Prime minister announcement at 12

[Hugglespuffed]

Is it going to be drastic changes? Or just 'work at home if you can'?

@DoubleAction Italy have said they were too late to act and urged others to act sooner. But we think we know better and just ignore it all.

I've read that climate is a big factor in the spread, which would explain why it's stalled in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore & spread much more quickly in colder places

The reasons being:

1. Impact on NHS workers who have school-age children
2. Risk of groups of children gathering informally means it's more likely to spread
3. When/if the time comes schools for schools to close, it will be for a long period of time, so they need to get the timing right.

Italy were the only country in Europe to refuse flights from China.

But it was already too late, logically the person who infected Italy had already arrived before they stopped flights.

Our school seems to be covering all options. An email confirming a school trip still taking place tomorrow, but also log in details for a new on line teaching system they've just set up.
I also think they may be responsible for the hand gel shortage, it's every where.
I do hope the government have a clear course of action to announce.

Of course schools are not closing yet. Why would they when the Government hasn't even stopped large events from happening.

Snoozylou - They're trying to coax him out of the fridge.

No please leave him in there

No meetings of over 500 people in Scotland.

@VioletCharlotte We are not stupid. We all know that a skeleton staff of teachers could be kept on for children of essential workers.
And no my kids will mix with far far less kids out of school than in it. That is just a stupid argument.

Virus like this cannot be made to go away. Responsibility we have is to seek to manage this the best we can. Health service is going to face significant challenge in weeks and possible months to come.

Focus is on seeking to delay spread, reducing peak impact and protecting most vulnerable.

• Nicola Sturgeon paraphrased on BBC News

I've read that climate is a big factor in the spread, which would explain why it's stalled in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore & spread much more quickly in colder places

What’s the temperature in Iran and South Korea at the moment. You are betting on wishes, not using the facts and science that we have at our disposal.

We know how to stop/minimise the spread already, it’s all set out in the WHO-China joint mission report FFS.

Okay I think we are fucked. Boris and his rich friends will be fine of course.

I've read that climate is a big factor in the spread, which would explain why it's stalled in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore & spread much more quickly in colder places

You might have read that, but not enough is known about the virus to say what effect climate has on it.

They are taking their time with making the announcement.

Boris must have nothing to say. So he is now trying to dress "nothing" up to look like he has been terribly busy and actually achieved something, whilst at the same time doing fuck all.

Has there been an announcement? I can't find anything

Virus like this cannot be made to go away.

Unless you are China, who you know, actually are making it “go away” how ironic that they have no qualms themselves about quarantining people travelling from Italy and Iran for 14 days once their cases were no longer rising exponentially

@alloutoffucks
When did I say you were stupid?
I was repeating what Nicola Sturgeon was saying on Sky News as I mentioned on my first post.

I was trying to be helpful and share what was being said with those who weren't able to listen themselves.

No announcement yet.

Maybe Boris has coronavirus and the whole lot of them must now self-isolate.

Italy stopped flights from China, but they already had been infected by workers from China in the leather and textile industry. I also read that workers were simply flying somewhere else and then on to Italy, but I can’t substantiate that.
Italy closed down too late. Are we learning nothing ? We have been given the gift of time, that Italy did not have, and we have done absolutely nothing to stop the spread of this virus. All the football fans allowed in from Milan this week ! Insane.

Nicola hit the ground running (to coin a phrase) - good on her. She, at least, understands that people want to know what is happening. I dont agree with all her arguments, but she put them across well.

Whereas I expect BJohnson later to waffle on a lot, ruffle his hair, and evoke the Dunkirk spirit.

I wish we poor English had Nicola...

Finland has now banned all public gatherings and is imposing restrictions on travel.

Has anyone got an actual link to Nicola Sturgeons official comments?

NS has said and done nothing. Let's not have football or rugby gatherings because we need to keep our emergency services available. Let the virus continue to spread.

You do know they’re waiting for us to pick up our kids from school before announcing? To stop the mayhem? Seriously we will know soon.

Sweden has also banned public gatherings and government bods are currently in a meeting with school bods to discuss how to proceed.