We have a way to go to match Belgium on deaths per million, but it's hardly a competition and in the end, excess death comparisons will be the most accurate measure.Originally Posted by Mike T
Have you considered that perhaps there was bugger all could be done to stop the spread once we had cleared Xmas?
Once the virus gets in to a population, it travels fast ( I expect many have had it)
Had China been locked down from RoW pre Xmas, then maybe we wouldn't have had it. Other than that, I think there was little could be done.
If you look at the places most hit, they are intrinsically linked by International Travel routes and the virus looks like it could well have travelled East to West through intercontinental airport hubs with Frankfurt being perhaps the only one to escape - I'll come to that.
But from China, we ended up in Italy (Milan) and then quickly out to Madrid, Heathrow, Schipol, Parid CdG and eventually JFK.
Northern Italy is home to several international trade fairs in Jan/Feb each year. Riva Schuh in January, MICAM in February are 2 that I have been involved with many times.
Wuhan is a significant centre for footwear, clothing and fashion production and development in China, as is Guangzhou where there are now stories that the virus originated from.
The spread fits the highest density pattern of travel for attendees at the fashion trade fairs I was involved with as people fly in to Italy from all over the world, then disperse, often spending time in Northern Italy post fair as it still has a large fashion component development industry and interesting shops to follow trends.
These fashion industry buyers/developers check the market, usually by a flying trip around Europe over the course of 4-5 days post Riva.
London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid are key stop offs. Another fit.
Germany isn't. Unfortunately the Germans are not seen as fashion leaders.
There are many factors no doubt in the way this virus has spread, but I'm convinced the international travel linked to the fashion industry has played a part.
Half a dozen carriers could have arrived in Riva during January and after 4 days of trade fairs and evening socials, 100s could have left, circulating around Northern Italy, around the fashion hubs of Europe and the Intercontinental airport hubs.
Other similar fairs through Jan/Feb may just have amplified the effect.
When you see the differing approaches to lockdown, with Italy/France/Spain having the most draconian, us somewhere in the middle and Sweden quite light touch, there really seems very little difference in outcome.
