Coronavirus are you worried?

[CountryGirl1234]

So this virus has infected 600+ already and seems to be picking up pace. It’ll be in the UK any day, if it’s not already. AIBU to think this is going to have a big fallout and are you concerned?

amp.theguardian.com/science/live/2020/jan/23/coronavirus-china-virus-flu-scotland-testing-wuhan-live-news-updates

Doctors don't suit up if you go to your GPs with suspected influenza

They do tell you not to go to the doctor though. And in a flu outbreak my doctor disables the automatic log in screen to help prevent spread of the virus.

Some of this is grandstanding to make it look like they are doing more than they probably actually are!

If you are going to compare it with flu then might I suggest reading up on the 1918 flu? Flu can be incredibly serious and have global consequences.

Sources are what I have heard on radio/read in papers/on line. Though I do agree that even experts disagree on some points and not enough is known yet.
All I'm trying to point out is that ordinary, healthy, people should not be getting worked up/panicking or going mad preparing for some sort of disaster. There are lots of diseases we deal with effectively and not a lot to suggest this will be different.
Remember swine flu? People were just as anxious then and it fizzled out.
With regards to the flu epidemic, of course it can be disastrous but I'm talking about perception. People don't go around panicking about flu every winter in the same way as they are now.

A lot of people wear masks in HK in public places and I think all staff were wearing them at the airport when I was there yesterday.
Wearing a mask is now compulsory in some Chinese cities, including mine.

Forgive me for being naive but I thought flu also led to pneumonia and that is again what causes it high death rate.

My assumption is not that is worse/better than flu but that we have no natural immunity to it at all because it is new. Flu vaccines protect the vulnerable and people have natural immunity to it. Swine Flu was seen as a potential pandemic because it was seen to be a new strain but in the end it was very similiar to existing ones.

So the suits etc are to stop it spreading.

The scary thing is at the moment the number of new cases and deaths announced sticks to a pretty solid 3%. One assumes though that will be lower because the number of known cases is much higher. But if the infection rate is high say 75% even a low death rate of 0.5% is 225000 people which is massive and higher than the 10,000 a year max flu deaths.

@VanGoghsDog
Re grandstanding, I think it is important for govt to be seen to take action even if some measure will have little effect. It helps in the battle to prevent panic.
What else should China have done? They closed a city with 11 million residents. Would we have been able to do that in the Uk?
Action has been taken to extend the public holiday, extend the school holiday, close public places and make mask wearing compulsory. Basically we are all encouraged to stay at home and practise good hygiene. What else do you suggest the Chinese govt does?
Clearly, standards will need to be improved re wet markets and wild animals being sold and I am sure they will.

Noticed a few people on London transport wearing masks. I'm starting to worry now as I have a sore throat.

I think the chances I would contract it are low however I am on immune suppression medication and it would be very serious if I did.

I think it is important for govt to be seen to take action even if some measure will have little effect. It helps in the battle to prevent panic.

I think it promotes panic myself.

Of course they should prevent large public gatherings and limit travel, close workplaces and extend the holiday. That's not grandstanding, that's normal practice in outbreaks.

The grandstanding is the PM wearing a mask at a press conference and doctors in hazmat suits.

I gather it is considered common courtesy in some countries to wear a face mask if you have any sort of cold, it's not to prevent you getting something, it's to prevent you spreading something.
I've always seen people wearing them in London and I can't say I've noticed an increase in the last week or two.
I have bought some though, just in case!

@VanGoghsDog
I have lived in China for 12 years and made many trips to HK. It’s completely usual in both countries to wear a mask if you have a cough or cold and some people also wear them as a form of protection against colds, particular if they work in customer facing roles. During the virus outbreak it would be normal for Carrie Lam to wear one and frankly seen as quite bizarre if she did not.

I live in HK and yes, it is very usual to see Chinese people wearing masks, flu epidemic or not. I’ve even seen a few people wearing protective eye-wear this week.

For the first time since I’ve been here (8 years) I’ve seen western people wearing masks. Where they’re getting them from I’ve no idea! They’re all sold out and people are making a killing on- selling them.

@whichoneofyoudidthat
I saw someone wearing safety goggles over their glasses yesterday, which was a first.
We have a hotline where you can report people making economic gain from the virus!

They’re all sold out and people are making a killing on- selling them.

That's why I've bought a load :)

We have a hotline where you can report people making economic gain from the virus!

The place I bought them from in Amazon will be making a profit I expect. And are probably made in China! So, best report all the sellers on Amazon then.

I've had a cold like virus for 2 weeks now, I just can't seem to shake it. I have all the symptoms of the virus and my chest is still awful after antibiotics. The biggest worry I have is dh who has stage 4 terminal cancer so could be very dangerous. I haven't been to China or near any airport like places, so can only assume it's just a very heavy cold. My home has a lovely fragrance of dettol!

I used to work in central London, I would have worn a mask without any qualms. It makes sense, there are so many bugs on the underground, not to mention the asbestos!

@SisterAgatha

I used to work in central London, I would have worn a mask without any qualms.

Did you actually wear a mask then? I've never seen that in London before!

I see people wearing masks in London quite a lot, I work there.

I’ve just googled gutter oil

So, the general consensus is still that this is a flu virus then?

Am I the only cynic who believes we are not being told anything LIKE the truth on this?

Am I the only cynic who believes we are not being told anything LIKE the truth on this?

Probably not but only because there are a lot of cynics out there.

The fact that cases outside of China haven't (as of now) led to any deaths is reassuring. If it is actually some horrendous super disease that has actually killed thousands and thousands in China I think we'd have seen more cases in the rest of the world, plus some deaths.

Still no large scale P2P spread outside China - and remember the robust response to it is very recent. It’s allegedly catching before symptoms, and it’s been going since before Christmas - surely if this were going pandemic we would see a far more large scale infection rate across the world?

I think the fact that the tabloids have binned it as the headliner and moved onto other things just shows it’s media hype rubbish.

"Except that every year they say they got the wrong strain and that the vaccines were ineffective."
I believe this has happened twice.... once was last year but generally the WHO gets its best guesses right.

Am I the only cynic who believes we are not being told anything LIKE the truth on this?

No you aren't. If this was a case of "its just like flu, nothing to see here folks", then 50 million people wouldn't be quarantined, and there certainly wouldn't be two new hospitals being thrown up in a fortnight.

That isn't a proportionate response to something that only 2% of sufferers have died from.

These face masks are effective 20 mins MAX against viral and infective agents. They are just to pacify the public. Asians are brain washed into wearing them but you might as well howl at the moon if you want to keep infection / virus away

I also think that now it has spread across China to Bejing, Shanghai and other economically prosperous areas, we are more likely to see new cases in other countries. More people from outside China go to cities like that for work reasons.

As they come back to their own countries and the virus incubates, I can imagine there being more outbreaks in a week or so. Hopefully it will be limited though by the quarantine.