Coronavirus

I just fired off emails to ask my MP how prepared the NHS is in terms of: mobile response units, additional mechanical ventilators, and plans for field hospitals in public spaces and buildings.

I am also thinking that nonessential services medical personnel could be recalled.

While I await his reply - does anyone here have any info on this?

I understand that experts have questioned stats that have been published by China, so it's as well to keep an open mind

I think that’s an interesting fact aswell Yesbutnobut, I wonder why females do better than males. Not sure it’d work in my case mind you, my husband has a constitution of iron, never gets ill, but me! If there’s a bug around it seeks me out I’m sure. Nonetheless women generally doing better than men is very interesting, I’d love to know why.

I think there is evidence that females do mount a better response to viral infection than males. Several scientific papers suggest this.

Yesbutnobut,
Thank you for that link, it’s very interesting. Obviously the chances of actually dying for an infected person is really very low, but greater for older people. Obviously many on Gransnet will be in more than one category, age, other conditions etc and that must make those people more vulnerable, as Suzie says.
It’s worrying that the number of cases has increased rapidly in Italy, and it’s worrying that we just don’t know so much about this disease.

Yes that’s what I though Yeah which is very concerning for many older people. The only caveat made in your link re sex was that men in China smoke much more than women hence the advice here to stop smoking if you’re in an at risk group.

I couldn’t say suzie without more information but a logical guess would be that a male, 70+, with heart problem would be at significant risk.

Daisymae these are simple statistics garnered from the source of the outbreak, so unless the Chinese are lying or manipulating the figures, you don’t need ‘faith’ just regard them as mathematical facts.

I think the Italy outbreak is concerning because they haven't discovered any link to an infected country yet and it is apparently very infectious because it spreads rapidly and medical staff also succumb.

There are so many unknowns really, whether the virus will mutate, how long the incubation period is and whether people may carry it without symptoms at all.

On the positive side the fatality rate seems quite low considering the number of infected people.

I find it remarkable that the UK has had only 13 confirmed cases - eight of whom are now fully recovered.

That's if you place any faith in these stastics. Obviously if a person is in multiple categories then the chances will increase. Self isolation would probably be the best option, should there be an outbreak.

Yehbbut I looked at your link - I understand the % risk is higher for males, higher as you get older and higher for various pre existing conditions. I wonder what happens when you are in all three higher risk groups - what is the % risk?

mortality rates age and sex

4 people from the ship have tested positive in the UK. 50000 people in lockdown in Italy. The WHO says that the world is at tipping point. I doubt it can be contained now, especially as it looks as if incubation is a good bit longer than 2 weeks.

Agence France-Presse has conducted interviews with some of the crew members of the Diamond Princess, who were not subject to the same quarantine restrictions on the ship.

They (the crew) were preparing food and delivering meals to cabins, leading some critics to charge they were inadvertently spreading the virus throughout the ship, which has seen more than 600 cases of the potentially deadly COVID-19 disease.

Report in today’s Guardian from crew. I’ll see if I can find it and add link.

The passengers were/ are being isolated in their cabins but from what I’ve read the crew are are still moving throughout the ship.

As Sparklefizz posted it depends what type of AC on the ship as to whether air circulating. It is clearly spreading somehow because the infection rate rising daily. I feel so sorry for them, waiting around like sitting ducks to catch it.

Of course these viruses can be spread via air conditioning. Also through contact with infected surfaces. How is their food being delivered?

The Abels posted a video from the ship, 4 hrs ago they seem to think they are going to a hostel for a few days then hospital in Japan. They are pretty sure they have the virus, having spoken to a second doctor.

But hopefully it is a miscommunication, for their sakes because he is struggling with stress.

This update about the virus and the couple on the cruise ship is from the BBC. It seems there is confusion now whether they have the virus or not. There may have been a communication error.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51541352

In separate but connected news, the economic impact of the virus is now being seen, as reported by Apple and Jaguar.

For people interested, this gives a useful summary.

www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIstu_s5fd5wIVxbTtCh3z3gPpEAAYASAAEgKj9PD_BwE

If I remember correctly, The Telegraph had a full page advert of advice some time ago. There is no shortage of advice on the internet including this from the NHS:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

suziewoozie Glad you brought back the subject of those poor British travellers stuck on the Diamond Princess and the general indifference surrounding them.

My thread on this subject a few days back got very few comments and one was that it is better if they stay where they are!

wildswan16 Thank you for sharing that video. What a lovely caring guy he is.

Some of you may be interested to see this video about another aspect of what is happening in Wuhan. It also illustrates the emptiness of what are usually very busy streets.

www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/feb/14/catman-of-wuhan-the-man-rescuing-pets-abandoned-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-video?fbclid=IwAR3roXmHcAnbcJgQiOHOIQC-2fpShobXIifwSwxBXRcr_dHdo7-tj2ioAUw

I don't know how Princess Cruises can say "there is no current evidence ..... etc" above, when people who are individually quarantined are succumbing in numbers daily.