- This topic has 353 replies, 49 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 8 months ago by
.
- Posts
I’m starting to feel quite uneasy that Cheltenham is going ahead this week, just as many other sports are taking unilateral decisions to restrict their footprints and thus potential exposure to coronavirus.
This is not a game. The congregation of many thousands in pubs, clubs and hotels locally has to be high risk for transmission, probably a lot more so than their attendance at the racecourse itself.
I may be being over-sensitive as I’m cheerfully told that I’m in the ‘high-risk’ group for the virus due to a compromised immune system, but this could look very irresponsible to the wider public (and absolute manna to the anti’s, who need zero encouragement) in a few weeks time. The BBC was already striking a slightly disapproving tone on last night’s news, which I believe is widely shared in the country.
Mike
At work we have been segregated from colleagues in different buildings, and working from home is being mentioned, yet outside of work I’m likely to come into contact with several people who have shared travel, rooms, facilities etc. this week. I feel no imminent threat, and am low risk (as far as I am aware), but I share your unease. I was listening to the radio this morning, and Irish authorities were being very smug about the measures that have been put in place, and how they are working well. Let’s see how that goes in the month ahead.
I am in a high risk group (diabetic) but there’s no way Cheltenham should be off. People should just take precautions. If it took place without spectators then a lot would watch in pubs – even bigger risk. If I went to Cheltenham would certainly spend it outside in the open air – although it would still be packed and some (small) risk.
Let’s not exaggerate the risk like many BBC journalists. imo Silent majority think things should go on as normal. In this country other sporting events are going ahead including football. Experts (in this country) seem to suggest abandoning is not effective (at least at this stage).
Value Is EverythingYes. As long as people are permitted to mix and move in large numbers in confined spaces- airports, the Tube, large railway stations- stopping a few sporting events is mere tokenism.
I can see the point in trying to delay
coronvirus a few weeks closer to the summer when transmission of respiratory viruses is lower, to blunt the peak and also move the peak further away from peak flu season both of which should mitigate the pressure on hospital beds, but stopping sporting events but not mass travel (and probably the closure of nurseries, schools and large workplaces) is a waste of time.The virus doesn’t care if people are congregating for noble reasons like getting on a train to a family funeral or going to work, or frivolous ones like going on a jolly to cheer some expensive animals running around in a big circle. The reason the whole country hasn’t gone on total lockdown is largely economic…but why should a micro-economy like the Festival get banned purely for the sake of optics?
Betfair now has a ‘Will racing go ahead?’ market for Aintree. No currently 1.3, 3.5 for Yes.
Mike
What people don’t understand is that the number of cases we have today is the one from about ten days ago. This is what some politicians don’t understand. I don’t think that the Germans, the Italians or the Swiss (who have cancelled all events with 1,000 or more spectators/visitors) are just too cautious, I think they’re rather realistic.
Believe me, it is a matter of days maybe a week until Aintree will be cancelled and the same will apply to the European Football Leagues and the North American professional sports. I don’t think there will be another choice.
And a Cheltenham festival without spectators would have been enough too. I don’t think that horses realize who their fans are and if they’re around this time.
@Ex Ruby Light
You are quite correct.
It will be interesting to see if the number of cases spike in Ireland after about 10 days and if they were attendees of Cheltenham.
And a Cheltenham festival without spectators would have been enough too. I don’t think that horses realize who their fans are and if they’re around this time.
Holding popular, televised events (sporting or otherwise) ‘behind closed doors’ is counterproductive. 50,000 spectators in the open, fresh air are less likely to transmit the virus to each other than are the millions watching them assembled in the stale, unrecycled air of pubs, clubs and bookmakers
Cancellation of such events entirely is the only way to prevent or mitigate transmission between those who follow them
Cheletenham are probably counting their lucky stars that the festival was not scheduled to take place any later
This coronavirus outbreak is undoubtedly of concern but I retain a degree of scepticism about its eventual spread and lethality: it was all doom and gloom when BSE, SARS, Swine Flu and Bird Flu appeared in humans and they all ran a very limited course. The decline in rates of infection in China is cautiously heartening so lets hope that the worldwide bell-curve of infection turns out to resemble a mole hill rather than Everest
Wishing all TRF correspondents good health, particularly those whose health is compromised
- Total Posts 2553
Yes
- Total Posts 2553
I’m hoping, and expecting, that time will tell that the gamble to go ahead was worth it.
The coronavirus is extremely infectious, and we have
– no immunity
– no treatment
– no vaccine.It could be extremely serious for our elderly and immunocompromised, and correspondingly extreme measures need to be taken.
Much as I love the festival, I think this could prove to be an unwise decision
Yes, it should go ahead. How many millions of people use the London Underfround every day? Are we going to shut that down as well?
I am asthmatic so I suppose I should be worried but I am not. What is the point? I do not understand this mass panic. I think we have to continue as normal, heed good advice and ignore scaremongering. We are going to talk ourselves into a recession at this rate.
Let us try and enjoy the festival. Without wanting to sound flippant, I think of Claud Cockburn’s phrase: “In between the crisis and the catastrophe we may as well have a glass of champagne.”
It could be extremely serious for our elderly and immunocompromised
It could indeed, as was the case just two winters ago when the annual flu jab didn’t work very well:
Last year’s flu jab protected just one in 10 pensioners.
The worst protection was among over 65s – the age group most vulnerable to flu – with effectiveness of 10.1 per cent and none at all against some key strains, an evaluation by Public Health England shows. Figures among younger adults were little better at 12.2 per cent, with rates of 26.9 per cent among children, the provisional end-of-season estimates show.
The failings contributed to the worst flu season for seven years, with 15,000 deaths from the virus, around twice the average figure, and the worst NHS performance on record.A little bit of perspective needed, methinks
Over the last few months the Norovirus nearly finished me off.
Then a Chest infection nearly finished me off.
If this virus finally does it then so be it.
But it’s hardly likely.Please no scaremongering.
Value Is Everythingbefair, you said that you had knowledge in this area – is it possible to say whether or not the virus is likely to subside during the summer months? Is this an unknown? I’m thinking beyond immediate festivals. Thanks.
Louise, evidence at this stage is lacking about any seasonal variation, unlike the influenza virus, which is more prevalent during winter. Infection rates will certainly rise, but containment efforts may flatten the peak and assist management. To those who suggest scaremongering let me quote an expert;
“COVID-19 is ‘10 times more lethal than seasonal flu,’ said the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.’And if this affects key workers, the knock-on effects will be serious e.g. health services may break down. The head of the medical association in the northern Italian province of Varese, Roberto Stella, 67, has died of respiratory failure after contracting coronavirus; he only became infected at the weekend. Lombardy is a prosperous area, with top-class medical care.
Interesting, thank you. I imagine that it could put strain on small businesses (especially) also, and many racing yards and stud farms will fall into that category. If you have a small workforce, and the whole lot quickly become ill (even if not severely so), it will be an awkward time.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.