LOL - Less than that on the Jubilee line during evening rush hour

Commuting distributions. In the UK the mean work-home distance is about 15 miles (so 7.5 miles there and back) but the medium will be much lower since the distribution is highly skewed.

For anything under 10km (5k there and back) there is no reason to use public transport at all. And even up to 20km is quite managable at a slow jog.

An investment of a 2nd hand bike will make all this even easier.

Some people who live hundreds of miles away will need to commute. But there are so many people that unnecessarily use the roads when walking/cycling/running is fine.

No. Iran is more likely to become like Syria with a new refugee crisis.

It's too far gone imo.

If I was your manager I would be telling you and your colleagues to work from home regardless of individual health concerns. I really don't get why management remains so resistant to it. Of course if you were working from home you would also be helping other people who don't have the option by reducing the amount of crowding on public transport. Frankly I think it is Victorian era for you to have to ask for special dispensation. 

Arguably the wave will come and the wave will go. We just don't know what the impact will be. Iran could turn out to be a good test case for this model. My disagreements with you are primarily because you react to every new bit of news and data. It won't be clear for months how South Korea and Italy have handled this. Likewise we can't reach any conclusions about the UK or US at this stage. The whole situation is a known unknown. 

I have already told my employer and my colleagues that if there is an epidemic, then I'll work from home for as long as I determine to be necessary (even for several months). I know that is not possible in many jobs, but I agree with you that much more could be down in that direction. There are many people who don't need to work at the office.

Luckily we do have a flexible working policy. However, for some reason in this country people are always suspicious if you work from home, so I tend to just come in.

In London, its very clear that all public transport during rush hours is way over capacity and often breaks down. People are then late and irritable. I get in at 07:30 to avoid the worst if it - then I get funny looks when I leave on time at 17:00.

Too soon by far to tell - given that Iran is governed by an ageing bunch of theocrats, things could change markedly there if a significant number of senior members of the government fall ill and perhaps die - already some senior officials are known to have fallen ill and Iran is now holding political meetings by video conference and phone to restrict the spread. Then there is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard - if significant numbers of them become infected, it might embolden the populace to revolt.

Too soon to say, but coming out the other side, there is a significant chance of internal strife in Iran as the people try to free themselves of the stifling government.

I am no expert in any way, but if I were you and you start getting cases in your area and you cannot stop working, then I would be more careful in my interactions with my mum. Wearing a mask, keeping a distance if possible, improved hygiene etc.

Inshallah!

Although be careful about this one.

If you wear a mask make sure you take all the relevant advice which may include regularly replacing it (every 4 hours) and making sure you have a tight seal (facial hair needs to be shaved). I personally haven't stockpiled any masks because they are difficult to use correctly and limit the supply where they are most needed (for health workers).

The issue with masks is they may lure people into a false sense of security. They are definitely not full proof and should not stop people from observing the 6ft rule.

Indeed. In my last few contracts I negotiated work from home clauses before signing. Mitsui Sumitomo agreed to 3 days per week and from recollection Celgene 2 days per week. Steer Davies Gleave nicely gave me 100% and told me I could do the entire project from home. I didn't meet anyone from their company in person. 

Yeh avoiding the london underground should be a very good idea. Seems like the perfect environment for it to spread. Seems like your employer allowing you to work from home is a completely reasonable accomodation.

I think his case is one of the few that might warrant the use of a mask as his interaction with his mum is occasional. Again I am talking from an ignorant POV though.

Yes I agree, and also suggest advice is taken on how to use them.

Alot of masks, also, don't do anything. And even the N95 masks do not filter the viruses themselves (only stopping droplets). About the only thing that will give you complete protection is a gas mask.

The thing is to just be careful and not get lulled into false security by the mask because they are designed to protect the environment from the person not the other way round.

Also make sure the mask is safely disposed of, because the outside surface can accumulate moisture and the virus.

Took Dad to the local  community hospital for an eye test this morning.

It appears to me they are assuming this will become widespread.  Large hastily erected info boards with large STOP signs on them and a list of symptoms that should preclude you from entering the building.

Hand gel  dispensers don't seem to have been  augmented.  There was one on the side of the reception counter but suspect it has always been there.

Breaking: England reports 4 new cases of coronavirus

Total now 40 (37 in England) with 13,525 tested of which 13,485 came back negative.

Well being worse than Hitler, I am a 1-person commute, so no risk there - when I get there though, I work for a facility that has users and scientists from around the globe. One way or another Vic,   I don't think many people are  going to be isolated from this if it really gets going  except maybe a few Jock and  Taffy farmers - even they will have to  "come into town" occasionally.

Yes, you are right. And gas masks do seem to be more effective, but they are also more expensive and perhaps a tad scary for some people.

France meanwhile has tested 982 with 38 positive (as of the 29th February), not sure the most recent ratios.

40/13525 is much better than 38/982

South Korea is 4212/109531

UK seems to be the most on top of this in Europe. I'm amazed, finally the 'UK envy of the world' nonsense might have some substance to it.

Also you still need to clean a gas mask, and I have no idea how to go about it.

The N95 masks are decent and effective though provided people are not lulled into a false sense of security by them and use them correctly.

For those of us not in contact with anyone with the virus we should focus on social distancing in my opinion.

We're tackling coronavirus by planning for the worst and working for the best. My piece here: https://t.co/lL4lP75Cjg

— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 2, 2020