Coronavirus, TT and other Manx sporting events cancellation

[Roger Mexico]

5 minutes ago, Derek Flint said:

In fairness, major political figures in the UK are sounding similarly unconvincing. Remember that all they can do - whether they believe it or not - is trot out the advice they are given. At least in this case, the advice won’t be massively different from Public Health England. It’s when we try and make our own version up we are found especially wanting.

It's an interesting paradox.  Both in the UK and here we have politicians running the country who seem to think that politics is all about 'presentation' (if you want to be unkind 'bullshitting').  But when it comes to any sort of crisis, not only do they not know what to do (and in this case the honest answer is often to say "Nobody knows"), they can't even put forward a competent image or look even convincingly in charge.  They're not even good at the thing they are supposed to be good at.

[Non-Believer]

1 hour ago, Roger Mexico said:

It's an interesting paradox.  Both in the UK and here we have politicians running the country who seem to think that politics is all about 'presentation' (if you want to be unkind 'bullshitting').  But when it comes to any sort of crisis, not only do they not know what to do (and in this case the honest answer is often to say "Nobody knows"), they can't even put forward a competent image or look even convincingly in charge.  They're not even good at the thing they are supposed to be good at.

Form over substance.I don't think it's that old a phenomenon in politics though. First occasion that I can think of was the Tories hiring Saatchi & Saatchi to run their advertising campaign. That's when it really took hold and the worth of advertising image was realised. Roll it on through the Blair years of "Repeat, repeat, repeat". Image is now everything and everything else can be hidden behind it, good or appalling.

The Ad men and Spin men have taken over. No matter how bad the politician or the policy, it'll be spun to look good. Look at our very own Cabinet Office's Communications Dept now. How many people employed in there? And why so many? Speaks volumes.

We are victims of our own gullibility for clever advertising. Whether it's "credit", make up or now politics nowadays. And too many are too gullible.

[pongo]

At least half the population doesn't trust experts anyhow.

Personally I'm happy with the government response, so far. Both locally and in London. And with the presentation. There isn't much to be done anyhow.

But then I'm not the sort of person who treats every situation as an opportunity for a moan.

[Roger Mexico]

27 minutes ago, pongo said:

At least half the population doesn't trust experts anyhow.

And yet when it comes to open heart surgery, they never seem to get That Bloke Off YouTube to do it for them, do they?  Funny that.

[On The Bus]

3 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

And yet when it comes to open heart surgery, they never seem to get That Bloke Off YouTube to do it for them, do they?  Funny that.

To be fair TT fans don't show much caring towards the value of local life when they're crashing their bikes into local cars, so why should their attitude to Coronavirus be any different? 

[Cambon]

Thinking logically, the TT is not really a concentrated mass gathering. I mean, 10,000 or so people spread around 38 miles is hardly similar to 100,000 people crammed into a stadium for a football match. 

 

[Roger Mexico]

4 minutes ago, Cambon said:

Thinking logically, the TT is not really a concentrated mass gathering. I mean, 10,000 or so people spread around 38 miles is hardly similar to 100,000 people crammed into a stadium for a football match. 

Actually it's probably a lot worse.  In a stadium you're in the same position for a limited time near the same limited number of people and then go home.  TT fans are mixing and moving about all the time and are at various things over the whole day, usually for a whole week.  They probably come from wider geographic areas as well and have to use boats or planes to get here (more opportunities for contact than travelling all the way by car).  Sitting on hedge is only a very small part of it.

[On The Bus]

Thinking logically, if there was one or two cases that cropped up it would throw Noble's into lock down. Medical care would be withdrawn for all but the most urgent of emergencies. Medical cover would not be available on the level required demanded  by the TT organisers. 

Think about it as well, the hospitals on Merseyside would be in exactly the same position and they would stop accepting dickheads with entirely preventable injuries who decided to wrap themselves around a lamppost on their motorbike or hit a farm gate at 200mph. 

The TT causing a massive hospital crisis on the island (which it has come very, very close to at least twice in the last seven years)  in conjunction with Coronavirus would do a lot of harm to the future support of the event among the local population. 

 

If the riders want to kill themselves that's fine, let them. But don't put the lives of the local elderly population at risk because you filled our hospital with coronavirus imported by tramps on motorbikes. 

[Uhtred]

1 hour ago, Roger Mexico said:

Sitting on hedge is only a very small part of it.

Christ! You can catch Coronavirus by sitting on a hedge? I’d better add that to the wealth of helpful and accurate information online.

[pongo]

It will be a plus if they don't have to close the Mountain Rd for weeks for otherwise unnecessary repairs. Especially with all of the other diversions which are currently spamming everything up.

And the money saved might go towards offsetting the likely economic impact of the virus. Not just NHS costs. People will, quite rightly, expect the same special sick pay arrangements as are now being guaranteed by the London govt.

[Frances]

I suspect that if the virus hits in large numbers in the Liverpool area the Fast Craft will be cancelled and the Ben run as freight only, if nothing else to save staff for the Island's 'lifeline' as self sufficiency in food went years ago - anyone needing to get off the Island will probably have to fly - the crowded conditions on the boat during TT period will be a significant factor - door handles, toilets , handrails etc will need regular deep cleaning, maybe riders in full leathers etc could sit it out but families with children ? - the UK government seem to be suggesting that May/June looks likely to be peak month - all we can do, apart from the oft repeated basic hygiene message, is to sit it out.

[Roger Mexico]

3 minutes ago, pongo said:

It will be a plus if they don't have to close the Mountain Rd for weeks for otherwise unnecessary repairs. Especially with all of the other diversions which are currently spamming everything up.

And the money saved might go towards offsetting the likely economic impact of the virus. Not just NHS costs. People will, quite rightly, expect the same special sick pay arrangements as are now being guaranteed by the London govt.

If you think work being unnecessary has ever stopped the DoI from carrying it out, I've got a bridge to sell you.  Probably one of Boris's. 

Whether cancelling the TT would save money is another matter.  Even if the event normally loses money for the Government, a lot of the spending will already have happened or been legally committed.  And the big earner from the TT has always been been Steam Packet - and who owns that now?  So the losses will be carried by the Manx taxpayer rather than a Portuguese bank.

It's also worth pointing out that unlike 2001 and foot and mouth, when all people needed to do was stay away from some of the countryside, there's unlikely to be the opportunity for replacement tourism as well.

[On The Bus]

16 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

Whether cancelling the TT would save money is another matter.  Even if the event normally loses money for the Government, a lot of the spending will already have happened or been legally committed.  And the big earner from the TT has always been been Steam Packet - and who owns that now?

Why is it for the taxpayer to refund them? That's what travel insurance is for. 

[joebean]

UK Government planning predicts that the peak impact from Coronavirus will be in April and May. This means that the Hospital will be facing the most pressure in this period, caring for those that require in-patient treatment.  Caring for the most serious cases will necessitate ventilation and a bed in ITU. Inevitably, TT races generate the need for ITU beds and put pressure on these resources, without an ongoing endemic.

I fully understand the desirability of waiting for the situation to develop (or not) further but does anyone actually think that a Government, that put the health of its resident population as first priority, could take the risk of running an event that would increase the population by around 40,000 people during a period when it's health service could be under severe pressure to provide the necessary treatment to the sick?   In my opinion, those that think the TT could or should still go ahead, currently, are putting hope, motorcycle racing and the desire to make a bit of money in front of common sense and a focus on making plans to provide proper care for our people. Business as usual, Mr Skelly, should involve making difficult decisions without undue delay and putting the needs of IOM people before cash.

[hissingsid]

They should clear out Ramsey cottage hospital and make that an emergency clearing area for virus victims, since Beecroft downgraded  and ruined it and shipped the old ward 5?  patients which she closed it is just a half way house for the elderly after treatment at Noble’s until they are sent home or placed in a home.   They should not go near Noble’s.