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!?

It is a big deal because we don’t know enough about this virus whilst it runs wild decimating lives at a very fast pace. Until a vaccine is found and distributed to enough people to develop resistance to it, most worldwide infrastructure will collapse because many people will be ill at the same time even if they don’t die from it. So, potentially, worst case scenario for you personally as an example, your wifi and mobile data will drop whilst you have energy disruption at home and work, no holidays and can’t afford petrol for your car because your huge savings are worthless or you lost your job.
So people need to adjust their behaviour whilst observing official health reccomandations which, I agree, it’s a pain in the arse.
Lots of people dying might not be the biggest problem as percentages go, but everybody’s life will be affected at a practical level.

I think at some stage, though, those who can’t grasp it need to just suck it up and follow instruction. Stop trying to understand it and just accept that you need to do as you have been told. It’s not actually a hardship to not always be able do whatever you want whenever you want.

Maybe someone should do a ‘for dummies’ style handout. The government should really have already done that.

But then if they can’t get people to understand something basic like ‘a new persistent cough OR a fever’ then honestly, what’s the point?

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay I think many of us are getting tetchy, not just here but in general. Thanks for setting a good example.

@WellErrr

Hi, its a big real for these reasons:

1. it has a much higher death rate than flu. possibly 40x more deadly.
2. We do not have anywhere near enough critical care beds
3. Whilst not make people have the illness compared to flu it will increase at a massive rate because it follows exponential growth. See below video

6.5 million people in the UK are over 70. Then on top of that you have the folk with underlying health issues.

How the fuck do you expect the NHS to cope if that number of people ar exposed to this virus.

I truly didn't mean it in a rude or patronising way, those are questions I ask myself all the time and I have a lot of work to do in all those areas. I'm happy to admit it. I think people are worth the effort of self improvement.

I am sorry, I clearly should have phrased it more carefully. I think at this point OP many people have spent days and weeks watching others who can't process things take great risks which we are all going to pay for. So there is frustration.

The trouble with social media is that I find it very hard to believe anything I read online any more

You know that actual news and reputable health and scientific bodies also post online? News articles, features, facts.... not opinions by random strangers?

6.5 million people in the UK are over 70. Then on top of that you have the folk with underlying health issues.

So the logical solution would be to isolate those who would be most seriously effected. It would surely be much easier to keep, and police, 6.5 million people in isolation than 68 million people and would come with the added bonus of not fucking up 1000s of businesses and the economy.

I strongly suggest that you start watching the BBC or ITV news regularly and buy yourself a good daily paper (one of the broadsheets, not titles like the Sun or Daily Mail etc)

Flu kills 8000 a year, Corona is projected to kill about 20k min. It spreads more easily and a lot faster. The country is shutting down because people are getting so sick so quickly from it and so companies cannot operate. For even those who don’t die, many will become seriously ill. Not to mention that the NHS and other health structures are becoming crushed by it. People are losing businesses, jobs, lives, money, childcare. People are having to isolate loved ones ie elderly family members to try and protect them. There is also no vaccination whereas there is for flu.

Mmmm I start to think this post is jus to stir an reaction, op is probably not into numbers or statistics or facts?

You know that actual news and reputable health and scientific bodies also post online? News articles, features, facts.... not opinions by random strangers?

This!

Quite simply because this virus is causing damage to people which is beyond the limits of modern medicine.

It causes the lungs to fill with fluid and the red blood cells to not carry oxygen well so double suffocation and while the body's natural defence fights the virus, it also leads to heart damage, liver damage and kidney damage. In addition to lungs failing-that is 4 organ systems failing which you may commonly know as multi organ failure. The drugs to fight this virus are experimental and also cause liver damage.

The machines to fight the virus and buy your body time to heal are specialised, expensive and at limited capacity in number and trained staff (ventilation, oxygen support, dialysis, haemofiltration for liver and ECMO). The machines may also not help you if your own body has damaged itself beyond repair.

Equally while mainly old peoole have died of late, there are still thousands of critical people of all ages who are in limbo between needing respiratory support and rehabilitation or dying because guess what, the virus can also cause encephalitis and enter the spinal fluid.

So when you ask why are people shitting themselves...its largely because of the above and the people who look after the sick people catch it too (less of them means less people to save you) and it doesnt care if you are rich or a celebrity.

I hope that makes it make sense for you.

What scares me is that I recognise your user name, which means you're probably not a troll, and really are that clueless as to what is going on. Does this mean you have been ignoring government advice to social distance etc?

Why is this worse than flu (which thousands of people have, and thousands die from each winter)?

It's not flu, it's about five times more contagious than flu, and ten times more deadly.

Why the massive response?

Because hundreds of thousands of people are going to die, and hopefully we can prevent some of the deaths by lessening the spread.

Not read through thread, apologies if repeating. OP, it’s the potential of high death rates if measures are not brought in. If no measures and a possible mortality rate of 1% and 80% of the population get infected before a vaccine is developed that is approx 500,000 deaths.

This mathematical fable might help.

If a chessboard were to have wheat placed upon each square such that one grain were placed on the first square, two on the second, four on the third, and so on (doubling the number of grains on each subsequent square), how many grains of wheat would be on the chessboard at the finish?

The problem may be solved using simple addition. With 64 squares on a chessboard, if the number of grains doubles on successive squares, then the sum of grains on all 64 squares is: 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + ... and so forth for the 64 squares. The total number of grains equals 18,446,744,073,709,551,615, much higher than most expect.

So it’s the rate at which it can potentially multiply theoretically if 1 person infects 2 and they each infect 2 and so on that’s the number with 64 doublings.

People have such knee-jerk reactions. Does anyone really know what is happening? If someone says that at least children and people under sixty without any underlying conditions are safe, people jump on them, but isn't that good news?

If anyone mentions the economic repercussions they are also treated as a leper, but being broke is bad for one's health. I live in a country where over 50% of the population is tremendously poor and if they can't go out to work, they will have nothing to eat tomorrow.

And I'm another one who doesn't understand why everything is shutting down.

Times like this it hits you just what it means to be in the top whatever percentage of the population education-wise..... like most people on Mumsnet.

I’m sorry if that sounds snobbish, but it is true.

That’s why we need good leadership at times like these.

Where’s the Queen? I think she will have to step in.

The Queen in her 90s!
I agree about where is this alarm about people dying of starvation and malaria everyday though.

OP sorry if I missed it, but I’m curious to know where you got the information about it being less deadly than flu.

In case it’s of interest, the BMJ website has all the coronavirus info available without a log in.

www.bmj.com/

People have such knee-jerk reactions. Does anyone really know what is happening? If someone says that at least children and people under sixty without any underlying conditions are safe, people jump on them, but isn't that good news?

Do you realise how many children, young people and under 60s have underlying conditions that are extremely problematic with this illness?
This is potentially extremely serious for hundreds of thousands of people.

It does no good at all to be complacent.

I haven't read the other replies, sorry, but to answer OP, this virus stays alive in air in a room for 3 hours and 2 or 3 days on surfaces - according to Reuters, NY Times, etc. Incredibly contagious. Italy were not prepared and their (ranked number 1) health services are on the point of collapse with ICU beds by some considerable number. This is backed up by testimonies from frontline doctors and nurses in Italy which unfortunately only became clear relatively recently and hence the governments in Europe acting so quickly over the last week. People dying from coronavirus are dying from not being able to breathe and there are insufficient ventilators - again by some considerable number - so the hcps have to decide who to let live and who die. More should be ordered from China by the UK, not sure if that has happened yet. More protective gear and face masks needed - 1 million being supplied to france by china this week.

The hope is that we lock down to stop the spread, to save lives. I hope that that now makes it all clear.

And in Italy it isn't just elderly or those with comorbidities dying - they are the ones more likely to be saved though, because of the awful position the hcps are in about having to make decisions.

“ I’m sorry if that sounds snobbish, but it is true. ”

The one friend I have who is still wanting to go to bars etc is in this category, though that might be more about not caring than anything else.