[kj] [OT] Shits getting serious...

jpwhkj at aol.com jpwhkj at aol.com
Mon Mar 16 15:02:33 EDT 2020


Thankfully the UK govt is totally on top of... oh, wait.
Seriously though - that sounds properly rubbish.  Good luck, Jim.
Jamie



-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Harper via Gathering <gathering at misera.net>
To: gathering <gathering at misera.net>
CC: Jim Harper <jimharper666 at yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 1:01
Subject: Re: [kj] [OT] Shits getting serious...

 Hello folks

Here in Japan the shit has not quite hit the fan yet, mostly because of a persistent state of denial. The low numbers of infected are cited as proof that Japan's cautionary measures (of which there are few) are succeeding. This ignores the fact that Japan is actually testing for the disease less than almost every other developed nation. Approximately 50 tests per million, as opposed to South Korea who are doing tens of thousands per million. In order to get a coronavirus test, doctors must send a written request to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, who are notoriously slow and incompetent. The government does not want official cases, so most requests are refused unless the evidence is undeniable. The first person to contract the disease in my area had already been to a clinic or hospital EIGHT TIMES before finally being tested. 

Given this aversion to testing, it's clear the disease could be very widespread here, but the government refuses to accept this. the logic is straightforward: Minimal testing = minimal certified cases = No accusations of government failure and less danger to the Olympics. Almost everyone here believes that the number of cases certified by testing exactly reflects the actual number of cases. 

By the way, the Japanese government is adamant that the Olympics will still be happening, against all evidence.

Their own incompetence is staggering. The health officials sent to the Diamond Princess to assess the problem contracted the disease because they weren't wearing protective clothing. Those who tested negative (several of whom subsequently tested positive) were sent home on public transport. Japanese citizens evacuated from Wuhan were asked to take the test. They refused and went home, because the government has no power to compel testing or force quarantine unless it's included on a very specific list of diseases. The government says there is no need to add coronavirus to the list.

One individual has been arrested for testing positive and then visiting a string of clubs and bars and deliberately chatting up the waitresses and hostess as part of his plan "to spread it around a bit". He has been arrested for Interfering With Business (not attempt assault or anything similar) and it's likely he will be returned home to 'self-quarantine'.

Among the opinions heard on social media are that 'I'm young, so I won't wear a mask because it's not going to kill me' (most people are slowly coming around to the fact that masks do no prevent you from getting the disease, simply stop you from passing it on, although masks are now impossible to secure), to my absolute favourite 'The Japanese race is unique, so they've probably got a natural immunity to the disease, which is why we have so few cases'. That one is absolutely not a joke, nor a one-off opinion.

Not everyone is being entirely stupid. Many public gatherings have been cancelled. I'm going to a special movie event in Tokyo on Wednesday: guests have been told they will be refused entry without a mask.

One the other hand the schools have all closed, with parents told to keep their children at home. Many children have blatantly ignored this (as you'd expect) and are still gathering in social groups. But I've been told that's okay, because they out in the open air and not enclosed classrooms. Not sure if MacDonald's and game arcades count as the open air, but what do I know?

Hilariously, because of the high number of single-parent families and families with both parents working, local governments have been forced to take provides facilities for the children: by sending them back to the schools. More than one teacher has now been confirmed sick.

Anyone who thought Japan had a handle on emergency management should see this shit. Mind you, what do expect from a government that has only lost one election since democracy started in 1951. They won't lose, so why even bother trying?

Take care people. Thinking of you all.

Jim Harper.     On Sunday, 15 March 2020, 20:10:06 GMT+9, jpwhkj--- via Gathering <gathering at misera.net> wrote:  
 
 Here in SW London things are calm but as Paul R said, it's the calm before the storm.  I know one person who is currently self-isolating & (from what she's told me) it sounds like she has it - luckily she's in her early forties, no underlying health conditions, and sounds like she's getting through it ok.
Commuter trains into London are noticeably quieter than usual (I'd guess at 1/2 -> 2/3 of usual volume, at a very rough and unscientific estimate based on a tiny sample size) and there's a lot less coughing and spluttering than usual.  Whether that's because anyone with a cold is staying at home, or because they are holding it in while on the train, who knows.  Probably a bit of both.
Local schools are currently open, but rumour has it that they'll be closing soon.
Fingers crossed that this isn't the disaster that some predictions describe, but I suspect that we're going to have a significant number of deaths worldwide (i.e. way above the single thousands currently reported) and severe economic reprecussions.
Jamie


-----Original Message-----
From: scotgothwitch--- via Gathering <gathering at misera.net>
To: A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!) <gathering at misera.net>
CC: scotgothwitch at sky.com <scotgothwitch at sky.com>
Sent: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 16:26
Subject: Re: [kj] [OT] Shits getting serious...

Well my office was closed this morning after someone tested positive.  They locked staff out at 8am and then told those who were already in to go home shortly after.  The person has only had contact with a small number of people though and those individuals were being contacted.  They've started a deep clean of the building.
Our Business Continuity folk were in the process of carrying out mass working from home exercises however, they were doing them department by department rather than the whole company at the same time and apparently the servers were struggling to cope with so many people logging in remotely this morning.  They reckon that the office will be open on Monday but for "key staff" only and will be handing out laptops to those who are key and currently don't have one.  Currently waiting for another update.

 
 
  On Thu, 12 Mar 2020 at 22:20, Paul<dubecho at gmail.com> wrote:   How is everyone doing?
Day from hell here. When our glorious leader queen Leo, spoke to the nation from Washington USA, of all places. Schools closing announcement sent food retail into bedlam and more to come. So while Varadkar and Trump fiddle, the world burns. Seems we (Ireland and UK) are to be exempt from any travel bans to the US though, but the EU are to blame for it all??? 
And then to cap it all, every news story at least once mentions the banning of all gatherings! 
Anyway, smoke and a cuppa time for me then round 2 tomorrow. 
There will always be a Gathering : ) 
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