Can someone help me understand why this is such a big deal? Because at the moment I really don’t.

[WellErrr]

Why is the world closing down?
Why is this worse than flu (which thousands of people have, and thousands die from each winter)?
Why the massive response?

I just do not get it at all. The only thing bringing the country to a halt seems to be the fact that everything’s shut and/or banned. Not the virus!?

I just cannot get worked up about it and I feel like I’m living in a parallel universe where everybody else knows something I don’t!?

@WellErrr
I have not rtwt
But answering your question.
I am very fit well 52 Yr old.. I ran my first half marathon on Sunday.
Today I cannot get upstairs I so put of breath, I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest, I have a pounding headache.
I can't really get my breath just sitting on sofa.
I am a doctor.. I am not given to panic
I am scared right now.
This is a nasty virus

The UK does not seem to appreciate the severity of the situation.
The supermarket today was absolutely full of groups of people and a lot of them were simply out for something to do, or come to be amazed at the empty pasta aisle.
WHEN it kicks off the likelihood of vulnerable loved ones dying with inadequate medical care, triaged as unsaveable due to having to ration the breathing equipment, is what we face.
Having seen both my parents both die at an age, in an individual hospital room, fantastically nursed and pain-free, the thought of it being otherwise is horrific to me.
It all seems abstract I know but it is here. The only control we have is how fast we let it spread through our own actions.

It’s impacting richer countries. Malaria has 450,000 deaths every year (mostly children) but because the victims are poor and not white the governments and people of the world don’t give a shit

@WellErrr

It is because we do not have the capacity to care for everybody who may get ill at once.

The infection rate needs to be slowed down or hundreds of tgousands of people will lose their lives unnecessarily.

The only way to slow down the spread is to isolate. The ICU's then have a fighting chance of treating people.

In a nut shell, isolation will save hundreds of thousands of people. I know that if just one person I knew died, it would cause devistation to many people.

You are doing it to protect a group not just yourself.

@Bringringbring12

Yes, of course.

That’s not really relevant here though.

It is a potentially fatal illness, with no cure, no vaccine and unprecedented mortality rates.

I am an NHS A and E worker. Take it from me. It's serious.

Please educate yourself before it's too late.

I ran my first half marathon on Sunday.

Why on earth did you attend a crowd event just four days ago? Surely you knew it wasn’t a good idea, especially if, as you say, you are a doctor?

@YouAreTheEggManIAmTheWalrus

Quite. I jumped but hey ho, once in a while I think, but what if it’s actually genuine.

I don’t understand why you’d ask this question on mumsnet instead of just googling it and looking at reputable sources?

This is quite a good demonstration as to why we should all be social distancing, for example

www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

Or look up what the WHO says.

I'm going to say it louder for the people in the back

"Healthy" people with no symptoms can still be carriers and spread the virus around to the vulnerable

So no. Healthy people can't just get on with it and live their normal lives, because pretty soon they will feel the effects.

its as if people think mumsnet is making policy or social media shutting down schools or some randomer off the street is deciding on medical issues.

The World Health Organisation has said to treat this seriously and stands behind all the actions people seem to think are group think or hysteria.

Why on earth do you think you know better than an expert organisation whose sole purpose is global health?

@theredjellybean oh no, i always look out for your posts, i am very sorry to hear you are unwell 😞

The run event should have been cancelled! We have slept walked into this nightmare..

OP I’m guessing you’re one of those still enjoying an evening down the pub asking these kind of questions

I agree this country needs a lockdown, as despite clear explanations people refuse to understand why we must stick to social distance measures

I am in healthcare and there is no way a doctor would ask this question.

Firstly, we learn epidemiology, we also know the strain the NHS was under BEFORE this.

I am presuming you are a doctor of something that is not related to medicine?!

Everyone has different levels of ability to understand, to comprehend, and many people have additional needs. If someone comes on and says they can not grasp it, kicking them is not the answer.

Whatever happened to be kind?

This video should help you understand, OP: www.facebook.com/InkTankFinland/videos/140331597368612/?eid=ARC5Gbq3fmu0qXx5aJeQas3SRjLp2XJw7RhZW7kFxzfuZJonSidTSt2OBp6ZKWKjuQr52m7d3eE1y6H3

I went to half marathon because the advice from chief scientist was mass gathering outside were low risk
It poured with rain.. So even lower risk.

So honestly, lot less risk than the people panic shopping in the supermarkets
All the people in IKEA or Costa or at soft play

And I will be honest and say I thought it would be a mild illness of I got it

It is possible to understand the gravity of the situation, agree with the measures being taken by national governments, and still think mumsnet is a frenzy of scaremongering and panic.

Yes, this.

Actually I agree bluntness. I appolgive for getting slightly frustrated with the OP upthread.

I don’t think the OP is alone. It’s been a very frustrating day.

This explains why these measures need to be taken (whilst being relatively amusing...)
m.facebook.com/507021835/posts/10156720421021836/?sfnsn=scwspwa&d=w&vh=i&extid=yzwiE8kiAbKsee8V

I've not read the replies but this is a novel virus which is making people I've seen extremely unwell. Even those without underlying health conditions.

I work for the NHS and I am fucking shitting myself.
I actually hoped I would crash my car driving into work today.
Not enough to need to be inside a hospital but enough to need to stay at home and I adore my job!

Theredjellybean tbf, I think it’s quite easy to underestimate what is meant by ‘mild’ when it comes to respiratory illnesses.

Unfortunately I think a lot of MNers who’ve been trying to play it down with ‘most people only get it mildly’ are going to be a bit surprised when they get ill.