Main Coronavirus / Covid-19 Discussion Thread

[patchamalbion]

I’ve been in SE Asia for nearly 3 weeks now and it’s gone from slightly worried to complete normality. That’s from a selfish pov though - I do worry that if it becomes worse in the UK family/friends of family could suffer due to asthma/respiratory conditions.

 

[Petunia]

Came thru HK 2 weeks ago, almost empty, hard to get within 2m of anybody and everyone had a mask (accepting they are of limited use). Probaby the safest place in Asia. Going back end March, I'm more likely to catch it in UK than HK airport.

Good point. I always use Emirates but I might have a change this year

 

[Algernon]

Not worried about catching it but won't go out of my way to put myself at risk.
I'm 54, have always been healthy but recently had a solid three hours of heavy heart palpitations (there's nothing quite like feeling your own heart flopping around in your chest like a dying fish) which necessitated me being ambulanced to hospital for a two day stay. Turns out I've afib and have been put on blood thinners and beta blockers. I'm back on Saturday for an echocardiogram.
One of my Daughters is going to be having her first child in June and I want to be around to see them. I'm not worried about the afib doing me in but that and any virus combined doesn't appeal to me.

Before Xmas I had a spell of feeling really ill (probs normal flu) where my temp was normal but I was sweating lots. My liver function count went from 4 on admission to hospital to 87 within a day, and I felt so rough I couldn't even manage to turn to my side in bed and turn off the bedside lamp. After about a week I started recovering thankfully. I did wonder whether I might've had this virus back then but I think I would've been ahead of the outbreak.

I was made redundant on the last day of December last year and had planned to take a couple of months off from work chilling, with a warming week in Dubai sometime around now but really don't fancy sitting in other people's virus for 7 hours then bumping into those unfortunate Middle Easterners from Countries unable to "cope" with Coronavirus.

Am I worried? No.
Am I stupid enough to put myself possibly in harm's way? No flights for me for a while.
I always keep some Tesco's alcohol gel hand cleaner in my car so I can clean my hands after pushing a supermarket trolley around, purely because I hate the inconvenience of having a cold. I'll do what I can to avoid this latest virus ta.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Not particularly worried about the virus, more worried about being quarantined for weeks on end. Lost wages/holiday ec etc.

Over here now the government suggested that people think about stocking up on essentials. I saw one woman leave the supermarket with 7 bulk packs of toilet rolls, that is 252 rolls! Supermarkets are now limiting the volume of purchases on some items.

 

[oldboyroy]

Would not be surprised if thousands have already had it not knowing, perhaps just a normal flu like virus and had got over it with the normal over counter medication

 

[Blue3]

No not worried for myself but concerned for others as such and I am sure I am not alone have contacted my previous NHS employer putting my name forward to volunteer if the need arises

 

[Thunder Bolt]

From whom?

The organisers themselves have said no such thing. Today have reiterated current UK government advice "The Government’s current advice is that all mass events should still go ahead", and said they will continue to monitor things.

(I personally doubt it will go ahead, but that's not what is being said today)

The London Marathon Facebook group.

 

[Bozza]

The London Marathon Facebook group.
View attachment 120685

That’s the same statement put out on all channels yesterday.

It makes no mention of possibly cancelling the event, does it?

 

[BBassic]

I'm not massively worried but I do have a minor (asymptomatic, thankfully) heart condition so that is slightly concerning.

I feel like the information coming out isn't that helpful. We hear about X new cases in Italy or England or wherever and the immediate assumption is that each of those new cases are the most severe form of it you can get when, from what I've read, it ranges from a mild cold to a normal flu type thing to needing hospitilisation and all the degrees in between. My brain is going "Chances are you won't get it. And if you do it probably won't be that bad".

Appreciate that various agencies, governments and media outlets are doing what they can with the information they have though. It must be difficult toeing that line between disseminating information and fuelling panic.

 

[heathgate]

.......I would say it will probably spread quicker here than China, once it gets a grip.

How ill-informed, hygiene in China is bloody non existent.... I have been there, among a lot of bad practices, spitting in public spaces is endemic.... even in places like shopping areas and airports..... even in westernized Hong Kong.

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[heathgate]

More worried if travel restrictions start kicking in........

I am off to Tuscany in the middle of April, I suspect it to be a bit locked down, plus the risk of quarantine whilst there or once back here.... nightmare.

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[Iggle Piggle]

You can tell reading threads like this who the bell cheeses are who go into the office coughing and spluttering because its 'Just a Cold' and they are 'Getting on with it' and 'Don't know what the fuss is all about' before transferring whatever they've got to everyone else and their families.

As for some of the statistical takes. I'd love to be your bookies.

 

[John Byrnes Mullet]

No.....I am so fed up with media blowing this all out of all proportion. I wish Brexit would come back. I have stopped listening to local radio because every 10th word is corona or virus.
Unless you are elderly there is no threat to your life.

 

[Justice]

I didn’t survive the 90’s rave scene to be taken out by a disease named after a light beer.

 

[Lower West Stander]

If painting the worst picture is the way to get people to actually change their habits to prevent it happening then that’s fine with me.

Those burying their heads in the sand and pretending everything is fine will be the ones that make the situation worse.

No.

Blind misinformed panic will make the situation worse.......


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[Lower West Stander]

Likewise my 87 year old mum.

And my 84 year old mum


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[Lower West Stander]

How many nurses/Drs have ever had to consider coming out of retirement due to a car crash?

And therein lies the absolute crux of the problem.

My partner is an overworked NHS ward sister. Her ward is full 24/7 365 days a year. There is a winter escalation ward currently open for elderly admissions. Staff are on their knees

The NHS is chronically understaffed with doctors and nurses unable to cope. They are desperate for more staff.

Yet it is only when we get a panic like this that we hear about bringing in retired medical professionals. It absolutely epitomises the ludicrous panic we are seeing.

Absolutely pathetic and makes me really angry......


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[Nobby]

Anecdotally (a friend of a friend knows the “super spreader” from Hove) the disease can be mild to unnoticeable. Statistically the death rate (including margin of error) is between 0.5% and 4%. The lower range is no worse than flu. The higher range is more worrying.

There are currently mumps outbreaks in the country which can seriously damage young kids, made worse because of the thick bellend anti vaxxers, and several strains of flu (my daughter got one in October). No one seems to be advocating forced vaccination for MMR and flu, yet here we are with people on these threads wanting borders closed and gatherings banned when there are still fewer than 100 cases in the UK. It’s mental.


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The death rate for some who post on here is very high
At 3.4% official rate and then a combined 1 in 5 for those with health issues

So I just wish you would cut out the glib “I couldn’t give a toss because it won’t affect me apart from some investments” attitude

Totally accept that panic buying is crass stupidity, but the risks are there for some on this board

 

[Thunder Bolt]

My son has a place in the London Marathon this year, but has received notice that it may be cancelled.

That’s the same statement put out on all channels yesterday.

It makes no mention of possibly cancelling the event, does it?

My wording was ‘may’ be cancelled. The statement issued does have an inference that monitoring the situation may result in cancellation, otherwise why issue the statement?

My son is concerned as he has waited to take part for quite a while.
Personally, I don’t think it will be, as other sporting events such as football involves far closer contact by people.

 

[Bozza]

My wording was ‘may’ be cancelled. The statement issued does have an inference that monitoring the situation may result in cancellation, otherwise why issue the statement?

Why issue the statement? The organisers will be receiving a large volume of questions from those involved in the event, asking what is going on. They've issued a statement to try and stem those, in the hope that people see their statement and don't email, phone, twitter message etc.

Their statement states that they are monitoring things. This is the same as numerous responsible organisations are doing right now - I received one yesterday from the Albion, for example, sent to all press/media contacts.

You said your son "has received notice that it may be cancelled" - he really hasn't though, has he?

Firstly he hasn't received any notice at all - he's seen a publicly broadcast message.
Secondly, that message makes no mention that the event may be cancelled.

I'm following this loosely because I know a few people who also hoping to run, which is how I knew no "it may be cancelled" notice had been issued as you claimed. As well as the notice you shared, which I'd already seen, the organisers issued a follow-up on some channels yesterday which reinforced the current directive that mass events should go ahead.

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