to ask you to write to your MP and how financially hard it is for some people to self isolate. The common good.

[bellinisurge]

Really struck by many voices on here saying they can't afford to sell isolate. At first I was a bit cross with them but I was wrong. Late bill payment can be a disaster for many. That's the least of it. Self isolation is for the common good. What if you can't afford to act in the common good.
Please write to your MP now. Ask them to pressure the government to make a statement about this. www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/

Mmh not sure how it would work either. A bit unfair to use everybody’s taxes to compensate employees but not self-employed people isn’t it?

.

HeIenaDove Sat 07-Mar-20 02:51:59
www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay/san-jose-mayor-calls-for-action-to-protect-renters-amid-coronavirus/2249433/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_BAYBrand

SAN JOSE
San Jose Mayor Calls for Action to Protect Renters Amid Coronavirus

Four new cases of coronavirus were reported in Santa Clara County Friday, bringing the total to 24 and prompting the mayor to call for action to protect renters.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo introduced an ordinance that would prohibit evictions of tenants, if that tenant can’t pay the rent because he or she is not working or under employed due to coronavirus.

He said the Valley’s Association of Landlords is on board with the plan and there may be some help for smaller landlords who themselves can’t afford to lose a month’s rent

The moratorium lasts for 30 days but can be extended.

“There are tough times that we are going to have to endure in the weeks ahead and the months ahead, and we’re going to get through this,” Liccardo said. “But were going to get through this together.”

The mayor, like the public health department, is recommending that all public events be cancelled.

All functions at the fairgrounds are cancelled as well as a teacher’s conference scheduled for Saturday in San Jose.

However, a big Native American Heritage Festival scheduled for next week in San Jose is still on while organizers monitor the situation

So the government have to pay for everything...................................................................? How does that work?

When I was 23 I actually had the flu really badly for 2 weeks. I remember lying there shivering with the room spinning round.

I was temping so didn't get paid. I didn't feel well enough to eat so didn't need money for food.
I was living at my dads so didn't need to pay rent for that time luckily.
Plus it was summer so I wouldn't have needed heating / electric light.

I suppose that counts as similar to self isolating for a fortnight.

I don't know if coronavirus makes people as poorly as the flu does though. ( unless it turns into pneumonia at which point you'd be hospitalised). So you may want food.
If your the main wage earner you need enough money to pay for 2 weeks rent or mortgage.
Then money for heating & light as its winter.

If you can you should put by some money & buy some spare food etc but if you can't it's going to be problematic.

Personally I won't be able to self isolate. The hospital ward where I work is actually earmarked as a potential place for coronavirus patients as it has lots of side rooms.
So I'll be working despite coming into contact with it.
Great.

Right now the financial worry is more serious for me than the fear of getting the illness. I'm a freelance journalist, I mostly work from home so in theory I can work while self-isolating, right?

Not quite. I mostly write about sports tournaments (one of my contracts is actually with a team in China). As more and more countries restrict large-scale public gatherings, there's less and less sport for me to write about. It already seems likely that the world championship I attend each year (my most lucrative 3 weeks of any given year) will be cancelled. Not sure how I'll replace that income, OTOH.

Then there's DW. She works in a public-facing role at a tourist attraction, which would seem to be a prime candidate for temporary closure if we're trying to limit people's movements. No idea if she'll get any of her usual income in those circumstances (although the NT property we went to today was packed, so not sure if people are shutting themselves away at the moment).

Luckily we have savings, but we'll need those to support a visa renewal application later this year - especially if household income is reduced due to one or both of us being unable to work. So, yes, a big concern. Will be writing to my MP about this, thanks to the OP for the suggestion.

What will the MP do?

I think the decisions, if you will, have already been made. We can have a prolonged expensive and very damaging to the economy period of containing the virus : paying people to stay at home, perhaps closing . schools, banning large gatherings, compelling sick pay to be paid.

Or we can have a massive increase in infection - many more deaths, and a short sharp shock to the economy & markets .

I think this Government will choose the second option. If children and healthy & fit between 25-50 were the most likely to die, they would protect at the expense of markets. But it doesn't seem to be killing or badly affecting that demographic.
Let's be honest - we have a problem with social care for the elderly & disabled, a housing crisis, a NHS not in good shape.
What happens next is purely political. I think it's a gift for the Tories (well the type in power now).
I'm self employed, single mum, who also cares for my elderly mum whose in bad health. I'm clearly fucked. I just pray no too many people die.

Hmm I have to say that if someone can afford a weeks holiday in Italy skiing or a long haul trip somewhere exotic then not sure why I as a net tax payer who wont be doing this should have to pick up the tab. Same goes for people in tenerife demanding to be flown back. No. you paid for your holiday, foreign travel is risky for all sorts of reasons and this is one of them.

Its ridiculous to say if you can afford a holiday you can afford to fix the problem. It's simply not true. Many people save for a long time to have a holiday.

Lots of activities come with risk. We still treat people the same. The NHS, btoosh citizens abroad etc.

I know you went to say secondary infection is a caveat. However, my kids are coming back from near an infection zone. I have the choice of not seeing them for a further 2 weeks or isolating with them. I cant afford a holiday. But still being impacted.

What will the MP do? Their job and write to the relevant minister. Try to get a question raised in Parliament. Tweet about it. Raise it with their constituents to get a groundswell of public opinion on the subject.
Shit like that.