The 2020 County Cricket Season (and effect of Coronavirus)

The ECB announces a £61million bail-out, consisting of immediate grants of £40 m, with a further £21 m earmarked for later interest-free loans.


www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28976901/ecb-announces-61-million-support-package-confront-biggest-challenge-history


However, The ECB, like everyone else, has no idea how long the disruption will last. 

England's centrally contracted players decide against temporary pay cut. This really sticks in the throat.  

www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28979866/england-centrally-contracted-players-decide-temporary-pay-cut

IF it's true they are despicable people. A bit like the mega rich footballers at Barcelona, who have just agreed to a 70% pay cut after getting heat for turning down a 50% one. Scum. They should take a 100% pay cut for three months - they should have enough money for food for the next three months after getting 200 grand a week for the last ten years. I think professional sports people are either badly advised or just too stupid and selfish to understand the situation. Being selfish and single minded is generally what gets them as far as they've got in life but they need to take a step back.

Yep, this is the latest development. The mainstream media led by the fear-mongering The Telegraph are using the usual words of 'may',
'possible', 'potentially', 'could', 'appear' etc.. about this summer's cricket or alleged lack of it.

This is not the time to make pre-judgements. We have no idea how the coronavirus epidemic will pan out. The move is because there
is a growing view amongst world nations that China are lieing through their teeth about the country's actual Covid-19 deaths and cases.
It must be pointed out that along with Italy, China has the highest elderly population in the world.

Meanwhile, the present stats from around the world (I know Fb you don't believe in them) are:

Since January 1st, 2020 

Seasonal flu deaths: 123,226

Cancer deaths: 2,081,551

Smoking-related deaths: 1,267,004

Successful suicides: 271,787

HIV/Aids Deaths: 426,069

Road traffic deaths: 342,136
___________________________

Coronavirus deaths: 46,132
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www.worldometers.info

Fb,

Because there is so much uncertainty why should we believe the fear-mongerers? There is just as much certainty that by the end of May cricket will begin, just as there is just as much uncertainty that it won't. Presently, we remain at 50/50 either way.

Re: Apples and oranges, every year up to 650,000 people die of respiratory diseases linked to seasonal flu. This figure corresponds to 795 to 1,781 deaths per day around the world (an actual WHO statistic). Covid-19 is simply another strain of cold/flu. (I was told recently by a medical authority that there are around 150 known different types), which like the standard seasonal flu can affect the functioning of lungs and hence the need for ventilators. Like seasonal flu it primarily affects the elderly. Strangely, this latest strain called Covid-19 has little if any effect on the young. The majority of deaths occur to those over 70 years-old. In fact, in Italy the mean average of those dying from the disease is (a few weeks back) 81 years-old. My point is that every year up to 650,000 already die from seasonal flu and this has been going on for many years and not only that, but new strains of flu regularly manifest.

What makes Covid-19 so different? There is no evidence to suggest that this is the "Mother of all Flu's". So, why is the world in lockdown? If you take the present rationale, the world should be in lockdown 24/7, 365 days a year... every year.

Let us reflect on the 1968 flu pandemic, also called 'Hong Kong Flu' which, surprise, surprise, also started in China. The virus ran until 1970 or close on a 2 year period. Was the world in lockdown then? In fact, the outbreak was the third influenza pandemic to occur in the 20th century; it followed the 1957 outbreak and the 'Mother of all Mother' pandemics of 1918–19 better known as the 'Spanish Flu'. In 1968, the Hong Kong strain resulted in an estimated one million to four million deaths, far fewer than the 1918–19 pandemic, which caused between 25 million and 50 million deaths.

Interestingly, this pandemic was the 'Swine flu' version, which then rematerialised in 2009 when an estimated 11-21% of the world population contracted it. Was there a world lockdown then? The outbreak became a pandemic, but did the mainstream media even mention it? Almost as if, there was a D-Notice placed over the occurrence. Fortunately, this version transpired to be a weaker strain than its Spanish counterpart with 0.1-0.5% of cases resulting in death. 18,500 of these deaths were laboratory-confirmed, but estimates are as high as 151,700 - 575,400 globally. As with Covid-19 deaths, 50-80% of severe cases were found in people who were elderly or had underlying conditions such as pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. No world lockdowns then and this was only 11 years ago. Compared to swine flu, coronavirus is less widespread, has caused fewer deaths, has a lower case fatality rate, a longer incubation period and affects young people a lot less. Is it infectious? Absolutely, like all colds and flu's.

To summarise: Presently, the evidence for Covid-19 suggests it is a weaker strain than the ones from 1968, 1957 and 1918. Those in the medical frontline are describing it as 'a bad dose of flu'. How many times have you experienced proper flu in your lifetime? Personally, around eight to ten times, where I went to bed for two weeks and fully recovered.

I must stress, I have great sympathy for those who have and will lose loved ones. Even so, let us find some balance amidst all the mainstream fear feeding-frenzy. Covid-19 is another strain of flu/cold which occurs and keeps repeating throughout history. Early evidence suggests it is not as virulent as previous pandemics of the 20th century. The humanitarian might suggest that the lockdown will save lives and it will, no question about it, but at what cost in an already well overpopulated world? The economy could be crippled by this lockdown. What happens if it doesn't recover. Imagine the chaos and suffering that might ensue.

There is something rotten in the state of the world's media re: this latest pandemic. None of it adds up. The sooner we find a simple test kit for the public the better, so the world can return to normality (whatever that is!) 

www.britannica.com/event/Hong-Kong-flu-of-1968
www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/covid-19-how-does-coronavirus-compare-to-other-outbreaks

Fb,

Thank you for spending time and energy responding to my previous post. I am very appreciative.

You're implying that we should let the virus take its course, so that we don't damage the economy. After all, you suggest, the world is over-populated, and we can afford to lose a tranche of old folk, 'sad though this might be'.

This is precisely what the world has done before… over and over again. For example, Covid-19 is the second 21st century flu virus pandemic. The last one, a strain of swine flu also known as H1N1, first responsible for killing between 25m and 50m people during 1918-1919, began in January 2009 and continued on until August 2010. The ‘Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’ suggest that anywhere between 150,000 and 575,000 people died from it. Was the world in lockdown then? Were the media screaming blue murder? Life continued on as before. The general public had little or no clue that a pandemic was occurring all around them. So, to answer your question “Please clarify what your strategy would be.” However callous this may sound, carry on as normal. Flu viruses are nature’s way of culling the population, primarily the elderly and infirm. Every year anywhere between 490,000 and 650,000 people die of seasonal flu. Nature is the beauty and the beast. Just as it’s responsible for killing around 8,000,000 people each year from cancer or approximately 1.7m from HIV/AIDS (Remember that? It hasn’t gone away).

There are flu/cold viruses prevailing all the year around. A pandemic occurs when one strain becomes particularly infectious. Therefore, within our increasing Nanny State world, should all 7.8 billion people on Planet Earth now go around wearing a face mask for the rest of their lives each time they leave their home? Just as should all people now stop driving their cars because each year over 1,300,000 die in fatal vehicle accidents? Where do you draw the line?

BTW, I don't think the medical experts do believe that we can treat Covid as just another flu virus; those on the front line are terrified about the situation they find themselves in. Even Donald Trump has seen the light - eventually.

They are only terrified because the media are terrorising them. Were they frightened in 2009/10? No. Why? Because the media showed little or no interest in the pandemic. This coronavirus should be nicknamed the ‘media virus’. The BIG question to ask. Why are the media so interested in Covid-19 and not the previous H1N1 from 2009? The symptoms that people experienced then are very similar to the Covid-19 symptoms today.

Judging by the results in Italy, China and Spain, an uncontrolled epidemic would claim so many lives that the social and economic fabric of most countries (especially the less developed ones) would be very badly damaged, if not devastated. Our NHS would probably collapse. Don't forget, we have no immunity and no vaccine as yet.

There was no mass vaccine or immunity for the three pandemics in the 20th century and the one 11 years ago. Each pandemic has a lifespan and then ceases. Life goes on as normal. Usually only the elites are offered immunisation. At least with Covid-19 given the pressure the media are placing on politicians and the world medical authorities, a cure/vaccine will be found, sooner rather than later. That may end up as the silver lining amidst all the present fear and chaos.

As regards the other causes of death that you quote, remember that, as a society, we do our best to mitigate and minimise these numbers. They would surely be much higher if we had just let these diseases/illnesses take their course, without any intervention. 

Really? What about cancer? A man with the wonderful name of Percival Pott, identified the first environmental trigger (chimney soot) for cancer in 1775, whilst cigarette smoking was diagnosed as a cause of lung cancer in 1950. Each year billions of pounds are spent on research. For example, in 2016 alone, the American ‘National Cancer Institute’ (NCI) funded $5.2 billion in cancer research. Amazing! Yet, still around 8m people a year die from this horrific disease. Once more, it is nature at play.

Personally, the game of cricket doesn't come into this discussion as far as I'm concerned. We have to be disappointed in the minority of sports fans whose humanitarian instincts appear to be overtaken by their desire to watch sport. Of course it's frustrating, but there will be cricket again eventually, but no-one knows when! Speculation is useless at present: why don't you just wait and see what transpires? I can't see the point of getting worked up about it - the uncertainty level is 100% at present, as it is for all professional sport.

I get worked up because of the blatant manipulation occurring from the mainstream media (MSM). The older I get the more I loathe them. I have been a journalist for over 40 years. I know how it works. They peddle fear because fear sells newspapers and attracts more page views to their websites which in turn boosts their advertising revenue. Fear = money. Fear is the lifeblood of the MSM. This present flu pandemic is manna from heaven, just as climate change or the previous Brexit is/was. The MSM have become greedy and bloated as in recent years they’ve been spoilt for choice. The media corporations have made loads of money off the back of Brexit and Trump, for example. They are the ‘Big Brother’, the ‘Thought Police’ of the 21st century. They rule the roost. Politicians merely follow their step. A flu pandemic is the next obvious gravy train.

… the mainstream media's present concern is the government's apparent failure to get the testing procedures up and running. The media seem to be supporting the strategy, but are not convinced about its execution.

I actually support the media in their efforts to put pressure on the UK government to sort out mass testing. This is our country’s greatest weakness at present, for mass tests are already happening in Germany and America. I saw an American video this week on how you apply for such a test. Usually you need a reason like recent travel, been around people with flu/cold symptoms or genuinely feel unwell. If accepted you are sent a number, usually by text. You’re told to drive to a certain testing area at a certain time/day and rather like a drive-in McDonalds, wait in a queue until a nurse arrives with a swab. You wind down your window, hand over your ticket number, a swab is placed in your nose and then down your throat. It is taken away and you get your results back some 2 days later, usually by text. The test is all over in a few minutes.

Simple, quick and easy.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_pandemic

This is totally different to normal flu.

Normal flu does not kill previously fit and healthy people by making it impossible for them to breathe.

An absolutely awful death where your relatives can't even be by your side. Does wicked cricket really think this is a snowflake over-reaction? We have been told- 'No intervention 100,000+ lives lost. Intervention hopefully keeps it below 20,000. Or maybe we should just carry on, and hope we aren't one of the extra 80,000.

With regard to footballers- It has been suggested the reason some clubs won't cut their pay is because it might (stress might) count as a form of breach of contract, making them free to go elsewhere (presumably with no transfer fee) so clubs are keen to hang on to star players and not give them a get out clause.

80% of pay should be fine for most people. Just think of all the money saved not going to theatres and cinemas, pubs and restaurants, petrol saved not driving to and from work, money saved not travelling to and from football matches etc, etc.