STOP THE SPREAD: Everyone of ALL AGES in Devon should immediately do the MAXIMUM possible social distancing they can, to save thousands from death and the NHS from collapse.
I’ve just republished figures showing that the SW’s critical care capacity needs to be increased by 600 per cent to deal with expected demand from coronavirus sufferers. Put another way, across the region we need 7 times more critical care beds than we had at the start of this crisis. In Devon, that figure could well be even higher. And that’s without thinking about ventilators or staffing.
- I’m sure that NHS managers are working night and day to increase the capacity of the system. But unless we reduce the demand, by slowing the spread of the virus, their efforts will be insufficient. Our NHS and our extraordinarily dedicated NHS staff will be overwhelmed. Thousands of Devon people will die without the best possible care, quite likely at home.
The victims will be primarily people who are older or with underlying conditions – but they will also include many healthy middle-aged and even some younger adults who are unlucky and get severe disease. You’re not safe under 70!
- EVERYONE OF ALL AGES, not just the elderly, MUST IMMEDIATELY DO THE MAXIMUM SOCIAL DISTANCING THEY CAN.
- THE GOVERNMENT MUST ACT FASTER TO SLOW THE SPREAD. Their delays over the last few weeks have been appallingly irresponsible. They have begun to change course, but must now follow almost all other countries and take more decisive action to suppress the epidemic:
- Forcibly close down all except essential shops and public places, and prevent all but essential movement.
- Support everyone to take the action we need: immediately guarantee full compensation for all workers, including the self-employed, who cannot work, and for all affected businesses; increase statutory sick pay to a real living income like other countries.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 