[Smithy]

The government does not have the ability to send advice on coronavirus directly to Britons’ mobile phones, after repeatedly ignoring its own findings that an emergency messaging system could help the country in times of crisis.
South Korea’s aggressive use of emergency alerts has been credited by some for helping to keep the country’s infection rate relatively low, while many other European countries have built systems allowing governments to issue warnings about threats to life.

When politicians in the Netherlands became concerned on Sunday that too many people were flouting physical distancing rules and congregating in parks, they used their emergency messaging service NL-Alert to send a message urging the public to avoid congregating in open spaces and keep their distance.

But seven years after the UK Cabinet Office conducted successful trials of an emergency alert system and set out how the country could build a similar system, there is still no sign of it being developed. So when Britons began congregating in parks at the weekend, there was no way to issue a formal warning to the public in real time.

Instead the British state is reliant on traditional media outlets and social media sites to communicate indirectly about isolation measures, competing with disinformation on messaging services such as WhatsApp. This has resulted in suggestions that mixed messages from ministers and a lack of a major public information campaign are hindering efforts to highlight the severity of the pandemic, with the government yet to take up the offer of free advertising space on sites such as Facebook.

[user104658]

The mental health crisis that this pandemic is going to create is staggering. Utterly, utterly staggering. It's tempting right now to say "oh what does that matter when public health is at risk" but I believe over the next 5+ years we're going to start realising the true scope of the damage.

In short; NO, I don't think it's a good idea for the government to start forcing messages onto people's phones through the mobile network, essentially removing people's right and ability to take a break and build resilience.

Plus a lot of people - the most anxious people, who need the support of family and friends - would simply turn their phone off leaving them more isolated than ever.

[bots]

i agree on the mental health aspects .... words need a face behind them to provide the proper context, particularly on serious messages

Mental health is going to be a huge problem, the anxiety levels and stress are through the roof at the moment and that will have consequences.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

i agree on the mental health aspects .... words need a face behind them to provide the proper context, particularly on serious messages

Mental health is going to be a huge problem, the anxiety levels and stress are through the roof at the moment and that will have consequences.

I was on a group video conference with my entire company today (16 people) and its an absolute shambles already, only 4 of us seemed OK (one being the chief exec, thankfully) but it hard going . Even the ones who aren't suffering health anxiety wise are starting to really struggle with the isolation of working from home, or the stress of trying to juggle WFH with schools being off etc.

Then had a mini-conference with just the Scottish office. Only 5 of us... Two started fighting during the call, by the end of the call one person was in tears.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I was on a group video conference with my entire company today (16 people) and its an absolute shambles already, only 4 of us seemed OK (one being the chief exec, thankfully) but it hard going . Even the ones who aren't suffering health anxiety wise are starting to really struggle with the isolation of working from home, or the stress of trying to juggle WFH with schools being off etc.

Then had a mini-conference with just the Scottish office. Only 5 of us... Two started fighting during the call, by the end of the call one person was in tears.

Sounds like the first one was a TiBB SD thread. The second call was after everyone's been banned and 5 people set up a new thread after the first one is locked.

[The Slim Reaper]

...to ask why the first one was locked.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

...to ask why the first one was locked.

Josy is the one in tears by the end?

[arista]

[South Korea’s aggressive use of emergency alerts has been credited by some for helping to keep the country’s infection rate relatively low, ]

Still though 111
Dead from Covid 19

[user104658]

Literally got a UK gov message through this morning and it was as basic and void of information as possible . "STAY AT HOME! SAVE LIVES!"

That's definitely not going to spike anyone's anxiety.

[Oliver_W]

Eh, I don't think we need any tips in governance from South Korea! Even if it is to give faceless warnings from on high.

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Eh, I don't think we need any tips in governance from South Korea! Even if it is to give faceless warnings from on high.

Not you confusing the democratic South Korea with the other one

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

Not you confusing the democratic South Korea with the other one

oops

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Eh, I don't think we need any tips in governance from South Korea! Even if it is to give faceless warnings from on high.

North Korea is the one with famine and dictators.

South Korea is the one with... Umm... Starcraft, Overwatch and K-pop.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

South Korea is the one with [] Overwatch and K-pop.

... burn it.

[Cherie]

South Korea has it because of possible attacks from NK no?

anyway it looks like there is a get around, just tell the mobile users to issue the texts

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

South Korea has it because of possible attacks from NK no?



anyway it looks like there is a get around, just tell the mobile users to issue the texts

Yeah I think it was an established system in SK because of the risk of NK losing the plot completely and firing off a missile.

It seems they are going through individual operators here, but not all have done it? Me and my daughter got our wee texts this morning (Three) but my wife didn't get one (O2).

[Josy]

I received a text earlier

[Glenn.]

Got a text today