Yes. I was sceptical at first of our country's approach on this, but I'm convinced that this is the best long-game play. Once you take on board the difficult to swallow facts on likely spread to the vast majority of the population no matter what we do now, and take into account our capacity to deal with the severe cases that will arise, we have to accept what's coming and try mitigate the peaks by only introducing measures according to to need rather than popular opinion.

The one thing I am convinced of is my faith in the scientific advice in this country as being the best available, and I do think it's being adhered to thus far by the Government.

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Measles killed 20 percent of Hawaii's population in the 1850s. In 1875, measles killed over 40,000 Fijians, approximately one-third of the population.  In the 19th century, the disease killed 50% of the Andamanese population. - Wiki   

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I was thinking the recommended five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day might not be the best advice at the moment.

Buy everything in tins and don't touch them for at least three days.....

😷😷

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I also have plenty of confidence in the scientists and experts of this country, but I wish I could say the same for many politicians and especially the ones governing us now. It would worry me though if more scientists start criticising our approach.

Anyway, the way I see it is:

• from a selfish POV most healthy younger (<65) people don't have much to worry (except for vulnerable loved ones); the economic fallout might be more of a worry for them


• healthy elderly people and younger people with relevant conditions probably have a bit more to worry, but not panic


• Elderly people with relevant preconditions should worry a lot and should stay at home as much as possible

It's amazing the number of public figures there are out of the 590 cases isn't it?

 

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 I was thinking 'roll on the cricket season' because social distancing isn't a problem at county matches.

😉

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PL emergency meeting tomorrow 

 

Arsenal statement " it is clear we will not be able to play some fixtures on their current scheduled dates "

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Local news (East) tonight reported a patient at Addenbrooks and an ambulance driver have tested positive along with, worryingly, a care home worker.

You have to conclude the virus is now pretty widespread

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Spreads the virus amongst the healthy hopefully. The elderly and the vulnerable should stay at home instead.

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Perhaps supermarkets will re-discover why pre-packed in plastic is better than having food rummaged through by dozens of people.

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Or spray them in Dettol. I say spray as I find that putting Dettol (an expensive commodity over here) into an empty spray container allows one to use it more sparingly without compromising effectiveness. 

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Feeling poorly.

Arsenal expects a "significant number of people" will self-isolate, including first-team staff and coaches.

"The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is," said club managing director Vinai Venkatesham.

"We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows."

Yes. I must admit we avoided the unwrapped bakery items that were on display today.  I'm always slightly concerned given the questionable hygiene standards of some people but Covid-19 has tipped the scales firmly to 'avoid'.

 

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My faith is based getting info from one person in particular that's had very little sleep in the past 2 weeks that's one of the country's leading epidemiologists.

With regard to your points above, worth mentioning:

• everyone is in the same boat on this. People that have severe immuno deficiencies are no more likely to get this virus than the rest of us, as it is a new virus and no-one has immunity. It does not matter how healthy you are.

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You can't avoid that but being in a crowd for two hours to watch kicking balls is easily avoided.
Plus you can try not to touch your face until hands are washed after shopping - it can't go through your skin and you can keep a reasonable distance from other people by and large round the aisles.

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Professor John Ashton absolutely damning of the Government approach on Question Time right now.

Absolutely damning.

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Paul Brand from ITV

BREAKING: Another Conservative MP is in self-isolation tonight with a cough and temperature. They’ve asked that I don’t identify them yet, but tell me the PM must step up action. “We must social distance”, they say. Growing concern that Britain is out on a limb with its response.

Yes, my point was about the impact of the infection, not about its risk. Given the governments' approach, I assume that many, if not most of us, will get it eventually.

 

I've always thought highly of Professor Ashton; never afraid to speak his mind.

We could do with him as PM at the moment!

 

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I'll mention again what my contact in Milan told me this morning (his wording): "most infected people I know report just annoying/inconvenient symptoms like a cold."

 

I feel like crap too, sore throat (for some reason tongue more than anything else!) headache and sore chest.

No cough though yet, and although aching limbs, no temperature.

I'm already WFH so no issues there. Wife says I'm being banished to the shed.

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I’m not sure I agree with him entirely to be honest although he makes some good points. 

He’s clearly very angry - one of his main points is the lack of checks on returning travellers into the UK, especially from Italy. 

He says we’ve completely lost control. His “rant” is worth a watch. 

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Really interesting interview with Prof Graham Medley fromLondon School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine on Newsnight ...he was flagging up the need to segregate as far as possible the vulnerable and healthy groups to develop herd immunity...he was strongly against closure of schools because of the fact that it would be far more likely that grand parents will end up looking after the children...at the same time he was saying that anyone who tells you they know what is going to happen, simply don’t believe them!

Agreed. If you accept the spread is inevitable then the effort should be on the timing of those lockdown measures to produce maximum effect for those that are really vulnerable to the virus balanced against the NHS's ability to treat them.

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I think he is right on this. The whole N.Italian outbreak sounds like a combination of bad luck and incompetence. They didn't know the virus was circulating there and thus couldn't do proper contact tracing. This coincided with the half term holidays in many European countries with lots of schools and tourists there, who then started bringing back the virus to their countries. Italy didn't take drastic measures early enough and the other European governments (including our own) didn't stop travelling early enough and they didn't even screen the visitors.