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Coronavirus

Pandemic panic

(509 Posts)
vampirequeen Mon 02-Mar-20 13:18:37

Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've heard the corona virus isn't a very pleasant illness but then it's not the worst illness either. Seems to be a fever, aching and a cough. Most people who get it will recover but like all illnesses a few won't.

So why the panic? I vaguely remember the Hong Kong flu....mainly because my mam got it and my Grandma came to look after her and us. Mam must have been really ill to ask my Grandma for help. I remember she was in bed for what felt like ages but was probably only a few days. I don't remember mass panic, schools closing etc. I wasn't very old at the time and my memory isn't as good as others. Was there a panic? Did the nation go into shutdown?

GrannyLaine Mon 16-Mar-20 16:08:48

Thank you Greeneyedgirl
We're living through strange times aren't we?

craftyone Mon 16-Mar-20 16:12:31

POGS, my husband had copd, I understand how difficult it is for you and you are being very wise re isolation

I will not explain my many qualifications to anyone here. Take it or leave it gracegran, follow your own path and good luck with that. Some of us are altruistic and like to help, using the knowledge that we have

GracesGranMK3 Mon 16-Mar-20 16:34:42

So now I don't believe you have any qualifications or surely you would back what you are telling people to do.

I was always going to stick with what my doctor and consultant advise but was worried about people swallowing your advice with no knowledge of where you are getting it from. I'm afraid I don't see that type of posting as altruistic. It could, indeed, be dangerous.

Daisymae Mon 16-Mar-20 16:38:18

craftyone - thanks for the informative posts.
I have just read that the government have put a shout out for companies who might be able to make ventilators. I find that incredible, surely this has been on the cards for months now? "If you produce ventilators please call the BEIS Business Support helpline on 0300 456 3565. A specific team receiving these calls will start at 10am tomorrow." Has this really just occurred to someone? This really worries me.

Labaik Mon 16-Mar-20 17:42:40

I've found craftyones posts very informative and reassuring right from the start and I'm very grateful to her....

janeainsworth Mon 16-Mar-20 17:44:51

gracesgran it’s up to individual posters to check any advice posted on an open forum with reputable sources and make up their own minds. Things should never just be taken at face value.

I provided links to two letters, one published in the Lancet and one in the BMJ. Medical journals don’t come much more reputable than that.
Both letters made the suggestion that ACE inhibitors could exacerbate the effects on the lungs of Covid19. They didn’t state it as fact.Just because there isn’t evidence for something doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

Of course official guidelines have to be cautious and based on knowledge & not speculation.

But advances in medicine and science would never be made if hypotheses weren’t tested and theories never discussed.

I think you’re being rather unfair, and a bit unkind, to Craftyone.

varian Mon 16-Mar-20 17:49:29

Evryone should avoid non essential travel - but some folk just don't get it/.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51917562

craftyone Mon 16-Mar-20 17:56:50

The news conference just now has been very interesting indeed. It was live on sky news channel 233, it is the first days of daily updates. Very measured and calm and a big change in gear.

Re ventilators, manufacturing is responding. Rolls royce for example. Try to sit tight and be calm and very careful to socially distance

Nandalot Mon 16-Mar-20 18:38:31

Our local paper has reported on two cases of people reporting to one of the Coronavirus pods. No soap no sanitisers, various medics popping in but nothing much happening, No test administered. Very disturbing.

dragonfly46 Mon 16-Mar-20 19:14:08

Thank you GrannyLaine I feel there is a lot of misinformation on here.

GrannyLaine Mon 16-Mar-20 19:29:11

dragonfly46 I'm very impressed at such a quick response from my GP. The articles in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet were confusing: they raised a plausible question but nothing in evidence. And in these strange times, evidence matters. I'm also inclined to agree with the previous poster: we should be cautious of vitamin and mineral supplements unless deficiency has been proven. Some can interfere with the action of prescription drugs.

Labaik Mon 16-Mar-20 19:30:30

But even if they get more ventilators they don't have the staff to work them. And they will, quite soon, close schools. Why can't they be honest about it to give people time to make arrangements [ok; I know it's to stop people panicking, but....]

GrannyLaine Mon 16-Mar-20 19:30:40

I think if I needed ventilator support, I'd feel very reassured if it was made by Rolls Royce..... grin

GrannyLaine Mon 16-Mar-20 19:36:08

But Labaik, they have been perfectly honest about it. Its nothing to do with panic, it's about appropriate timing. This thing is going to last a long time. When schools close, there is an immediate problem with vast numbers of medical and emergency workers needing childcare support. Its a massive balancing act.

GrnTheftAuto Mon 16-Mar-20 20:12:53

I know this is a long shot but does anyone know if maintaining a high blood alcohol content would be of any help? wink

Labaik Mon 16-Mar-20 20:20:26

I once read that cherry brandy is very good for chesty coughs....

M0nica Mon 16-Mar-20 20:26:14

More ventilators is more complicated than it seems. One of the major medical ventilator manufacturers says, that modern medical ventilators are complex and plans to produce lots more in a hurry is not realistic. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51914490

Grandmaclampet Mon 16-Mar-20 20:27:07

Dr John Campbell on You tube is amazing. He has been keeping the public informed about coronavirus,what to do, what not to do, facts figures and common sense. He is well worth watching for lots of answers and adds more everyday. Unbiased genuine caring man.

GracesGranMK3 Mon 16-Mar-20 20:28:28

I don't think I was being unfair janeainsworth. Craftyone could have explained where her knowledge comes from but it wasn't that she couldn't, she said she wouldn't. It would have been perfectly easy for her to say "this is where I read it", or "these are the sources of research". She did not have to come back at me like that - it was a reasonable question and one, surely, we would all ask. There seemed to be some expectation of praise but I truly don't understand why that would be.

Greeneyedgirl Mon 16-Mar-20 20:29:32

I'm giving it a go GrnTheftAuto I will report back grin

GracesGranMK3 Mon 16-Mar-20 20:31:43

But even if they get more ventilators they don't have the staff to work them. And they will, quite soon, close schools. Why can't they be honest about it to give people time to make arrangements [ok; I know it's to stop people panicking, but....]

I think they are being honest. As far as they have it they are giving us the information.

gillybob Mon 16-Mar-20 20:44:03

I agree that even if they had more ventilators they will not have enough staff trained to use them. Our local hospital has 30 staff fully trained. (Information correct mid December 2019) bearing in mind someone on a ventilator almost always needs to be put into an induced coma and needs 24 hour one to one care, simply building more machines (assuming that were even possible in the short term) will not be enough.

Labaik Mon 16-Mar-20 22:02:23

Thanks for reminding me about Dr John Campbell; I'll utube him.

craftyone Tue 17-Mar-20 18:09:28

Have you seen the information released today about using paracetamol and not ibrufen? I am hoping that the ones who read a very early post of mine have been able to get enough over time, to see them through. The cheap paracetamol is made in india and they are keeping it for their own people. It is difficult to find any right now. Ebay did have some about 2 weeks ago at about £1, there is some still available at £3.69 but most is now at spiv profiteering prices

Labaik Tue 17-Mar-20 20:01:35

The only exercise I'm getting at the moment is walking the dog. But it concerned me today when walking down a nearby lane, to see a cyclist spit onto the pavement just after he rode past. I hadn't thought to wash my dogs paws after walks and don't quite know what would be effective but harmless to the dog if I did.