Coronavirus - sick and tired of the hysterical scaremongering

[Ashtower]

I work in an office and I've overheard a number of people blowing the outbreak all out of proportion. One colleague has ordered facemasks off Amazon - we're in SE England ffs. I wish people would educate themselves (from reputable sources) and stop winding everyone up.

Of course, a healthy amount of caution is important but it's made me aware of how mass hysteria ie witch trials occurred in the past. Just takes one ignorant person with a massive mouth (yes I'm talking about you Sue in budgeting).

[Ponoka7]

@Dowser, the difference is that they all happen to the individual. They don't get spread to the rest of the world.

Who are we opening up more trade links with post Brexit? Who is trump looking to increase trade with? Across Africa/Australia who are they trading with?

China. The Chinese government has got to address, poverty, health, 'traditional practices' and hygiene.

[Dita73]

@RevolutionofourTime ok but what’s the point in freaking out about it? There is no point stressing out about something that might never happen

[CallmeAngelina]

These are people who walk around wearing masks over their mouths all the time anyway
That's to protect against pollution. Your point?

[mrshoho]

www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/matt-frei/coronavirus-outbreak-irish-man-trapped-wuhan/

@RuggerHug this is the interviewI listened to.

[Confrontayshunme]

My friend works in infection control and public health, and the reason it is scary for health workers is that the incubation period seems to be three weeks so you can infect LOADS of people before symptoms AND antibacterial stuff doesn't kill it. So once a country has loads of cases, they will just have to wait it out and see how many people get it before it dies out for lack of hosts.

[Dita73]

@CallmeAngelinathat perhaps they’re a tad over cautious!

[RevolutionofourTime]

@Dita73, no they’re not.

It’s just, you know, all the patients dying from a virus no one understands and there’s no cure for.

[Blubbergalore]

@Confrontayshunme Antibacterial stuff wouldn’t kill any virus

[LetsNotPanic]

I was PA to a LA Head of Public Health during the last pandemic of bird flu in 2006. The amount of planning & preparation for any eventuality is intense and involves major cross organisation meetings from the Public Health, NHS and Coroners. If you have or have immuno-compromised family practice good hygiene & avoid high sense populated areas.

[nldnmum]

Op you should educate yourself before belittling other people's concerns.

Some people may be immune compromised and the virus will be deadly. Also worryingly if you have colleagues or families who have returned from China in the last week or so, there is a real chance of infection. The incubation period is 1-14 days and the person is contagious before showing any symptoms.

My DH's boss has returned from extensive travel in China last Tuesday. So far no symptoms, but until he's cleared in the next week or so, our entirely family and everyone we have been in contact with is exposed to a much higher level of risk.

[Dita73]

@Revolutionofourtime ok then run around screaming “oh shit we’re going to die”. I guarantee it won’t help a thing

[WeArnottamused]

Only in as much as I have 2dc’s who are immunocompromised. One of whom has severely reduced lung function.......it’ll be antivirals & crossed fingers

[FromEden]

According to reports, HIV drugs are an effective treatment for this virus and chinese doctors have started using these on patients. So some slightly good news there

[RevolutionofourTime]

@Dita73, thanks for making me laugh.

[Honestface78]

I think it's right to air on the side of caution with any new infectious disease. Prevention is better than cure.

[Peanutbutterbean]

I think it is worry and it could apparently become a global emergency (according to GMB this morning ) and it’s more transmissible than SARS. So I definitely do think it is something to be concerned about. Where the virus has jumped species they don’t know what they are dealing with. Agree with one of the previous posters, a good reason not to eat animals.

[lilmisstoldyouso]

What if all those diggers in the photo aren't there to build a new hospital, what if it's for a mass grave instead.

[ColourMyDreams]

I've had to switch from Corona to Budweiser and cancel the pop man.

[MissPoldark]

I’ll tell you what I’m sick & tired of - the repetition of the same joke about beer.

[RevolutionofourTime]

According to a tweet I saw (unverified), a funeral home employee in Wuhan was saying they had cremated 30 people the same night. All death certificates said ‘pneumonia’, not corona... so they won’t be counted in the body count.

[karencantobe]

I think this is a major issue in China. In the UK we will be fine.

[ShanghaiDiva]

Re the masks - I live in China (not Wuhan) and it is now compulsory when you are in a public place to wear a mask and you will not be allowed to enter the metro station, supermarket, restaurant without one.
I was out earlier today and everyone was wearing a mask.
There is no point in scaremongering. The Chinese authorities are taking action imo - extending the holiday period, extending school holiday, closing Disney land in Shanghai, shutting down Wuhan and encouraging people to improve personal hygiene.

[RevolutionofourTime]

@ShanghaiDiva, and what do you do when you run out of face masks? Where I live all pharmacies, corner stores etc are out. We have friends and family shipping us boxes this week, but what do we do in the meantime?

Re scaremongering, we also have to exercise critical thinking vis a vis the Chinese authorities. There is no way of knowing, as of yet, whether they are being transparent about the spread of the virus, and it is too soon to tell if the measures are effective.

[ShanghaiDiva]

@RevolutionofourTime
No masks available in local shops here either - Taobao? Alternatively we will have to stay at home. Staying in is probably the most sensible course of action. my dd's school holiday has been extended for another week.
Yes, we don't know if the Chinese authorities are being transparent, but the advice issued to date seems sensible.

[mrshoho]

best wishes to you all over in China. It sounds like a difficult situation.