David, I don't see it as being about 'protecting the economy'; I see it as part of the 'well-being of the public': if people aren't being paid, or being paid a lot less, and normal life is disrupted too much that's just as much a factor.

If you shut down international travel some people will lose their income (and quite a lot of people across a wide range of activities); if you shut the schools someone has to look after the children and that has significant implications. Never mind the short- to medium-term, a lot of businesses will be weakened and some will to go to the wall (Flybe).

This is why I keep stressing the need for a balanced approach, which is what the government is trying to get right.

There's drive-through testing at York Hospital, has been for past week.

I'm very twitchy. mid 40s, don't smoke, don't drink, exercise (though slacked off lately), excellent BMI... but due to cancer treatment years ago, if I needed oxygen, I can't have it, and I'm dead.

That's excellent news. Can anyone go and be tested?

It has been glaringly obvious since January. "Panic early" rather than later when faced with something relatively potent and unpredictable like this virus would have been more prudent, IMO. Although that ship sailed about 6 weeks ago.

That's the downside - it has to be booked via a call to 111 (and then only if they think you need it.)

Actually when I say drive-thru, it's a car space near A & E that's cordoned off with warning tape. They come out suited-and-booted and swab you.

Napoleon's alleged question might be relevant here, Brian. And not only for you. Paraphrased: "But are you lucky?"

Roger

That was when I first suggested it - weeks ago. As for your second statement, that is only kicking in right now. I have been monitoring departures and arrivals at Milan airport and there were still flights to and from Edinburgh and Manchester and Stansted via EasyJet and Ryan Air today - now EasyJet has announced it is cancelling all flights to and from Italy, but only this afternoon and no announcement yet from Ryan Air.

But I did notice flights leaving Milan for Male both yesterday and today - now this from the BBC Website:

"Coronavirus has now reached the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

Six foreign nationals have tested posited for the virus in the archipelago, which is popular with tourists.

The identity of those infected has not been confirmed, but two of them are reported to be from Italy.

The Maldives government has put two resorts under lockdown. A quarantine facility has also been set up near the capital Male."

If the Maldives Government had prevented all flights from Milan, that would not have occurred.

If your stats are correct, then the 'safe zone' is between 51-59 years of age, with 0% mortality rates apparently. 

There are contributors to this thread who may well be interested in learning more about the Coronavirus story. FutureLearn are offering a free on-line course run by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. If you are going to self-quarantine, there are worse ways to spend your days. Starts 23rd March. Have a look:

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If you have not yet done one of their free courses you should consider it - they are excellent and the basic course is FREE!
Roger

Ryanair announced it a few hours ago

Thanks - I missed that. So the flights still on the boards will be the final ones.

I get that Peter, as I said in my last post. However, I am not sure that our government, and others, have been proactive enough when it comes to recognising the seriousness of this virus and the threat it poses to humans. This is why I have been so critical of the way the Chinese government and authorities there handled things back at the start of this whole sorry episode and especially the way this disease has spread like wildfire ever since, despite the warnings of the young doctor who ultimately lost his life to the disease.

I can see a time coming (and others have made this point too in this thread) where this country will be forced to implement the same or very similar measures to those that the Italians decided to implement last night; put the entire country into lockdown. I really hope that things do not get that bad in this country, but if they do then surely our government will have to act accordingly.

A TOP British surgeon who has tested positive for #COVID19 may have infected hundreds of vulnerable patients with the coronavirus as he failed to self-isolate after contracting the killer bug on a family skiing trip in northern Italy last week.https://t.co/HQ7QUDlDQ0

— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) March 10, 2020

I mentioned this earlier in the thread in answer to Gandalf about the very sensible and measured restricting of travel - he is the one who recently returned from Italy - at the very least, especially given his occupation, he should have self isolated on return from his ski trip to Lombardy!

Interesting article here on why low cost airlines are reluctant to cancel flights unless instructed so to do:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinrivers/2020/03/08/this-is-why-flights-are-still-operating-from-milans-airports/

I turned 40 last December, am not overweight either and also like you, I don't smoke (never have done) and consider myself to have reasonably good health. I do however have an underlying health condition which I was diagnosed with in 2007; Crohns Disease, for which I take daily medication which suppresses my auto-immune system to stop recurrences of the condition as much as possible. My parents are now in their 70s but still have generally good health.

I would be lying if I said I am not a trifle worried by all this.

If airlines are cancelling flights FROM Italy without notice, how are people already there going to get home?

There's a guy works here in Florence at the moment - flew there last week when the official advice was that it was fine in that region, and due to fly home tomorrow. 

Work have already told him to work from home for 14 days before coming into the office.

I'm 48, a smoker (for the past 16 years, a part-time one - but untipped rolled ones -ahem-). Since falling out of the habbit of going the gym, I'm carrying probably a stone too much. 

Only health issue is acid reflux (IMO from drinking too much Coke), although I do have an occasional repetitive cough. But I did do the steps at Covent Garden tube station without breaking sweat or being out of breath 

People stuck in Italy should not have gone there. I wouldn't have done.

If I was someone who travels back and forth between Italy and the UK for work or for any other reason, I would not have travelled there once it was known that coronavirus had spread to the country and certainly once it was known that so many people there had been infected.

That said, I would have applied the same principle to any other country I travelled to regularly that has also been affected.

Same goes to those stuck on Cruise ships as well

I was supposed to visit Copenhagen this month, but I cancelled some weeks ago in late January when I saw what was coming - that was before Italy blew a gasket - I just did not feel comfortable with the idea of flying when there is a novel and serious viral epidemic around the corner.

But as it happened, the office sent out the memo a couple of weeks ago requesting that external workers like me did not visit.

This was leisure - booked a while ago for a special occasion with his girlfriend.

The problem people have had is that until either official government advice is to not travel, or the flight is cancelled, you cannot claim a refund.

This case was only a long weekend, but still... a couple of flights, nice hotel; going to be close to £1k.

For those with a cruise booked (that Maunder sneers at so much) you're probably talking £5k. Not many people can just write-off that sort of money.