To ask where the "it's just flu" people have gone?

[ofwarren]

When people started discussing the virus on here a few weeks back, they would get ridiculed or told they were scaremongering as it was "just flu".
Those people seem very quiet lately.
Are there many still around with that opinion?

Because they’ve changing their mind in light of more recent information? Is that so difficult to grasp?

Or because they have to play it down otherwise they wouldn’t be able to cope with going out to work everyday in key roles like supermarket staff, childcare staff, public transport staff.

It is essentially a flu, however we don't have a vaccine or enough information to fight it effectively yet. This was said to me on Thursday by a paramedic.

I wonder how high the suicide rates will be now v coronavirus death rates when people can’t cope any more after losing their jobs, their houses, any social interaction etc

That's a very good question, I'm afraid.

Medically, it is comparable to a flu... just one that we have minimal immunity to and as a society, we'd rather not just let it ravage its way through the most suceptible and vulerable members of society unchecked and with minimal chance for any care.

Statistically I am aware that this "flu-like" illness should merely be an unpleasant inconvenience to most of my immediate family (although one DS has a history of asthmatic symptoms which he has largely grown out of which does make me more nervous) It is a much more serious threat to some elderly relatives, and several weeks ago, I cancelled a visit to DM because I had cold-like symptoms (totally normal pattern of a cold). Having recently been ill she did not need a cold, and she did not need the minimal chance that it could have been something worse.

A month ago at half term, we changed plans to go to London and went to a less international city instead. News hadn't broken about Italy at that point, but it had escaped containment in China. We have since the early stages been stocking up on our regular supplies. This week while doing a fresh top-up shop, I bought less than my normal quanity of replenishment because someone else would have a higher need of that remaining stock than my family unit.

So I feel I've been reasonably cautious and pragmatic from the early days. "It's just a flu" is still a reasonable medical comparison for symptoms and risks.

ofwarren

My Husband was one of those who thought it was just flu, he however is much more informed on the situation now and being careful. To be honest though, I'm glad he didn't over panic as I would have had a meltdown.

I came off of your thread because you were continually posting the worst case scenario information. I have just decided to watch the news every day, I have Worldometer downloaded and I talk to my friends all of the time.

You do seem to know more than the medical experts.

The Worldometer figures are often a day or so behind and not considered totally accurate by the scientists. You're better off looking at each country's daily bulletins.

I know they are not up to date but thank you I will have a look.

My dad died from the flu 5 years ago at age 50. So it's as serious and scary and awful as COVID 19 to me.

They are now panic buying....

What the hell is the point of this thread. Is it to say I told you so? if so - the world has bigger worries that you being so self righteous.

"given that the old and frail are the most vulnerable, would these people be dying anyway?"

The death rate in the Lombardy region of Italy from ALL causes - so including traffic accidents, cancer etc -
has risen 80%

Death rate for all of Italy has risen about 10% and is still increasing

So yes, there are a lot of extra deaths
and there is massive extra load on the health system, which cannot handle such numbers in addition to the usual hospital cases

The UK civilian deaths from WW1 and WW2 combined were under 70,000, but spread over 2 periods of about 5 years each

Government / public health is deperately trying to prevent far more deaths than this occurringover a period of a few months

It is not so much the total number of deaths, but that they will be occurring in a short space of time
and the numbers of people needing hospital treatment will overwhelm the system

If we do nothing and just concentrate on the economy, then the deaths would be several times higher
That's because of exponential growth of infections - look at only a few weeks ago when Italy hardly had any cases

The UK government only changed strategy after the study by the Imperial College team advising them predicted that the old strategy of not doing much would lead to ¼ million extra deaths in the UK

• and they calculated 2 million extra deaths if the US continued, which helped to move Trump.

TheCanturburyWhales

I've just read the whole thread and can you are on ofwarren way of thinking.

Again, I am aware of the Worldometer not being up to date and the amount of cases is not correct. I also thought some people were clambering over themselves to be the first person to post information that they didn't know was 100% fact.

I took it seriously from the start and was totally amazed that people were still hitting the pubs last night. My DH wanted to but he respected my concerns and didn't. I think he was a bit upset last night as reality had hit him as he is a very sociable person. I'm not gloating though.

Not that he is a raging alcoholic. He just likes seeing his friends, go to the golf club (which he could have still today, but he hasn't).

I'm in Italy so probably took it seriously for a bit longer tbf.

This has nothing to do to with the flu. Google ID2020. Then open your eyes ...

That's awful for you and I do wish people would take the Italy figures seriously in England. I'm scared that people aren't taking it seriously especially now.

Into isolation hopefully

I'm one of those people. I don't think many would have foreseen what has happened in the past few weeks. I was wrong. But it's not exactly something to goad and gloat about is it?

For most, the flu will be a very unpleasant but not life threatening illness.
For the vulnerable I.e the elderly and those with underlying conditions it can be deadly.

So as a crude comparison I thunk coronavirus is a bit like the flu.

Anyway I'm so happy for you that you get to be smug at this difficult time, what a hollow victory.

Sorry about your dad @stuckinarutwithyou

Hopefully next time these people will be a bit less judgemental and listen to science better. Sadly, they may be some of those who got it.

No need to sound so gleeful about it.