To not understand the coronavirus panic

[YeahWhatevver]

With all the media coverage and social media posts on coronavirus it's hard to really understand why it's so bad.

As I understand it, for most people (and I accept that for those with preexisting conditions it's more worrying) nothing will come of it beyond a respiratory infection.

What am I missing?

Am the only one who thinks that treatment should be given to the elderly and those in vulnerable groups if they contract this virus? Surely younger, fitter people stand more chance of surviving it?

If the virus became much more widespread, how awful would it be to lose so many of the older generation? It would have a massive effect on us all.

I think you are misunderstanding entirely. The UK only has a limited number of critical care beds. These are rationed and this is normal practice, you are only admitted to or kept in ITU if you have a good chance of survival. Those beds would be given to younger people or those who had the best chance of surviving the longest. It would be pretty bloody awful if the younger people died too. A younger person who needs a critical care bed is also probably going to die without it.

Ultimately where there are outbreaks older people need to protect themselves as far as possible by staying at home/ using common sense. They often have less need to be out than younger people who are working etc. If they choose not to do that (my father is in a high risk group and is going on a cruise next week 🤦🏻‍♀️) then that is a risk they are choosing to take. He fully understands the risk, smiles and shrugs saying 'if my times up it's up'.

But yes losing a lot of the older generation would be truly awful, no one is going to argue about that.

@FourTeaFallOut
China has shown that containment measures can work. Surely other countries would implement equally strict measures to ensure that infection levels did not %.
Shutting down a city of 11 million has never been done before, but China showed, that in extreme circumstances, anything is possible.

But yes losing a lot of the older generation would be truly awful, no one is going to argue about that.

But you just have made that argument! Your post explicitly states that as younger people are more 'valuable' then they should get priority!

But you just have made that argument! Your post explicitly states that as younger people are more 'valuable' then they should get priority!

No my post doesn't say that. Younger people will statistically live longer and that is factually true.

How you intend to magic up these additional ITU beds? What is your solution?

Sadly I don't have a solution - other than the obvious, of more/sustained funding of the NHS.

Surely other countries would implement equally strict measures to ensure that infection levels did not %.

Well, we'll see. Unfortunately, I don't share your optimism.

There are 2 strains of COVID and it appears the more deadly one is reclining. That being said, I am worried about my elderly parents and my infant and toddler. But good hygiene and minimising the risk of infection and much as we can is the best way forward. I have seen some seriously paranoid people panic buying masks (which dont protect unless they are N95) and forking out for the crazy expensive hand gels

Ffp3s are the UK equivalent of the American standard N95s, so depending on what you saw they may be as effective. Even the surgical face masks, used by the right people, can offer some protection inasmuch as you can reduce the droplet range of an infected patient which might become appropriate if we are to nurse the sick in our own homes.

You are right OP. My kids probably wouldn't even notice I'm gone, seeing as I am diabetic and therefore expendable.

@Chista - I haven't seen anything about two different strains. Is that new news?

The surgical masks are designed to keep droplets in and therefore not effective in protecting against COVID. There are 2 strains, L and S, L was found in the patients originally infected in Wuhan and I think is the more aggressive.

Isn't that exactly what I said?

That sounded snottier than I meant I just mean, I expect they'll only have a role in the home for the poorly person to use to give the nursing person a fighting chance.

I just came across a half empty superdrug alcohol hand gel which currently had bidding for 10k. Says it all really

Came across this thread from February. Oh, if we knew at the time where we would be in a year....makes somber reading!

Still disabalist though people still believe that just because they are fine that they won't suffer sometimes people have hidden problems that even they don't know about

I read the first few posts thinking ‘have you people been under a rock??!’ And then clocked the date. It is interesting reading.

I particularly like the ‘other countries aren’t going to take containment measures’ type comments. Well.

@YeahWhatevver

With all the media coverage and social media posts on coronavirus it's hard to really understand why it's so bad.

As I understand it, for most people (and I accept that for those with preexisting conditions it's more worrying) nothing will come of it beyond a respiratory infection.

What am I missing?

I think your missing the bit about the nhs being overwhelmed. My family and I are all low risk, however we are still at risk of not getting urgent medical if needed for a lot of those common complications that can happen to anyone at anytime. Appendicitis, broken bones, ear/ throat infections etc etc all these are common in kids and I worry that if things continue like this we won’t get the medical care as fast as we need. I have a newborn baby too and I worry for her. My others were constantly having trips to A&E with fevers due to common colds etc. I’m worried that if she’s ill with a high temp or in pain with an infection, it’s not as easy to get an appt through out of hours anymore. People still have heart attacks and serious accidents you know. What will happen when an ambulance can’t come out?

Just saw the date!! Lol
Ignore my last post. Who on earth bought this thread back to life??!!

Interesting reading though!!