BF2S Forums Pandemic thread

Dauntless wrote:

What is everyone's opinion on wearing masks?

Last edited by Pochsy (2020-05-08 17:59:06)

Dauntless wrote:

What is everyone's opinion on wearing masks?

A couple of months ago it seemed like the general scientific advice was that regular surgical masks weren't effective as a protective measure (although may help to stop the spread for people already infected) and only N95 masks are effective at preventing you get sick.

For the last few weeks there's been more advise that supports wearing masks but the UK government still haven't recommended them, not sure if this is to prevent shortages for front line staff or because wearing a mask badly could put you at increased risk.

My girlfriend is Korean and has absolutely insisted on wearing a mask when we're in public so I bought a load but probably 99% of the people I see don't have them on in the UK.

Am I being selfish for buying masks?

uziq wrote:

fascism has truly come to america!

liberals are whiny over-emotional cry-babies!

these guys would have loved a holiday in chile after installing pinochet.

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, SAGE has gathered a large body of expertise across various fields relevant to epidemic response. The consensus of this committee is used as the scientific advice to the government and helps inform the decision making process. At the time of writing, SAGE lists 56 participants, and receives inputs from a much larger number of advisors through dedicated sub-committees. The sub-committee focusing on modelling has so far included 44 contributors, most of whom are independent academic researchers, who themselves represent a large number of groups throughout the country and their ongoing work. Hence, any scientific advice to the UK government, including advice which preceded the lockdown is the result of the work of hundreds of researchers throughout the UK. The government may then take this advice, as well as a number of other considerations, into account when making decisions.

The large body of scientific evidence available to UK scientific committees is discussed, debated, and summarised in consensus statements. Contributing research teams also publish regular reports, data, code and scientific papers providing more details and transparency on their analyses. In early March 2020, the emerging consensus amongst scientists involved in this country-wide consultation was that SARS-CoV-2 was circulating widely in the UK, it was capable of causing substantial hospitalisations and fatalities, and that in the absence of drastic social distancing measures, the healthcare system would rapidly become overwhelmed in the same way that it had been in Northern Italy at the time. Although new studies and data have since emerged, this consensus has not changed.

Throughout this epidemic, UK-based scientists have provided independent evidence and analysis to decision makers, both in the UK and internationally. This is a huge ongoing effort  by a large community working collaboratively to constantly reassess data, refine methodology, challenge assumptions, and compare and debate results in order to reach a scientifically sound consensus. They are in turn supported by a vast network of researchers and health agencies reporting data from hospitals, laboratories, care homes and communities across the world.

Last edited by uziq (2020-05-09 12:24:58)