COVID19 (sigh:sorry)

[lightnesspixie]

Today's Telegraph is reporting that should the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the UK exceed 100 then 'everyone with any cough or cold or flu symptoms will have to self-isolate for 14 days'. How would this be possible in reality?! Surely that would be madness? You'd likely have ppl pretending to have colds and not going to work and the economy would be crippled? If you imagine the numbers this would involve even the genuine cases? What are your thoughts? Media hysteria? Good safety measures?

I’m guessing it isn’t media hysteria but The Telegraph reporting what a government agency has said. And if China has done it, it’s achievable. You’ve gotta do what you’ve to do. (And it isn’t a cold.)

Have you seen what happens when it spreads unchecked? Do you think that couldn't happen here? What measures to stop the spread would you deem reasonable?

It will be unworkable but IF it happens then those who can should do so.

The media hysteria about this is extremely unfortunate - because the next virus along may be more serious. People will then say it was hysteria last time and not react properly when a truly bad situation turns up.

I work in Brighton. We've already been told that if you feel unwell (but still ok to work) and are able to work from home, then we should. Not everyone is able to work from home though so they'd still expect those to go into the office, kind of defeating the purpose!

GPs will be overwhelmed with people needing sick notes unless measures will be put in place to say you can self certify for longer than you can currently.

Oooh goody! Time off work

I won't be doing this. If I don't work I don't get paid. No sick pay for self employed people. I currently have cold symptoms anyway but since I have a runny nose and Coronavirus only affects lower respiratory system I know I have a cold not Coronavirus.

That's mad. What happens when hay fever season starts?

PeppaisaBitch So, if you did show signs of the coronavirus, would you self-isolate?

I don't think many will do it. There's plenty who would be unable to get kids to school, wouldn't get paid, would get sacked etc who just wouldn't risk those things for what is a small risk of them having it.

This would be ridiculous - it’s winter - half the population seems to have coughs and colds. There is only one case in the U.K. who is still in hospital. There are no signs of it getting out of control. There is enough unnecessary panic about this.

Oh god, 4 year old DD in reception has had a new bug once a fortnight since October. Literally starting a new one before all the symptoms of the last have fully resolved. We have caught nearly all of these bugs from her (she’s very generous with her germs).

I am self-employed, and don’t get paid if I don’t see clients. We are reliant on my income....., how is all this going to work? Apart from the money, it will mean DD basically will no longer go to school this year.

I don’t know how I would be able to. I‘m a teacher and I can’t do my job from home! Also if I am self isolating do I then need to isolate my children as they go to different schools and colleges?

I live alone and have no-one local to help - I do have some food but not enough for two weeks or more. As far as I know supermarkets don’t do online shopping with bags so would the delivery driver stand and pick up my germs passing them on to the next customer while I unload into my hall?

Ocado do delivery with bags. If it's not this bug it will be the next. As the population contributes to spiral it's inevitable. We need to be prepared to deal with it. Yes it will mean loss of income but it's a hell of a lot better than loss of life.

Luckily the symptoms aren’t identical to a cold, so this won’t affect the constant runny nose that toddlers have. I imagine the online delivery companies will offer bags for this period so that people can get doorstep deliveries.

It's not 1 case in Britain, it's 9

The advice will only kick in if that ever reaches 100.

If it does, then people's willingness to self-isolate may change. Especially behaviour by companies, who could lose a lot of they do not impose isolation measures and there is person to person transmission amongst their staff.

flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing. from gov.uk

Apart from the money, it will mean DD basically will no longer go to school this year

Are you actually serious?

Schools would love that at this time of year. Dds school doesn’t allow time off for illness unless a limb is actually hanging off, or you’re in hospital.

The media hysteria about this is extremely unfortunate - because the next virus along may be more serious. People will then say it was hysteria last time and not react properly when a truly bad situation turns up.

What information do you have access to which leads you to believe this situation isn't 'truly bad'?

If all the online delivery drivers are off because of a cough or temp, plus increased demand due to people self-isolating, getting home deliveries might not be as straightforward.

Tbf if you're self isolating, should you even be getting home deliveries? Does self isolating mean no contact with anyone?

If one person has the symptoms, does the whole family have to self-isolate?

Should the number of confirmed cases exceed 100 is the key point in The Telegraph. There have been 9 cases so far, so we are not at that point.

It would be crap for schools because it is in the run up to the public exam season, and is essentially the last half term of teaching time (it's often revision and study leave after Easter)

And coursework deadlines are already falling.

Cancelling exams because desks cannot be spaced widely wouid seriously muck things up. Though I suppose if whole school was in isolation other than for exams, there would be a lot of classrooms to spread people across as greater distances from each other, and all (healthy) staff could be reassigned to invigilation

You're quite right Enid. Hopefully it will stay hypothetical.