shut down half of the nhs & delay treatment & diagnosis to seriously ill people ?
🐑 but they say the deaths are down to covid 19 ?
🙂 many people were never tested or given a post mortem, thousands of relatives of the deceased are complaining about falsified death certificates.
🐑 but what about all the deaths in care homes ?
🙂 thats what happens when they send elderly people with flu symptoms back to care homes full of vulnerable people, & pressure as many as possible to sign ‘do not resuscitate’ forms ..
all to protect the nhs of course.
🐑 but the government wouldn’t lie.
🙂 really ... politicians dont lie ?
Remind me how many weapons of mass destruction where found in Iraq?
🐑 hmm ok .. but why lie about this ?
🙂 many government advisory bodies such as GAVI have huge financial links to Bill Gates & big pharma ..
🐑 yes but why would the BBC lie ?
🙂 the BBC receive millions from Bill Gates
🐑 and the rest of the media ?
🙂 mostly owned by the one percent who own big pharma. Plus bad news sells.
🐑 but what do the governments gain ?
🙂 massively increased state control & a chance to implement massive social changes we would never normally accept, as in operation ‘Lockstep’
🐑 what is operation lockstep ?
🙂 a scenario modelled in 2010 by the Rockerfellers, simulating how the state could gain increased powers and control following a global pandemic originating in China.
🐑 and what do pharma companies get from this ?
🙂 vast profits from larg
ely untested vaccines ... its the only medicine you can sell to the healthy after all.
🐑 but surely the vaccine will be safe ?
🙂 so why are all pharmacuetical companies insisting on complete indemnity from compensation claims ?
🐑 but Bill Gate’s wants to give us all a digital health record surely thats a good thing ?
🙂 no it means your life style & travel will be restricted unless you have his vaccine.
🐑 but why would the government give us all this money ?
🙂 they havent given us anything, they have borrowed it from the banks and the taxpayer will pay back every penny with interest.
The banks owned by the one percent will clean up again .
🐑 so why arent doctors speaking out ?
🙂 many are but since ‘Event 201’ highlighted the need to control the media, social media, google & you tube, anything that contradicts the Gates owned WHO, version of events, is deleted.
🐑 what was Event 201 ?
🙂 a gates funded exercise in oct 2019 which just happened to simulate a world wide corona virus pandemic.
🐑 but Gates is a good guy he set up a charitable foundation.
🙂 yeah he got that idea from John Rockefeller. Perfect way to repair a shit public image ... like Al Capone’s soup kitchens for the poor.
🐑 no ... he wants to help the world.
🙂 foods cheap.
🐑 gggyji
🙂 sorry i didnt catch that must be your mask ... why are you wearing that again ?
🐑 the govenment & my tv told me to, anyway i dont want to infect you.
🙂 you wont, you’re not ill 🙄and I have an immune system which will protect me!
🐑 yes but i may be asymptomatic.
🙂 asymptomatic transmission is highly unlikely even according to the WHO.
🐑 well at least I’ll pay by card cash is dangerous.
🙂 but plastic wrapped packages are fine ?
🐑 well I’d better keep socially distant.
🙂 theres nothing social about distance.
🐑 but it’s safer to be 2 metres apart
🙂 really what scientific study was that based on ?
🐑 but we have to be careful there has been a spike in cases.
🙂 yes but hardly anyone is actually ill... theres just 1000 people in hospital out of 66 million.
🐑 so why the spike ?
🙂 because they are testing more and more people with innaccurate tests to boost the numbers anyway they can. Double counted cases have been admitted by the U.K. Government
🐑 why would they want to do that ?
🙂 to keep people afraid until the winter when the flu kicks in after everyone takes the flu jab, therefore giving more scope to redesignate deaths.
🐑 but why do they want us afraid ?
🙂 so you will have the vaccine and won’t ask questions.
🐑 well at least if we have the vaccine it will be over ?
🙂 no it wont ... they will tell you it has mutated so you keep needing vaccine after vaccine.
👀 so what do we do ?
🙂 take the mask off for a start & stand up for your rights while you still have some !!
🐑 but surely the vaccine will be safe ?
🙂 so why are all pharmacuetical companies insisting on complete indemnity from compensation claims ?
🐑 but Bill Gate’s wants to give us all a digital health record surely thats a good thing ?
🙂 no it means your life style & travel will be restricted unless you have his vaccine.
🐑 but why would the government give us all this money ?
🙂 they havent given us anything, they have borrowed it from the banks and the taxpayer will pay back every penny with interest.
The banks owned by the one percent will clean up again .
🐑 so why arent doctors speaking out ?
🙂 many are but since ‘Event 201’ highlighted the need to control the media, social media, google & you tube, anything that contradicts the Gates owned WHO, version of events, is deleted.
🐑 what was Event 201 ?
🙂 a gates funded exercise in oct 2019 which just happened to simulate a world wide corona virus pandemic.
🐑 but Gates is a good guy he set up a charitable foundation.
🙂 yeah he got that idea from John Rockefeller. Perfect way to repair a shit public image ... like Al Capone’s soup kitchens for the poor.
🐑 no ... he wants to help the world.
🙂 foods cheap.
🐑 gggyji
🙂 sorry i didnt catch that must be your mask ... why are you wearing that again ?
🐑 the govenment & my tv told me to, anyway i dont want to infect you.
🙂 you wont, you’re not ill 🙄and I have an immune system which will protect me!
🐑 yes but i may be asymptomatic.
🙂 asymptomatic transmission is highly unlikely even according to the WHO.
🐑 well at least I’ll pay by card cash is dangerous.
🙂 but plastic wrapped packages are fine ?
🐑 well I’d better keep socially distant.
🙂 theres nothing social about distance.
🐑 but it’s safer to be 2 metres apart
🙂 really what scientific study was that based on ?
🐑 but we have to be careful there has been a spike in cases.
🙂 yes but hardly anyone is actually ill... theres just 1000 people in hospital out of 66 million.
🐑 so why the spike ?
🙂 because they are testing more and more people with innaccurate tests to boost the numbers anyway they can. Double counted cases have been admitted by the U.K. Government
🐑 why would they want to do that ?
🙂 to keep people afraid until the winter when the flu kicks in after everyone takes the flu jab, therefore giving more scope to redesignate deaths.
🐑 but why do they want us afraid ?
🙂 so you will have the vaccine and won’t ask questions.
🐑 well at least if we have the vaccine it will be over ?
🙂 no it wont ... they will tell you it has mutated so you keep needing vaccine after vaccine.
👀 so what do we do ?
🙂 take the mask off for a start & stand up for your rights while you still have some !!
An unstoppable worldwide movement bringing the darkness to the light
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153466128357258/permalink/1197173097319894/?sfnsn=mo&extid=UQ9Cryowu0ig8fub
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1153466128357258/permalink/1197173097319894/?sfnsn=mo&extid=UQ9Cryowu0ig8fub
Facebook
Facebook Groups
Unite As One has 1,444 members. Unite As One is new place to spread our messages of oneness and togetherness. We are all brothers and sisters. Our only enemy is division and those who wish to divide...
... And the grand total of deaths of covid 19 is ...
12!
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/bait-switch-how-theyve-changed-covid-conversation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29
12!
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/bait-switch-how-theyve-changed-covid-conversation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29
ZeroHedge
Bait-&-Switch: How They've Changed The COVID Conversation
It was supposed to be about life and death, but for weeks now we’re only hearing about cases...
New CDC report says 94% of COVID deaths had underlying conditions, only 6% died from COVID alone
https://disrn.com/news/new-cdc-report-says-94-of-covid-deaths-had-underlying-conditions
https://disrn.com/news/new-cdc-report-says-94-of-covid-deaths-had-underlying-conditions
Disrn
New CDC report says 94% of COVID deaths had underlying conditions, only 6% died from COVID alone
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a new report detailing how many COVID-19 deaths in America also involved other underlying health conditions.
The WHO Has Let The Cat Out Of The Bag: COVID-19 Is Now More About Politics Than Public Health
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/the-who-has-let-the-cat-out-of-the-bag-covid-19-is-now-more-about-politics-than-public-health?fbclid=IwAR149wP3Oj_pi3DGePOVLO-hTdno6EO9suMCpAl9zJyvMTWt7739-G1ym_8
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/the-who-has-let-the-cat-out-of-the-bag-covid-19-is-now-more-about-politics-than-public-health?fbclid=IwAR149wP3Oj_pi3DGePOVLO-hTdno6EO9suMCpAl9zJyvMTWt7739-G1ym_8
IPA - The Voice For Freedom
The WHO Has Let The Cat Out Of The Bag: COVID-19 Is Now More About Politics Than Public Health
The World Health Organisation’s Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last Friday that “we will not – we cannot – go back to the way things were… the pandemic has given new impetus to the need to accelerate efforts to respond to climate change.”
I hear a German children's charity had laboratory tests done on one of the masks typically sold in shops, after it had been worn by a child in school for 8 (!) hours:
Result: 82 bacterial colonies & 4 mould (fungoid) colonies.
I find it bizarre that there is no Govt risk assessment available that examines the dangers of prolonged enforced mask wearing for thousands of adults and teenagers, especially in these times where it seems we are told almost hourly that our safety is everything....
Result: 82 bacterial colonies & 4 mould (fungoid) colonies.
I find it bizarre that there is no Govt risk assessment available that examines the dangers of prolonged enforced mask wearing for thousands of adults and teenagers, especially in these times where it seems we are told almost hourly that our safety is everything....
HSE DOCTOR FORCED BY THE HSE TO RESIGN BECAUSE HE SAYS COVID IS NO WORSE THAN THE FLU PROVIDES THE DATA TO SUPPORT HIS CLAIM AND MAKES A PLEA TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE BACK THEIR LIVES
Dr Martin Feeley (70) was forced to resign last week from his post as clinical director of Dublin Midlands Hospital Group after a career in medicine spanning more than four decades. (1)
Dr Feeley’s views that coronavirus is “much less severe” than the flu for most people and that restrictions were no longer justified caused a furore after they were reported in The Irish Times on Saturday, September 12th. (2)
He writes in today’s Irish Times:
“In view of recent controversies caused by an article in The Irish Times on Saturday, September 12th, I think it is important to articulate my position on the present Covid crisis and its management, and to comment also on more recent developments.
How lethal is Covid-19?
Up to August 10th, the number of Europeans who died from a Covid-19 illness (182,639) was slightly above the number who died three years ago as a result of “flu” (152,000).
The number of patients who died in Europe from the 1917/18 Spanish flu was approximately 2.64 million – this would be equivalent to approximately 7.4 million deaths of today’s European population.
It is not for want of good reason that deaths are now referred to as Covid-19-associated deaths.
Of 5,700 patients admitted to New York hospitals, 88 per cent had more than one underlying condition (co-morbidity) and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that from January to May, 19.5 per cent of Covid-19 patients with co-morbidity died compared to 1.6 per cent with no other illness.
The Irish experience is very similar, up to mid-August 94 per cent of deaths were in patients with underlying medical conditions.
A Stanford-led group analysed over 100,000 Covid-19-related deaths in Europe, including Ireland, and the US and concluded that “deaths for people under 65 without predisposing conditions were remarkably uncommon” .
Another important feature is the number of people who contract the virus and remain completely asymptomatic.
In extremely well-defined scenarios such as the Diamond Princess cruise liner and the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier almost 66 per cent of the positive tests were completely asymptomatic, while a report from China suggests 78 per cent of cases were asymptomatic.
Who is at risk?
For most respiratory diseases, such as the common cold and influenza, children are the primary carriers.
However, this does not appear to be the case with the Corona viruses which caused SARS in 2003 and Covid-19.
Six weeks after opening schools in Denmark there was no evidence of a spike in cases. A University of Southampton review found no reported incident of pupil-to-teacher transmission.
While children are at negligible risk if healthy and not obese, conversely the individuals at the opposite end of the age spectrum are at greatest risk.
The case mortality rate regardless of co-morbidities at 60 years is about 1 per cent, at 70 years about 2 per cent, and increases dramatically to above 15 per cent in individuals over 80 years.
The presence of a chronic illness is the all-important factor in determining the risk even in the elderly; up to mid-September approximately 6,000 nursing home residents had tested positive for Covid-19 and 83 per cent recovered.
Diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are high risk; as is diabetes mellitus, although distinguishing its risk from the obesity risk is difficult.
The best kept secret regarding Covid-19 is the vulnerability of overweight individuals. For reasons unknown this is not publicised to the degree required.
Unfortunately this lack of awareness is exacerbated, if not caused, by HSE-published data on risk factors. In its definition of obesity the HSE uses a body mass index (BMI) of 40 whereas most international literature uses a BMI of 30.
BMI is a crude measure of body fat; briefly, an individual of 178cm (5’10”) height weighing 95kg (15 stone), about 25 pe
Dr Martin Feeley (70) was forced to resign last week from his post as clinical director of Dublin Midlands Hospital Group after a career in medicine spanning more than four decades. (1)
Dr Feeley’s views that coronavirus is “much less severe” than the flu for most people and that restrictions were no longer justified caused a furore after they were reported in The Irish Times on Saturday, September 12th. (2)
He writes in today’s Irish Times:
“In view of recent controversies caused by an article in The Irish Times on Saturday, September 12th, I think it is important to articulate my position on the present Covid crisis and its management, and to comment also on more recent developments.
How lethal is Covid-19?
Up to August 10th, the number of Europeans who died from a Covid-19 illness (182,639) was slightly above the number who died three years ago as a result of “flu” (152,000).
The number of patients who died in Europe from the 1917/18 Spanish flu was approximately 2.64 million – this would be equivalent to approximately 7.4 million deaths of today’s European population.
It is not for want of good reason that deaths are now referred to as Covid-19-associated deaths.
Of 5,700 patients admitted to New York hospitals, 88 per cent had more than one underlying condition (co-morbidity) and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that from January to May, 19.5 per cent of Covid-19 patients with co-morbidity died compared to 1.6 per cent with no other illness.
The Irish experience is very similar, up to mid-August 94 per cent of deaths were in patients with underlying medical conditions.
A Stanford-led group analysed over 100,000 Covid-19-related deaths in Europe, including Ireland, and the US and concluded that “deaths for people under 65 without predisposing conditions were remarkably uncommon” .
Another important feature is the number of people who contract the virus and remain completely asymptomatic.
In extremely well-defined scenarios such as the Diamond Princess cruise liner and the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier almost 66 per cent of the positive tests were completely asymptomatic, while a report from China suggests 78 per cent of cases were asymptomatic.
Who is at risk?
For most respiratory diseases, such as the common cold and influenza, children are the primary carriers.
However, this does not appear to be the case with the Corona viruses which caused SARS in 2003 and Covid-19.
Six weeks after opening schools in Denmark there was no evidence of a spike in cases. A University of Southampton review found no reported incident of pupil-to-teacher transmission.
While children are at negligible risk if healthy and not obese, conversely the individuals at the opposite end of the age spectrum are at greatest risk.
The case mortality rate regardless of co-morbidities at 60 years is about 1 per cent, at 70 years about 2 per cent, and increases dramatically to above 15 per cent in individuals over 80 years.
The presence of a chronic illness is the all-important factor in determining the risk even in the elderly; up to mid-September approximately 6,000 nursing home residents had tested positive for Covid-19 and 83 per cent recovered.
Diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are high risk; as is diabetes mellitus, although distinguishing its risk from the obesity risk is difficult.
The best kept secret regarding Covid-19 is the vulnerability of overweight individuals. For reasons unknown this is not publicised to the degree required.
Unfortunately this lack of awareness is exacerbated, if not caused, by HSE-published data on risk factors. In its definition of obesity the HSE uses a body mass index (BMI) of 40 whereas most international literature uses a BMI of 30.
BMI is a crude measure of body fat; briefly, an individual of 178cm (5’10”) height weighing 95kg (15 stone), about 25 pe
r cent over ideal, has a BMI of 30 and is by definition obese.
This disease is profoundly different to the Spanish flu which was an indiscriminate killer, with the average age of victims just 27 years of age.
By using a BMI of 40 about 3 per cent of the adult population is considered at risk, but if the international BMI standard of 30 is used the at-risk proportion increases to about 23 per cent.
The HSE data, therefore, grossly understates the obesity risk, and under-records the effects of obesity by using a BMI of 40.
In the New York study referenced above, 41.7 per cent of admitted patients had a BMI of 30, the second most common risk factor after hypertension.
It has been shown that the highest risk factor for ICU admission is obesity; in Ireland even when using BMI of 40 as the criterion, 19 per cent of those admitted to ICU had this risk factor.
Should we be more worried about increasing numbers of cases?
From mid-July to mid-September there were almost 6,000 reported Covid-19 cases. The media and political reaction has amounted to a foreboding narrative akin to a major catastrophe.
The top TV story night after night features numbers of people testing positive for a condition associated with hospital and ICU admission rates of 2.5 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.
Admission rates are about one fifth of prior months and lower than those associated with seasonal flu. Such reporting would be more appropriate were the country dealing with an Ebola outbreak.
What is happening is what should be happening the young are working in essential services and socialising and contracting the virus, while the vulnerable, the elderly and those with illness are being cautious and, importantly, are being protected by the rest of society.
However, there is one worrying trend over four successive fortnight periods the proportion of cases in the over-65 age group has been 4 per cent, 5 per cent, 7 per cent, and 10 per cent.
This suggests a gradual relaxation in the at-risk group or by those around them? If so, this is where we need absolute vigilance.
Is there an alternative strategy?
Many scientists from around the world are now of the view that eradicating SARS-Covid-2 is not realistic in the short term. I say this as eradication appears to be the new goal in Ireland.
The initial response was entirely appropriate for a contagious disease with the suspected virulence of the 1917/18 Spanish flu.
However, after nine months of intensive scientific scrutiny of the virus’ behaviour globally concludes this is no longer the case.
This disease is profoundly different to the Spanish flu which was an indiscriminate killer, with the average age of victims just 27 years of age.
It’s also profoundly different to the seasonal Influenza. Therefore different strategies are required to manage Covid-19.
The Government deserves enormous credit for opening our schools. What is needed now is an extension of that thinking.
Experience has taught us that the at-risk and vulnerable individuals are identifiable with remarkable accuracy, and that protective measures – hygiene, masks, social distancing and cocooning – are extremely effective.
Common sense might dictate that we expose the low-risk population to this condition and protect the at-risk, i.e, the red rag of “herd immunity”.
That is what was happening and yet the policy seems to be to prevent this happening. This should particularly have been allowed to happen during the summer months before the “flu season” and thus reduce the workload on the health services during winter months.
Achieving a balance
The Government deserves enormous credit for opening our schools. What is needed now is an extension of that thinking to strike the right balance and avoid the cost greatly exceeding the benefit.
The at-risk can be protected by themselves and others adhering to proven protective measures.
By definition, almost all emergency hospital admissions are at risk and therefore the protective measures for patients and for the staff need to be retained; similarly for nursing
This disease is profoundly different to the Spanish flu which was an indiscriminate killer, with the average age of victims just 27 years of age.
By using a BMI of 40 about 3 per cent of the adult population is considered at risk, but if the international BMI standard of 30 is used the at-risk proportion increases to about 23 per cent.
The HSE data, therefore, grossly understates the obesity risk, and under-records the effects of obesity by using a BMI of 40.
In the New York study referenced above, 41.7 per cent of admitted patients had a BMI of 30, the second most common risk factor after hypertension.
It has been shown that the highest risk factor for ICU admission is obesity; in Ireland even when using BMI of 40 as the criterion, 19 per cent of those admitted to ICU had this risk factor.
Should we be more worried about increasing numbers of cases?
From mid-July to mid-September there were almost 6,000 reported Covid-19 cases. The media and political reaction has amounted to a foreboding narrative akin to a major catastrophe.
The top TV story night after night features numbers of people testing positive for a condition associated with hospital and ICU admission rates of 2.5 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.
Admission rates are about one fifth of prior months and lower than those associated with seasonal flu. Such reporting would be more appropriate were the country dealing with an Ebola outbreak.
What is happening is what should be happening the young are working in essential services and socialising and contracting the virus, while the vulnerable, the elderly and those with illness are being cautious and, importantly, are being protected by the rest of society.
However, there is one worrying trend over four successive fortnight periods the proportion of cases in the over-65 age group has been 4 per cent, 5 per cent, 7 per cent, and 10 per cent.
This suggests a gradual relaxation in the at-risk group or by those around them? If so, this is where we need absolute vigilance.
Is there an alternative strategy?
Many scientists from around the world are now of the view that eradicating SARS-Covid-2 is not realistic in the short term. I say this as eradication appears to be the new goal in Ireland.
The initial response was entirely appropriate for a contagious disease with the suspected virulence of the 1917/18 Spanish flu.
However, after nine months of intensive scientific scrutiny of the virus’ behaviour globally concludes this is no longer the case.
This disease is profoundly different to the Spanish flu which was an indiscriminate killer, with the average age of victims just 27 years of age.
It’s also profoundly different to the seasonal Influenza. Therefore different strategies are required to manage Covid-19.
The Government deserves enormous credit for opening our schools. What is needed now is an extension of that thinking.
Experience has taught us that the at-risk and vulnerable individuals are identifiable with remarkable accuracy, and that protective measures – hygiene, masks, social distancing and cocooning – are extremely effective.
Common sense might dictate that we expose the low-risk population to this condition and protect the at-risk, i.e, the red rag of “herd immunity”.
That is what was happening and yet the policy seems to be to prevent this happening. This should particularly have been allowed to happen during the summer months before the “flu season” and thus reduce the workload on the health services during winter months.
Achieving a balance
The Government deserves enormous credit for opening our schools. What is needed now is an extension of that thinking to strike the right balance and avoid the cost greatly exceeding the benefit.
The at-risk can be protected by themselves and others adhering to proven protective measures.
By definition, almost all emergency hospital admissions are at risk and therefore the protective measures for patients and for the staff need to be retained; similarly for nursing
homes. This policy will involve those “at risk” not going to work, which is much better than nobody going to work.
The young and healthy majority need to be allowed to live rather than exist, while being mindful of those at risk.
In living with this disease the able elderly may feel disinclined to comply with restrictions or cocoon, as indeed may others at risk. This, however, poses the mountain climber dilemma – “by putting myself in danger I am possibly asking others to risk their lives to save mine”.
Regardless, we need to stop scaring the nation; be honest with the nation and consider how to better facilitate personal choice.”(3)
(1) https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/health/doctor-resigns-from-hospital-group-after-comments-on-draconian-covid-19-curbs-1.4356244%3fmode=amp
(2) https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/draconian-restrictions-around-covid-19-condemned-by-hse-doctor-1.4352701?mode=amp
(3) https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/dr-martin-feeley-young-and-healthy-majority-need-to-be-allowed-to-live-1.4362503?mode=amp
The young and healthy majority need to be allowed to live rather than exist, while being mindful of those at risk.
In living with this disease the able elderly may feel disinclined to comply with restrictions or cocoon, as indeed may others at risk. This, however, poses the mountain climber dilemma – “by putting myself in danger I am possibly asking others to risk their lives to save mine”.
Regardless, we need to stop scaring the nation; be honest with the nation and consider how to better facilitate personal choice.”(3)
(1) https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/health/doctor-resigns-from-hospital-group-after-comments-on-draconian-covid-19-curbs-1.4356244%3fmode=amp
(2) https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/draconian-restrictions-around-covid-19-condemned-by-hse-doctor-1.4352701?mode=amp
(3) https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/dr-martin-feeley-young-and-healthy-majority-need-to-be-allowed-to-live-1.4362503?mode=amp
The Irish Times
Doctor resigns from hospital group after comments on ‘draconian’ Covid-19 curbs
HSE dissociated itself from Dr Martin Feeley’s remarks on herd immunity