Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[the_quick]

Don't they have a summer in Australia now? And they still get Coronavirus?

[paulkerton]

True... It'll be the more southern countries that will hurt.

 

Zimbabwe is going to be an absolute nightmare, isn't it?

Gets cooler around July (still around 15 degrees average, but that's kinda cool for Africa), and they lose about 4 hours of sunlight.

 

Huge tourist hot spot for infected countries, really poor healthcare system and systemic denialism. It's going to be real ugly there.

[paulkerton]

Don't they have a summer in Australia now? And they still get Coronavirus?

 

I'm pretty sure their infection rates and slower and lower at the moment than other parts of the world.

But also, its very nearly Autumn there. They've got almost as much daylight during the day as we have right now. It's equinox in a few days. They will (generally) be having very similar weather to us right now.

[Duke5A]

I may be somewhat behind, but looking at the John Hopkins map, can anyone offer explanation as to why New York State is doing so much better at keeping victims alive when compared to Washington State?

 

12:43 on 16/3:-

NY - 746 cases, 6 deaths

Wash - 769 cases, 42 deaths

 

An elder care facility got hit in Washington and that is where a lot of the deaths come from. I believe the average age of fatalities in Italy is somewhere up in the late 70's.

[Andycat]

An elder care facility got hit in Washington and that is where a lot of the deaths come from. I believe the average age of fatalities in Italy is somewhere up in the late 70's.

 

Apparently the 40-45 group is now increasing in Italy https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-italy-update-young-people-hospital-luca-lorini-bergamo-a9402531.html

[Lonix]

Absolutely. But there are certainly ways to keep schools open with skeleton staffing for this purpose and reducing exposure by allowing staff to cycle in and out, and reducing the spread between pupils due to fewer numbers.

Eventually, many parents are just going to do it anyway, and it's going to be very difficult to say to people shouldn't gather in social gatherings of 500 or more, but then suggest they send their child to a school which is open to 500 for a larger primary, or 1000 - 3000 for a secondary. I think closures are inevitable, and sooner than we all think, as statistics are showing that we're no more than 2 weeks behind Italy, not 4 as suggested last week.

This is my thinking. How long till people start seriously making the decision themselves. My family have already decided to cancel everything in their lives and very few of us are still working. If we go down the route of fines for people that choose not to self isolate, are schools going to be chucking fines at people for taking their kids out of school?

 

I understand that this is unprecedented but it feels like a lack of common sense and more of a reactionary response compared to proactive planning.

[LeMarchand]

I'm worried about my Dad. Has Alzheimer's but muddles along at home OK with a lot of care. Will those carers be allowed to go in? If not, will I be allowed to go to look after him (200m away)? He sure as hell won't cope on his own!

[Andrew_C]

Washington State is the epicentre of where it all began in the US.

An elder care facility got hit in Washington

Those two together probably explain a lot of it. I'd guess temps in both states similar, but possibly Washington wetter? I know what NY winters are like, but never got west of the Rockies.

[paulkerton]

Those two together probably explain a lot of it. I'd guess temps in both states similar, but possibly Washington wetter? I know what NY winters are like, but never got west of the Rockies.

Washington state is very similar to Britain in the winter apparently. Rather cold, incredibly wet.

Sunnier generally, but similar.

[LeMarchand]

Free hand santiser from Bristol Brewery: https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-03-09/bristol-distillery-uses-its-gin-to-make-hand-sanitiser/

[LeMarchand]

Germany closing borders to a great degree: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51905129

 

Olga Kurylenko also self isolating after testing positive. https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/olga-kurylenko-coronavirus-james-bond

Edited March 16, 2020 by LeMarchand

[RLR]

64% in one of my primaries

 

Our 6th form has a lot of internationals that are flying home in case uk goes into lock down. Not sure on percentage but every day there are more and more not coming in.

[CAM]

Guidance has been updated: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

 

Snippet

If a member of staff has helped someone who was taken unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves. They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell.

 

By which point the student is already infectious if they do have it and spreading it around the school.

[localzuk]

The DfE's advice seems to fly totally in the face of the views of scientists around the world. The advice that scientists have given is that it can be spread without symptoms - which is pretty much how it seems to have got over here in the first place, people coming back from overseas without any symptoms spreading it to people they know.

 

However, it does fit with the "we must keep schools open as it'll be too difficult for the country if they all close" view the government has given so far.

[FishCustard]

Guidance has been updated: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

 

Snippet

 

 

By which point the student is already infectious if they do have it and spreading it around the school.

 

If the member of staff follows good infection control practice they are unlikely to contract COVID-19 in that scenario.

 

 

However, that's a lot of uncertainty, and if I were a HT I'd probably direct self-isolation in that case just to be sure...

[witch]

Greece - our holiday destination - has now said that we would have to self-isolate for 14 days if we went. We are only going for 11 days.

Easyjet have cancelled the flight

I cannot get through to our insurers but i am really worried that they will weasel out of it. The policy docs state that cancellation is either illness or the FO's advice not to go to Greece. The FO havent said that yet. I am praying to the goddess that they will, and soon

[Andrew_C]

If Sleazy have cancelled the flight, that at least should be refunded. Ask (assuming) your credit card company - your contract is with them.

[mikeprice]

Latest out seems to say avoid pubs, cinemas, theatres etc etc

and avoid all unnecessary travel

 

and if ANYONE gets symptons (cough, fever etc) then EVERYONE in the house should isolate for 14 days

 

logic being - ill person is ill for 7 days and can pass it on

other people could get it in the 7th day but have no symptoms - but after that 7 day period the whole house should be clear

 

 

so - no pubs - great - wife's 60th tomorrow and we were going out for dinner - in a pub

 

then going to Stratford to see 2 plays over 4 days after that

[Andrew_C]

Glad Mrs_C and I went to the pub Saturday lunchtime!

[elsiegee40]

We have an annual travel insurance policy. We have been emailed today saying that any claims for Coronavirus will not be honoured from this point onwards.

 

Having only got back from holiday on Friday, I am relieved we are not away. I am not even sure it would stand up in court if we happened to be still away at the moment.

[Andrew_C]

We have been emailed today saying that any claims for Coronavirus will not be honoured from this point onwards.

It will be interesting to see how they defend that in court - unless they mean for bookings made FROM today.

 

Never forget "Insurance is there to make money for them, not to protect you. That, if you are lucky, is a bi-product".

[mikeprice]

Just seen an announcement that a Fred Olsen cruise in Cuba is stopping and they are arranging a BA flight back to the UK for everyone

 

no actual problems but I'm sure a lot of passengers are worried

 

seems like a responsible move by the cruise line - and better to act now just in case

[6Foot2]

Ireland, in contrast to the UK policy announced within the last hour:

 

Link: Coronavirus: Pubs asked to close by Irish government [bBC News]

 

The Irish government has called on pubs and bars to close from Sunday to help tackle coronavirus.

 

Mass gatherings are banned in the Republic of Ireland, but pubs and bars have remained open.

 

Over the weekend, videos emerged of large numbers of people in pubs in the country.

 

On Sunday the government confirmed 40 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total in the Republic of Ireland to 169.

 

Two people in the country have died after being infected.

 

The request to close pubs until 29 March followed discussions with industry representatives who outlined the difficulty of implementing social distancing while pubs remain open.

 

The government also asked people not to hold house parties, as doing so "would put other peoples' health at risk"...

[vikpaw]

Latest out seems to say avoid pubs, cinemas, theatres etc etc

and avoid all unnecessary travel

 

and if ANYONE gets symptons (cough, fever etc) then EVERYONE in the house should isolate for 14 days

 

logic being - ill person is ill for 7 days and can pass it on

other people could get it in the 7th day but have no symptoms - but after that 7 day period the whole house should be clear

 

 

so - no pubs - great - wife's 60th tomorrow and we were going out for dinner - in a pub

 

then going to Stratford to see 2 plays over 4 days after that

I saw a Q&A segment on Sky News and I'm sure there was a conversation along the lines of:

 

'if my partner was ill, isolated 7 days, and now better, do i have to isolate. are we both fine?'

the answer - 'yeah, you're fine'. no clarity on the level of isolation and just 7 days with symptoms now is confusing people, especially the not-so-experts being put on live TV.

 

I prefer the 14 days argument or as long as possible. It's the Super-Spreaders that will kill us!

[vikpaw]

Worldwide School Closures:

New ones since yesterday's post in bold.

Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, China, Czech Republic, South Korea, France, Bavaria (Germany), Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Phillipines, Portugal, Qatar, North Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, UAE, Ireland, Denmark, Slovakia.

 

Quoting this across from the old thread because I think it's useful. @paulkerton

 

Just heard from our Asia team, that all Malaysian schools are closing, staff to stay at home too.