Tom Hanks

[PatricksRum]

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/12/tom-hanks-wife-rita-wilson-infected-coronavirus-australia/

First high profile case?

I feel this may shaken the "it's just flu" types

conspiracy theorists or people denying the impact.

You’re thinking conspiracy theorists will be persuaded by Tom Hanks getting it? Have you ever met a conspiracy theorist?

The deaths are mainly among the elderly and people with serious health conditions.

@PurpleDaisies Perhaps, yes.
I didn't mention death. I said affected.

I like Tom Hanks. It certainly made me prick my ears up when I heard it on the radio. However I don't think it will make anyone change their personal viewpoint on how worried they should be.

Luckily for him he's in a more fortunate position than most of the world in terms of the care that will be available to him. He can probably afford a couple of weeks off work too and even continue to pay any employees he has. Get well soon Tom.

You mean people are saying only the elderly will catch it?

JoyceDivision

Tom Hanks? It must be Big.
😄

It'll be Splash-ed all over the newspapers.

@isabellerossignol Yep they are.

People are denying it exists?

Must say I hadn't come across that particular conspiracy theory but I suppose conspiracy theorists will believe anything.

From the way he describes it I'd go with "it's not even the flu" but we know that it's mild in most and very serious for a few.

What strikes me though is the symptoms he describes are nothing like the ones we've been told are indicative. People with his symptoms (me!) will have been more or less carrying on with normal life.

The main problem with Corona is the possibility that the majority of the population will have it at the same time.

If people were infected at a steady rate over time, instead of all at once, the NHS, businesses etc would be able to cope much better.

The virus itself is not much worse than the flu. Like the flu the elderly and vulnerable are more likely to be badly affected and suffer complications such as pneumonia.

Whether Tom hanks or any other 'celebrity' gets it is irrelevant imo. Celebrity does not equal immunity.

conspiracy theorists or people denying the impact. Or people trying to live their lives without being cripplingly afraid of something they cannot control?

And, like many others I am guessing, I have been ignoring most of the Corona threads because of the Brexit style tone of them!

(makes mental note to stay away from vegan threads too)

I have heard so many people saying it's being over dramatised.
"it won't reach us"
"it's just the same as flu"
"it's a conspiracy"
"it's being exaggerated"
"I'm still going to Italy"

Whether or not this will make them realise is a matter of opinion. As I said earlier, I feel it may. If you don't that is equally OK

God knows celebs can’t get the flu, after all. They’re immune to all but the most virulent diseases.

A man in the demographic most people, rightly or wrongly, see as being most affected, getting the virus isn't going to surprise anyone

The flu comparison is from people in denial. It’s not a flu. A comparison with pneumonia would be more apt.

I had pneumonia last year as a result of a very bad bout of flu, and was nearly hospitalised. So in that way flu is like COVID-19. But I was treated by 2 courses of antibiotics, the second being double strength. The pneumonia connected with COVID-19 is viral hence the large numbers of fatalities.

The other difference is that there is a flu vaccine available every year. Eventually there will be a vaccine available for coronavirus as well, but until then those of who are vulnerable will continue to be at risk

I can't imagine too many people dropping their complacency because Tom Hanks has COVID-19. It might have the opposite effect as his infection is mild.

Tom Hank’s son said his parents weren’t too sick and were in hospital. I hope this doesn’t become a precedent for so called celebrities and the wealthy taking up hospital beds. They should be self isolating so there are enough hospital beds for those who are very ill with the Coronavirus.

This example would only work if celebrities never got any type of flu/virus etc then all of a sudden the Tom Hanks got Coronavirus. I fear it may do the opposite imo, no doubt he will have top doctors (if he is seriously affected obviously) and he will appear right as rain and people will think, oh what's the fuss.