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The Coronavirus Dis...
 

The Coronavirus Discussion Thread.

 Drac
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Currently it’s not but no but I’d not be surprised if it gets added, I’d not be too concerned but a call may help give you peace of mind.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 12:30 pm
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I would guess they would rather test you than not! Given you know you've been to an area where it is present, the responsible thing would be to call up and explain. Better that than read about an unexplained outbreak related to a Cardiff DIY store in a weeks time!


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 12:46 pm
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Plus you probably get to meet P-jay's missus.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 1:06 pm
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I had a link to a NYT article pop up on my FB today, alleging that Coronavirus is a leak from a Chinese lab. Apparently the only Chinese level 4 lab capable of handling such viruses is in Wuhan.

Fake News or viable?


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 1:15 pm
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At this point it doesn't matter either way.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 1:23 pm
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Fake News or viable?

The virus is certainly the latter.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 1:24 pm
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If the Chinese have been playing with this, they are far more likely to be closer to a vaccine than the 18 months suggested by uk experts.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 1:28 pm
 poly
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I would guess they would rather test you than not! Given you know you’ve been to an area where it is present, the responsible thing would be to call up and explain. Better that than read about an unexplained outbreak related to a Cardiff DIY store in a weeks time!

Whereas I would guess they would probably rather not. The testing is expensive, and testing too many very low risk people creates a bottle neck behind the high risk cases. A train passing through an area with over 50,000 people of whom 165 have been diagnosed, is not the same as having close contact with someone who is infected. Especially as whilst he has "flu like symptoms" he doesn't have the symptoms most closely associated with this infection: cough or fever or shortness of breath. Most likely he had regular man-flu as many people will get this winter; following good hygiene practice to reduce exposure to others will help either way.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 2:12 pm
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Plus you probably get to meet P-jay’s missus.

Pretty likely, Molegrips doesn't live far from me.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 2:18 pm
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The WHO website has a much longer list of symptoms though many of which I had. I'll probably call NHS direct, they probably won't test me.

@p-jay ask your Mrs if I should call NHS direct or not?


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 2:19 pm
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although we had flu like weakness we haven’t had coughs and sneezes or apparently any fever…

Ring 111 if it'll make you feel better, but you haven't had they symptoms?


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 2:28 pm
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From The Grauniad:

In France, the government urged anyone who has visited Lombardy or Veneto – the two most affected regions in Italy – to wear face masks if they go outside, limit non-essential activities and take their temperatures twice a day


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 2:29 pm
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From WHO

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.

Aches and pains, diarrhea, nasal congestion, tiredness. All mild.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 2:34 pm
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The WHO website has a much longer list of symptoms though many of which I had. I’ll probably call NHS direct, they probably won’t test me.

@p-jay ask your Mrs if I should call NHS direct or not?

She said they don't specifically ask people who've visited the affected parts of Italy to call, but they really won't be upset if you do.

I'd give them a call, they've got more info than most and you won't find your house being buzzed by black helicopters if they think you need checking, it'll be a District nurse wearing a HazMat suit


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 3:43 pm
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Stock markets taking fright today based on concerns about economic effects; one day movements mean nothing so will be interesting to see what happens next.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51612520
As for covid-19, good hygiene practice should be a given; gloves, goggles, masks - if you wish.
Any change to NHS guidelines will be widely communicated and I wouldn't do more than they recommend.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 4:40 pm
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it’ll be a District nurse wearing a HazMat suit

A well-placed camera to record the reactions of your neighbours please.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 4:49 pm
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Fake News or viable?

It's a story been doing the rounds since day 1, I'm going to say bat shit.

If it does turn out to be true we should all be very glad it wasn't something nasty.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 5:35 pm
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Stock markets taking fright today based on concerns about economic effects; one day movements mean nothing so will be interesting to see what happens next.

It's payday in a couple of days - fingers crossed this run on the markets lasts a few more days so when we drop our deposits into our pensions / S&S ISA's we buy our funds at a nice discount!


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 5:50 pm
 Drac
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I’m going to say bat shit.

Yeah that was the suspected cause.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 5:52 pm
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Yeah that was the suspected cause

Apparently it was supposed to be guava soup but the chef misread it.


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 5:57 pm
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Is there a reason why the Corona virus dashboard (link on page 1) is now password protected? Shame as it was a useful gauge on the situation. Hope there's nothing more covert going on...!


 
Posted : 24/02/2020 8:29 pm
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Seems the source has been found

https://www.thefarside.com/2020/02/25/2


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 8:07 am
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For MolGrips:

Chief Medical Officer advice (according to Matt Hancock) is that if you've been in Italy, North of Pisa, self-isolate if you have symptoms
If you've been to one of the quarantined areas, self isolate regardless


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 9:49 am
 Drac
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Heard that on the news, thanks folks.

It just says self isolate - although it doesn't say for how long - and it says if you have returned after 19th Feb. I left on 13th.


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 10:07 am
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14 days is the normal isolation period.  One for the medics - does it count as being isolated if you're all alone riding a bike in the woods, only touching gate hardware with gloved hands etc?


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 10:15 am
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Sounds like there are now cases in other areas in Italy as well according to the news.

Plus a hotel in Tenereife is in lockdown.

Re. the self isolation, I was thinking that a lot of people who are advised to self isolate I guess. WHo picks up the bill for that. If you are a salaried worker I guess its covered as sick leave, but if you are self employed?

I guess @Molgrips the idea is to self isolate for 14 days since you left the country so you are almost there already. Did you call 101?


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 10:19 am
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And there's a vaccine now* too...

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1180695.shtml

*if you're a crazy scientist testing it on yourself


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 10:29 am
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does it count as being isolated if you’re all alone riding a bike in the woods, only touching gate hardware with gloved hands etc?

Yes that would count, just as walking down an empty street would count. You won't be catching anything and won't be transmitting anything if no-one else is around.

However you will not be able to go to the shops and if your area is in lockdown you may not be able to get anything delivered. That is exactly why I stocked up...


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 10:29 am
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Posted : 25/02/2020 10:54 am
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I was in Milan last week for work. My company advised me this morning: We are also advising a 14-day self-quarantine period for travellers returning from Northern Italy. Plus they closed the office that is just outside of Milan, 2000 odd people working at home


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 11:19 am
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Amanda is at a bike show not far from Florence. We’re all going to die.


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 11:39 am
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2000 odd people working at home

Well, at least the internet capacity of the country will be tested if that expands!


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 11:44 am
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Well, at least the internet capacity of the country will be tested if that expands!

Yeah by Netflix mostly #workingfromhome


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 11:54 am
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Says something about PETA that that ad on the last page seems almost too plausible for them!

Could provoke an interesting 'are viruses alive?' debate if they did go for it. 🙂

Amanda is at a bike show not far from Florence. We’re all going to die.

What virus to make the trails go dead?


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 11:54 am
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Interesting what this guy says at the end with regards to friends who have (supposedly?) contracted the virus.

It would certainly tie in with how myself and lots of colleagues felt at the end of Jan....


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 1:54 pm
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Is there a reason why the Corona virus dashboard (link on page 1) is now password protected? Shame as it was a useful gauge on the situation. Hope there’s nothing more covert going on…!

Seems to be back up, which is just as well, as the US Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security needs a briefing.

https://twitter.com/ggreeneva/status/1232033090807226368


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 1:56 pm
 DanW
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Can someone give an idiots guide as to why is this strain being so robustly dealt with by governments (closing whole cities and towns/ shutting off hotels/ widespread self isolation) in comparison to recent vaguely similar events like Swine Flu?

Is it that the worst affected essentially develop untreatable viral pneumonia so survival is currently all down to the immune system? Ie more serious consequences than we have seen before affecting a larger number of people? Have we seen such wide scale and “robust” measures for dealing with various outbreaks in The recent past?


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:07 pm
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Urgh looks like it’s crossed over to inanimate objects now. My new frame has it, so it’ll be delayed getting here from where ever in the Far East it’s made, until it’s factory reopens.

It’s serious now.


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:10 pm
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Can someone give an idiots guide as to why is this strain being so robustly dealt with by governments (closing whole cities and towns/ shutting off hotels/ widespread self isolation) in comparison to recent vaguely similar events like Swine Flu?

it's gammon pox


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:18 pm
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Can someone give an idiots guide as to why is this strain being so robustly dealt with by governments (closing whole cities and towns/ shutting off hotels/ widespread self isolation) in comparison to recent vaguely similar events like Swine Flu?

I'm also an idiot, but the 'scary' thing about this compared to Flu is a much higher fatality rate for people who contract it (I've seen it as high as 10x but also others that contest that) and a very long period when carriers are contagious, but show no symptoms, I've read 2 weeks??

So, if this idiot is right, then you could be walking around happy as Larry for up to 2 weeks potentially passing it onto anyone you come into contact with, and of those who get it, 10x as many of them will die as a result then if they caught Flu, which I guess it still a very low number, but over-all a lot of people Globally.

The WHO has said that it has potential to be the first "Disease X".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease_X


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:22 pm
 tomd
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The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.

Surely those are the basic symptoms for every cold and flu type thing? I don't think I've ever had a proper cold where I couldn't tick off the majority of those.


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:28 pm
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...as there's no vaccine in immediate prospect, the only measures to slow/stop spread are the old ones of containment and quarantine. Stamp on it fast and it could disappear which is better for everyone (as China seems successfully to be doing). If it becomes a pandemic then it goes around the world, economy takes a hit globally, mainly vulnerable folks die. So worth spending a lot of energy to stamp.

If it does become a pandemic, it'll romp around for a bit and vaguely fade into the seasonal background but we still don't want that to happen. And the romping around will cause difficulties, as a colleague who has tickets for La Scala on Saturday is finding.


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:29 pm
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I am not sure it's more deadly than normal flu (which still kills a significant percentage of people) - the numbers vary from 3% to 10% depending on to whom you are talking. But it's apparently much more virulent so it could spread very quickly which would create a huge strain on resources since loads of people would be ill all at once and hence more would die.

1% of 7bn people is still 70 million people who might die.


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 4:48 pm
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Age, Sex, Existing Conditions of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Last updated: February 23, 22:35 GMT

Based on all 72,314 cases of COVID-19 confirmed, suspected, and asymptomatic cases in China as of February

COVID-19 Fatality Rate by AGE: Death Rate = (number of deaths / number of cases) = probability of dying if infected by the virus (%) for different age groups. The percentage shown below does NOT represent in any way the share of deaths by age group.

AGE DEATH RATE*
80+ years old 14.8%
70-79 years old 8.0%
60-69 years old 3.6%
50-59 years old 1.3%
40-49 years old 0.4%
30-39 years old 0.2%
20-29 years old 0.2%
10-19 years old 0.2%
0-9 years old no fatalities

I'd add to bear in mind chinese life expectancy is (still) 5 years lower than over here. So that's what happens if everyone gets it.

On Molgrips point. Obviously if we all went to Corrnoa parties and swingers' cruises etc this would happen fast and equate to a big hit. Even if it becomes a pandemic, sensible prevention measures slow this down, so less of a hit.

Oh yeah. Sauce: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/


 
Posted : 25/02/2020 5:06 pm
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