The thing that most people don’t understand about the Coronavirus

[Notcontent]

I am not panicking about the Coronavirus but I am getting a bit annoyed at the people who keep saying that it’s not a big deal. What people don’t seem to understand is that:

• even 1% is actually quite a nigh mortality rate;
• it’s been estimated that while MOST people get mild symptoms about 10% ( could be higher ) need medical intervention;
• if it gets out of control and 10% of people who get it need medical help, there is no way that the NHS could cope.

The NHS is already very stretched but it can just about cope with dealing with medical emergencies. If there was a sudden dramatic increase, there is no way it would be able to cope. There is no health care system in the world that can cope with larger numbers of people suddenly getting sick.

What I don't understand is how sitting at home with a stockpile of loo roll and pasta is actually going to help save the NHS in this hour of crisis.

How many people die every year through poverty and hunger as a direct result of other austerity measures on our welfare and social care services?! How much strain does that put on the under funded NHS?

What gets me is all those people saying ‘it’s no worse than flu’. Have they even had flu?REALflu? Or are they one of those people that call a bad cold flu? Real flu is fucking awful. I had it 14 years ago and I still freeze in fear at the thought of ever getting it again. I’ve never felt more ill in my life. Practically unconscious for 3 days, the fever, delirious, the horrific pain in every millimetre of your body, then another almost 2 weeks to feel marginally normal.

Yup. The moment I heard the first person say 'it's like the flu', I thought 'Fuck!' Reassured I was not.

Funnily enough, I came across an old post of mine from last month by accident this morning, in which I'd tried to explain what the potential economic effects could be for a brand new virus 'like the flu'.

I've had the flu once. It was so painful all over I prayed for death. Actually prayed to die for about 2 days.

Apparently getting the Coronavirus feels worse than flu if you need medical intervention - apparently it feels like DROWNING in your own lung fluids

That sounds TERRIFYING.

yes most people get better but thos of us who have underlying illnesses or are older may die

I'm well aware of that and so are pp i've spoken to, it's not a reason to encourage panic, that's the point. Panic isn't going to help the situation, we've already seen what happens when pp start flooding to the shops to stockpile.

LittleRootie - love that username

“ I'm well aware of that and so are pp i've spoken to, it's not a reason to encourage panic, that's the point.”

So much this. The panic is going to cause more problems than the virus at this rate. I’m starting to feel a bit like
Moriarty. You know, when Sherlock says to him “people have died” and Moriarty screams “that’s what people DO”.

Honestly, I have anxiety and depression but the hysteria around this is making me look like the stiff upper lip sort!

I should say, I’m not seeing this level of panic IRL, but even mum bought some extras today because if everyone else does...and she can’t get out that much or just return to the shop later.

Right now, the panicked ones are making everything worse. Self isolate if you want but stop stockpiling.

The other thing that's worth noting is that we're not really totally sure what the mortality rate actually is.

The fact that we've now got cases emerging in the UK which are of unknown origin (not linked to known cases or to travel) indicates that there are undetected cases out there.

I'm not going to be as irresponsible as Trump and start doing some off the cuff estimation of what the death rate is as I have no idea- but I think more research is needed into how many cases are known compared with the number of mild cases in the community which are asymptomatic and never diagnosed. I'm not going to start panicking about mortality rates until it's been around for long enough for this type of thing to be properly looked into- in the interim they are reporting figures based on the information that's become available.

FFS, there IS a middle ground between so laid back you're licking public toilet seats and preparing an underground bunker.

I'm not panicking about this because apart from hand washing and obvious hygiene, there is NOTHING I can do about this- what will happen will happen.Panicking about it will not do a single thing to help. In fact, we're already seeing the stupid consequences of panic buying which shows its not helping.

That does NOT mean I'm sitting here all blasé about it or thinking its "no big deal". Its perfectly possible to be concerned about something yet not frothing at the mouth about it.

But it is like flu.

People say all sorts of nonsense about flu. A lot of people imagine that 'proper flu' or 'real flu' means having very severe symptoms. There's a couple of examples on this thread.

That is not what flu is.

Many people who have flu have quite mild symptoms. It's unlikely you'll know when you've had flu, because you probably didn't feel it was anything more than a cold. You might even have felt it was less severe than a cold. However, every year, some people get flu and are seriously ill, and some of those people die.

The reason why people compare flu to coronavirus is that idiots go around with myths about flu, saying 'ooh, it's only flu if you couldn't get out of bed/pick a fiver off the floor/whatever'.

Coronavirus is more deadly, and possibly more easily spread, than lots of types of flu. But, as with flu, the most serious cases are the ones people notice. There is still a big 'tail' of cases where people will feel quite well.

Ok, but what is everyone wringing their hands and being terrified actually going to achieve?

I will follow the advice given by the people whose job it is to work this stuff out.

I've had the flu once, genuinely thought I would die I felt so terrible. I didn't though, recovered completely.

There are also people who describe their symptoms as "very mild". Yes, it's serious and very unpleasant for some. Accordingly we should all take proportionate steps in response. I'm happy to be directed by those who know far more about this than I do as to what those proportionate steps should be.

Though, thinking about it, the comparison to flu is probably based in an optimistic assumption about basic capacity to assimilate information.

A month or two ago there was a long thread on MN about (actual) flu, and even though people patiently explained, and gave links to explain, how flu works, it was still inundated with people who didn't read it and replied 'oh but if you have real flu you are really ill, if you are only a little unwell that can't be flu'.

I suppose if there's one positive to Coronavirus, it might be that people might actually learn to understand how viruses work.

I think most people (like me) just think there is fuck all we can do about any of it so there’s no point worrying. If we get it, we get it. There’s no treatment, no magic cure, it’s likely that a lot more people will get it but also likely that a lot more people already have it and have already had it (and recovered) so the figures are probably wildly inaccurate. Lots of those people will never thought to have rung 111 or be tested for it.

It’s the absolute muppets panic buying that are going to cause the most issues to be honest. We won’t have a supplier issue if people just keep calm and carry on but if people keep buying loo roll and hand wash like they’re going to spend the next few months shitting for Britain and then washing their hands we will all be fucked, Coronavirus or not.

It's ok for the lay person to conceptualize it as a bad, contagious flu.

Medical professionals need to know the difference of course, but the rest of the population needs to know to keep washing our hands to avoid passing it on to the elderly and vulnerable.

People say all sorts of nonsense about flu. A lot of people imagine that 'proper flu' or 'real flu' means having very severe symptoms. There's a couple of examples on this thread.

That is not what flu is.

Many people who have flu have quite mild symptoms.

From Wikipedia...

Approximately 33% of people with influenza are asymptomatic.

Symptoms of influenza can start quite suddenly one to two days after infection. Usually the first symptoms are chills and body aches, but fever is also common early in the infection, with body temperatures ranging from 38 to 39 °C (approximately 100 to 103 °F). Many people are so ill that they are confined to bed for several days, with aches and pains throughout their bodies, which are worse in their backs and legs.

Autumn Rose

I liked a line I heard from US medical expert with WHO today - Keep calm and contain.

So don’t go crazy and fight over loo roll but do concentrate on contain with hand washing and social distancing etc

Of course people understand it.
Covid-19 doesn't scare me at all. (for myself, personally. I am worried about the vulnerable). What scares me is the perfect storm of a Tory majority, Brexit, and a possible global recession caused by covid-19. I am also worried the ability of the government to handle it, and the effect on the NHS.

Sorry OP, I and certainly all of my friends/family that I've discussed this with are well are aware of the points you raise!

LittleRootie thank you 😂

So funny that someone just made a clip of that.

Andrew Scott - a legend after just ten minutes of TV.

I heard a panic buyer neighbour telling me “well the shops will get more”.

So a) why did she buy loads of loo roll and bottled water

b) what does she think happens if it’s worse than predicted and the supply chain collapses?

I didn’t say anything, she might have a heart attack if I said that.

Thanks @PhoneLock. I didn't know the 33% statistic, but I think this is probably what that comparison is trying to get across. A lot of us, if we catch this, won't feel terribly ill - but we could still pass it on.

IME, the people who take flu seriously (as people I know who are immunocompromised do) already understand. The people who need to understand are those who imagine that they have had 'real' flu because they spent three weeks in bed with a fever, and therefore arrogantly presume that Coronovirus will automatically affect them more seriously.

Of course, they may pass it on without ever knowing they had it.

I am aware of the risks, I am also well aware that my partner may get it, in the job he is in and brings it back (we have cases in my area)

Cant do jack shit about it, although really pissed off we are down to our last roll of toilet paper and for someone who thought they were prepared for being stuck in for 2 weeks is looking at having to use a towel on their own arse.

Because everyone has bought every fucking toilet roll in the county could be a slight exaggeration

@HerkyBaby I agree I have been most frightened by the fact that politicians and medical experts seem genuinely concerned by this. Usually they are dismissive but we are hearing lots of subliminal messages about preparing for major disruption to our daily lives. They know it's coming and I'm at some point in the next two weeks we will be Italy m.

LaurieFairyCake Sat 07-Mar-20 22:53:50
I've had the flu once. It was so painful all over I prayed for death. Actually prayed to die for about 2 days.

Apparently getting the Coronavirus feels worse than flu if you need medical intervention - apparently it feels like DROWNING in your own lung fluids

That sounds TERRIFYING.
.........
It certainly does.

I've had the 'flu - nuff said. Dread having it again.

AutumnRose1 Also, some of us who are immunocompromised and wash our hands like Lady Macbeth as a matter of course

So much this and I love the LM reference.

What I don't understand is how sitting at home with a stockpile of loo roll and pasta is actually going to help save the NHS in this hour of crisis.

Small amounts of both of those (not a massive stockpile) might actually help save the NHS if they are part of some basic planning by people who are able to stay at home and avoid catching the virus. Being able to stay at home more and go out to the shops less will actually help.

I'm not trying to justify people buying unreasonable amounts, but you asked how owning those could help - and that's how. Anyone who is able to stay at home and reduce trips out can help by doing just that.

That's the point of the 'delay' stage - to slow down people getting it. Everyone saying oh well, can't do anything about it, and carrying on as normal, will make things worse. Some people have to - but some don't and can stay at home more - and they should.

This is why I'm unable to ever forgive seething all the twats who voted tory OP.