Is this whole thing being exaggerated?

[agentstarling]

Coronavirus seems to only affect mostly older people with already compromised immune systems. So far we have had only 11 deaths some being 80 even a ninety-year-old. The press is whipping people up into a hysteria in my view I have a degree in biology I am not a doctor but I would say that some of this is ridiculous.

@nellodee maybe I didn't explain my point very well. Our intensive are beds are in short supply anyway even in normal times here in the Uk. People will not stop needing ITU beds for the many other reasons than Coronavirus - people are going to continue to get sick from the usual stuff. But with the added numbers of people with Coronavirus that will need respiratory support there simply aren't going to be enough beds to go round.
So medics will have to ration beds/treatment and the usual way of doing that I presume is to decide who is most likely to survive if given ITU care.

Op,

I don’t think people should be panicking. That won’t help anyone.

But...I do think we should all be taking this very seriously. I think people who are sick SHOULD be self isolating. I understand it’s hard when you have to earn money, but it’s a terrible thing to do, to go out and spread illness knowingly.
People SHOULD be hand washing regularly. People SHOULD follow advice not to block 111 if it’s not necessary - one dad spent ages on the phone trying to establish if his daughter could go to school - she had a temperature but not a cough. We've been given this advice already!!!! No they do not go to school.

And now our government needs to start looking like this is a serious issue, so the 25% of Britain who currently don’t give a hoot, start to care.

And in the short run hundreds of thousands of people are going to die. All within the next couple of months. All of them leaving behind people who love them.

erm it has only killed 3000 in China in Hubei province which has 80 million people

I’ll be diplomatic and assume the OP is ignorant of the facts and of the unknowns.
Primarily, everybody can get and nobody knows what the lasting effects are regardless of having or not having symptoms.
There are a lot of unknowns and they can be very serious for people of all ages.

Some good points already made. Another is that while the NHS is overwhelmed treating coronavirus patients, there will be very few resources for treating anything else. So if you have an accident or get some other illness, your chance of getting good treatment are seriously reduced.

agent there is a side effect of those who get it badly and survive. Loss of lung capacity of up to 30% for the rest of their lives.

Well OP, I really hope that you dont get hit by a bus in the next couple of months, because if you do you will be lucky to get an ICU bed

Someone’s not looked at worldometer coronvirus?

I look at it all the time and I am concerned.
But as to whether it is exaggerated:
Boris says 80% will get it and 450,000 will die.
On this thread people are saying look at Italy.
Look at worldometer. No countries have even close to 1% infection, not even Italy. China is reporting a slow down in infections and millions haven't died.

The Chinese built an staffed 14 brand new hospitals and forced everyone in the area into isolation.

It has "only" killed 3000 in China because they took draconian measures of quarantine and lockdown. The UK is not doing this.

Only 3000? Agent???
Have you any idea what the effect on the poor, vunerable will be with just the measures that will be implemented? There are thousands of kids whose only meal of the day is the one they get at school. If they shut the schools what happens to them? Good banks cannot get supplies because if the selfish people stockpiling and the worry people have about trying to keep roof over their head if they can't work and don't get statuary sick pay! Believe me there will be other deaths related to Covid 19 besides those that don't get it!!

erm it has only killed 3000 in China in Hubei province which has 80 million people

And why do you think that is? Do you think possibly that's because they took it seriously and put the whole place on lockdown?

Meanwhile we are all going to Tescos, to school and to work and thinking we are smarter than the rest of Europe and the world.

No one knows the true figures of those contracting the virus because some think they just had flu or a bad cold others don't show symptoms and others as in America or poor countries with private health who can't afford to go to doctors or hospital just die.

Agree with you @agentstarling. Speak to your friends, work colleagues, or anyone you see in real life and i would guess they would agree. Everyone lives in their own real world bubble and mix with people who believe in the similar values. If you think it's 'catastrophic' no doubt the people you mix with will, the same if you think it's and 'overreaction' most people you mix with will agree.
Much hysteria on here, as there was with Brexit, which so far hasn't ended the world, and the election. A lot of mumsnet appears to be less educated than the 'norm' but think they are more educated because they have read it on Facebook/Twitter/mumsnet.
Yes it's not great, not ideal, and people will die, which is terrible. Some people are going to try and turn this with me saying it's not bad. It is bad, it's catastrophic, but it's not going to end the world as the mumsnet hysteria suggests.
Nobody actually knows what will happen, everyone has their thoughts and beliefs. As people have differing opinions on how bad it needs to get before it is 'bad'. In England over the last few years the worst year was 2014/2015 where 28,330 people died. If less than 100,000 people die in the UK, i'd say this has been over hyped.
As mentioned above, it's a bad virus, but not as bad as hyped.

You have to build up herd immunity because you cannot keep people in lockdown forever so as soon as it is lifted back comes the virus. Read my link and that will explain the thinking behind government thinking. It is risky what they are trying to do but it is logical.

tell that to my 19 year old with cystic fibrosis. She's a drain on society anyway, eh

You can’t get bldy herd immunity. O dear.

Oh thank goodness CoronaCon you have come on to say the virus is not as bad as hyped.

Here was I thinking that the world's experts who are saying 'we are not sure exactly what we are dealing with' had something of value to say.
Over hyping it, clearly to a man and an organisation.

You are welcome to pst your CV and qualifications here below.

CoronaCon, so if under 100k then you think it is hype so how many in the UK would need to die before you decide that maybe you downplayed it?

As I said there will be many deaths not caused by the virus but from the effects in trying to contain it especially the homeless, poor and vunerable. It is not so much the virus ( which is going to hit real hard) but the effects i.e financial crash, loss if jobs, shortages due to stockpiling etc.

As I said there will be many deaths not caused by the virus but from the effects in trying to contain it especially the homeless, poor and vunerable. It is not so much the virus ( which is going to hit real hard) but the effects i.e financial crash, loss if jobs, shortages due to stockpiling etc.

I honestly think the virus will kill far more people in this country than potential deaths from economic implications! Way more!!

only an increase of 342 today. nothing to worry about. and theyre only testing those in the hospitals now, so no 111 calls

some people are going to get a REALLY BIG SHOCK when they actually catch on

It is ridiculous.
The people at risk are >65 yr olds. They should all self-isolate. The rest of the world should continue.

Iran is digging mass graves as we speak.

Source:Twitter #Iran