Prepping for a pandemic 2

[wheresmymojo]

Second thread on prepping for a potential Coronavirus pandemic...following the latest news and information as well as prepping info.

When quoting estimates like mortality rates, replication rates, incubation periods and similar I try to stick to evidence based, scientific studies and will link to sources (unless already linked to them previously).

Generally speaking I use reputable sources of information like well regarded news outlets for other information and will provide links.

Sometimes I may post things outside of this as 'interesting' or such like. I will always caveat these as to be taken with caution.

As much as possible I am attempting not to link to fake news. It's an evolving picture so may not be 100% successful but if something is later shown to be incorrect I will post a correction.

Floaty... I would consider it if in Brighton. Not sure it would make much difference though.

I’ve been lurking on this thread and the first one, hi! I’ve broken my lurk because I am due to give blood next week. I’m thinking I will keep my appointment, I don’t know if blood transfusions are part of potential treatment for serious cases - but it’s a possibility I suppose, if surgery is needed? No idea, no a doctor.

It’s fine to keep the appointment isn’t it? I don’t need to think about cancelling?

Unless in Brighton the risk to anyone else is infinitesimally small IMO.

You're more likely to be in a car crash on the way to a school drop off than catch CV at the moment IMO.

My GP does have a sink and there have been times when we have gone in straight after the previous patient and the door is open. They definitely didn't wash hands. I think mine only does when they have touched bodily fluid areas (not envy)

In my experience if the GP physically touches you then they immediately wash their hands after. Don't think they do it between patients if it's a talking only appt. I don't think it will have helped much, not if you can catch it from breathing.

I feel torn, I feel it would be ridiculous to keep the kids off at this stage, but also have a bad feeling this is probably our last chance to guarantee we aren't infected, I'm guessing it will start to spread now. But even if i kept the kids home starting now, and DH managed to get agreement to work from home, how long for? In two weeks time things will probably be even worse out their, so then I'll keep us all off for another two weeks? And another? It's not practical. Just going to have to keep watching and keep hand washing.

Would washing hands actually stop the gp from passing it to patients though, isn't it "airborne"? I.e, 15 mins in a small space in close quarters (a drs office) you are likely to get it.

@MissusMaker I feel the same. The potential two week incubation period is what worries me...we are rural but many parents of children at my dc school commute to London etc...
It's all very well saying it's only in Brighton at the moment, but god knows how many others are harbouring it with no symptoms at the moment.

No it wouldn't stop it floatygoat it would possibly be LESS likely but it still can be passed through the air.

I’ve just been and spent around £90 and felt so much less anxious but have caught up on the thread from this morning and am quite scared. Are people scared or am I over reacting? I’ve got a counselling appointment this evening so will talk it through there...

I'm scared too AlohaMolly I would love to just be able to stay at home till it all goes away.

@floatygoat I'm thinking get through this week, minimise 'risky' places during half term next week - so not isolating but avoid softplay and germy close quarters like that and then review at the end of half term.

I haven't seen any mention of Thailand, Cambodia etc having any cases. We have friends on holiday there, and while the chances of them catching anything is slim it seems odd there have been no reported cases at all.

wellididntseethatcoming in the ideal world you catch it first in the I’m before the NHS buckles, or at the end, after a vaccine, cure. But it’s not like chicken pox so no choice as to where or when. I’m hoping we can make it till the end of the year, post vaccine....

My ds has asd and rolls on the floor, licks walls so we are buggered. I can’t stress about the when. Undoubtedly the nhs will be pumped with money to cope, but you can’t pump in doctors, ICU staff. I only worry about the things I can control, the rest is out of my hands.

I picked up some dry brownie mix for my list today. I think my kids could live off brownies for ages. I bought multi packs of cheap toothbrushes, tooth paste too. Baby wipes, loo rolls and I always have months of washing detergent. Washing up liquid and things to run the dishwasher. Also small pocket packs of tissues for the kids to take to school

Several pupils/students at different schools around Brighton & Hove have been told to self-isolate...

www.brightonandhovenews.org/2020/02/10/several-pupils-at-different-schools-in-brighton-and-hove-told-to-self-isolate/

@IndecentFeminist

There are confirmed cases in Thailand and Cambodia...I'll just find the latest official numbers but from memory Thailand is reasonably high (20+) and Cambodia 1 or 2

Been lurking on this thread since it started - very informative! I live in Brighton, so that's fun.

Would people really keep their kids off school for this? I read something a few days ago that symptoms seem to be mild for children - or I don't know if that was just discussing some particular European (?) children that caught it. Would be grateful for any up to date advice. Not massively worried for myself - but am getting a bit scared for my 4yo.

Thailand as of yesterday...

"On Monday, the number of confirmed local coronavirus cases remained at 32, 10 of whom have been discharged from hospitals. Two of the nine Thai patients were in critical condition. Another 689 ill people were being monitored for possible coronavirus infection."

@SaltLampBae myself and a couple of others on this thread have medically vulnerable children, for whom even regular flu would be life threatening. I can't say how I'd be feeling about this if my kids had regular immunity and generally good health...

@SaltLampBae

Various reports do seem to show that children get the milder end of symptoms, I'll see if I can dig out a link or two to put your mind at rest on that front

I'm the same as MrsMaker my view is skewed because my son is ill. I'd take him out if I lived in Brighton.

Cambodia as of yesterday

"Cambodia - 1
Cambodia confirmed its first case of coronavirus on January 27.
Minister of Health Mam Bunheng said the patient was a 60-year-old Chinese national in the coastal city of Sihanoukville."

Its all terrifying. I am having nightmares and not sleeping and every day I turn the news on, its worse! I am very scared.

Interesting. Wonder if they will encounter any measures travelling

I'm hoping that if we get through this week (with the risk of spread hopefully still bit too high) then both DD and I are on half term next week and we can avoid crowds and shops etc then see what things look like when it's time to return on Monday the 24th?

DH mixes with a lot of people at work though and some probably commute from London.

@MissusMaker that sounds like a good plan. I'm fortunate enough to be in the position that I can teach my kids at home as I'm not working at the moment. Dh works in construction industry and pretty autonomous. I would not be considering pulling them out of it weren't for having a baby. I am breastfeeding her but babies must still be very vulnerable to this.

The fact is we need to be worrying about whose going to test positive for this virus in two weeks and has been spreading it in the mean time , not who has tested positive now.