Coronavirus and You - Page 136

On March 31 2020 17:58 Laurens wrote:
I think they downplay the importance of masks in Belgium (and probably other places in Europe) because there's a big shortage of them and they want all available masks to go to medical personnel.

If there were millions of masks to spare, I'm sure the experts would be saying that masks help, as is the case in Asia.

It's a bit silly tbh. Same expert says 'masks don't help' and 'our doctors and nurses URGENTLY NEED MASKS' in the same speech. Umm, okay. I mean it doesn't take a genius to see that doctors and nurses need them more, but that doesn't mean you have to lie to the rest of the population and claim they are useless.

On April 24 2020 04:33 Amui wrote:
At this point Canada is a good portion of the way towards a UBI (saw an article where half the senate was in favor). Everybody unemployed or working part-time or students are going to get 1250-2000 a month for a while. They might as well go all the way and give UBI to everybody and tax it out since there's now a ton of edge cases where working doesn't make sense.

A lot of people I know would rather be laid off and make 2k a month almost risk-free than work FT for less than 3-4k a month, at least for a few months while covid comes under control.

UBI where it zeros out at some number (50-100k?), makes a lot more sense, and would go a long way to encouraging people to work if they get to keep every additional dollar they make instead of the silliness right now where if you have reduced hours past a certain point, or don't earn enough, it's better to be laid off.

On April 24 2020 16:01 Wegandi wrote:


So far the only place to have tried UBI it turned out to be a disaster, but sure, caveats that it was a small experiment, different countries different outcomes, etc, but I am pretty sure if you're going to have UBI + Welfare state that can only end in disaster.

I also doubt 2k CAD a month is sustainable in perpetuity. It's one thing for like 1-3 month emergency deal, but to make permanent? Where is that money coming from when it's likely to depress wealth creation and GNP?

On April 24 2020 16:01 Wegandi wrote:


So far the only place to have tried UBI it turned out to be a disaster, but sure, caveats that it was a small experiment, different countries different outcomes, etc, but I am pretty sure if you're going to have UBI + Welfare state that can only end in disaster.

I also doubt 2k CAD a month is sustainable in perpetuity. It's one thing for like 1-3 month emergency deal, but to make permanent? Where is that money coming from when it's likely to depress wealth creation and GNP?

On April 24 2020 15:56 Laurens wrote:


Surprise surprise, experts in Belgium now saying we'll all have to wear masks in schools and on public transport when the lockdown is loosened.
This after insisting for 1,5 months that masks don't help at all.

Today is our press conference on how the lockdown will be loosened. There have been some leaks and we will probably see more shops opening on 4th of may, schools and hairdressers etc on 18 may. But with special rules like 'max 10 children in class' - seems all kinds of weird to me, how are you going to decide which 10?!
Very much looking forward to that press conference.

On April 24 2020 17:34 Gorsameth wrote:
You rotate children obviously. Monday the first 10, Tuesday another 10, Wednesday another 10 and repeat. Not like only the same 10 children will get to go to school while the rest of the class if left behind.

On April 24 2020 19:51 Laurens wrote:


Nope, school won't be open 5 days/week. For 6th grade of primary school for example the schools would only be open 2 days/week, and the 10 kids that come on those days are the same 10 kids.
So the question remains: which 10 kids?

You can read it all here, but it's in Dutch: + Show Spoiler +

On April 24 2020 20:09 Sr18 wrote:


All of them, but because only 10 can be in the same classroom they have to use multiple classrooms and teachers. This is achievable because only children in 1st, 2nd and 6th grade will get to attend. Children in grades 3, 4 and 5 will stay at home.

On April 24 2020 21:41 Slydie wrote:
On topic from Spain:
Our local medical centre was just turned into a Corona testing facility, they are trying to figure out how many have actually had and have the virus, which I think makes sense. A very puzzling thing was that the staff there was not tested because they would be screwed if they could not go to work, Yeye...

Also, kids are finally allowed to walk outside from Sunday after a political populist dance by the government: First promising they could go out, then saying "they could only go to malls" which caused an outrage, eventually setting on something like kids up to 14 max 1km from home with one adult. It is still very strict around here, and people are obviously suffering.

Death numbers are slowly approaching half of what it was per day.

On April 24 2020 22:04 Acrofales wrote:

At least it's easier. Now I can see if I can rent a child instead of only trying to rent a dog

On April 24 2020 22:19 Zealously wrote:


Seriously. I see so much armchair medicine in (social and news) media and from persons in positions of authority. It's frightening to think that some people will take what they believe to be sound or legitimate medical advice and potentially harm themselves in the process.

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