Pandemic panic

You are right craftyone, flu it aint! Knowledge is power as far as I'm concerned and I prefer to get my info from informative science sites, not the media.
The WHO site states that whilst the effects may be mild for many who catch Covid-19, 1 in 5 will need hospitalisation.
Hygiene practice is crucial, especially for the vulnerable.

It’s hard to know sometimes where we catch some bugs even the common cold but three years ago I caught whooping cough from my daughter. I honestly thought I would die the fits were so bad at night. Luckily I just said to a gp could it be that because of the stridor noise at night and the result came back positive. I self isolated so no one caught at the care home. Don’t know how serious that can be for some though.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/yes-worse-than-flu-busting-coronavirus-myths-covid-19#img-1

i am not scientific, but i can read, and indeed listen to scientists mostly on the radio, where perhaps there is time for more in depth analysis and explanation.
i have had my growing concerns confirmed each day by official announcements.
to say that some, even most people, may experience a case of CV as similar to flu, i am not disputing.
but that is not the same as stating that it is much the same sort of disease, same risks, severity, impact on society etc.
and to think that those hospitals hurriedly erected in china and sports halls converted were to treat patients with flu is baffling. during a coronavirus outbreak.
officials say up to 20% of uk workforce may get infected, most of them mild enough to be at home.
now of those infected the WHO says about 15% will be severe, requiring hospital treatment with oxygen etc.
supposing it is only 10%; how many do you think that is.
can you see the problem.
it is not available. not beds. not staff. not equipment.
quart into pint pot wont go.
and i am only referring to severe cases, of those some will be critical, requiring ICU, and there will be some deaths.
it is an unpleasant scenario, but i have not invented it.
where ignorance is bliss tis folly to be wise.
thank you to those who are educated in science, unlike me, and can see what the issues are.

I saw a firm on TV this evening who make disposable isolation units and are working flat out at the moment.

our parents and grandparents lived through two world wars
But many did not, my FIL did not survive.

The medical implications are important, and as elderlies we are probably most at risk.
But the social implications are also important.
Our eldest and his wife work in Thailand. Their teenage children, 18 and 16, are at boarding school here in the UK. So they can't go to see their parents for the holidays.
As a result eldest daughter in SE England has the family duty to accept them for the Easter holidays. Including meeting them off the school bus at Heathrow etc,
Her partner isn't happy about it, in a small 2 bed house. I don't blame him.
We've offered similar - they'll have to put up a tent in the back garden, but we would feed them!

Fennel you wouldn't really put your GC in a tent in the garden would you?

We've done it before - they know about it
But they're older now, and will expect more.

"Fennel you wouldn't really put your GC in a tent in the garden would you? "
ps Why on earth not?
I despair of this generation.
Glad I'll be going soon. To a tent in the back garden if God is kind enough.

It makes sense to take precautions but not scare yourself too much.
Before Christmas my DH was seriously ill in ICU for five days, viral pneumonia which morphed into bacterial pneumonia, we thought the worst for a while as the situation was so bad. He had the pneumonia jab two years ago btw!
This sort of thing can hit at any time, corona virus or not, hospitals are full of people in similar situations.
It does make sense, if the numbers get high in the UK to stay away from large gatherings, whilst still getting on with life.

I read today that the government is no longer going to give the locations of the latest positive testings. That seems unfair because those of us who are living in areas that are, as yet, unaffected, need to know when it reaches us so we can check things like GP surgeries, hospital outpatients and any other possible closures.

Maybe it will be unnecessary if and when every county is affected but until then I want to know what's happening.

2 of the people diagnosed today are hospital in patients in Kings, London. It's out now but why on earth would they be trying to keep the lid on that info? Apparently they have been in for week and not showing symptoms. Visitors and other patients have a right to know. This is being badly managed.

DD2 is a med student at Kings. You can't help worrying about them.

Here in the NE an office complex has been closed down and everyone sent home, deep cleaning company vans were only vehicles in the car park. This office is on a business park just down the road from me.
This evening isolation pods have been installed in the hospital grounds.

I really do think they should be letting us know where these cases are. Obviously Harrigan you know now - keep safe.

According to the most recent release (US) that just aired moments ago, recent data has reinforced that the majority to succumb are seniors, in rare cases younger-

They stressed that hand sanitizer isn't necessary, soap and water is fine-

Testing will not be free, but cost can be reimbursed if you carry health insurance- And that alone will keep many from being tested ..

We went shopping this morning and we used an antiseptic wipe to clean the trolley handle because we both have compromised immune systems. It was a cold day so I wore my gloves until I needed to pay at the check out.

rosecarmel They stressed that hand sanitizer isn't necessary, soap and water is fine-
It has been proven that soap and water works much better than hand sanitisers and should always be the first choice. But I think they are for when you're out and about and have no access to soap and water. However, using gloves in public places would be my choice when out and about.

i heard that using contactless to pay is preferable because it reduces, well, contact.
and that we all need to remember to wipe clean our phones.
good night. and good luck. keep posting.

I hear that Torbay has several more cases and 2 doctors surgeries are closed, this was on local news and I think it started at a school The government should allow a detailed map, it will allow people to choose what to do, either quietly stay home or go out.

Tht is what preps are for, to allow people to stay home and by preps I do mean hobbies and things to do as well as food and essentials

our parents and grandparents lived through two world wars

My grandfather was on his way home from WW1 on a troop shop going from Salonika to Marseilles. Spanish flu ran round these troopships like wildfire. He was taken off the ship at Marseilles, directly to hospital, where he died a few days later and is buried in a War Cemetery there.

Just heard that isolation pods are being erected at my local hospital which is in Lancashire - maybe all hospitals have been instructed to do so.

There was a simple statistic on Today this morning. It is likely that the number of deaths will double this year because of the virus. I for one would expect the government to do all they can to reduce that number.

Recent posters have given sources for news and information they have passed on.

When there is so much alarmist fake news about, would it be a good idea if all posters gave a source every time they shared information that they got from outside their immediate knowledge.

Good idea M0nica