To be worried about coronavirus part 9

[GPwife2411]

A new thread - will delete if another one is around, I can't see any.

Previous thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3836309-To-be-worried-about-Coronavirus-Part-8

updated data on this page every day at 2pm until further notice.
www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public#number-of-cases

It's not just like flu www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/01/yes-it-is-worse-than-the-flu-busting-the-coronavirus-myths

Why WHO not declaring a pandemic www.newscientist.com/article/2235342-covid-19-why-wont-the-who-officially-declare-a-coronavirus-pandemic/

Worldometer www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

BNO News bnonews.com/index.php/2020/02/the-latest-coronavirus-cases/

Link to WHO report www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

The Lancet coronavirus hub - latest research and comment www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

JAMA coronavirus research centre jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert edited by MNHQ at OP's request

Eight out of 1,600 doctors polled think the NHS is well-prepared for a major outbreak of coronavirus.

The problem with whether schools should or shouldn’t close if they have a case, suspected or confirmed is that the health authorities don’t seem to be able to give any actual advice on it. It seems to be left to Heads to decide whether to close or not and how long for.

@Ontopofthesunset I have a health condition that is rare but makes mortality more likely. I am in an online group for this. Others are posting wanting info about should they self isolate for example? There needs to be specific info given to at risk groups. So far there is nothing.

Cynical person here. Would love to be encouraged by the only 4 more people number but it doesn’t seem to accord from other ad hoc information we have....could it be that the wanted to set out his so called “battle plan” before the numbers shot up??

From the guardian - (non-representative) sample of 1600 doctors cast doubt on NHS readiness.

Key criticisms (which have been echoed by other medical leaders) include:

The NHS is already struggling to meet the existing need for care and so would not be able to cope with a sudden large increase in demand linked to Covid-19.

Hospitals have too few intensive care and high-dependency care beds, those units are understaffed and there are no plans to expand such facilities.

GP practices do not have enough appointments to ensure that patients can be seen quickly.

Some hospitals are lacking basic equipment including face masks.

NHS 111 is still telling some people who appear to have symptoms of Covid-19 to go to A&E or an urgent care centre, even though official advice warns against anyone with suspected coronavirus going to A&E or a GP practice.

I can attest to a few of these points in the geographical area DH works in.

Link to article in full: www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/02/coronavirus-just-eight-out-of-1600-doctors-in-poll-say-nhs-is-ready

I also know my local hospital was already in the news before this virus had wider public awareness because our A and E Department was struggling to cope with the volume of patients. So I too don't think my hospital is prepared.

@LarkDescending - crosspost, sorry!

Eight out of 1,600 doctors polled think the NHS is well-prepared for a major outbreak of coronavirus.
^That's a lot under the circumstances.

There are lots of buildings closing round here for a deep clean after someine who has been in contact with someone who has the virus has visited. In the background, someone is doing tracking and letting people know. Its got to help it slow the spread a bit.

I was speaking to a friend today whose sister recently returned from Northern Italy (not one of the lockdown places). Her sister has a cough and called 11 yesterday morning. She was told she would get a call back from a clinician - she's still not heard back. It doesn't inspire confidence.

@alloutoffucks
I replied to you upthread but forgot to tag you and now it's got lost a page ago - this thread is moving so fast!
I was asking which coronavirus sites mention a death in a 10-year-old?
I could not find any.
"eg. This site says no deaths in children reported
www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-case-children-infants-low-disease-expert-explain-why-2020-2?r=US&IR=T
It mentions a case in a 10-year-old who showed no symptoms, but no death."

The WHO has said that people over 60 should consider avoiding crowds, public transport and even routine medical appointments. I don't think it's unreasonable to want specific advice for every group, but this is a very new virus and there isn't a rule book - health care professionals are still finding out who is most vulnerable. If you have a pre existing condition that makes you vulnerable then you would presumably also consider avoiding crowds and public transport.

@HHH3 that's great you're doing well on it, I myself liked the drug and felt great on it but my white cells plummeted so faar that I had to came off it. I'm on Ocrelizumab now and it's going well, thankfully we have many to choose from now.

To @alloutoffucks I don't know if this is helpful or not (and I am sorry if it isn't) but I was at the Gp today (for an unrelated issue) and I asked her about Corona virus in passing. She said if someone had an underlying health condition she would be advising them to avoid public places already. Could you approach your gp for advice?

I just read on a guardian article they’re expecting the virus to hit a peak of 3 weeks long in 2-3 months time. Thats an estimate and may not happen it also said.

I worry about the people who get sick with other serious illnesses and there’s no ambulances to get to them and no doctors to treat them. The death rate of Covid-19 may be 2% but other people who would’ve otherwise been saved will potentially be pushed to the back of the queue and the death toll higher. I very much feel terrible for whoever will have to make these frontline decisions.

@Newjez. Thank you. I don't agree with all of those but it is good to understand what information and action some people would like to see.

Re advice for over 60s to avoid public transport - not really helpful for the thousands who have to commute into London to work each day!

@Newjez I can’t see how it could be possible to force companies to pay everyone full sick pay for 2 weeks off. I’m not saying I disagree with the principal, it’s a tricky one because of course people should be encouraged to stay at home where necessary, but for most small/medium companies having to pay out full sick pay to possibly a high number of their work force for 2 weeks would potentially be the end of that business. They could possibly already be suffering financial effects from the situation, plus the reduced productivity from workers being away, then add to that having to pay sick pay and they’d be screwed.

I don’t think the answer would be a blanket policy that could potentially put large numbers of people out of work. I think if the government insists that people are paid they will have to find the money to compensate businesses.

@ClubfootMaestro

Indeed, that's what worries me. I'm hoping he will choose to work from home.

Thing is, it probably doesn't make much of a difference as I'm commuting in the South East and am probably just at risk on trains, tubes and buses as I am in the office!

I don't think the NHS staff know what they are doing either. I had an appointment on friday for something and we chatted about the virus and she literally said 'it is no worse than the flu' she thinks people are blowing it out of proportion and also said that the NHS hadn't provided enough info to staff yet. Of course this may have changed since Friday..

16 cases in Vietnam all recovered! (according to worldometers linked above) Maybe we should be asking what they did. unless it's not strictly accurate

@hoolydooly I got it from multiple sites that said no one younger than 10 has died from the virus. I assumed that to mean someone age 10 had died, but I may have been wrong to do that.

@socksmcgraw Thanks. My GP though doesn't really know much about my condition and often asks me what I think about things. I can't avoid public places though as I have to go to work tomorrow. Will be scrupulous with hand washing and not touching my face though.

Key points from latest WHO press conference.
Numbers in China declining.
WHO team arriving in Iran to help government respond to epidemic
Virus is not like Influenza and we are in uncharted territory.
Containment is key.
WHO will not hesitate to call it a pandemic if that's what the evidence suggests.

I'm not sure that most small businesses will survive if they are unlucky enough to have several people off sick/ isolating for weeks at a time and forced to pay full wages (unless they are selling either hand sanitizers or masks)