German Tests, Johnson in Negotiation

 

The coronavirus crisis has hit Germany with full force. Infections are increasing rapidly with schools, factories and bars closed across the country. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there were 13,979 coronavirus infections in Germany on Thursday afternoon, (19 March) more than in any other country except China, Italy, Iran and Spain.

 

But Germany has only registered 52 deaths (20 March). Neighbouring France, by contrast, reports 243 deaths. Spain has had 803 deaths. The US, the UK and Italy all show case fatality rates significantly higher than Germany.

 

WHY?

 

In Germany there have been a high number of tests with laboratories conducting about 160,000 coronavirus tests every week.

 

Mass testing means lower fatality rate because it allows detection of Covid-19 even in patients who suffer few or no symptoms, and who have a much better chance of survival.

 

Experts also point out that Germany now has the chance to prepare for a surge in serious infections, with hospitals across the country expanding intensive care capacity and boosting staff numbers and with a government buying up as much critical equipment as it can.

 

Meanwhile here in the UK Boris Johnson has set our minds at rest by announcing yesterday ( 21 March) that good stuff is on its way. 

 

“to give you an idea of what is coming down the track, we’re in negotiations today to buy a so-called antibody test, as simple as a pregnancy test which can tell whether you have had the disease and it’s early days, but if it works as its proponents claim, then we will buy literally hundreds of thousands of these kits as soon as practicable. Because obviously it has the potential to be a total game changer.”

 

So for the UK it is ‘‘negotiations’. ‘early days’, ‘as soon as practical’ and ‘potential’ game changers.

 

We have no idea how the Coronavirus epidemic will develop over the coming weeks / months. We can say that since 2012 there have been a 120,000 deaths in the UK due to austerity policies.

 

Information above comes from a FT article which is is here:

and from the Guardian which is here:

 

Boris Johnson is neither here nor there, but with his train set in La La land.