Boris doing an announcement at 4.45pm today

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

Think on BBC

HavenDilemma speak to the school, they may suggest you keep DC home or bring her in/collect her later or earlier when less people around the school gate.

@HavenDilemma technically the guidance seem to mean that you can take your DC to school. Whilst doing so you should observe social distancing so stay away from others, send the kids in from a distance etc.

In reality your DC being in school increases your risk of being exposed.

So, you can keep your DC off to protect yourself but will receive no mandated support (it will probably be unauthorised absence, probably no work sent home). Or you can take them.

Isn't it great all this free will the government has let us have?

@fedup21 They should in theory, although as others have said essential workers with children will need childcare cover. I saw another member who is a teacher mention they are happy to stay for key workers and essential workers but they feel pregnant or vulnerable teachers should work from home.

I do think schools should close, but the NHS etc need to keep running.

Neck pain, au contraire. I don't believe the tories want the poor to die at all, how ridiculous... I do believe there is poor information however and advice

Erm...Can you just flag up the bit where I said 'the tories want the poor to die'? Actually, I'll save you the trouble. I didn't, so please don't imply that I did.

Saying that the Tories famously don't give a shit about the poor and vulnerable is hardly breaking news. It's the Tory MO.

'Au contraire' I always think of Del Boy when I hear that.

Children are all offered the flu jab

Are they saying that we will be asked to self-isolate if we receive the flu jab?

Why fighting the coronavirus depends on you:

(great to see a visual representation)

@HavenDilemma that's a simple one - you keep your child off because not to would put you at risk. Schools have now been given a code for self-isolaters so you will not be sanctioned for absence.

I'm pregnant, have a 20 month old and we currently have my elderly parents who have cancer live with us.

DH still needs to work.

How on earth do we protect my parents when he is in close contact with people daily and coming home?

Moving out isn't financially possible to support two households.

We are in the process of creating a "safe zone" kitchen/bathroom wise so they'll have their own. But that takes time.

We are hoping DH can beg his two weeks holiday for short notice to get it finished.

I'm absolutely terrified for them.

Essential: Food shopping, Pharmacy for medicines, hospital if you need admission, hospital if you work there, military if you are in the services, police, fire and other rescue services

Non-essential: Everything else

So home care workers, teachers, food bank volunteers, social workers, delivery drivers, supermarket employees, milkmen, emergency plumbers, power station workers, sewage workers etc.etc. shouldn’t leave the house?

This isn’t straightforward by any means and the advice isn’t clear.

I feel bad for all of you in the UK. I didnt think anyone could possible more inept then Trump, but even our government is finally doing things right. Plus we have the fact that each State can make it's own rules, so most State here have closed all their schools and bars and restaurants.

Those of you who think the government can/should bail out all business/self-employed individuals who will fail because of this situation (and many will, look at the travel business for a start - which I work in) - where does the money come from?

This is not goady, it is a genuine question.

Absolute shambles of a press conference (and I have to say sky and bbc both were muddled in coverage too - I’m not altogether surprised) .
Still U.K. is out of line with stones being taken and absolutely no explanation why. Look what France and US have done tonight !
It’s really frightening now !

It will come from where macron is finding it in France tonight !

Well British equiv obvs.

Seems like a good opportunity to scrap HS2. Shame so much money was spent on Brexit.

I still dont think they are telling us everything about this virus.

where does the money come from?
Money is a concept, not a concrete thing. And the government/global governments could agree to bail businesses out now for more taxation in future when we get back into growth. That would be a lot more reassuring to people now. Instead of this situation where it's clear a lot of businesses are going to be really damaged/go bust and they have no support. It's just unnecessary stress for people and will also stop them following govt advice if they are scared about their income.

@FecktheBoss oh sod off with tin foil hat shit

@rosehip10 sorry but "tin foil hat shit"? So you think they're being completely transparent?

@avocadont ok, please explain what you think the government is lying about?

@rosehip10 when did I say I thought they were lying? Lying and withholding information are very different things.

Saying 'I don't think they're telling us everything' is hardly 'tin foil hat shit' in a global pandemic situation.

It's almost certain to be the case.

It's really pathetic that so many people are so tribal that they are using this as a two minute hate against 'evil Tories.' Grow up.