Worried about coronavirus thread 23

[ofwarren]

Welcome to thread 23
Here is a link to the previous thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3845520-Worried-about-coronavirus-thread-22

@Kuponut So I suppose the government could order them to close? I guess if they can order lockdown they could close a uni too.

I have a question, sorry if it's already been answered but if I take my daughter (age 5) out of school will I get fined for it? I have very elderly relatives, some of whom aren't in good health and one who has stage 4 cancer..

@DigitalGhost I read on another thread that the nursery insurance won't pay out so I suppose we pay or the nursery closes.

Am in a province of Spain where nurseries, schools and universities have been ordered to shut for two weeks (min atm) as of Monday. Also sports events have been cancelled, public spaces can only work at 1/3 max capacity, and a leaflet was given to us at school saying to avoid pretty much everywhere, from restaurants, cinemas, to even parks and swings! There is special importance given to not taking children to see their grandparents... All seems so surreal!

For our government to STILL not call a halt to large group gatherings - at the very least - in the light of ROI today, would be astonishing.

The government is indeed washing its hands of the heartfelt concerns of millions of people.

We have been confirmed that we still have to pay fees.

@Nerrsnerr I thought that was before the government made it a notifiable illness?
The nursery my DD goes to doesn't have many paying parents. It's mostly full of 15 and 30 hours free so they'd still be screwed if we paid.

Do they roll over? How long do you carry that on for?

What happens to the countries who don’t do it though. It escalates indefinitely?

I think Ireland can make a good stab at containing it at least. We are a small country with a small population. We value the elderly and the vulnerable. We can but try.

Daily Mail (I know, I know) reporting that Boris will not order schools to close, nor will he ban mass gatherings.

mmm, going to an event tonight, with 1500 people standing... so close proximity, plus travel on public transport there and back. Should I be going??

omg, not closing schools. Will allow it to spread.

So, my musings on economics continue.

I am in the process of trying to move my business model from bricks and mortar to online plus outside events due to the way retail has dropped off in the last year in our town anyway. Obviously as a one woman band and also caring for my Mum this has turned into a long slow process.

Some industries that are already virtual - for example the financial sector - will be able to facilitate working from home without too much disruption.

Businesses relying on a customer facing model who have to change that for CV purposes may have a whole bunch of people who will be on ZHC or not eligible for state support - this includes the self employed - who may have to stay at home.

If people are without income a logical step will be to start trying to work online - widget selling being the top priority - trying to offload surplus possessions and the like - so online sites like ebay and similar may see a surge in use.

However, shopping for "unnecessary" items, even online will become less of a priority than essential bills and day to day practical concerns, and if we all have an eye on a precarious financial situation, this may be futile.

In addition, if countries are implementing travel / export restrictions, then the global market shrinks - in addition, delivery chains may come under extra pressure locally and may suffer shortages of staff on the ground as the virus spreads, meaning that even if you can supply, there is a demand and you can fill it, external forces may prevent the movement of goods.

It really does seem as if there is no easy route out of financial trouble both on a personal level and globally.

And it really pains me to be thinking about these things because in the grand scheme of things, much as I love my velvet collection, shopping is the last thing on my mind and the fact that I feel I have to make room for such considerations alongside my dying Mum and my MIL in residential care etc etc feels offensive and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm usually fairly pragmatic but with everything feeling so unstable, it's so damn hard to try and formulate any sort of long term practical strategy, not to feather my nest, but just to keep the twigs together.

Any other small business owners feeling similar?

I don't think Boris will close schools, or ban gatherings, it's going to be all - wash your hands, we have more testing kits, re-consider going to large events...

Scotland isn't closing schools. There is no way Boris will.

So, what happens if Nicola Sturgeon bans gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday (as she has mentioned in FMQs just now), and RUK does not?

If RUK doesn't restrict movement, and Scotland does - well, that's more example of the difference between Holyrood and Westminster, isn't it?

A virus could contribute to the break up of the union?

I don't think Boris will close schools, or ban gatherings, it's going to be all - wash your hands, we have more testing kits, re-consider going to large events... Smacks very much of putting the onus on us so if it goes tits up, it's the public to blame, not the government.

Well I just got a text from DS secondary school. It is parents evening tonight and he is in Y8 so choosing options.

They gave out forms two weeks ago and deadline to hand in is 16th.

Except now they want us to give them in tonight. 🤔 I'm thinking school closures are imminent.

mmm, going to an event tonight, with 1500 people standing... so close proximity, plus travel on public transport there and back. Should I be going??

Erm No!!!

Just answered the door to my regular postman...for the first time in a decade he was wearing gloves and his electronic signature device (sorry, don't know the word for it) was attached to his wrist so he simply flicked it in my direction so he didn't have to touch it....

Are sure schools aren’t closing? They haven’t announced yet have they?

Why do they keep the same sort of hours my teenager does when out of school?

I understand that it’s because they travel down from some quite faraway constituencies, hence a late Monday start and finish, getting earlier and earlier across the week and sometimes off on Fridays (allowing travel back).

A friend’s DH works in Parliament; it is indeed a bonkers schedule.

Francois Balloux. Proof genetics UCL On BBC (my professors didn’t look like that)

Said China took extreme measures but effective on short term, but may not be stopped and unless eradicated globally is likely to re-emerge.

Asked which country is right?

Says that the health care system needs to be ready, that is the immediate threat.

Consensus would be delay.

I am hoping that he knows how virus’s develop and act.

Think I may take up genetic if I had my time again!

I’m sorry... have they given a statement?

if schools are closed, would unis also shut?

I have various universities and FE colleges as clients and they have been doing a lot of work to prepare for possible online learning

JUST TO CONFIRM, NO STATEMENT AS YET