Pandemic panic

There is a very worrying post on another forum about someone's wife who is in her mid thirties, works in the health service, very fit and healthy but suffering really badly with the virus. I wish people would realise just how bad the virus can be even if you're not old or ill.

I agree craftyone & thank you for your earlier posts about ACE inhibitors which have been very helpful.

This is very sad, only 59 and from nailsea in north somerset

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/covid-19-coronavirus-death-named-3952674

what are we doing varian? Many of us are doing our best to isolate ourselves. It is down to each and everyone of us to help ourselves. Self-help

The Austrian government is limiting people’s movement nationwide.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Sunday that there should be only three reasons for people to leave home: essential work, essential purchases such as food, and helping other people.

People will be able to go out “only alone or with the people with whom [they] live in their apartment”.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-austria-update-symptoms-gatherings-ban-latest-a9402866.html

There have been 2 deaths from coronovirus in Austria. The UK which has a population about 7 or 8 times that of Austria, has had at least 35 deaths - and what are we doing?

Labaik - that's not what I read. Chiropodist was one of first cases in uk she was one of the skiing party and brought it back home. Went back to work day after flying back and had no symptoms. It was only when one of the ski party contacted her and husband to say three of party were cv positive that she got tested. By that time she had treated ? number of people. I only know of two who are both ok. Chiropodist didn't think she had it until test came back positive a week after returning.

Labaik
Don’t worry if your family think you’re always gloomy, because you can come on here for support and friendship. We may all have our differences of opinion on other subjects, and it is quite right that we do, it wouldn’t do for us all to be the same, but we can and will support each other during this, or any other crisis. We are a family, stretched across the UK and indeed the world, a family of Gransnetters.

From what I've read you are more contagious prior to showing symptoms. What I'm trying to point out is they don't know if they should send the children to school tomorrow etc. At the end of the day none of us actually know do we?

Labaik - I dont think just being in a meeting will spread virus unless they were coughing or sneezing on her. Three weeks ago our friend (73) sat with a person for an hour who was already cv positive although she didnt know it then. She is a chiropodist and did our friends feet. PHE were supposed to get in touch to advise but they didn't. Our friend with health issues has been fine as has her friend aged 80 who also had feet done. I think they need to show symptoms to spread virus.

We first heard about an outbreak in Wuhan and that they had sealed the area off. At that point they should have sealed China off altogether. Look what this has caused, a worldwide crisis.

I can remember reading something in December [although I think that referred to an outbreak of plague in China] and that set off a few alarm bells. However, a family member had booked a holiday to China and I stupidly didn't say anything because I didn't want to upset them, especially as I'm a known worrier and people get fed up of my gloom and doom approach to life.

And when did it really begin?

I am very angry really that China wasn't sealed off at the start when they realised there was a virus. No flights or travelling outside the country except goods. If the virus had been contained in China then it would not have spread throughout the world. And with their draconian measures they would have managed to get it under control. But as usual countries carried on with all the travelling and this is the result.

There will be ways round most things. I've just heard that my SIL, who works in London, has been at a meeting with someone who now has the virus. They have been given no guidelines as to what to do next but are currently self isolating themselves. So I'm glad that my partner and I have kept away from people for a while. I can only recommend people watching the BBC4 pandemic programme which is very interesting/informative. We all have to do as much as we can within reason, although I think all this should have been done weeks ago. And I'm angry that, had the virus not been covered up by the Chinese government, there would be a vaccine now. I was going to have a holiday with all of my family at Easter; first time we've all been together for many years, but we're probably going to tell the children to go without us. I was so looking forward to it.

You are welcome Maddy. I think we may all come up with some interesting ideas by the time this is finished. Do you think they could clear the streets for an hour each day so we could have a walk? Several metres apart of course (although they need to tell me in yards/feet )

GraceGran
Thank you for that advice. I will tell my mother about using separate rooms when her cleaner is there, and the disposable gloves, excellent idea, and we have some so I’ll give some to Mum.
I’m definitely going to physiotherapy tomorrow, at least it’s in a separate building from the main hospital building. Thank you again for good ideas re Mum.

Labaik you may well be able to do so, but others may find it difficult for reasons (and more) listed in my post above.

I agree with you Labaik but not only will it free up the ventilators for others some over 70s may still get it and it means there should be ventilators for them too.

Maddyone it hasn't happened yet so if your physiotherapist is still seeing appointments there is no reason why you should not go.

Your mother and her cleaner just need to stay apart while she is there. Perhaps your mother could stay in her bedroom and then move to the sitting room for that to be cleaned. The cleaner might also find disposable gloves acceptable. I am sure this will be brought in, if they decide to do it, with care and explanation.

If I'm told to self isolate for 4 months I shall. No questions asked. If by doing so it helps the situation then 4 months of isolation is a small price to pay [imo] given that it will free up hospitals, ventilators etc for younger, at risk people.

Absolutely Callistemon, my mother has a cleaner and medical appointments, I have to go to the hospital tomorrow for my first physiotherapy appointment, following hand surgery nearly eight weeks ago. I can’t miss it as my hand is so stiff and painful with no grip whatsoever and no strength whatsoever. I need to get it moving and build up grip and strength.

GracesGran is right, it has been mooted by government that over 70s should self isolate for up to four months, and that an announcement is expected over the next days/weeks. I’m not over 70 yet, but my 92 year old mother certainly is, and will need shopping taking to her in her sheltered apartment. My daughter who is a GP is extremely worried about us, we are 66 and 67 and both on high blood pressure tablets. More worryingly I have asthma. I’ve become more worried about this since my daughter is so very worried about us.

Social distancing would not work - yes, I can see how it would work for fit and healthy over 70s provided they:

do not work
are not the mainstay of the charity sector
do not care for grandchildren so that parents can work possibly in vital services
do not have family members living with them who are not in that age group
Do not have routine medical appointments

For those requiring help at home, carers would still need to go in on a daily basis

I also watched Andrew Marr this morning. He interviewed the South Korean foreign minister and the Italian ambassador, both of whom were most articulate, knowledgeable and impressive, then Matt Hancock who seemed incapable of answering a straightforward question. He was embarrassingly awful and didn't seem to have a clue.

I thought AM let him off very lightly. Why did he not even ask him how we can know what is going on in the UK if we're not even able to get tested?

This seems to be an informative site

I was watching Matt Hancock on BBC this morning. He was carefully non committal about over 70s staying in for months.

They keep repeating it on the news programmes and it doesn't sound exactly non-committal to me Jane10. It makes sense too as the death rate for children and young people is about 0.2% rising to 1.3% at 50 to 59, 3.6% at 60 to 69, 8% at 70 to 79 and 14.8% at 80+.

If this does have to be for such a long time I expect it will be managed quite carefully.