Covid-19

[Dr Dave]

I urge you to have a read :

https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-11/italy-doctors-coronavirus-covid-19-quarantine-milan-health/

Two doctors from Milan leaving messages on Whatsapp for their colleagues in Rome.

English version in the article.

They don't treat people over 60 in these hospitals, letting them die, to have ventilators for the people born in the 70's (so 40 to 50 years old).

Pull your kids out of schools if you have some.

You mustn't believe everything in the media. they are generally wretched liars, and itv news is notoriously unreliable and sensationalist. Plus it seems to be an odd conversation. It's not for either parties benefit - there's no useful exchange of information that would benefit either.

It's as if it were made by two people for the sake of the recording. If that's the case then these people should be hunted down and thrashed for spreading panic and fear: two of the worst human attributes imaginable to my mind.

As for "Pull your kids out of schools if you have some." - well yes, we have lost of schools ( ) but children are also the most robust and resistant to the extremes of covid-19, plus my lad is away at school - if I pulled him out he'd most likely be at more risk of catching something that probably wont really affect him anyway. So I regard that as a bit of an over-reaction.

I'm flying back to the UK tonight from Michigan (yesterday a state of emergency was declared here). I just left a Walmart where I saw a person laden down with toilet rolls. I so wanted to tell them it affects your respiratory system not your arse!

[Techno]

What about bandages and plasters, Phil?

That's a thought, Davy.

Sorry...I've not been keeping up with posts properly since yesterday evening....I'm sure I've missed posts that I would normally reply to.
My 'Narnia' was being a right barsteward, and hurting like you know what.

Better now.....Just cream crackered.

Cheers - Phil.

[Ithoriel]

I so wanted to tell them it affects your respiratory system not your arse!

People aren't worried about their digestive systems, they're worried about being stuck in their houses for days/ weeks/ months.

I tend to be fairly fatalistic about these things but as a 66 year old with a heart condition I felt it prudent to buy an extra bag of pasta, rice and lentils and a second pack of loo rolls when I last did a big shop.

I'm not having to self isolate but I am being advised to avoid human contact wherever possible. One or two fewer visits to the supermarket may, or may not, make a difference.

[toxicpixie]

Tescos here was denuded of pasta barring some sad loooking artisanal wholewheat gnocchi.

So I went over the road to Marks & Sparks which was absolutely fine, loo roll and soap etc as normal.

Also made my own hand sanitizer, 70% surgical spirit, 30% aloe Vera gel. I may have erred on the side of booze. It's a bit thin (good for getting everywhere I guess) and now I want a whisky

On a more serious note beds are a problem - there's very little slack in the NHS as it's been pared to the bone. There's only a couple of dozen acute breathing disaster beds in the whole country. Whilst most people who get Corona virus will likely just be miserable, a significantly larger number will need inpatient care. A significant number of them will need those specialist acute respiratory beds. Likely far more than a couple of dozen

That's very unlikely to be any given person, but someone will. Given how bad we are as a species at judging individual risk versus general populace risk I'm unsurprised at people panicking mildly to hugely!

[barbarian]

These messages are audio messages that you leave on Whatsapp.
They are not talking to each other, they are leaving a message for the doctors in Rome.

They could be voice actors. They could be. I believe what they say, the tone and the words seem appropriate for their fonction.

Everybody does what they feel is best for their family.

I tell you France will go in full lock down soon.

Cheers.

[Ben Waterhouse]

How's the hysteria going?

[Norm]

How's the hysteria going?

I would imagine it depends whether you have underlaying health problems or someone close to you does or whether you don't!

Most governments and the stock market seem to think this is a thing and that it is worth worrying about.

Our Prime minister told the Nation yesterday that we can expect to lose loved ones. Raised anxiety should be expected in its many manifestations - unchartered waters for many.

in our family we have two pregnant women and one is problematic, 1 starting a cancer treatment, 1 who's job is now on the line and two with elderly parents, both with health issues, but only in their mid 70's, so concerns are real enough.

[petercooman]

Well here in Belgium bars,restaurants and clubs are closing at midnight. Today was last day of school, and non-food shops will close in the weekend.

Like true idiiots, people are organizing pre lockdown parties to empty the kegs before closing. Just pointlesss  to lock down when you get everywhone toghtere first 

[steve_holmes_11]

Well here in Belgium bars,restaurants and clubs are closing at midnight. Today was last day of school, and non-food shops will close in the weekend.

Like true idiiots, people are organizing pre lockdown parties to empty the kegs before closing. Just pointlesss  to lock down when you get everywhone toghtere first 

When Belgium closes bars, you know the situation is serious.

[Dr Dave]

How's the hysteria going?

Oh God. Have I got that as well?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

How's the hysteria going?

It's a great album, can't believe See Leopard are still going.

[Westmarcher]

Like true idiots, people are organizing pre lockdown parties to empty the kegs before closing. Just pointless  to lock down when you get every one together first 

Your reasoning is impeccable, Peter.   Except, perhaps, they are Prince* fans?   

* thinking ..... 
Say say two thousand zero two zero party over, oops, out of time
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's nineteen ninety-nine
[excuse the paraphrasing]

[petercooman]

 

When Belgium closes bars, you know the situation is serious.

Your reasoning is impeccable, Peter.   Except, perhaps, they are Prince* fans?   

* thinking ..... 
Say say two thousand zero two zero party over, oops, out of time
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's nineteen ninety-nine
[excuse the paraphrasing]

Maybe they think booze kills the virus 

[Westmarcher]

Maybe they think booze kills the virus 

Don't blame them. I thought it was worth a try tonight ....    

[flamingpig0]

Without picking sides it does look like Dominic Cummings has got the  apocalypse  he possibly wanted

[Matt J]

As a relatively young and very healthy member of the 'herd' I'm ready to follow government advice and sacrifice myself to this contagion to save you old bulls.

I hope you appreciate it!

Seriously, if it helps my olds I'll take it on the chin now.

[pierre the shy]

Was out doing the weekly shop this morning here in NZ today....somewhat to my surprise it was very quiet at the supermarket, (though I did go in fairly early) and they had reasonable stock of loo paper/hand sanitsers etc - all limited to one per customer though....

Can't get facemasks here for love or money, though I am not sure what the heck people are doing with them as I have yet to see one person actually wearing one in Wellington this week.....

My workplace moved entirely to laptop based workstations after the earthquakes we had here a couple of years ago so we are required to take them home with us each day in case we need to work from home.

NZ has been really fortunate only having 5 cases so far in total with no fatalities yet, but like the rest of the world we are taking the Covid 19 threat very seriously.

There are supposedly signs that Covid 19 things are stabilising in China. Hopefully the crisis will pass and the world will be able to get back to some degree of "normality" sooner than later.

No matter where you are I wish everyone "Bon chance" - stay safe, stay well and keep calm.

[petercooman]

As a relatively young and very healthy member of the 'herd' I'm ready to follow government advice and sacrifice myself to this contagion to save you old bulls.

I hope you appreciate it!

Seriously, if it helps my olds I'll take it on the chin now.

Seems you can't predict how 'hard' you get it, so might not be the best idea.

No matter where you are I wish everyone "Bon chance" - stay safe, stay well and keep calm.

Same to you sir!

[Last Hussar]

I live in the Southern part of the Netherlands and apparently we're doomed..

Well, given my son has just stomped XXX through it, and dropped artillery and typhoon anti tank rockets on the rest, I'm not surprised
And I've blown up a load of bridges

[Poggle]

Several cases in Ohio now. The Governor declared a state of emergency, banned gatherings over a hundred in number, with a few exceptions. Schools, colleges and churches closed. Toledo libraries closing from tomorrow. TP, hand sanitizer food flying off the shelves. A feeling of real fear beginning to settle in. Strange days.