AIBU to ask you if you are worried about the new Coronavirus?

[IvyBush123]

I am not sure if there is reason to worry about the new Coronavirus. I am not a medical expert but to be honest feel a bit scared because we know so little and some experts seem worried. How do you think?

As to whether we should worry or not, I'm not for myself and my family - no, the risk is low and if nhs can't cope we can go private.

You do realise that the doctors who work in private hospitals mainly work for the NHS and that is where they will be if needed. If they are working 20 hours a day in NHS hospitals to treat 1000s of patients they aren't going to be taking time out to do some private consultations.

I'm worried for my DD. She's a teacher so has a lot of contact with a lot of people so is much higher risk of catching stuff than I am. She's also been very poorly for the last 12 months and is immuno-compromised as a result. She's already been given loads of extra vaccinations because of her illness but as we all know, there isn't one yet for corona virus. Her boss told her yesterday that if there is an outbreak she's to stay home and not go into work until it's passed as they know it will kill her.

No. Death rate is about 2%, the death rate of swine flu was 38%. There’s only been two cases here in the UK.

Eh? Where did you get 38% from? About 500,000 to 750,000 people in the UK got swine flu and they gave up identifiying cases pretty quickly. I and my DCs got it and although my symptoms weren't too bad they were really ill. The death rate in the UK was no where near 38%. I think it was about 0.025% in the UK.

As for 2% not being high, you do realise that means that it will kill people you know including probably children at your DCs school? Will you feel so chilled about it then? The death rate could be higher than that anyway. We don't really know what the figures are yet.

Too many assumptions about what I said. I'm talking about a scenario where nhs is overstretched but it's not at the brink, so you can get an appointment privately much more quickly. This is happening right now where if you need say psychotherapy in the nhs it's near impossible and a long waiting list, but can be seen straightaway privately.

But of course if we are at the brink of a proper pandemic then yes we are all f**ked and private or not it doesn't matter.

In that case I'd probably escape to somewhere like Greenland or Iceland - anyone who plays "plague inc" knows what I'm talking about

Ps woodchuck sorry I've lost interest having reasonable discussions with you after your xenophobic comments earlier. Avoiding anyone Chinese-looking or in Chinese restaurants is not going to save you if turns into a pandemic.

You can even quarantine anyone "foreign" (wouldn't you love that), but the real danger lies with those who have never even been to China, but had contact with someone who has been in an infected area, and have no idea that they are infected. They will go around and spread it without anyone realising until they become symptomatic. This is the most unknown group and the reason why it's spread so fast in China.

Too many assumptions about what I said. I'm talking about a scenario where nhs is overstretched but it's not at the brink, so you can get an appointment privately much more quickly. This is happening right now where if you need say psychotherapy in the nhs it's near impossible and a long waiting list, but can be seen straightaway privately.

Potentially having coronavirus is not on a par with waiting for a physiotherapy appointment. If they think you're infected they won't put you on a waiting list!
If the NHS is not on the brink you will be seen straightaway. Going private is not going to speed things up. If the NHS is collapsing under the strain the doctors that treat infectious diseases not going to be popping down to their local BUPA clinic to give you a private consultation.

Ps woodchuck sorry I've lost interest having reasonable discussions with you after your xenophobic comments earlier. Avoiding anyone Chinese-looking or in Chinese restaurants is not going to save you if turns into a pandemic.

More stupid comments. Avoiding Chinese restaurants at the moment is not xenophobic. I am in immunosuppressed and am simply weighing up the risk as I always do and the risk at the moment is undoubtedly higher amongst those who have recently returned from China particularly at this time year . Obviously I don't know that anyone in a Chinese restaurant has recently returned from China but they are more likely to have done that than anyone who is not Chinese. Obviously it won't save me if this becomes pandemic but that point I will be avoiding all restaurants anyway as I do if there is a nasty strain of anything going on around.

Woodchuck - you sound really angry and anxious about the situation. You make some reasonable points but calling other people stupid and attacking them just because they see things differently won't make everything better

Good luck staying healthy mentally and physically

Woodchuck are you actually thinking about what you're saying, and doesn't the fact the majority of people think you're being extremely racist, give you pause for thought?

"Obviously I don't know that anyone in a Chinese restaurant has recently returned from China but they are more likely to have done that than anyone who is not Chinese".

So by your "logic" anyone who looks Chinese is more likely to have been to China - you do understand Chinese people aren't all in restaurants they are actually in the general population? You are saying Chinese people are to be avoided. Or is it just Chinese people in restaurants? Are they more likely to have been to China than someone Chinese walking past you in the street? Are you avoiding all Chinese people or just those in restaurants?

Please can you explain this clearly?

(Also I dread to think how you are determining people are definitely Chinese from their appearance, but I'm guessing you won't answer this...)

I too have underlying health conditions and a fucked immune system, but I'm not a fucking racist...

Woodchuck - you sound really angry and anxious about the situation. You make some reasonable points but calling other people stupid and attacking them just because they see things differently won't make everything better

I'm not really angry or particularly anxious about the situation at all. If I seem that way it is because I'm finding your ignorant comments very irritating, particularly your comment about it been xenophobic for anyone to avoid Chinese restaurants at the moment coupled with your "all right jack" comment about being able to get private healthcare so not been worried.

Woodchuck are you actually thinking about what you're saying, and doesn't the fact the majority of people think you're being extremely racist, give you pause for thought?

I haven't spotted that anybody with half a brain on this thread thinks I'm being "extremely racist" to avoid eating in Chinese restaurants at this time of year given that I'm immunosuppressed so no.

So by your "logic" anyone who looks Chinese is more likely to have been to China - you do understand Chinese people aren't all in restaurants they are actually in the general population? You are saying Chinese people are to be avoided. Or is it just Chinese people in restaurants? Are they more likely to have been to China than someone Chinese walking past you in the street? Are you avoiding all Chinese people or just those in restaurants?

I'm not going to be infected by walking past someone in the street so no. I'm not avoiding all Chinese people because those that I know have not visited China recently so not at a high-risk. The reason I would avoid restaurants is that then I am close proximity or served by someone I don't know who may have visited China recently and who could potentially be infected.

Please can you explain this clearly?

I hope I have explained it clearly to you but if you don't get it there's not much I can do to help.

Be aware that the only information about cases including fatalities are from approved Chinese's communist government sources. All others as from "illegal rumour mongers" who face 7 years in jail for "spreading rumours".

Yes we are all thick, and you are the one with impeccable non-racist logic

Well thank fuck stupidity isn't catching!

I don't want to derail this thread so I have an idea for you woodchuck to set your mind at rest. Why don't you start a separate thread in AIBU asking if you are BU to avoid Chinese restaurants as the Chinese people there may have been to China? Make sure you explain you're not avoiding all Chinese people (to clarify, people you think look Chinese) - just those you may be in "close proximity to or served by". So you don't mind walking past Chinese people in the street for example.

Let us know how that works out for you, won't you?

(Clearly you won't start that thread as you are aware you will be handed your arse)

Woodchuck99 My son is 5 and is immunosuppressed after a transplant. Have you been suppressed all your life? His transplant was at 4 months old so it's all he's ever known. It's hard getting him to understand how to protect himself. His school have been quite good though and have allowed him to have a large bottle of Milton gel on the teacher's desk and he 'says' he washes his hands lots. It's such a worry though.

I live in a tourist city close enough to China and the coronavirus is here.
I have relatives who have planned a holiday here and are due to visit at the end of this month.
i think it would be better if they cancelled their flights because the virus is here.
all the schools are closed here until march.
flight have not been cancelled by their airline. yet.
I would have to meet up with them here and take them out and to the tourist spots, some of which are now closed indefinitely.
I think if their flight gets cancelled, they will try to find a different flight in order to get their holiday here.
I don't think they have considered that they might be putting me at risk, as well as themselves.

Well thank fuck stupidity isn't catching!

I'm thinking the same thing

I don't want to derail this thread so I have an idea for you woodchuck to set your mind at rest. Why don't you start a separate thread in AIBU asking if you are BU to avoid Chinese restaurants as the Chinese people there may have been to China?

Given that I have been immunosuppressed for about 20 years and have a lot of experience in avoiding infections plus I am a HCP who has learned a lot about infection control due to my job why would I ask a load of randoms on the Internet for advice or take any notice of their opinion what I should do to avoid infections.

The irony.

@HouseworkAvoider10
I would advise them to cancel. My ds was due to come home to mainland China in mid March, he won’t be coming.

We're in Manila, staying in a hotel for Dh's work. He's just had his temp taken at the door before being allowed to come into the hotel tonight. Feck knows what they will do if he did have a temp

@ofwarren I'm sorry to hear about your son. That must be very worrying. The main thing he can do is wash his hands regularly and keep them away from his face . The hand gel will help if it's not possible to wash his hands. Apart from that it's obviously best to avoid people with infections although appreciate that's difficult at school that his age. I'm always watching out for people who cough and sneeze and I just move away from them if they do. I used to worry about offending people but I have realised that my health is more important and I don't take any unnecessary risks.

@HouseworkAvoider10
I would advise them to cancel. My ds was due to come home to mainland China in mid March, he won’t be coming.

They won't cancel.
They'll merely look for other ways to get here.
They have form for this kind of thing - i.e. rocking up and putting in on people when it would be best if they didn't.

@HouseworkAvoider10
You have my sympathy; they are obviously complete muppets.

I would tell them you've got a fever @Housework and have been told to isolate yourself. Needs must and all that.

They'll merely look for other ways to get here.

This is a typical behaviour the WHO mentioned as a reason not to have travel bans.
People will still travel and it will be harder to keep track of where people are travelling to and from.

I can't do that.
They'll tell my elderly parents and my parents will freak out.
I can't do that to my parents.
My mum isn't that well and they both will worry hugely, if they're told that.

Obviously prewarn your family first 🤦‍♀️.