Coronavirus

I really don’t want shouting at for sounding critical of the Government but if the situation here worsens and we have to rely on people self isolating or being honest about contacts or symptoms, then we ( ie the country through the Government) has to be able to reassure people that they will have some sort of income. This could happen quickly —look at Italy. Is it unreasonable to expect some sort of statement from the Government that they are contingency planning? If schools / nurseries have to close, there would be child care issues etc etc.

Alexa I really don’t think Coronavirus is a variety of flu is it? Aren’t they two different viruses?

I think the vaccine in development is ready to be tested on humans- The first phase of human testing- There will need to be more and is expected to take a year or more before production-

That's fast work, all things considered - From its discovery to this is quick, thanks to global communities working together-

The consensus in the US is: you'll likely get sick- And that's out of the mouths of experts- Many won't even get symptoms- Another reason for the rush on a vaccine-

I just went to the store to purchase face masks, the blue type like those used in hospitals - The manager said they've been out for weeks and are waiting on more to arrive-

They had other types, but those were out of stock too-

Labaik, it is a variety of flu (influenza) which is an acute infectious fever. It's a new variety of flu which is why it is so infective, as people have no specific immunity to it.

How do people know they have coronavirus and not the flu [I assume people are still getting the flu this winter or has flu season passed?].

Just returned to this thread. Suzie, no I don’t listen to LBC. But I’ve been wondering for some time how people will manage if they are told to quarantine themselves at home. They won’t be paid properly, so how will they pay the mortgage or rent? How will they get food? How will they pay for food? Some difficult times are ahead if we have mass home quarantine. Difficult in a number of ways.

Let's hope it won't come to that. Mind you, hasn't Trump stated today that a vaccine will soon be ready ?

Labiak, they've indicated to prepare for closures of work and school- If workplaces shut down, employees won't have a choice- Time off will be mandatory-

As far as uninsured persons are concerned, Emergency care facilities can't turn anyone away- That's the law- However, hospitals can run out of room-

If we get hit hard and fast, that's what will happen to hospitals- If more slowly, they might manage the flow-

That's true. Good old zero hours contracts. Also it seems America has shut down a department that specialised in pandemics So, good old cost cutting exercises too .

Not getting paid would be an issue here as well for many. Still I expect the Government has it all in hand.

What will happen to Americans who don't have health insurance and can't afford to not work as they won't get sick pay. Surely they'll not seek medical help and will continue going to work even if they show early coronavirus symptoms?

What is happening with the communities that have been quarantined? How are they being supplied with food and other essentials?

My niece who lives in Northern Italy emailed me today to say all the schools, churches and public places are closed for at least a week. She has a week off from teaching English, so is going to relax at home.

From The New York Times:

Americans should brace for the likelihood that the coronavirus will spread to communities in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday.

“It’s not so much of a question of if this will happen in this country anymore but a question of when this will happen,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

She said that public health officials have no idea whether the spread of the disease to the United States would be mild or severe, but that Americans should be ready for a significant disruption to their daily lives.

“We are asking the American public to prepare for the expectation that this might be bad,” Dr. Messonnier said.

There are 4 people including the Abels in a Japanese hospital. The Abels as well as the virus have pneumonia last news I read

marionk some schools have now been closed but not before teachers and pupils had returned from Italy.

Now they have to deep clean the schools.

By the way, what happened to the Brits on the Diamond Princess? Did the Abel couple get off? I no longer hear news of them.

Make your owned disinfectant hand rub (as recommended by th W.H.O.).

Here in afflicted Italy commercial disinfectants for house and hands have either rocketed in price or disappeared from the shops.

The W.H.O. are advising us to make our own. Here it is:
To one litre of common surgical spirit add 3 tbsps hydrogen peroxide (3%), 1 tbsp glycerine and half glass water (distilled or boiled). Mix well.

To disinfect hands, previously washed, rub in a little all over both hands back and front, especially finger tips.

Well merlotgran theres a difference as far as I'm concerned between stocking up a bit...and stockpiling...maybe the people who 'stockpile ' might help their less well off neighbours out though! ..low income families, small children, old or infirm people....should there be a need

marionk I am shocked at your post, how totally irresponsible.

Teacher in our local senior school has just been sent home I’ll with suspected Coronavirus, they knew they had been in contact with possible carriers so WHY did they feel it was ok to take the risk into a large school??

With the World Health Organisation now informing all that they should be prepared for the Coronavirus outbreak to become a pandemic, Many companies including our own are now having to organize for that circumstance. In that, it may well fall to the administration staff to keep any organisation, large or small, at least semi-operational should a worst-case scenario come about.

Should all production, output, transport or other operations (dependent on business) have to cease then as long as accounts and supplier/customer contact can be maintained then a full restart will be much easier and quicker when the time comes. The foregoing may well involve office administration staff having to work from home and how that would be carried out needs considerable planning by both employees and employer well in advance of such an occurrence being required.

The above could bring great stress on the employees if anyone visualizes that child care centres and schools could be closed should the outbreak become widespread. Many employers who are now wisely thinking along such lines are also having consider their duty of care towards those attempting to work in such an home environment. However, as long as the above essential company services are maintained then the supplier and customer base can be maintained by sustaining contact with those organisations and their personnel.

For those that have no alternative but to physically attend their places of work, there may be little alternative but to take unplanned holidays during the outbreak or be laid off for an unquantifiable time. However, again as long as the above essential company administration operations can be continued, the end of month salary payroll procedure should be able to be carried out.

Of course, we all hope and pray that the need for the above readiness does not see those plans having to be brought into action, but preplanning by business is a must in the situation the nation may well be facing. My company have been making such plans with our administration staff since mid-morning yesterday and I feel that anyone who is employed or have family that are in employment should be asking questions of their employers if those organisations have not approached them or have not given any information on the above.

So, farview do you not think it's a good idea for people to stock up so that if Coronavirus arrives in their area they can stay away from shops and lessen the risk of either contracting it and/or passing it on to others?

panicker not panicked!!

My d.i.l is a nurse and their health centre was on lockdown today for a few hours because of suspected cases.. I worry about my son in Australia and daughter in UAE...my children here also and all our little ones...not a panicked..just that this does seem to be spreading globally at some speed...cant be doing with people stockpiling food though..that does promote panic..and people on low incomes live week to week so have no chance of stockpiling...