Food and medical shops will stay open , they are the only essentials 

Interesting analysis, Darren.

A quick calculation gives a 1 in 20k chance of requiring critical care if you're under 10; 1 in 600 if you're 30-39; 1 in 300 for 40-49;  rising to 1 in 25 in the 60-69 band and jumping to 1 in 9 for the 70-79 group. 

The fatality rates against those suggest if you end up in intensive care you've a 40%-50% chance of not pulling through.  That doesn't seem to vary very much across the age bands, for some reason: nearer 40% at the bottom and closer to 50% at the upper end.  That seems horribly high to me.

You can see why they want to try to protect the over-70s.  

I suspect the figures are heavily influenced in the older groups by the high likelihood of one or more other medical conditions.

Oh, I see. Thanks. :)

2-weeks since the full Italian lockdown and finally some light at the end of the tunnel

++ Italy's 🇮🇹 number of registered Covid-19 cases grows by 8.1%. First time it is down to single digit.

Today's death toll is 601 down from 651 & 793 in the previous two days.

Italy went into lockdown two weeks ago. Scientists said it would take two weeks to see some results.

— Ferdinando Giugliano (@FerdiGiugliano) March 23, 2020

I wonder how long they keep them locked down, a further 2 to 3 weeks ?

That's the crucial thing. The move to unlock the nation will have to be taken very carefully and slowly otherwise cases could rocket again before they know it.

As long as it takes is what the Italian PM has said.

Probably already covered but at my local Sainsbury's this morning, during the over 70's hour, there was no checks as to who was going in.  I challenged a security guy as to why they were not asking for id, he replied not today.  There seemed quite a number of people obviously under 70 but they may be priority cases, one chap waved a piece of paper saying he had cancer.  Of course, some may have been key workers.  In any case, although not packed, it was nigh impossible to keep the recommended 2m distance.  The four big supermarkets have no delivery or click and collect slots available for the next 3 weeks.  I overheard a Sainsbury's click and collect operative saying he only serviced 3 slots yesterday. 

If I was someone living in London, I would have got out at least three weeks ago.

I have a cousin, originally from Glasgow, who lives in London and is training to be an accountant at the moment. Needless to say I am pretty concerned for her well-being right now.

The government should have made every effort to get on top of the coronavirus issue at least two months ago instead of waiting so many weeks until the start of March, by which time it was pretty apparent that this country was in real danger of a widespread outbreak.

If the worst does happen in this country, both in terms of the human cost and the economic one, I think Johnson and his government will never be forgiven by a great many people.

Benidorm + Coronavirus = Managerial mayhem!

As Spain becomes the fourth most infected nation in the world… Some Brits are doing their best to avoid virus precautions and carry on with their holiday as normal. pic.twitter.com/9r79Iz3LjZ

— RT UK (@RTUKnews) March 16, 2020

Shameful 

For the first time the number of hospital admissions has dropped in Lombardy (9266 today vs 9439 yesterday).

And to think they probably now back in the UK, hopefully in quarantine. 

Just thinking about self isolating 

7 days for self isolating if you live on your own

14 days if there is a family …..……….but if there is a family of 4 , are they expecting the other 3 to be clear on day 14? why isn't it 7 days per person?

Thick question I know 

My sister is now in isolation after one of her friends went down with it !  Stupid woman went to a load of concerts, clubs, pubs  and  criss crossed London on the Tube  over a number of days - went on a right "bender" by the sounds of it -  well after the lock-down had been mooted but  just before everything was locked down (probably why she did it !!)   Only mentioned this to my sis and her other half after she had been a passenger in their car for a few hours - a few days later she gets symptoms.  I don't like my sis's chances  of not getting it.  It's especially concerning as she's asthmatic.  With friends like that who the hell needs enemies.   The words selfish, self centred bint don't cover it !  and she's far from stupid, so  it makes it much worse     

It's beginning to look like it's very widespread in London - bit of a test case really, if teh death rate rockets in the next few days we're screwed, if not it implies  there are a lot of mild cases out there.  My sis's friend is  very "groggy" at home but so far has avoided professional medical assistance - she is early 60s,

UK figures seem to be jumping around ridiculously. In recent days haven't they been something like 20%, 8%, 11% and 17.25%?

RT? Very reliable news LOL!

Hi Gav, do you have a link to these figures please?