Coronavirus

[OhSoOuting]

AIBU to set out some facts because some of the threads about this are utterly ridiculous.

You cannot get coronavirus from having recently eaten Chinese food, sat next to an Asian looking person on the train, or walking on the opposite side of the road to a group of Chinese tourists.

You do not need to withdraw your child from school or university if one person in that institution is self-isolating due to being in contact with someone who in turn was a contact of an infected person. The person who is self isolating is 2 steps removed from the virus, your child is 3 steps removed - it’s not a risk.

The flimsy paper masks do not protect against Coronavirus. All they will do is make you look a bit of a twat on public transport. You either need to go the whole hog and get an N95 respirator which needs to be fit tested by a medical professional, or you could just make sure you wash your hands frequently and don’t touch your face.

If by some tiny chance, you think you may have coronavirus, DO NOT GO TO A&E OR YOUR GP. Call 111, and they will arrange for you to be tested.

If by some even tinier chance you have indeed got coronavirus, remember: the virus has a slightly less than 2% death rate of known cases. This being cases acute enough for medical treatment to be sought. As we’ve seen from the so called ‘super-spreader’, it can be extremely mild or virtually asymptomatic. This means the rate of cases is likely to be about 4 times the known cases and puts the death rate at somewhere under 0.5%. (Statistics from a variety of sources including LSE and the Lancet)

Of the deaths, 80% have been over 60 and 75% had a pre-existing health condition. There have been only 2 deaths outside China. It is almost certainly no coincidence that China has the highest rates of heavy smokers in the world.

We have NO IDEA what is going to happen, so why flap and panic until we have more information.

Health professionals are saying its nothing like the flu so I'll listen to them.

I'm worried but also not worried.

I think it will get worse and we haven't got a cat in hells chance of missing it, if it really takes off here. Densely packed little island.

I'm going to leave you to it because the points you are making dont make sense they really dont. immunocompromised people are the biggest at risk group.

Yes but they already know that and it is disingenuous to say that you are pointing it out to be helpful to them because they need to know. You are actually pointing it out because it makes you feel better.

it makes me feel better not to dwell on it. if it makes you feel better to think of the worst cass scenario then go ahead

It's not all about doing whatever makes you feel better is it? As a society we need to protect ourselves and others from the risk of getting infected and that can mean learning about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself and others rather than burying your head in the sand. I'm not saying you are burying your head in the sand I am just making the point that many people should take this a bit more seriously.

woodchuck99 okay so take it more seriously and....do what exactly? you're contradicting yourself constantly. on the one hand dont worry or panic yourself hysterically and on the other you must take it seriously and were all going to die. you need to stop watching the news for real

okay so take it more seriously and....do what exactly?

Wash your hands, cough into your elbow, and don't disseminate misinformation to soothe your anxious disposition because it's important that the people around you continue to wash their hands and cough into their elbow.

lol fourtea please read my contributions on this post...all I've banged on about is people having good hygiene and, predominantly, washing their hands

I personally just dont think it's appropriate to try and scare the population half to death over something that might not affect them. I have already stated that good hygiene is our best line of defence

You are more optimistic that I am if you think an outbreak is a matter of if and not when. Especially given the phe are only hoping we can contain and delay the outbreak till spring. It probably will affect people.

I dont see the point in being anything but positive in this situation I'm afraid. I completely get people being scared it's not nice but honestly if I'm going to get something I'm going to get it unfortunately and outside of my own hygiene I cant control much else

I am over 65 and have a heart condition.

I shall start to worry about possibly dying of COVID19 when I see actual cause to do so. I haven't yet, even though I live in a town with (gasp) Foreign People in it who may have got any amount of Nasty Germs.

Maybe I will ask the local hospital why they have removed the alcohol-based hand-gel dispenser from the entrance to the hospital; is it that alcohol-based hand-gel is not as effective as soap and water? Unfortunately there is no wash-basin for many yards inside the hospital, it's round a corner and through two doors, there is only one of it, and you do have to know where it is to use it. So proper hygiene at that point might be a bit of a problem.

I haven't yet, even though I live in a town with (gasp) Foreign People in it who may have got any amount of Nasty Germs.

What? Are you suggesting that all those people who are worried about this are xenophobic?

I married a "Foreign Person" - I had three children with him, I also have a chronic lung condition - I've almost been bumped off by 'just the flu' and our youngest child is asthmatic. I'm concerned about an outbreak. Is that allowed?

okay so take it more seriously and....do what exactly? you're contradicting yourself constantly. on the one hand dont worry or panic yourself hysterically and on the other you must take it seriously and were all going to die. you need to stop watching the news for rea

I'm not contradicting myself. It's just that for me taking things very seriously and being very concerned is not on par with panicking and deciding that with all going to die. There is the middle ground.

with we are

I dont see the point in being anything but positive in this situation I'm afraid

It may not make any difference to the way you behave but for others there is a point to being anything but positive. Misinformation about the potential seriousness of this disease may help you feel better and that's fine if you already pay careful attention to hygiene but not everyone is the same. In general it would be a good idea if people were bit less positive and stop telling themselves that this is no worse than flu and will only affect people they don't know.

What? Are you suggesting that all those people who are worried about this are xenophobic?

Nope. But I am aware that the local takeaway that does Chinese food is suffering a falling-off in sales even though it seems in fact to be run by people from the Indian subcontinent. (This means that orders arrive from them a lot sooner than usual.)

woodchuck99 I'm not being rude I'm really not but you are more than welcome to stay inside and worry that this virus is going to get you I'm not saying you cant. but its totally okay for others, myself included, to not waste their life doing the same. anything that kills people is serious I'm not saying it's not. but I could be hit by a bus every time I step out my door. until I'm told I have it (and even if I do majority of cases are mild) I'm not going to become hysterical about it. we have had several virus' that we could of died from (HIV, MERs, swine flu) you're still here.

and before it gets mentioned I'm aware HIV is not a respiratory illness but when that came about there was mass hysteria and it was killing people

We are all guessing.

Some of us are more inclined to be optimistic, others pessimistic. As I understand it there are some circumstances where optimism is more successful and others where pessimism is more successful.

What can you do to make this situation better for others? Be upbeat? Be sympathetic to the concerned? Prepare for a period of self isolation in case your circumstances require it? We don't all have to do the same thing.

Happy Valentine's Day 💕💖

Noconceptofnormal (and anyone else worried by the WHO statement), what was actually said referred to viruses in general, not specifically the Coronavirus:

"To be honest, a virus is more powerful in creating political, social and economic upheaval than any terrorist attack. It's the worst enemy you can imagine."

I'm not being rude I'm really not but you are more than welcome to stay inside and worry that this virus is going to get you I'm not saying you cant.

When did I say anything about staying inside at the moment.

I'm not going to become hysterical about it. we have had several virus' that we could of died from (HIV, MERs, swine flu) you're still here.

No one is asking you to become hysterical. I think you are assuming that everybody is like you. For most people being very concerned and taking extra steps not to catch or spread this is not on a par with being hysterical or panicking.

woodchuck99 I'm really confused what you want as a response from me. it's almost like you're annoyed at people who are not worried - I've said you and anyone else is entitled to feel how you do and some am I. surely that's the end of it.

so am I*

RunningAwaywiththeCircus I get what you're saying but majority of what I've seen on here is more predominantly people being worried that they will catch it or people they love which of course is valid but that's the point I'm arguing - why should I spend every day panicking about a virus at this point I'm unlikely to get? in terms of all you've included that's an entirely different thing. however like I said we have survived previous pandemics and as for snide comments about people apparently being disposable I havent seen anyone say that, only pointing out the obvious that unfortunately as is the case with illness that the immunocompromised are more at risk. that's not insulting that's fact

woodchuck99 I'm really confused what you want as a response from me. it's almost like you're annoyed at people who are not worried - I've said you and anyone else is entitled to feel how you do and some am I. surely that's the end of it.

It doesn't matter if you are not worried if you pay careful attention to hygiene anyway. However, many people are currently unhygienic and could really do with worrying if it makes them more hygienic. Misinformation by the "not worried" is not helpful as it provides a false sense of security and reduces chance of people doing anything to prevent the spread. I also find it a bit of a joke that many of the "not worried" criticise people for scaremongering when they are quite happy to tell those who are over 60 or have health conditions that they have a higher risk.

everything is a big if in this life, not a lot to be achieved by worrying about things well beyond our control