Worried about coronavirus thread 22

[ofwarren]

@usernameishistory is busy and asked me to start a new thread.

Please see post 21 for more information about coronavirus.

[Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

We have just given out invitations for our young child’s birthday party at end of April. Willing to postpone if that is necessary (nearer the time). What are everyone’s thoughts? Are we being overly optimistic to hope this will go ahead?

My son’s party is going ahead on Saturday, but this is in a time where schools are still open, people are allowed to socialise as normal and so I don’t think it’s anymore risky than all the children sitting in the same classroom at school.

In terms of the end of April......we’ll it’s just impossible to predict how life will be at that point.

Can you just book it and then cancel nearer the time if needed??

Does anybody know what the situation is for the rest of the UK? Are we governed by the Prime Minister rules for this? Are we being advised by PHE also, or separately. NHS Scotland are devolved, but I'm not seeing separate advice.

How do we know the UK is doing less than other countries behind the scenes?

We are not more likely to get run over anyway, that is untrue. About 500,000 people die in England and Wales every year from all causes. Car crashes, suicide, murder, cancer, heart attacks, etc. A 1% mortality rate with 80% transmission means 500,000 people dying.

There is still a lot of minimisation of this going on.

Surely it has to move on from wash your hands and ring 111.
While school closures may not be palatable to the Government, measures such as cancelling large gatherings and ordering companies to WFH should be taken ASAP.
We had guidance yesterday which was more or less you’ll be working until you drop of it.
No attempt to acknowledge the possibility of us spreading it out and about in the community with highly vulnerable people in the early stages.

I thought we were trying to flatten peaks, schools are huge mixing pots with many older staff.

I would have thought slowing it would mean school closures.

Flatten peak by stopping large gatherings, do many over 60 go to large gatherings and only social?

@Chocolateandgin24
I am not an expert, but I live in China and ime the virus cannot be contained without tough measures. Washing hands and increased hygiene are both important, but social distancing through people staying at home is working in China.

@SirChing Actions, not words. Other Governments are taking decisive actions to stop the spread. We are not. We have taken decisive actions to save the economy. Because that is the focus.

I'm interested to see any directive today on large gatherings.

In Parliament last night an MP in my city of Birmingham (Gary Sambrook) reminded MH that the massive St Patrick's Day Parade was going ahead in the city centre (where my DH works) and that scores will be travelling in.

In this last week the city airport has seen Crufts (160k visitos, 50 countries inc Italy), Cheltenham (250k visitors over several days) and now people visiting and flying in for this parade (esp when other parades have rightly cancelled).

I’m surprised only 25% of Spanish GPs doing work childcare here in the NE I’d say a good 70-80% of families I know rely on GPs for work childcare but I suppose it because such a high % of this region are on low/average pay people can’t afford to continue to work their std office hour jobs and have enough in their wages to pay for nursery fees

@FacingtheAbess I am not 60, but 50, but yes have friends 60 plus who go to large gatherings. Being 60 is not like being 90. Most are still working full time, going to concerts, sports matches, parties, etc. I was at a party 2 weeks ago with plenty there in this age group.

Oh and last night 150 from the Diamond cruise ship flew in there!

New York has cancelled their St Patrick’s Day parade but Birmingham hasn’t. You couldn’t make it up!

Yes we are not doing even minimal things to stop the spread. Because we are not trying to. The aim is for people to get it, because that will be better for the economy. The response is being driven by economists.

@DirtyDancing
Hope I’m wrong but the emerging consensus seems to be the government is just going to let it spread over X number of months. So the question which is now beginning to look like the elephant in the room is why the British government willing to entertain the prospect of 500,000 British deaths when the Chinese government, in control of a huge, unwieldy, and poorer country, is looking to limit deaths to fewer than 5,000 What on Earth is going on? To be frank I am finding the “response” (wash hand everybody!!!) of the European countries to be very disturbing.

Thousands of Chinese international students have in the past week or two decided to leave Britain to head back to China because of the ineptness of the British response. Overreaction? Perhaps. But the fact that they’ve even been left with a decision to make is a disgrace. Who voted for these do nothing idiots posing as a government?

The Government are putting the economy first. This is not incompetence I think, but deliberate policy. So keep talking about decisive action, but keep saying it is not the right time to do anything.

Do you not think that the government are getting advice from the WHO, they might even have their telephone number on speed dial!!
Never seen so many ‘experts’ on the internet as there are on this forum!!

I’m not convinced in economy first but I am interested in why we are out of step with everyone else.

Statistically as individuals we're still pretty safe- more likely to get run over crossing the road, kind of thing

But in five days time I won't be twice as likely to get run over and in ten days time I won't be four times as likely to get run over and in 15 days time I won't be 16 times more likely to get run over.

Exo Ireland has cancelled St Patrick's Day parades! But not Brum...

Daily SARSCoV2 update:

⬆️126,483 cases (+7,191)
⬆️53,533 active (+5,123)
⬇️5,707 critical (-40)
⬆️47,826 mild (+5,163)
⬆️68,314 recoveries (+1,732)
⬆️4,636 deaths (+336)
⬆️124 countries (+5)
⬆️3.7% CFR (+0.1%)

Source: Worldometers

Chinese exchange students were all flown out of Italy earlier this week.
Boris said on Sunday all British Citizens in Italy would be expatriated if necessary by the govt. Bollocks obviously.

Do you not think that the government are getting advice from the WHO,

No one is questioning whether the government are getting advice from WHO, we are wondering why they don't seem to be following their advice.

The problem is this can no longer be stopped it’s to wide spread and whereas I applaud China for the tough measures they did my concern is that (a) in other countries with different governments it’s not possible and (b) you need everyone to do it
Measures we impose have to be sustainable for months rather than weeks and followed. Those are what I am expecting today