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Highly reliable test kits are available from Germany at a cost of Bd$346 per hundred tests. We immediately need to acquire 1 million tests for under 4 million dollars (that includes chartering a private jet to bring them here).

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/24/asia/testing-coronavirus-science-intl-hnk/index.html

This is the most important way of dealing with the pandemic because without data about infection rates we are simply pissing into the wind with every other measure that we take.

We need mass testing now.

– Peter Lawrence Thompson

There has been a call by a BU commenter and philanthropist Peter Thompson for the Barbados government to initiate mass testing for the COVID-19 virus, NOW.

 

Discuss for 50 marks.

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327 responses to “Call for MASS COVID 19 Testing”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    David
    March 26, 2020 9:26 PM

    And after two months you open the border with the world still battling COVID 19 what happens then?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Obviously if the rest of the world is battling COVID 19 the border remains closed.

    The point I am making is that our infection rate is manageable at the moment.

    In countries where there were many visitors from China and there were the New Year celebrations, it is impossible to manage.

    Here is the example of another Island, population 140K, Isle on Wight, Isle of Man is 84K.

    8 cases so far.

    https://www.islandecho.co.uk/coronavirus-cases-rise-from-3-to-8-on-the-isle-of-wight-says-nhs-boss/

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52048868

    Clearly the cancellations of events is mandatory.

    But it took time for some countries to get there and those are the countries hardest hit.

    Hong Kong was lucky as shite.

    America, Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain were not.

    Somewhere down the line there will probably be an accounting to be done with the authorities, but now is not the time.

    Iran is a different case, but same source.

    Best they can hope for is it will abate as the season turns.

  2. John Avatar
    John

    “Polls show that Democrats and those living in large cities and suburbs have significantly more anxiety about COVID-19 than Republicans and residents of small towns and rural areas.

    While Democratic strongholds like California and New York have banned public gatherings and closed restaurants, reaction to the pandemic has been slower and more uneven in Republican states, like Texas and Florida, where distrust of big-government regulations coincides with suspicion that the media is overplaying worst-case scenarios.”

    If polls are to be believed.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/he-survived-covid-19-hes-broke-but-he-thinks-america-is-overreacting/ar-BB11JNvV?ocid=spartandhp

  3. John Avatar
    John

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/03/26/us-charges-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-with-narco-terrorism/

  4. David Avatar
    David

    Can Barbados remain close for how long without crashing? It is an unenviable position the government finds itself at a very challenging time.

  5. John Avatar
    John

    Hal

    Another question for you.

    Ireland has 1,819 cases and 19 deaths and 47 serious/critical.

    The UK has 11,658 cases, 578 deaths and 163 serious/critical.

    Do you know if Ireland’s numbers are separate from or included in the UK’s numbers?

  6. John Avatar
    John

    David
    March 26, 2020 9:57 PM

    Can Barbados remain close for how long without crashing?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    No choice!!

    What could happen is Bajans wake up and start working together!!

  7. cpilgrimeaqaolcom Avatar
    cpilgrimeaqaolcom

    @ Baje (Anonymous)

    Respectfully, I fully understand that your expertise on the Oath of Allegiance, in your capacity as a former member of the US armed services. But, perhaps, you were inattentive for whatever reason(s) when the Oath was actually administered to you.

    Also, personally, one might have preferred that you had taken a serious course or two in Constitutional and/or Administrative law either in a reputable law school, or in some recognized Political Science Faculty somewhere. But, as the American tautology/cliche goes: “it is what it is”.

    Perhaps, Baje, there might also just be some of us who have sworn to and administered oaths many years as lawyers at the state and federal level.

    Finally, as to the irrelevant, immaterial personal questions you raise as to whether I am a naturalized citizen, I need not answer.

    I have too much respect for the Blogmaster and the BU Readers to refer them to anything that I might write. However, see Caleb Pilgrim, “Reforming US Immigration Law: Why Trump – – – – –“. Reader Supported News, (RSN) January 24, 2016.

    Based on what you have written so far, Baje, all I can say is that, by your loud and empty arguments, you appear to be just another dumb, ignorant Fluck, in fact, another A-H, (that is Gaelic for the gentleman and fine scholar that you evidently are). Can’t tarry. Futile! Got to go.

  8. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    Peter
    Firstly i brought my two cents worth of what would have been best for the country about two months ago
    Secondly mariposa is not one of govt highly paid consultants
    Thirdly this govt has handle the country with a tek it or leave it attitude
    Now with 24 and counting locked inside barbados u want mariposa to give proposals
    But this i say lock the f.king gate
    No need for more of this virus to come in
    The many stories that have been told giving account of people living in fear of contracting the virus should have been sufficient and enough of a warning to take all necessary precaution in avoiding the virus from entering the country
    A country where there are elderly many of whom has pre-existing conditions should not have to live under the threat of an unknown virus because of govt failure to do what is best for them
    Now cackle cackle mariposa gets the last laugh but no i will not be laughing but sitting and watching from a distance what ideas govt have in preventing the virus from spreading through out the island

  9. cpilgrimeaqaolcom Avatar
    cpilgrimeaqaolcom

    You see, Baje, Dr. M’s contribution about Biotechnology co-operation and Barbados’s future development is useful, intelligent and insightful. Perhaps, you might consider using your discipline and military training to elevate just a tad!

  10. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    No the govt does not find itself in an inevitable position
    The govt played the wrong card and lost
    In one article today one merchant in broad Street is quoted as saying that locals has keep his business afloat during this time of crisis
    That indeed is a light bulb moment a moment which if put to test would have opened a long awaited opportunity which govts have been pleading asking bajans to do as to buy local
    The total shutdown would have given no other option but to buy amongst themselves
    But then again what we see is a leadership without vision bent and intent to maintain the status quo

  11. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    Perhaps, Baje, there might also just be some of us who have sworn to and administered oaths many years as lawyers at the state and federal level
    Xxxxxxxx

    SO YOU ARE A PURPORTED LAWYER/LIAR EXPLAINS YOUR RATIONALE AND KNOW IT ALL ATTITUDE.

    UNLIKE SOME I ONLY SPEAK ON WHAT I KNOW FIRST-HAND TO BE FACTUAL ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE.

    STILL WILL KEEP MY DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND 2 PASSPORTS LEGALLY BOTH RENEWED SEVERAL TIMES OVER AT LEAST 26 YEARS.

    YOU MAY HAVE THE LAST WORD SINCE YOU APPEAR TO BE STUCK IN YOUR OWN MAKE BELIEVE.

  12. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    BREAKING NEWS: Guyana Government’s Dual Citizenship Members Of Parliament Resign

    GEORGETOWN, Guyana, April 2, 2019 (CMC) – Four coalition government legislators — including Vice-president and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge — have submitted their resignations to President, David Granger, with the government saying it is in keeping with the ruling of two courts in Guyana.

    A brief government statement said that President Granger had “received and accepted” the resignations, yesterday, and that “these members will not be returning to Parliament therefore, when it reconvenes on April 11, 2019”.

    The High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled, earlier this year, that legislators, who hold dual citizenships, were not qualified to be Members of Parliament, in keeping with the Guyana Constitution.

    The rulings came, as the coalition government challenged the High Court ruling that the motion of no-confidence, passed in the National Assembly on December 21, last year, was valid.

    The matter has now gone to the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s highest court, after the Court of Appeal, last month, in a majority-decision, ruled that the motion should be invalidated.

    The four ministers affected by the court rulings are: Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who holds both Guyanese and United States citizenship; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Public Service, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and Greenidge, all of whom hold Guyanese and British citizenship.

    http://pridenews.ca/2019/04/02/guyana-governments-dual-citizenship-members-parliament-resign/

  13. cpilgrimeaqaolcom Avatar
    cpilgrimeaqaolcom

    @ Baje:

    2 dumb. FO.

  14. John Avatar
    John

    John
    March 26, 2020 10:31 PM

    Hal
    Another question for you.
    Ireland has 1,819 cases and 19 deaths and 47 serious/critical.
    The UK has 11,658 cases, 578 deaths and 163 serious/critical.
    Do you know if Ireland’s numbers are separate from or included in the UK’s numbers?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Another observation but for America.

    NY has 38,977 out of the 85,594 cases.

    The state with the next largest cases is New Jersey with about 1/6th of this number at 6,876 cases.

    South Dakota has 46 cases, that’s the lowest.

    There are 15 states with more than 1000 cases.

    In understanding the numbers you can’t talk about the USA just as you can’t talk about the UK as single monolithic countries.

    We are thinking what happened in New York will happen in Barbados.

    Why not use the Dakotas as the comparison.

    The simple point is that every country, state is individually different.

    IT IS SO OBVIOUS NY DID OR DID NOT DO SOMETHING.

    I say it was the January/February NY screwed up and I say it was the parades and celebrations it permitted.

    The more I look at the numbers the more they suggest Barbados will be fortunate and the virus will be manageable..

    Time will tell.

  15. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    @ Baje:

    2 dumb. FO.
    Xxxxxxxx

    WASN’T GOING TO RESPOND.

    CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE.

    IT IS DISHONEST AND SMALL MINDED INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU IS THE REASON I CONTRIBUTE TO BU.

    BAJANS NO LONGER NEED TO BE MISLEAD OR MISINFORMED.

    YOU HAVE NO CREDIBILITY.

    THE VIRUS SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL BUT INGRAINED IN YOU AND OTHERS OF YOUR ILK CONTINUE THE BULLSHIT TO IMPRESS EVEN IF MISLEADING OTHERS WHO MAY KNOW NO BETTER.

  16. John Avatar
    John

    Lunar New Year Parade (Manhattan)
    February 9, Chinatown
    This street party is the holiday’s biggest gala, with roughly 500,000 turning out for it each year. Be on the lookout for dragons, floats and a hail of red and gold.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    500,000 people in one place.

    Stop and think about that number.

    I’ve been in Paris on Bastille Day … crowds so thick you can hardly move.

    All NYC can do now is hunker down and see it through.

    Hopefully Spring temperatures will assist.

    It will suck up all the resources that can be sent its way.

    From January to February 9th here were the scheduled parades etc in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan culminating in the big one on Feb 9th in Chinatown.

    https://www.nycgo.com/articles/lunar-new-year-guide-nyc

    China’s outbreak caused the cancellation of large scale celebrations.

    Even so it was hard hit.

    https://nypost.com/2020/01/23/china-cancels-plans-for-new-year-celebrations-as-coronavirus-spreads/

  17. John Avatar
    John

    NYC canceled the St. Patrick’s day parade in March.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-new-york-city-st-patricks-day-parade-cancelled-a9395861.html

    “Asked whether he had the authority to cancel the parade, he joked: “Well, I’m authorised, you know, by St Patrick, that’s who! Oh yes – I have the highest authorisation, sure.”

    There are still relatively few cases among New York City’s 8.6m people – an official count of 46 at the point the parade was postponed – the epicenter of New York state’s outbreak appears to be in Westchester county, just north of the city.”

    But the damage had already been done in January and February.

    Cuomo should have consulted Confucius!!

  18. John Avatar
    John

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-negative-coronavirus-test-result-doesnt-always-mean-you-arent-infected/ar-BB11KbjX?ocid=spartandhp

  19. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Boris Johnson has tested positive.

  20. cpilgrimeaqaolcom Avatar
    cpilgrimeaqaolcom

    Wow! Thanks, Hal.

  21. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Karma time! Karma time!

  22. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    which reminds me of my favourite MC Hammer song. Gardening done and time for a workout!

    Some people need a time out!

  23. bush tea Avatar
    bush tea

    @ Donna
    Karma time!
    ++++++++
    You were always the one with eyes to see….

  24. David Avatar
    David

    Oh shiiiiirt.

  25. Tee White Avatar
    Tee White

    @Robert Lucas
    Do some research on the annual monitoring of flu strains in China and the manufacture of annual flu vaccines
    #####################################################################################

    I took your advice and did some research on the annual monitoring of flu strains and manufacture of annual flu vaccines and none of them contain any reference to China. Maybe that link is something you made up.

    World Health Organisation
    https://www.who.int/influenza/en/
    https://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/en/

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/how-fluvaccine-made.htm

  26. John Avatar
    John

    Hal Austin
    March 27, 2020 7:30 AM

    Boris Johnson has tested positive.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++

    Is he a smoker?

    https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49079515

  27. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    bush tea,

    so nice to “see you”. GP has been making me laugh while you were gone but you were funnier.

    ps. i have to whisper or he will finish with me.

    😉

    .

  28. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Bushman…where were you when they were beating me up.

  29. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    @ Hal
    I hope you are not rejoicing about Boris.

  30. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Robert

    I am not that brutal. I would never tell it anyone to curl up and die. I was not brought up in the jungle. A difference of opinion is just that.

  31. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    I wish our leader a speedy recovery! May Goddess Bim protect her. The people need not know the details of the treatment, but must now be silent and obey. This also applies to the rogue rebels on BU.

    It’s as clear as daylight that the DLP wants our leader dead. But that’s not going to happen.

  32. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    Bushman you should come back…and bring the Old David with you!

  33. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Quaker John

    Ireland is an independent country and a member of the EU.

  34. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Hal AustinMarch 27, 2020 2:04 PM

    @ Robert

    I am not that brutal. I would never tell it anyone to curl up and die. I was not brought up in the jungle. A difference of opinion is just that.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    If I had known it would bother you so much I would have made myself clear before now. Since you are a wordsmith I thought you would have picked up my meaning. When I said that you should curl up and die I was not saying I wished you would do so. What I meant was that you come across as being so miserable that I wonder how come you don’t do it. That is why i labelled you THE LUGUBRIOUS HAL AUSTIN.

    Robert Lucas,

    Not rejoicing but I do think it is funny how things turn out sometimes and so I will admit to a chuckle.

    As a lover of Bajan nation language I know that “wuh en catch yuh en pass yuh” and so any rejoicing would be premature.

    “Today fuh me an tomorrow fuh you.”

    “Every dog got he day and every pig got he Saturday.”

    I’ve got a million of them!😃

  35. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    ‘She just had a cough’: Teen’s COVID-19 death shakes France

    AFPMarch 27, 2020, 7:07 AM PDT
    Paris (AFP) – A week ago, 16-year-old Julie came down with a slight cough. On Wednesday, she became France’s youngest COVID-19 fatality, shaking a nation hit by a spiralling health crisis.

    “We’ll never know why,” the girl’s mother Sabine told AFP late Thursday after France’s national health director gave the latest grim toll from the outbreak, now at nearly 1,700 deaths.

    For many people, the high school student’s death brought home what experts have warned — the new virus is not a threat only to the elderly or people with underlying medical problems.

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/she-just-had-cough-teens-covid-19-death-140439742.html

  36. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    By the way Hal, I was brought up in the “civilized country” where you now reside. I was also brought up by the “civilized white people” of that “civilized country” and not my savage birth mother. I think you may have been the one brought up in the jungle/Barbados by the savages??????

    Funny how that worked out!

  37. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @ bush tea March 27, 2020 7:55 AM

    Glad you’re back.

    I’m exhausted from playing the provocateur all the time and throwing smoke bombs for our government to distract from the sinking of the island.

  38. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    @ Donna March 27, 2020 3:20 PM

    He who laughs lasts, laugh the longest. Remember that and stop gloating.

  39. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    peterlawrencethompsonMarch 26, 2020 1:15 PM

    Trump is trying to supress the following video that does nothing but quote what he has said about the corona virus. Therefore we need to spread it as widely as possible.

    Trump:
    the corona virus…
    this is their new hoax…
    We have it totally under control…
    It’s one person coming in from China…
    One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear…
    When you have 15 people…
    and within a couple of days it’s going to be down to close to zero…
    We really think we’ve done a great job in keeping it down to a minimum…
    I like this stuff. I really get it…
    People are surprised that I understand it…
    No, I don’t take responsibility at all.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    One also remembers the cruise ship passengers he did not want to land and “inflate the figures”. That was way back when the numbers were in the single digits. Now over 90,000.

    Wuhlaus! I think we need a drink of orange Kool-Aid! Then we would forget what our eyes have seen and our ears have heard. We are not supposed to remember.

  40. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    robert lucas March 27, 2020 3:34 PM

    @ Donna March 27, 2020 3:20 PM

    He who laughs lasts, laugh the longest. Remember that and stop gloating.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Kindly point me to where I gloated. I said that I had a little chuckle at what some people would call “poetic justice” while remembering that I too am vulnerable.

    ???????????????????????????

  41. Dullard Avatar
    Dullard

    I was brought up in the “civilized country” where you now reside. I was also brought up by the “civilized white people” of that “civilized country”

    Does BU need to hear this again?

  42. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    @ Donna March 27, 2020 3:42 PM

    Okay if its not gloating it could qualify for the label ” with a smirk”. The very fact that you used the word in context with poetic justice tends to suggest a measure of a pleasure in the discomfort of some one. Do unto others as you would want done unto you.

  43. bush tea Avatar
    bush tea

    @ Tron
    Bushie…Glad you’re back.
    ++++++++++++++++++++
    Bushie is not really ‘back’…
    Just a bit surprised that wunna ain’t get it yet…

    There is no place for a ‘whacker’ …when THE Bulldozer starts to do its work….
    It is all downhill from here boss…
    Good luck to all.

  44. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Hal AustinMarch 27, 2020 2:04 PM

    @ Robert

    I am not that brutal. I would never tell it anyone to curl up and die. I was not brought up in the jungle. A difference of opinion is just that.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Donna March 27, 2020 3:20 PM

    If I had known it would bother you so much I would have made myself clear before now. Since you are a wordsmith I thought you would have picked up my meaning. When I said that you should curl up and die I was not saying I wished you would do so. Blah blah blah…

    By the way Hal, I was brought up in the “civilized country” where you now reside. I was also brought up by the “civilized white people” of that “civilized country” and not my savage birth mother. I think you may have been the one brought up in the jungle/Barbados by the savages??????

    Funny how that worked out!

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Obviously Hal, to whom my comment was directed, needed to hear it again. He thought I was suffering from what he calls the Bajan Condition and so my comment was quite relevant.

    So sorry if I irritated you, though I am at a loss as to why.

    PS. You often irritate me too but today I am in the chill zone so you get a free pass. I’d rather listen to this –

    😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

  45. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    robert lucas March 27, 2020 5:50 PM

    @ Donna March 27, 2020 3:42 PM

    Okay if its not gloating it could qualify for the label ” with a smirk”. The very fact that you used the word in context with poetic justice tends to suggest a measure of a pleasure in the discomfort of some one. Do unto others as you would want done unto you.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I would have no problem at all if somebody chuckled at my poetic justice moment. I would probably have a chuckle myself. Why would I have a problem with getting exactly what I deserve?????? I don’t go around blaming anyone else for problems that I, in my stupidity or stubbornness, have created for myself. And I have had a few classics, I can tell you.

    PS. The man has mild symptoms. He is not dead yet. Poetic justice should teach him a lesson. Maybe he’ll be the better for it.

  46. John Avatar
    John

    Hal Austin
    March 27, 2020 3:08 PM

    @ Quaker John
    Ireland is an independent country and a member of the EU.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    So across the Irish sea lies a country whose COVID-19 numbers are significantly different from the UK.

    The there is The Isle of Man, a crown colony.

    There are still countries that have reported ZERO COVID-19 cases.

  47. David Avatar
    David

  48. David Avatar
    David

    EU limits on medical gear exports put poor countries and Europeans at risk

    Chad P. Bown (PIIE)
    March 19, 2020 4:45 PM
    Image credit:
    REUTERS/Johanna Geron

    Hexuan Li and Eva Zhang provided outstanding data assistance. Melina Kolb, William Melancon, and Oliver Ward assisted with graphics.

    Faced with dangerous shortages at a time of health crisis, the European Union (EU) has announced emergency export restrictions on some hospital supplies that its medical workers need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The unexpected policy limits European companies’ sales of an estimated $12.1 billion of medical gear to countries outside the European single market.

    The action on March 15 came after an extraordinary two-week period of infighting among European countries provoked by scarcity concerns.[1] But as understandable as the worries were, Europe’s actions could be self-defeating: They may disrupt supply chains, seize up the very production lines Europe depends on, and prompt other countries to impose export restrictions, further limiting Europe’s access to key medical gear. And they may also block EU exports of vital equipment to the world’s poorest victims of the pandemic.

    The chain of events that led to this decision accelerated in late February 2020, as Italy plunged into a health crisis that forced it to ration hospital treatment. France and other national governments took trade policy into their own hands, seeking to protect their own citizens. On March 3, President Emmanuel Macron directed the French government to requisition all respiratory protection masks for French health care workers.[2] On March 4, Germany and the Czech Republic followed suit by imposing their own national export restrictions. Thus, as Italy faced shortages, it could not even access equipment made in other EU member states.

    The European Commission thus stepped in on March 15. At one level, the resulting EU restriction on exports to countries outside the trade bloc can be seen as a laudable attempt to revive trade of medical goods among EU countries stopped earlier by national policies.[3] The Commission announcement, for example, revealed that EU production of these medical supplies was concentrated “in a limited number of Member States, namely the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Poland.” Seeing as three of these major suppliers were restricting exports, contributing to shortages and suffering in Italy’s overstretched hospital system, the Commission needed to act. As a result, Germany and France committed to unblock their restrictions on EU sales of personal protective health devices, which Stefano Patuanelli, Italy’s minister of economic development, lauded as “a sign of common sense and European solidarity.”

    But there are unintended costs of shifting from national to EU-wide export restrictions. First, European supply chains for medical equipment require access to parts that often must cross an external EU border, sometimes more than once. An overzealous effort to block exports of essential medical goods manufactured in Europe may inadvertently stop trade in inputs needed to make those products in the first place, causing supplies to grind to a halt anyway.

    For poorer countries outside the bloc, the consequences of the EU’s export restrictions could be devastating. The EU has long pushed developing countries to open up their markets to imports, facilitating a system in which these countries have come to rely on EU suppliers for their essential medical equipment. The new EU policy threatens to eliminate such countries’ access to global markets for medical imports just when they need it the most.

    Finally, the EU risks setting off a spiral of export restrictions by other countries, with the EU paying the price. The EU imports $17.6 billion of the same medical products on which it imposed export controls. It is extremely vulnerable to other countries piling on with export restrictions of their own. And the EU’s beggar-thy-neighbor policy threatens to beget more.

    A global, trade-facilitating approach to this pandemic is needed.[4] Instead of taking the lead, the EU’s policy is a step backward and has made the difficult task of multilateral cooperation that much harder.

    https://www.piie.com/blogs/trade-and-investment-policy-watch/eu-limits-medical-gear-exports-put-poor-countries-and?fbclid=IwAR3ZoHLHWsygnfQRW5Ecz-KCzJfLCpq7gOEfNYkrL7lsIXRRmgUNMn53_w8

  49. David Avatar
    David

    Interesting article.

    Scientists have been sounding the alarm on coronavirus for months. Why did Britain fail to act?

    Richard Horton

    The warnings from China and Italy were loud and clear. But politicians and their advisers wasted valuable time – and lives will be lost as a result

    Boris Johnson’s coronavirus briefing on Tuesday

    Boris Johnson’s coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, with the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and in the background the chief scientific officer, Patrick Vallance. Photograph: WPA Pool/Getty Images

    On 24 January, Chinese doctors and scientists reported the first description of a new disease caused by a novel coronavirus. They described how a strange series of cases of pneumonia had presented in December in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people and the capital of Hubei province. At that time, 800 cases of the new disease had been confirmed. The virus had already been exported to Thailand, Japan and South Korea.

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/18/coronavirus-uk-expert-advice-wrong?fbclid=IwAR20cZs15n5tl4UxsCjy18KMF8VT9MPh-nXnxyeb_tliB95c6u-lItapjsE

  50. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    @ Tee White March 27, 2020 9:50 AM

    I don’t make up things in science. I report the facts that are widely available. Go and comb the literature

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