To think this coronavirus hysteria is completely OTT

[tacosplease]

I’ve just read that the NHS has declared the coronavirus “situation” a level 4 incident - the highest level of emergency.

There are only 51 known cases in Britain out of a population of 66 MILLION. None of these people have died. In the extremely unlikely event that you do catch it, the chance of death is just 2%.

So, I simply don’t understand why people are getting so hysterical about this. Far more people catch the common flu every year and no one starts panicking over that. Every time you use your car you have a 1/20,000 chance of dying yet people still drive and don’t think twice.

AIBU?

Social media and people whipping each other into frenzy. OP, do you see people around you in real life panicking/moaning or even excessively talking about it? I don't. Where I live, it's business as usual: people going to schools/work/about their day, shelves fully stocked, no masks/gloves in the streets, everything's just normal. Not sure about the anti-bac gel stocks, as I'm not going to buy it. Never did and won't start. I'll continue to wash my hands when appropriate, with water and soap.

It's just here, especially on MN. Yesterday a woman was telling how she was walking down the street and seeing first signs of spring, when suddenly she became so sad, as 'the world as we know it will never be the same again'. Um...

Yep, being rationally concerned, washing hands thoroughly and being aware is not a bad thing. Sitting at home and prophetizing imminent doom - not so much.

My grandfather died 1st of December (Covid-unrelated). He was 79. An old man. Old people die. It's sad, but normal. My grandmother has advanced cancer. Nothing can be done now, she'll die soon, corona or no corona. Another relative (younger) recently died (also cancer). Yet another one in his early 30s was stabbed and died in Brazil last month. My point being - PEOPLE DIE. Every day. Young and old. From multitude of reasons: illnesses, crime, accidents.

Yep, I could die too. Maybe even from Covid, who knows. So what I'm supposed to do now? Sit, moan and cry? Barricade myself at home? It's ridiculous. What's the point? If I get sick - then I get sick. If I die - I die. And in the meantime - I'll continue living as before.

I'm much more worried about the economic impact of all this, tbh.

@shadowofthesun I agree with every word. Well said.

@ShadowOnTheSun So well said.

I’d much rather hear from people in the know than over staters on here. R4 just had a good programme.

And I don’t blame people if they are concerned because people they are close to are at risk.

@ShadowOnTheSun
I am stuck outside China at the moment and have to remind myself that this too will pass.
I think some people do need to take a break from madly collating all the information. My family has been living with this virus situation for 5 weeks now and for my own sanity I don’t follow all the info. I do try and post sensible comments based on my own experience, but some posters seem practically hysterical.

The following document suggests that 4 in 5 cases are not diagnosed so based on this the infection rate in china is likely to be around 0.06% (i.e 5 × 0.012%).

It may of course be considerably higher in the UK if we don't shut down cities etc but I would doubt it would be anywhere near 80%

No one has said anywhere that the 80% would all get it at the same time though? Gov/nhs estimates were 1/5 of people off work at most, weren't they?

As you say, it's based on herd immunity - and the point is that being a novel virus, no one has the immunity yet

Tbh I just roll my eyes when people start ranting people die get used to it. It’s just the flip side of the coin to being ott in the other direction.

Cruise ship passengers tested positive again after recovering and getting all clear. People, scientists, the government are concerned for a reason. But by all means minimise things and accuse those with concerns of hysteria if it makes you feel better.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=SR2cSGzKYrA

@museumum that's interesting. I really can't imagine people accepting that here.

It's the people who really don't think that this is anything to worry about so will carry on exactly as normal that worry me. We're washing our hands, using sanitiser when out as needed, and will be following the advice as it comes from PHE and the government. It'd be extremely irresponsible not to.

I am not minimising the situation and have personal experience of the measures China’s taken, but I think some posters need to take a break from this frantic speculation and collating of information for the sake of their own health.

HRTFT but OP, I agree with you 100%. This hysteria isn't doing anyone any good. As a country we need to seriously calm down about it. We are faced with risks and illnesses every single day!

I just read my post back and hope it doesn’t come across as callous

It dosent.

I think a proportional response inline with advice from those more qualified, in the hope that the worst case scenario never happens, as apposed to an inadequate response is sensible.

I'm much more worried about the economic impact of all this, tbh.

And also the long term impact on mental health. Especially of children, if they're seeing the same levels of anxiety from their parents as is displayed on these threads. And even more so if they're being kept (unnecessarily) isolated away from contact with anyone else.

Some of the anxiety is OTT and disproportionate, I agree. Some people misunderstand health advice and are unnecessarily afraid. There clearly was a lot of confusion about bird flu/swine flu; they weren't one and the same, and swine flu was never going to be as deadly as bird flu was. That's where threads like these have a part to play.

But the anxiety with Covid-19 isn't irrational, although I get the impression that some people are overstating the risk. In time, there will be a vaccine for it, though admittedly it might take time as the virus is so new.

But some of us have genuine fears for loved ones. My 80 year old DM is travelling back from West Africa today, via Lisbon, and I am worried about the risk to her of Covid-19. She's had several bouts of malaria over the last few years, and several vital illnesses (she does have the flu jab), which she's recovered well from. But coronavirus is a new illness and could be a different matter entirely.

That's why some of us are trying to educate ourselves about this.

My DH is a senior manager at another university (and not prone to hysteria) and they're planning for a similar situation

The corona virus working group at the university I deal with seem more concerned about the loss of nearly £150 million in renevue and costs due to the loss of Asian students coming from next summer.

The corona virus working group at the university I deal with seem more concerned about the loss of nearly £150 million in renevue and costs due to the loss of Asian students coming from next summer.

I think that is a concern for a lot of universities...mine included. But practicalities still need to be planned for.

More cases are going to be announced today. Some of them very close to home and local to both mine and DH's universities ( I was in a meeting earlier with our local authority and the team who are responsible for managing it our area) . All it will take is one student to be diagnosed and the university will shut - that was what i was told by my HoD yesterday.

For those posting about school closures (esp in HK, China, Japan and now Italy) it is worth looking at Singapore. They have not closed schools generally, but the spread of cases there (initially the fastest growing outside China) has slowed significantly and they now have 110 confirmed cases, with 78 of those recovered, 7 serious/critical and no deaths. I'd really like to know what they've been doing right - looks as though there are lessons we could learn.

Or their stats aren't trustworthy

I would be concerned if my teen were sitting GCSEs in a few months.
Mums netters will be ok as they still have high stock piles of food left from Brexit hoarding.
The rest of us go about life as normal for as long as we can.
If I get killed by this virus(health care worker,almost 60 so the odds are against me)I am not wastingy life worrying before I need too.

I thin

@Welshwabbit
That is interesting re Singapore. It is incredibly clean there so they are already building on good standards of hygiene.

Singapore routinely scan people at the airport, have been taking temperatures at the entrance to workplaces and schools for weeks now and sending home it elevated, and the advice is to wear a mask when you go outside. They’ve also stopped extracurricular activities for children. Much more proactive and on guard for signs of illness.

But from what I can gather Singapore's health care system is excellent. It is not underfunded and on its knees.