Thanks for all replies.

I had googled ADE but it went in the face of all my previous understanding of prior infection conferring immunity (time dependant on pathogen). 

I realise the paper was written a while ago, before the disease toll was obvious in other parts of the world but does that negate the hypothesis or does it suggest the prior infection was something more widespread. 

Is it possible that we are currently experiencing wave II? 

We are going to see a massive rise in nationalism just like the period post the 1929 crash

Far from countries working together, we are more likely to have another global war

Actually crime has gone down significantly in European countries with a lockdown and I think some police forces in the UK have also reported significant drops in crime.

Coronavirus crisis leads to steep drop in recorded crime

I think a lack of good hygiene standards in some countries has had a part to play as well. I very much doubt that coronavirus would have started in a country with generally high standards of hygiene such as the UK for instance, and most other developed western countries.

The question that keeps coming to my mind is why has this virus been so much worse in terms of the way it has spread over the vast majority of the world and the number of people infected than those other diseases.

IIRC, the Ebola outbreak in 2014 was largely contained within the continent of Africa. I remember the Zika virus was in Brazil around the time that country hosted the 2016 Olympics; I seem to recall that a few UK athletes across a number of sports withdrew from those games amid fears over that virus. Yet, despite Brazil being a country with a huge population, I don't recall hearing any reports at that time of that disease spreading throughout a number of other countries.

Antibacterial soap might sound like a silver bullet on the surface, but according to the US Food and Drug Administration, there’s no evidence to suggest it’s any better at killing viruses than standard soap.

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water

Not like you to look on the gloomy side Beast...

I think it is inevitable that China will take a huge hit for this in a number of ways, whether the start of this disease was accidental or not.

For instance, it would not surprise me at all in the long run if many international companies, including some UK businesses, who currently have manufacturing plants etc in places across China decide in the coming years to withdraw from the country. We spent a long time in the Brexit threads in this forum discussing the possibility of major international businesses potentially leaving the UK after Brexit took place; I can sure see this happening in China for a very different reason.

Yes, indeed. I only use it because I had bought ten of them back in January and they seem to be quite gentle on the skin. 

Imported food is going to become a big issue and plebs have got used to eating what they want, when they want. A diet of Turnip surprise is not going to go down well

The good news about King Boris having immunity now means that the virus is no longer a personal threat to him, so he will be very keen to get back to normal life ASAP

King Boris likes the good things in life. He likes to dine out at the best restaurants, he likes to make speeches, attending parties, and of course sex with young blondes

Hopefully, he will end the lockdown soon and ignore the scientists

All he wants is for his pub to re-open, so he will be on an anti-lockdown crusade.

Every day the Covid-19 virus is infecting an increasing number of people, but the rate of growth in cases in some of the worst-hit countries is starting to slow. Follow the latest updates here: https://t.co/RLzPjSRqMU pic.twitter.com/qaOL2kEpoE

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) March 29, 2020

I agree with your comments about punishment. But to be fair, SARS was almost 20 years ago and this looks almost identical in terms of source.  If little has changed in 20 years what confidence can we have of anything changing.

The key difference with 20 years ago is how much more China is interconnected with the rest of the world, making rapid spread that much more inevitable.

I don’t know how you spent your time during your ban but clearly you didn’t pause for self-reflection.

Canadian report: weather grim so haven't been out since the last report. At the moment boredom is the main issue. There's time to start various projects (in fact more time than ever) but somehow I don't feel like it - there is this sensation of life on hold. I suppose I'll have to start painting the dining room, which I've been putting off for months.

My younger kids are already starting to struggle a bit - we've been avoiding all contact for nearly 2 weeks now - and they are finding it tough that they can't play with their friends across the street.

I'm very aware that these are minor issues and we are in an easy position with a reasonable house and garden, plus a park behind us. I can't imagine what this will be like for those in a small apartment by say June. Or elderly people who live alone. I'm afraid we will get people losing the plot - keeping the population under partial house arrest for an extended period may just be untenable.

Sun due to appear a little this afternoon at least and we may see 15C so I may be able to run in shorts for the first time in about 6 months. This enforces social distancing from me even in normal times 

#Breaking Consultant Amged El-Hawrani, 55, who had tested positive for coronavirus, has died at Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton have said

— PA Media (@PA) March 29, 2020

David, it doesn’t have anything to do with hygiene standards: it’s about contact with wild animals which are a reservoir of viruses that are capable of making the species jump to humans.

As I understand it, SARS-Cov2 has spread rapidly because of the characteristics of the virus, ie contagious before symptoms appear. 

Ebola was only contained because of a significant international intervention.  Zika doesn’t pass easily from person to person, AFAIK, which limits the risk significantly.

It may have started in China , doesn't mean it originated there. The world military games took place in wuhan at the end of october, any of the 100+ countries taking part could have imported it whether on purpose or not.

Zika - there was speculation that it was GM gone wrong. Some jaffa mosquitoes were released to breed with the natives and render them incapable of breeding (I think) but something didnt work and instead Zika started popping up in similar areas to the GM mosquitoe trial.

Edit, was supposed to be in response to xioni2

 LLTNP 105m asl 

“All areas of the country on an emergency footing, not seen since WW2.” 

“strategic gold command centres set up across the UK supported by the military.”

This is like Threads. 

i wouldn’t go that far! Most depressing film ever...

The suggestion that it was brought to China during the world military games was started as part of the Chinese state propaganda drive to deflect blame.  It is completely at odds with the scientific evidence.