I’m not sure your comment about viruses is correct. People speak of them as if there’s some sort of evolutionary element but they’re just random strands of DNA or RNA.  Their effects are just random based on how they bind to certain cells and the response.

Ebola hasn’t become any less deadly, AFAIK, and that applies to others.

There’s a huge reservoir of viruses circulating in the wild and chance encounters will result in some making a species jump which may end up with a human infection, as with Covid-19: this is just the latest example in a long list and it won’t be the last. What has changed is that these chance encounters are happening more often as population rises and increased travel facilitates the rapid spread.  

At some point the random spinning of the wheel will throw out something far worse than Covid-19. Imagine something like Ebola that had the same characteristics as HIV in taking months for symptoms to appear, which could infect huge numbers.

And a huge back entrance she has too

Waiting for #COBR. @patel4witham has just entered No 10 from the back entrance

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) March 2, 2020

As Ebola was mentioned, and people seem desperate for good news from me. I'll point out that Ebola is almost extinct with the DRC seeing almost no new cases.

I have been following events in India - this is the latest advisory to its nationals from the Indian government:

"Avoid non-essential travel to China, Iran, Korea, Singapore and Italy"

More news from India:

"Two new cases in India; markets take a negative turn

The person from Delhi had travelled to Italy, he is being diagnosed at RML hospital. The other person with the coronavirus infection from Telangana has travel history to Dubai."

Italy is clearly a major epicentre for the virus.

Indeed. Countries that link back to the Italy cluster.

It is not extinct: it resides in a wide spectrum of animals in the wild. It will keep recurring whilst people have close contact with, or eat, those animals.

What has been achieved in the DRC is the control of the latest outbreak in humans.

And now India.

Ftse falling now In  negative territory 

FYI the drop in the FTSE is already 2.5x higher than the small drop (that was almost immediately recovered) after the vote to leave despite people predicting it would fall below 5000.

People who accuse me of alarmism over this and complacency over brexit should be aware that the economic precipice that remainers preidcted over a mere vote to Leave is happening over this coronavirus.

But it's me that has my priorities wrong, clearly.

Calling the bottom is pretty much impossible, but the next few weeks is probably a good time to make that investment. I'd think that a lot of that recession risk has been priced in by now.

Will take advice over it this week. However growth forcasts do not currently suggest a global recession, and I'm skeptical that we will avoid one. We were overdue one anyway even without the virus.

I am sure the market is more dynamic than the official growth forecasts and has priced in a significant risk of them being downgraded.

Perhaps but I'd be taking a bigger risk than otherwise. Might get bigger rewards if you are right, but also risk losing more too. Medium risk investment feeling more like a high risk one with such volatility atm.

Anyway I'll take advice on it on Wednesday though I'm definitely erring towards putting this on hold for now.

Prioritizing a fake emergency over a real one

Yes, but Covid-19 could become an emergency so I guess needs some attention.

Pity the world’s leaders didn’t take climate change as seriously when it first was identified as a serious threat.

"I think it's very important to stress that this is a problem that is likely to become more significant for this country."

PM @BorisJohnson says the UK is making "every possible preparation" for further spread of the #coronavirus.

Get the latest here: https://t.co/4ibTXDQ5Zh pic.twitter.com/yn233cUX3w

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 2, 2020

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon says the first #COVID19 patient “is not seriously ill”, but in hospital as “a precautionary measure”.

Get the latest on #coronavirus here: https://t.co/7ct8qU6Qo2 pic.twitter.com/cd04mugtTh

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 2, 2020

BREAKING: Essex County Council confirm that the Essex Coronavirus patient was identified at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow at the weekend. He has since been transferred to another hospital for treatment. Close contacts of the patient have been reached by health officials.

— BBC Essex (@BBCEssex) March 2, 2020

It's an interesting dilemma, but I'd personally err on the side of doing neither/nothing. If (or when) there is an epidemic in the UK, then I will probably work from home and reduce my social activity a bit (avoid overcrowded events etc.), but I won't make any other changes. My rationale is that overall I'd still prefer not to catch the virus and its associated risks (both personal risks and the risk of passing it to elderly people etc).

I haven't had a cold for more than 2 years now so my immune system is virgin and ready to be raped by this virus.

You know it's a crisis when the Gavin robot is switched on. Will you cope with both an apocalyptic epidemic and the no deal Brexit shenanigans happening simultaneously?

Without imposing (by force) extremely draconian measures, Covid-19 is going to spread in the UK and other countries (and even extremely draconian measures don't guarantee no spread).

Furthermore, we know that for the vast majority of people who do contract this, the symptoms are not severe, let alone deadly.

But for the elderly, infirm and immuno-compromised, there is the potential for Covid-19 to be serious and, more a minority, deadly.

I would suggest that instead of imposing deprivations on everyone, those at higher risk of complications from Covid-19 self-isolate wherever possible. The vast majority of the country could then get on with everyday life.

I'd also be strict regarding the hospitalisation of people without severe reactions/complications. Treatment should predominantly be undertaken at home - but with, say, a special dedicated service for those with the virus and at home, if the symptoms become severe or complications arise, whereby they will be fast-tracked into care by a professional.

Any chance of interest rates being cut?

Very well said, Saint.