This could be a particular problem for the UK, as we've been fed a diet of utter sh*t since 2016 by the Brexiteers.

BREAKING: I am hearing that a person in Stratford London has the virus. 

More as I get it.

If it spreads in the UK like it did in China, then by the end of March there could be over 2,000 cases

If that were the case, you would have expected to see a lot more cases in other countries than China by now. For example, there's one case in Sweden, Finland, some in the UAE, USA, etc. but no further increase in those locations. Those people presumably flew to those locations. Likewise the Chinese student and his mother in York - no other cases are known about from the people that shared a plane with either or both of them.

I'm flying (to the Caribbean) at the end of March and I'm going to take this as reassurance. My wife is quite nervous about travelling because of the virus.

I can confirm I'm fine (just in case anyone was worrying) 

That’s an unfortunate choice of words!

Hopefully not.

I have just read about the App! Sounds a brilliant idea. [Will Huawei be able to monitor and track us all?]
China launches coronavirus 'close contact detector' app
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51439401

Roger

I think you should be more worried about bird flu! 

Brighton in state of semi-panic with surgeries closed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51447761.

Schools still open but suspected cases amongst staff mean that headteachers have given worried parents carte blanche to keep children at home.

There was a live press conference in Hove Town Hallon local radio with local public health authorities giving the standard advice - wash hands, stay home and call 111 if you have symptoms - patently not satisfying the members of the public there; but what else could they say? 

Meantime one bit of good news - the 'superspreader' has been identified and although still in quarantine, is fully recovered, https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/coronavirus-super-spreader-named-as-scout-leader-f/ The bad news is that he was symptomless for at least a full 14 days. A long incubation period is going to make it near-impossible to contain the outbreak.

The one thing to bear in mind is the high SD of the incubation period. On average the incubation is only 3 days, however some people incubate for alot longer. It might not be so bad if the long incubators are a small minority.

We have a name, at last!  It's Covid-19

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51466362


And our "super spreader" appears to be rather healthy ....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51459210  


Oh noes,we're all gonna die!  

If the "super spreader" has any nous he'll quit the day job and make a real killing (I mean £) by flogging his life-story to the media.

Who's going to call it 'covid-19'? What about Sussex Flu? Especially as there's now a self-isolation case (i.e. precautionary, not confirmed) associated with Worthing hospital; not stated whether worker or visitor. EDIT now stated to be someone working in A&E who was in contact with a 'small number' of patients

Steve Walsh, the superspreader, seems to be a sensible sort of person and not inclined to exploit the media. The worries about local schools seem to be associated with his role as Scout leader but his immediate family in Sussex (in contrast to the friends in the Alps where he stopped on the way home) seem not to have picked up the infection. 

Not enough is yet known to go beyond recommending "basic hygiene and don't go to the surgery f you suspect you have it"  but health authorities do themselves no favours by refusing to come on the media and admitting ignorance. That merely stokes conspiracy theories which are worse than an admission of limited knowledge.

Indeed. But say anything and panic spreads.

Luckily, and so far, I and those I've met still seem to be well. Maybe we'll be spared...

Not necessarily. It could be that the stronger immune system reaction in younger and healthier people is the real killer. What if 50% of those of working age in the world are killed by this? 

What if indeed!

I’m assuming you are being flippant so will respond in the same way.

It would solve a lot of the world’s problems. 3.5 billion people instead of 7 billion.

Just as long as Trump and Cummings are amongst the unlucky ones.

😉

Two inmates are suspected to have corona-virus in a UK gaol - apparently, one of them was recently transferred from Thailand.

No further details, but I would expect a UK citizen was serving time in a Thai gaol for some offence and was transferred under the prisoner repatriation scheme.

That is how Spanish Flu affected populations - it was younger, fitter people who died from it, since their immune systems would go ballistic.

I assumed likewise as the facts are somewhat different