Leicester - interesting.

[cromwell]

There has been a Covid outbreak near us. 17 cases at Forza Foods, Normanton. A food processing plant with a largely Polish workforce.

[Workingman]

These local outbreaks were always going to happen and that is why testing and the resulting lockdowns have to be swift, nimble and targeted. There is no other practical way otherwise we end up with Leicester after Leicester scenarios.

There are some interesting developments with the testing of waste water after some good results from Italy, Canada, Australia and the UK. The genetic code for the virus can be detected by a simple test within hours and the samples can point to relatively small geographical areas.

I looked at the Yorkshire Water system for Leeds. Household waste and rain water from a local area is collected in drains; either combined or separate. These meet at a focal point in a larger drain. The drains run into sewers and they meet at a trunk sewer and the trunks meet at mains and then off to the treatment works. There are sample points throughout the system.

The thinking is that by continuous monitoring of the system a potential spike can be detected long before the results from personal tests are known and, therefore, earlier isolation of a small area can be put in place to allow for more personal testing to be carried out. One article here: BBC

[cromwell]

The spikes at meat processing plants are an issue in this country as well - factories in Swansea, Anglesey, Wrexham, and Kirklees as well as Leicester have all recorded above-the-norm multiple positives.

And here's another meat processing plant to go with Forza foods - this one is in Merthyr Tydfil.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/merthyr-tydfi ... 54673.html

Bit of a pattern emerging here.

[Suff]

Rather interesting RT oped on the Leicester lock down.

If you ignore the rather mocking and hysterical position, there is some real data in there as to how they are triggering these lock downs.

Question is, "do you feel protected"?

Cases and deaths down again today. Mind you it is a Sunday so it could rise again Monday.

[Workingman]

It is all getting a bit confused. A rise from 582 cases to 711 is an increase of 22% and that is a BIG rise hence the headlines, but what about context?

Leicester: Pop 330,000; area 29 sq mi; density ~11,500 sq mi. So, if there are 711 active cases in Leicester that is and increase from 1/5 of 1% over what was 1/.4 of 1% or in layman's language 'not that much'.

The problem for the authorities is that they do not know where the extra 129 are within Leicester. Is is an even spread or a cluster? They do not know, so 'belt and braces' comes into play.

However, the outbreaks in Merthyr, Cleckheaton, Angelsey and Normanton from 0 to hundreds are local hotspots and much easier to control. Is Leicester a practice for a larger city? I am not convinced that it is not.

[Suff]

Seems like it WM, but time will tell.

[cromwell]

It is all getting a bit confused. A rise from 582 cases to 711 is an increase of 22% and that is a BIG rise hence the headlines, but what about context?

True. There was a screaming headline on the Mail website last week that cases had gone up 300% in Wakefield. Yes, from two to six. Plus the figures were out of date.

The problem for the authorities is that they do not know where the extra 129 are within Leicester. Is is an even spread or a cluster? They do not know, so 'belt and braces' comes into play.

Not so sure about this. From what I've read the Leicester outbreak is confined to mainly Asian areas and that might be a problem.
Because they fear extreme right wingers making hay about this (immigrant areas, Islamaphobia, etc) plus the outbreaks in meat processing plants (mainly east European workforces) - will the authorities actually deal with these outbreaks transparently and honestly? Or will they try and limit the debate for political reasons?
My money is on the latter.

[Workingman]

The problem for the authorities is that they do not know where the extra 129 are within Leicester. Is is an even spread or a cluster? They do not know, so 'belt and braces' comes into play.

Not so sure about this.

Yes, sorry. I wrote it before it was known about the sweat shops it just sat in my outbox for a while. Now that the info is out there it has all gone a bit quiet...