More fuckwittery 
It is a calibration so I would be very sceptical from the outset. This is particularly true when I read that their time series of deaths for both the UK and Italy are trimmed to 15 days in length. OK they do Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation, but what that yields on a time series of only 15 observations in length is a mystery to me. Moreover, this data is in the form of counts and not rates so the statistics are significantly more complicated and therefore less reliable (counts are always integer data). Ensuring outputs from a model are (sensible and) integers is not trivial, certainly with a maximum of 14 degrees of freedom. The only message I take from this is that the results are extremely dependent on the fraction of the population assumed to be vulnerable to the disease. Whoop-de-doo.
I love the fact they’ve forgotten to trim out comments so on page 5 an individual labelled AB comments ‘This cannot be true the density does not exist. Might try an exponential wiith (sic) high beta’.
This is a draft paper. WTF is it doing in public circulation??
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Some NHS trusts in London are postponing chemo sessions. This is a very ominous move…
I was more wondering if the cosmetic surgery had stopped…
My heart goes out to the people receiving that text message. 
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Yep. I presume that the choice of cancellation is not random, so hopefully the appointments can be quickly rearranged elsewhere. BTW, this was announced on BBC R4 about an hour ago, but I can’t remember the hospital. TBF, if you are on very heavy chemo, missing a session might be less risky in the short to medium term than going into a hospital overrun with Covid-19 cases. Still, I would have been unhappy (at best) if my chemo was postponed or rescheduled in these circumstances.
The lady they spoke to on bbc news suggested it was a short term postponement whilst they get prepared and get supplies together
Let’s hope that proves to be the cost
I only had to read that 3 times to get it. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
I want to be able to use the phrase Markov Chain Monte Carlo Estimation in conversation though…
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Why? In case there was any lingering doubt that you’re a twat?
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Is that similar to the Shanghai and Billabong variant of Manila Poker?
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Some things just need reinforcement from time to time.
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Alan, who runs the very excellent Uptown Vinyl here in Spalding has just heard that his wife’s urgent cancer op at Liverpool John Moore’s has been cancelled at least until September, possibly indefinitely. He’s not said as much, but she is very poorly indeed, and I suspect this is a death sentence.
The government now says, if you can’t work from home, you can go to work.
Off you go, dom.
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Good luck, Stu, hope everything turns out OK
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As long as you comply with the distancing recommendations you should be fine. (Dom not Gregg!)
There was a guy doing a Q&A to people’s questions on BBC today, what you proposed is within the sort of think he was saying is OK
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Bookings for blood donations down and already booked donors are cancelling their appointments 
I can’t see how they can guarantee donors safety - the waiting rooms are usually rammed and they aren’t timely enough to let you arrive just in time. The actual donation should be fine as they have to be hygienic anyway and the chairs get wiped between donors, but the rest of the session…
Does anybody know if the 80% Government subsidy towards wages for staff that is being kept on applies to charities? I can’t seem to find anything on the Gov website.
I’m trying to find a way to keep paying our curator during the coming season when the Museum will clearly have to remain closed. We operate on a very tight budget and we could just about find the 20% but our cash reserves wouldn’t allow us to pay the full wage.
@Kevin may have some idea on this?