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's good to hear that you know better than the Chief Medical Officer. You should give him a call. Fill him in.

Sorry I mean it is those who are young and without comorbities who are being saved.

If you think governments globally are taking these measures for "flu" and watching as their economies nosedive, enforcing lockdowns, pumping copious billions of money to keep things afloat, for a whim or a sniffle and yeah but only a few will die, less than normal flu, you need your arse kicked into reality. This is not normal.

Flu is more easily managed. We have an annual vaccination programme for starters that provides between 40-60% protection, depending on the year. So the vulnerable can protect themselves somewhat. The symptoms of flu are generic and relatively easy to identify. If you go down with proper flu, you know it! It generally means you're in bed for at least a few days, effectively quarantined from the general public. Covid-19 has a whole range of symptoms. Some people experience no symptoms whatsoever, others only feel a little bit poorly, some feel awful but can recover at home and, of course, there are those who require medical intervention and treatment. And therein lies the difficulty of trying to manage this disease. When you have a significant number of people with few or no symptoms walking around carrying on with their daily life, there is a huge risk to unwittingly infect a large number of other people. And this could carry on ad nauseam as we don't know enough about it to be sure that natural immunity can be acquired or, if it can, for how long. Covid-19 is a very highly transmissible disease and the sooner they can develop treatment and/or a vaccine, the better.

Symptoms have hit me today, which is not surprising at I work in education and knew I had a risk of exposure to it. My chest started to feel 'squeezed' at about 14.30, I took paracetamol at 18.30 as uncomfortable and temperature rising. I have logged on here to find support threads as now isolating along with my DC and grateful we have supplies for a fortnight.

Quite honestly I now feel like elastic bands are tightening around my lungs and I am lucky and have no other health concerns. I have had flu before this feels like a burning intensity in my lungs. I have to keep taking large breaths and think sleeping will be hard tonight. I would happily swap for flu.

Why are some people still peddling this crap about it just being flu?

Just to also be positive about this, to discourage panic (at the other end of the spectrum to the OP!) governments are now learning from Italy and China's experiences and there is the hope that with earlier lockdown, the virus will be suppressed, and the lockdowns have been fairly well organised so far.

Also, China has said that Japan has medicine which will work according to the Guardian today, I think.

I work in hospital and the people I work with are all respiratory doctors, they are all broken already and it's not even kicked off properly yet!

@Enough4me please tell your charges parents you suspect so at least some of them will self isolate.

Communicate!!!

Get well soon

Do. Some. Research. Online.

@diminishingmarbles but we haven’t locked down. We need to.

@eeehbyegum I was referring to the other countries in europe which i mentioned in an earlier post. I think UK is about to - and there are posts about army being brought in and panic about that, but in other European counties it is to do with communication and making sure everyone knows what they are supposed to do - more presence required on the street

I'd take notice of the answers now OP, it's unlikely you'll be able to hear if you're hooked up to a ventilator.

I sincerely hope your massive disconnect from reality doesn't stop you being a responsible citizen (I think we all know the answer to that unfortunately).

The vast majority of people who catch coronovirus will survive it. But approx. 20% need hospital care up to and including being on a ventilator in ICU, possibly for several weeks. 500 people died today in Italy. Mostly in Lombardy, which has an excellent healthcare system. And Italy hasn't even run out of ICU beds yet (patients are being airlifted from Lombardy to other less affected regions, more and more ICU wards are being converted and built each day, more ventilators just arrived from China). Lots of HCP have died, others are sick or unable to work because they're quarantined. A huge proportion of medical staff have been reassigned to deal with coronavirus patients which means chemo is cancelled, non-emergency surgery is cancelled, you can't get an epidural as there aren't enough anesthetists etc etc

Apologies if it's already been posted but this is from an Australian ICU doctor about the impact on healthcare services:

"If you’re in your 70s and you get Coronavirus, you’ve got a really good chance of survival. If I’ve got a bed for you.

If you’re in your 60s and you have a heart attack, you’ve got a really good chance of survival. If I’ve got a bed for you.

If you’re in your 50s and need bowel cancer surgery, you’ve got a really good chance of survival. If I’ve got a bed for you.

If you’re in your 40s and have a bad car accident, you’ve got a really good chance of survival. If I’ve got a bed for you.

If you’re in your 30s and have terrible pre-eclampsia as a complication of pregnancy, you’ve got a really good chance of survival. If I’ve got a bed for you.

If you’re in your 20s and have a bad reaction to a party drug, you’ve got a really good chance of survival. If I’ve got a bed for you."

If the spread of the virus isn't checked healthcare services are very quickly overwhelmed, and they don't have beds for people that need it. Then it's not just a case of "only" the very old or ill dying.

@diminishingmarbles. But you said

‘Just to also be positive about this, to discourage panic (at the other end of the spectrum to the OP!) governments are now learning from Italy and China's experiences and there is the hope that with earlier lockdown, the virus will be suppressed, and the lockdowns have been fairly well organised so far.

Also, China has said that Japan has medicine which will work according to the Guardian today, I think.’

We have not locked down. So why are you saying this is the positive? We are not in the positive. We have closed schools from Friday, which will add the the spread without measures to control movements. It will add to travel, it will add to accidents and strain on NHS.

I was talking about other countries in Europe - Italy, France, Spain. The UK is likely to do the same things - France closed schools last week and then went on lockdown this week. UK is probably following suit. I hope so, I agree with you it needs to happen (I think that that is what you meant?) but there is a lot to organise in relation to lockdown which is why it isn't immediate, possibly
which will add the the spread without measures to control movements. It will add to travel, it will add to accidents and strain on NHS I am in Europe and took the same view initially but it has been properly thought through and well organised in the country I am in, transparent as well, and I am very much hoping that the UK will be trying to do the same thing.

@diminishingmarbles

We have closed schools (Friday) advised not to visit pubs, theatres, restaurants, but not closed them.

We’ll have 20% of the population ignoring stay home advise, and 80% staying home I reckon. It may be a tactic. It’s awful because pubs/restaurants can’t claim on insurance and encourage visitors by staying open. We’ll only stem this and give our NHS respite by staying away. The infection rate and hospitalisation rate is already more than they can cope with (see what happens this week)

What country are you in?

You're my neighbour aren't you OP. Doesn't vote, doesn't read a newspaper, doesn't watch the news, is at risk of CV due to her health and informs me that it's no worse than a bad cold and to stop talking about it because it's boring.

I suggest you carry on with your life in blissful ignorance but do us all a favour and don't come crying on here when you catch it or worse pass it on to a vulnerable loved one in your life with the likely consequences.

A lot of people are poo - pooing this as being no worse than a flu. I wonder if they have ever REALLY had flu. I've had it once and believe me it was no laughing matter, very different than the seasonal cough and cold that many people call flu. I also was hospitalised for acute bronchitis once, my chest has never been the same since.

This Covid 19 scares the living daylights out of me.

OP I think you need to stop reading facebook posts on this. They, in the majority, are underplaying this virus. Come off social media and get your facts from the WHO/ and the CMO for this country.

My original post was deleted. 111 says i likely have CV. My mother is 85 with dementia and copd, I'll say it again.

Fuck off!!!

This virus is unknown, if it mutates were fucked

Sorry for you! Please stay isolated. Hope your family is ok.

Cantdothisnow - I think that for most people cv wont be as bad as flu. Ive had flu once, i would have happily shot myself. So i think for most this feels not so bad. I'm on day 2 and I'm pretty sure I have it, 111 online agrees and my symptoms match those who have mild infection. I feel rubbish but I'd probably be well enough to work unless i get worse. Obviously I'm self isolating.

Try not to worry (wish I could take my own advice)

OP, Please watch this-

@eeehbyegum my workplace (HE) has now closed early due to the high numbers off, but as testing is not taking place I have found today when letting friends know that many are in disbelief. Some of my friends are moaning about schools closing, but have health complications in their families. One of my neighbours said it is ok only a few people have it in our city; she is reading out-of-date information and does not realise the real numbers cannot be tested for. On the opposite side a friend in the NHS has been saying everything should have closed for over a week now, she sees the preparation and stress side of things.

Communication relies on the message being sent out being listened to by people who can receive it. Too many people are blocking the message. I think we will move from disbelief to sadness and anger, the change curve being acted out as a society.

I should add my messages are all through email, What's App etc. I am now with my DC in isolation.

Let's say we just isolate the "elderly", so say, everyone over 70.

In 60-69, the cafe fatality rate is 3.6%

Okay, let's isolate them too.

50-59 is 1.3%

40-49, 0.4%