worried about coronavirus (covid19) part 15

[usernameishistory]

Helpful links

WHO media speech for world plan of action

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

Link to Reddit post of resident in China, how life is now and also their take on what worked and what we should be doing.

“As the virus spreads globally, I want to highlight the containment and prevention measures China has implemented, why they have worked, and why I believe countries around the world need to implement similar measures starting now”

www.reddit.com/r/China_Flu/comments/febv3t/what_its_like_in_china_0306/

I've just said on another thread, there is no 'keeping things as normal' option here.

It's Lockdown, or breakdown.

Either we take measures to reduce transmission (slow spread) - and we have lockdown.

Or we let it run rampant (this seems the government's position - and what happened in Italy - yes they've taken lockdown measures eventually but clearly a bit too late) and we have breakdown of services and lack of hospital beds.

In Italy they have breakdown, in Singapore they have lockdown. Which is doing better?

I want lockdown, not breakdown. I want the government to listen to experts and not hedge their bets and 'hope' it's going to get better. Hope isn't helpful here - studying what's happened elsewhere and implementing the good plans is. We're lucky in that we've got it later than elsewhere so we have forewarning and can see what's reduced spread and what hasn't.

If we have breakdown it will be the government's fault.

middleager
Is your son OK?
I know its just a cold (hopefully) but it's so easy to get carried away panicking isn't it?
I've give him some calpol and he's on the sofa with his blanket and the ipad.

Thank you 👍 for calming me down!

I know that wfh would help overall. It just seems unfair! But that’s life really.

I wasn’t saying people shouldn’t be encouraged to wfh- I completely agree with it. But does make me sad that, together with everything else, the poorest always suffer the most.

If they close the schools, I genuinely can't imagine people staying in their houses too. They'd be off out on day trips.

totally this.
there are so many 'help my kids drive me mad this halfterm' threads.

@ShanghaiDiva just wanted to thank you for your posts which I find interesting and helpful .

I think I saw you being referred to as a "random internet" on the last thread . How rude ! If someone doesn't believe you that's up to them ,no need for name calling .

Anyway ,many thanks to you and other far flung posters who are updating .

I could be wrong about the government and they could be just about to announce loads of travel restrictions etc.

I do find it worrying that a lot of private companies are able to see the writing on the wall and are taking far more stringent measures than the Government. I know in particular of one insurance company that has banned all non-essential travel and asked people who can to WFH. When an Insurance company does that, the government maybe should follow suit?

On my daughters school newsletter the section they have regarding Coronavirus says that even if there is a confirmed case it will not be necessary to close the school.

World should be encouraged by decline in cases in Hubei, WHO expert says

“You’ve got to find the cases very very quickly, get them isolated, find their close contacts, because those people are where the virus is, and if you get those isolated, quarantined, you’re going to take the heat out of this outbreak,” he said.

Which is all well and good, but many countries are well past the containment phase.

Radio 2 playing “Ghosttown”. A little too close to reality for comfort at the moment!

Agree about poorer being worst hit (always the case in this country sadly) - I hope that the government will instigate emergency benefits. Apart from anything else, if they don't then poorer people will be forced to break quarantine.

I expect if they close the schools, it will be like snow days. 50% of parents thrilled as the schools isn’t safe for them and 50% fuming. No matter what happens? A lot of people will be very angry.

Maybe they should withdraw the fines and let parents decide for themselves what they do.

The issue with letting parents decide is the point about those taking the mick for going on holiday/days out etc.

With regard to companies - they are concerned about the bottom line / duty of care / protecting reputation. The government has to consider a whole population. Two different drivers.

@Janemarpling what’s that about 96 and exams?

Italy having such high numbers - there was a hospital cluster wasn't there ?

When in hosp in UK I noticed how an Italian patient was inundated by family visitors who brought food daily .They were lovely ,really lovely and kind to me as well .

I wonder if that extended ,generous hearted response to a family member in hospital is the norm in Italy and if it may have contributed to the spread ?
(Thinking of the situation prior to the CV dx of family member in hospital .)

I think they need to start 'rationing' in supermarkets to prevent people clearing the shelves of essentials. Our large hypermarket sized one was shown completely devoid of loo rolls yesterday. Ridiculous and very worrying for those not able to make regular, large load-up trips (thinking elderly particularly here).

We had study leave at Easter in 96. Totally different now though with it being late May.

I don’t understand what you mean here?

I meant that the course is nearly finished so y11 could revise at home. However we know a lot do not do this now so we have them in lessons to revise until late May. It's possible though but not ideal as no new learning will be happening.

On my daughters school newsletter the section they have regarding Coronavirus says that even if there is a confirmed case it will not be necessary to close the school.

Yes - this is the advice from both DD's schools too - this is CRAZY. Germany and France are closing schools with cases. This is denial on steroids. I don't know why the government are being so cavalier and going against best practice in other countries. it's very disturbing.

I'm really not sure what to do with school. Boy in DD1s class keeps spitting on her so that's obviously not an ideal behaviour. Problem is you can't prevent kids from being like this.

If there is a case or a parent positive I will be keeping them home. Not just for us, but to delay transmission that little bit more for the vulnerable.

Radio 4 Any Questions today 13.10 (repeat from yesterday evening). Panel includes Hugh Pennington, bacteriologist, (I know CV is viral), James Kirkup of the Social Mkt Foundation + MPs. Interesting discussion about CV.

At the PP, the Birmingham case wasn't on the list published earlier.

Has anyone thought about what happens to pets? In all the panic buying I have seen (on my weekly Aldi shop yesterday so much was cleared out - loo rolls, cleaning stuff, handwash, medications, freezer items, tinned goods - it was surreal) I have not noticed any difference in stock pet food and care items.

My pet isn't usually catered for in supermarkets and I have to go to pet suppliers or garden centres to get what I need, although I often bulk buy via amazon. But he needs routine treatment at the vet's soon and it got me thinking about how many pets may suffer as a result if isolation guidelines hit.

I think they need to start 'rationing' in supermarkets to prevent people clearing the shelves of essentials. Our large hypermarket sized one was shown completely devoid of loo rolls yesterday. Ridiculous and very worrying for those not able to make regular, large load-up trips (thinking elderly particularly here).

Agreed. People will genuinely starve beacuse of panic buying. Those on low incomes are the most vulnerable because they can afford to buy food once they get their money in. The worst hit ranges in the supermarkets are the value ranges and cheap and easy food like pasta and rice, not premium ranges or things like frozen ready meals at £5 a pop.
Children will be badly affected by this - many children are living in poverty in this country . I don't want to read headlines about children who have died due to panic buyers.

I genuinely thinkg rationing is needed. If things don't calm down in a week's time (we had pay day a week ago and press has ramped up), then over buying is here to stay.

I am due to go to France in June. Would you go? I won’t get the money back for flights, but can recoup accommodation and car hire costs up to the end of May.

@Langbannedforsafeguardingkids

Yes , I know it appears so far that children only get mild symptoms but I see a huge amount of older people (grandparents) collecting children from the school and providing childcare. Seems a recipe for disaster.

I really think that kids are safer at school really. They're not roaming all over the place.

People should wfh where they can.
I do think that travel in and out of here should be reduced to skeletal levels.

Also, re. school closures and potential mergers etc. - so many school staff have school-aged children themselves (many of my colleagues are considering quitting once children hit a decent secondary school age and can survive the odd few days at home in the holidays etc.); staff numbers would immediately be affected, too.

From a safeguarding point of view, merging classes or even schools wouuld be a logistical nightmare. We currently have a few parents banned from school grounds on account of heavily abusive behaviour towards staff - would potentially having their kids in a new school on short notice protect those staff? What about class sizes themselves; I am already over capacity in some classes with adequate seating not physically available.
And the idea of opening over summer? Who would staff that, given almost all school staff are not paid over the holidays - teachers and support staff alike?

Closing schools certainly isn't as easy as it sounds.