"Only the elderly/immune suppressed are at risk" - attitude of dicks?

[SylvanianFrenemies]

People who say not to worry about Coronavirus, because "Only the elderly/chronically ill/immune suppressed" are dicks.

Some of us fall into these categories. Some love people who fall into these categories. Some have some essence of humanity. Stop using "Only the xxx" to dismiss concerns. Stop conflating it with flu.

Wash your hands. Isolate yourself as required. Err on the side of caution.

YABU = I agree with these dicks.
YANBU = I am human.

And I am comparing reported road traffic accidents in the UK vs a worst case scenario of 60% of the UK population contracting the virus (and a mortality rate of 2%).

So I'm not comparing raisins with elephants.

I think that a lot of people think that the people dying are on deaths door anyway. A lot of people don’t realise that you can live for years despite being vulnerable or that for many the vulnerable period is temporary (e.g. chemo patients). A lot of people are also vulnerable without realising.

Personally I think that flights to Northern Italy should be grounded until they contain it there. But that needs to be a government level decision. Otherwise people will merrily go about their business.

If you even look at it over 5 years based on road traffic deaths from 2018.
You're talking 9k odd
Vs maybe Covid-19 over 5 years taking out 700k plus.

There were 616,014 deaths registered in the UK in 2018 (ONS)

Most deaths are from old age or illness, and people likely to die from COVID-19 will be from the demographic more likely to die anyway.

So yes, overall mortality will increase, but possibly not by as much as might be anticipated.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, global share prices are dropping. We're starting to see shortages of certain items. The NHS would be overwhelmed. The effect of businesses from absences due to illness or quarantine would be catastrophic for some. The tourism industry is already being affected. International sports events are being called off (e.g. Italy v Ireland in the Six Nations rugby). You'd have children off school. And we're only 2 months into this outbreak. TWO MONTHS.

the flu epidemic was particularly deadly in 1918 because so many people were malnourished and exhausted after four years of WW1

I wasn't referring to the Spanish flu because it was particularly deadly. I was just making the point that this was a flu that attacked a young and healthy even more than older people and therefore it is not always the case (as suggested by another poster) that older people with health conditions are always more at risk from flu.

And where is Boris? It's like Find Wally.

Agree that many people seem to think 'the sick" equals frail, bed-bouund, already very ill. Many many people with long-term conditions are perfectly well, manage their conditions, work full-time, and live normal lives. Many are children, young adults, parents. Do people think of Theresa May as vulnerable? Having type 1 diabetes didn't prevent her from being PM. Or Dianne Abbott, with type 2.

When it comes to "elderly". Boris is over 50. Do people think of him as vulnerable? Nowadays especially 50 really isn't old. (I wonder whether Boris's disappearing act is because he's hiding away, making sure he protects himself!)

Aside from older people and those with long-term conditions, those most at risk are doctors and other HCPs due to high exposure. If you have an injury or get sick (it can happen to anyone at any age) who's going to care for you?

Of course people shouldn't panic but the I'm alright Jack attitude is what's making this so dangerous for all of us. It means people who think they'll be fine won't bother with precautions because "it's not a big deal".

I think this is said as a platitude to the mass hysteria going round ATM! DM(who else)! say only today that in the worse scenario ,Schools could be closed down for 2 months !WTAF? and somewhere else someone said would Hotels and so on still be open! Obviously this is a crass way of looking at the problem but sadly the case for normal flu ,illnesses and stomach bugs for example .

woodchuck99 because you said it killed 500 million...I was pointing out reasons to why this figure may have been so high, particularly in young people..

I pointed out that 500 million people were killed because you said that the interest was due to the fact that younger people rather than older people were infected . Even if they had been older there would have been just as much interest with that number of deaths .

MNers go apeshit if their child is sent home from school for puking as they've A JOB TO GO TO. God forbid a school was shut down for 2 months lol.

tryingtoprep my grandad and my mother in law are both over the age of 50 and both have type 1 diabetes. I can still be rationale about the risk factor at this point in time.

also, I am incredibly hygienic and wash my hands so much I have cuts all over them. lets not tarnish everyone with the same brush and assume that those who are not overly worrying are thinking it's no big deal. I do agree with you about those who are not following basic hygiene but then I think that's disgusting anyway

I'm not sure how the skulduggery re the Spanish flu is relevant to this thread. Argue by private message if you must.

If a child's school is shut down and both parents work - let me guess - Mammy has to stay home?

Well the first British death was a man who was on the Diamond Princess.

What is this stuff about Boris hiding? He was at some hospital last night during a night shift. The government are just being too blase about the panic in the press and need to be more in the public eye. They realise that now - although I think COBRA meeting should have scheduled for this weekend.

Regarding school closures, quite a few private schools are not following government guidelines but taking matters into their own hands it seems.

I have said this to my friend who is a healthy 25 year old because she is getting very anxious about it. Of course it is still worrying and troublesome for people that will be very at risk should they catch it but there are a lot of people who are needlessly worrying when they have next to no additional risk factors. I think this is the point most people are trying to make.

If we actually know that certain at risk groups are more vulnerable, then the Government could easily say "eg if you have type 1 diabetes" you can self isolate and be paid in full (and give the employer an indemnity). Might make more sense given the current statistics than closing all schools etc. You can't just close London down - on current statistics it is not a proportional response given loss of earnings for the economy. You cannot compare it to Switzerland where the government seem to be doing more (e.g. banning any gatherings of 1000 or more). There are thousands on the tube every day.

I am incredibly hygienic and wash my hands so much I have cuts all over them.

Having cuts on your hands is very unhygienic. Intact skin is the best barrier. Clean intact skin.

Moderation is key to everything.

defaultusername unfortunately I have sensitive skin and young children so will have to pick my battles with that one

I was going to say the same. Wounds are so unhygienic.

You need to look after your skin barrier, honestly. Having cuts is very very unhygienic. Maybe wash less, use emollients, and use rubber gloves more? Priding yourself on hand washing if you're destroying your body's main barrier to germs is not sensible.

You're actually more likely to get it from a cut in your hand.

It has direct entry. It doesn't need you to touch your mouth, face. It just gets into the wound.

I'd get that looked at.