Coronavirus outbreak

[SkipdiverJohn]

So it's "no big deal" but it's "stupidity" to try to carry on as normal?

You know exactly what I mean, but are choosing to be obtuse.
If I know there's some roadworks on a certain stretch of road, because there was a major burst water main there yesterday I don't just drive down that route in the middle of the rush hour regardless. i use another route. Why? Because I know the roadworks carries a high probability of disrupting my journey, so I do something different. it's the same with the virus; if you go somewhere abroad and there's a sudden outbreak of cases, some official reaction is likely such as quarantine requirements, flights being disrupted etc - so the sensible thing is not to go abroad where you might become stranded.
You only have to look at all the muppets scrambling to get back from France & Spain etc, just before the self-isolation deadline kicked an, just shows the mentality of some people. They chance their arm during a pandemic, then have to cut their trip short and pay for expensive tickets to get back early, because they don't fancy isolating. If they'd had their holiday at home, they'd have avoided all the hassle and expense. As I said, idiots.

 

[Julia9054]

Someone at work has just had his two weeks in Spain extended to two weeks holiday & two weeks isolation, that's pretty much his whole years annual leave entitlement blown now because he just couldn't bide his time and wait until next year before going abroad.

Your work mate is clearly an idiot. However there are plenty of people for whom a 2 week quarantine would not be a major inconvenience who would think it was worth a last minute trip abroad

 

[PK99]

My sister has symptoms

She's a nursing assistant at Ninewells and a nurse from the other shift of her department has tested positive, meaning the entire shift has had to go into self-isolation. My sister borrowed the girl's pen at the shift changeover and used it through her shift, now she has a bit of a fever and a dry cough. Tried to get a test yesterday but was told there's been a spike in demand due to schools going back so the nearest available test centre was Inverness - 160 miles away! Got tested today though more locally, just waiting for results.

Sorry to be blunt, but that is careless in the extreme.

Whatever policies the government puts in place it is the actions of individuals that really matter.

 

[PK99]

Your work mate is clearly an idiot. However there are plenty of people for whom a 2 week quarantine would not be a major inconvenience who would think it was worth a last minute trip abroad

we have booked 2 weeks in Madeira over Xmas/NY - 2 weeks isolation on return would not be an issue. #Retired

 

[Wobblers]

That's not quite as scary as it sounds.

You're saying that the probability of ending up with permanent lung damage is a bit higher than the CFR. But the latter is currently only about 1.5% in the UK.

So even if the former was, say, double the CFR, then the overall probability of emerging from an infection alive and with no permanent damage is over 95%.

Obviously taking measures to avoid contracting COVID is wise, but that doesn't mean that we should panic.

If we take your figures - 5% chance of death or adverse consequences and look at the at risk population of the UK of 30 million, that comes to 1.5 million dead or left with serious long term conditions. All of which will occur in the space of a few months. This would represent the biggest health emergency this country has ever seen.

Yes, this is worst case. The reality will be less - hopefully much less. But understand that these figures are orders of magnitude worse than measles, mumps and rubella, combined. Which we routinely vaccinate for, because it's understood that there are significant health benefits in doing so. This is not about panicking. It is about recognising what the potential consequences for public health here, and worldwide are. My own growing suspicion is that those left with long term conditions after CV19 will be at least as significant in terms of public health as the number who die.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Sorry to be blunt, but that is careless in the extreme.

Whatever policies the government puts in place it is the actions of individuals that really matter.

Aye, I thought about pointing that out but decided it wouldn't help family relations much.

 

[Slick]

Aye, I thought about pointing that out but decided it wouldn't help family relations much.

She already knows that so not much point highlighting it now.

 

[tom73]

Aye, I thought about pointing that out but decided it wouldn't help family relations much.

It's more than highly likely due to the close contact working conditions than anything else. It may not even be down to her colleague but a totally different source. Who may not even know they are carrying it including her patients.

 

[raleighnut]

we have booked 2 weeks in Madeira over Xmas/NY - 2 weeks isolation on return would not be an issue. #Retired

Ah but would catching Covid 19 be a problem, it'd be the flights I would be most worried about.

 

[mjr]

If they'd had their holiday at home, they'd have avoided all the hassle and expense.

Except the virus is here too and you're more likely to get one of Dido's minions call you to tell you to quarantine. The expense may be less but they would not necessarily avoid hassle by staying this side of a political fiction (border) and it's idiocy to say so.

 

[mjr]

In other news, Norfolk chicken-mangling factory outbreak now classed nationally significant, with 75 positives last I read. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health...ally-closes-after-covid-19-outbreak-1-6810693

 

[mjr]

People on low incomes in lockdown areas to be paid to quarantine in trial scheme https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...k-covid-hotspots-to-be-paid-if-self-isolating

 

[icowden]

Except the virus is here too and you're more likely to get one of Dido's minions call you to tell you to quarantine. The expense may be less but they would not necessarily avoid hassle by staying this side of a political fiction (border) and it's idiocy to say so.

But by staying in the UK they can take control of their exposure. If you fly to another country you are necessarily putting yourself in a high risk environment (the plane) for a prolonged period of time. Staying in the UK they can use their own car (safe) and choose where to go / change their mind if somewhere seems too busy.

 

[mjr]

But by staying in the UK they can take control of their exposure. If you fly to another country you are necessarily putting yourself in a high risk environment (the plane) for a prolonged period of time. [...]

Not necessarily! I've travelled to most of Europe without using a plane - check the Touring board for other examples, including a NL-Mexico overland - while some people take planes or trains to travel in the UK. How to travel is a different question.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

My sister has symptoms

She's a nursing assistant at Ninewells and a nurse from the other shift of her department has tested positive, meaning the entire shift has had to go into self-isolation. My sister borrowed the girl's pen at the shift changeover and used it through her shift, now she has a bit of a fever and a dry cough. Tried to get a test yesterday but was told there's been a spike in demand due to schools going back so the nearest available test centre was Inverness - 160 miles away! Got tested today though more locally, just waiting for results.

Results back - negative !