Chinese virus

[Mr D]

Philippines pretty much on lockdown now, everything except takeaway restaurants and supermarkets closed in Metro Manila for a month and a lot of provinces starting to impose restrictions.
Strange how it spiked in Europe before South East Asia when there's a lot more Chinese tourists who visit Thailand etc.

Last I heard they had 2500 test kits left. So any figures they produce may be rather small compared to numbers that could be found if tested.

Its not the number of people visiting. Its infected and who they infect.
People who aren't infected visiting a country don't spread the virus - though may catch it while outside China!

 

[Mr D]

Just seen - number of dead worldwide from the virus today, 666 (cue music)…..

However that is 10% today of the total deaths recorded for this. Possibly due to healthcare breaking down in some hospitals that are overwhelmed?

Things will get worse before they get better.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

A UK which has successfully tackled foot and mouth

Really? F&M was a blxxdy disaster. Ask why it happened in the first place. UK government incompetence caused it.

When it was all over the govt compensated the farmers who caused it and refused to compensate the innocent businesses who last money over it. It caused my small business £35,000 in turnover and just over £10,000 in profit. Please don't tell me I am wrong to distrust the UK governmant.

 

[Clodbuster]

Really? F&M was a blxxdy disaster. Ask why it happened in the first place. UK government incompetence caused it.

When it was all over the govt compensated the farmers who caused it and refused to compensate the innocent businesses who last money over it. It caused my small business £35,000 in turnover and just over £10,000 in profit. Please don't tell me I am wrong to distrust the UK governmant.

If I remember it was a Labour Government whom you are usually enamoured with.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Not sure where I've said I know how to handle the epidemic better . . . . . .more selective interpretation on your part.

What I have said is this:

1. It was irresponsible for the UK government to continue to allow flights in from ALL infected areas. This just contributed to the amount with infections being allowed into the UK and spread the virus. That is just your own opinion, they could also have stopped all ships etc but chose to work on advice from experts

2. The NHS is completely ill prepared, with a lack of testing equipment, protective clothing, ICU ventilators and even basic masks. Please provide your facts for this statement, the whole purpose of delay it to prepare for the worst and mobilise the resources needed

3. There has been no transparency showing the 'model' which is being followed. This should be shown to the public to instill confidence. Not to, just leaves questions that will eventually need to be answered. Who is going to be able to understand these arguments better than those trained as experts in their field, certainly not lay people like most of us are

4. There should be daily bulletins telling the country what is happening. The lack of communication with the public does not give confidence to the people who's welfare you have been charged with keeping safe. That's in place from today by the PM

5. Countries, some much smaller than the UK, have managed to control the spread of the virus by good testing methods and isolating infected areas. look at Singapore, S Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Israel who are all prepared for this epidemic. UK are not prepared. It's far to early to say who has handled it better, some countries have very authoritarian governments that can do more, but would be unacceptable in other countries

6. 111 is completely overwhelmed and giving conflicting messages, even with an additional 2000 telephone staff recruited. Do you honestly think that that is not being constantly adjusted, Training does need to occur for new staff, they are not like sardines where you just open a new tin

7. GP's have not been prepared and do not have sufficient protective equipment, even basic masks. Again where is your proof, there is a structure in the NHS and things get supplied as needed to fit the situation, good logistics is the key to success

8. There are no isolation units for people to be treated. They cannot go to A&E, they cannot go to their GP. Where are they supposed to go? I thought they said stay at home and the serious will be treated at hospitals or alternative hospitals like hotels etc

9. There has been widespread dissatisfaction globally on the UK's methods and strategy and this may come back to bite them when all this is over. So your suggesting we just follow everyone else and ignore our own experts

10. China was the first to have and combat this virus. not to learn from some of their methods and according to W.H.O should be followed, albeit tweaked due to each country's social movements. Which not doubt is what our experts are doing

What I am saying (in a nutshell) is this: UK are ill prepared and the Health Minister is responsible and should go.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

If I remember it was a Labour Government whom you are usually enamoured with.

Whatever gave you that idea? If you really want to know Mebyon Kernow for local elections, Lib Dem nationally and Green in the last EU elections. It wasn't too long ago that Cornwall was 100% LibDem.

The Civil servants are the same.

 

[MBE2017]

Just dropped my daughter at her work and decided to do a small top up shop, just low on a few items. We have an Aldi and Iceland store next to each other, approx 100 car park spaces. At 9am two were free.

Aldi have introduced a system of maximum of four of the same items per customer, I had too laugh at an Indian guy being told to return ten odd packs of toilet rolls, 9 rolls per pack. I think he intended selling them in his own store.

 

[MOIC]

@Chris Ashdown

You're obviously not listening to the news.

Switch on LBC Radio and listed to what GP's are saying, workers in the NHS and scientists with first hand experience with what happened in China.

My son works in the NHS and I get first hand information from him.

Listen to the news, please.

 

[Clodbuster]

The sooner they close all newspapers and news outlets the better off we will be. A kneejerk reaction caused by incomplete and sensationalised information.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

@Chris Ashdown

You're obviously not listening to the news.

Switch on LBC Radio and listed to what GP's are saying, workers in the NHS and scientists with first hand experience with what happened in China.

My son works in the NHS and I get first hand information from him.

Listen to the news, please.

If your son is a Director of the hospital or head of department then that would be first class knowledge, general staff like my sister in law working in great yarmouth have no more knowledge of the overall systems in place and planned than the general public

When you have knowledge of boardroom plans and trust plans then we will all listen , other than that its just gossip much like the rest of the posts on this forum

 

[thetiger2015]

If your son is a Director of the hospital or head of department then that would be first class knowledge, general staff like my sister in law working in great yarmouth have no more knowledge of the overall systems in place and planned than the general public

When you have knowledge of boardroom plans and trust plans then we will all listen , other than that its just gossip much like the rest of the posts on this forum

You won't get someone that high up responding to chit chat and speculation on a forum though will you. Even those put before the TV channels are prepped and asked only certain questions.

Alas, we can only speculate on all of this. Everyone is in the same boat...the divisions of Brexiteers v Remainers are still very apparent though!

The UK is woefully under prepared but it looks like other countries are in the same situation. Italy, the US, Germany. China was not prepared, they've kind of got a grip of it now (as far as we know) but it's escaped in to the wider world and we're all trying to dampen it down.

 

[Gordon L]

If your son is a Director of the hospital or head of department then that would be first class knowledge, general staff like my sister in law working in great yarmouth have no more knowledge of the overall systems in place and planned than the general public

When you have knowledge of boardroom plans and trust plans then we will all listen , other than that its just gossip much like the rest of the posts on this forum

Chris is spot on in his remarks. I know people in the NHS, in the Police, in the Military, each of them has heard this, been told that and so on. And it is all very well listening to LBC or talk shows, but I would caution the balance. People like to grumble, news organisations like a headline (see the Telegraph Today, a headline of 'carnage' - how many 'carnage' s' can there realistically be?).

If LBC had interviewed me during Foot and Mouth, it is likely I would have grumbled, or said we were unprepared (which of course we were (and are), we don't expect pandemics every 5 minutes). But the plan worked, despite some issues.

However I maintain it is critical to listen to the health leaders in this country - Professor Witty and Sir Vallance. they are there for a reason, they are good and have skills and knowledge which can be regarded as first rate.

As for letting everyone see the data, I have to say I hope we don't publish it. Too much information can cause even more hysteria. As can tittle tattle, comparisons with China and so on.

 

[DontAsk]

My son works in the NHS and I get first hand information from him.

So does mine, and so do I.

 

[UKSBD]

The UK is woefully under prepared

The problem is
When things like this aren't happening, a tv crew gets in to a fully stocked hospital ward that is just lying dormant, films it and all the experts come out saying - Why are these empty wards being left unused?

 

[Gordon L]

@myoffice in china. thanks for your points - here are mine.

What I have said is this:

1. It was irresponsible for the UK government to continue to allow flights in from ALL infected areas. This just contributed to the amount with infections being allowed into the UK and spread the virus. **I am not disagreeing with this. However, given the way viruses spread, it is arguable that we were going to get it anyway. But from a reassurance perspective it wasn't helpful.

2. The NHS is completely ill prepared, with a lack of testing equipment, protective clothing, ICU ventilators and even basic masks. **Of course they are unprepared.. the NHS is a peacetime organisation. My view is that it is responding as well as it can given the extreme circumstances.

3. There has been no transparency showing the 'model' which is being followed. This should be shown to the public to instill confidence. Not to, just leaves questions that will eventually need to be answered. **No, it shouldn't. Too much information in a binary context can be used for all sorts of mischief. You give this info to journos, trolls and political mischief makers and you leave the country wide open for all sorts of rumours, problems, short term demands, petitions etc. It is not the way to manage a crisis. Firm leadership is.

4. There should be daily bulletins telling the country what is happening. The lack of communication with the public does not give confidence to the people who's welfare you have been charged with keeping safe. ** I agree.

5. Countries, some much smaller than the UK, have managed to control the spread of the virus by good testing methods and isolating infected areas. look at Singapore, S Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Israel who are all prepared for this epidemic. UK are not prepared. ** It is way too early to make this assumption. About 6 months early. Sorry but we have yet to see what happens regarding the different approaches. Your point about preparedness, see my comment above.

6. 111 is completely overwhelmed and giving conflicting messages, even with an additional 2000 telephone staff recruited. *** takes time to train. You don't just recruit folk and expect them to know the job from day 1.

7. GP's have not been prepared and do not have sufficient protective equipment, even basic masks. ***this is an issue. I agree.

8. There are no isolation units for people to be treated. They cannot go to A&E, they cannot go to their GP. Where are they supposed to go? ***my understanding is that there are isolation units. (remember Ebola - we bough people over here to be treated in isolation units) I believe you are wrong.

9. There has been widespread dissatisfaction globally on the UK's methods and strategy and this may come back to bite them when all this is over. ****depends what and who you read. It is way too early for people to make these statements and there are plenty of people who support what the UK is doing. We have experience - eg Professor Whitty and Ebola - google it.

10. China was the first to have and combat this virus. not to learn from some of their methods and according to W.H.O should be followed, albeit tweaked due to each country's social movements. ***China and the rest of the world operate totally differently. We cannot lock down the UK.

What I am saying (in a nutshell) is this: UK are ill prepared and the Health Minister is responsible and should go. ***balls.

 

[Mr D]

If the country was given the model - would people understand it? Would it be used by the media to push sensational headlines and whatever story the particular media is presenting to its customers?

Can give details of a model out. However expecting it to help is perhaps asking a bit much.
Some on here could probably see it, understand it and maybe even agree with it. The mass of people who won't or cannot do so - who then just accept what they are told by those out to promote a story - they'll drown out the voice of anyone trying to say different.

 

[MBE2017]

Not wishing to post incorrect advice, but I have been told that many of the victims who have succumbed to this virus have been found to have Ibuprofen in their system. A doctor in Vienna has claimed this, which probably explains why others have mentioned not to take Ibuprofen. This is secondhand info since I am not on Facebook myself.

If you need a mild pain killer best use Paracetamol IMO, or at least check with your doctor 111 first.

 

[Mr D]

Not wishing to post incorrect advice, but I have been told that many of the victims who have succumbed to this virus have been found to have Ibuprofen in their system. A doctor in Vienna has claimed this, which probably explains why others have mentioned not to take Ibuprofen. This is secondhand info since I am not on Facebook myself.

If you need a mild pain killer best use Paracetamol IMO, or at least check with your doctor 111 first.

That would be unusual for those with asthma - they are advised not to use Ibruprofen in this country.

Though of course some countries will have different ideas on particular drugs than our official guiadance.

 

[MOIC]

If your son is a Director of the hospital or head of department then that would be first class knowledge, general staff like my sister in law working in great yarmouth have no more knowledge of the overall systems in place and planned than the general public

When you have knowledge of boardroom plans and trust plans then we will all listen , other than that its just gossip much like the rest of the posts on this forum

Chris, with all due respect you're not listening to what the world is saying (and doing) as well as staff within the NHS including GP's.

The UK government have fallen into line with the rest of the world . . . . . . later than they should have.

They have seen the error of their ways.

They were under the illusion that the virus will act and progress differently at a different rate than in other countries when all was clear to see.

One underlying element to their reasons - the NHS will not cope. This was my point all along, this is unforgivable for not being prepared.

As regards to only directors of a hospital or head of department, please listen to GP's and a multitude of front line workers saying otherwise.

The virus follows the same path in every country, unless tested correctly and isolated. All reports have showed that. It had to be correctly tested and isolated.

Pressure from outside of the UK, including W.H.O have made this government see sense and act now, when only 4 days ago they said we were 4 weeks behind Italy.

I like Professor Whitty, but really all the facts were before them and they should have taken this on board and not hide behind the fact that whoever was responsible did not get the NHS prepared, or all the staff within the NHS adequately prepared.

They will now follow all the other countries in combatting this virus, after keeping all flights open to allow many more infected people into the UK ( . . .following their herd immunity strategy, which they first said they were going to follow, then backtracked on). A huge mistake in anyone's book, even to a layman.

Sorry, but this has all been mismanaged. I'm not the only one to say that. Listen to people in eminent positions, not just many of the public.

The government will have a heavy price to pay, both financially to businesses as well as not testing correctly due to lack of equipment, trained personnel and selective testing.

They had 8 weeks to prepare for this, and only yesterday were running around looking for ventilators. They do not even have enough masks!

For those in control of this, there is only one word: Shameful.

 

[thetiger2015]

The problem is
When things like this aren't happening, a tv crew gets in to a fully stocked hospital ward that is just lying dormant, films it and all the experts come out saying - Why are these empty wards being left unused?

Oh I know. They'd call it all a terrible waste of money. These things happen once or twice in a generation, so the 30 odd years between seems a long time to be prepped and waiting.

Another issue is the combining of services, in to one building. It used to be the case that a town would have multiple hospitals, for different illnesses, to avoid the spread of infection. So, you'd have a general hospital (accidents) and 2 or 3 specialist hospitals for things like respiratory illnesses or unknown diseases. Patients were separated out. Now, everyone goes to a general hospital, through the same entrance, touching the same reception desk, speaking to the same reception staff. Saves money and works fine...until things like this happen.

 

[thetiger2015]

I like Witty, but really all the facts were before them and they should have taken this on board and not hide behind the fact that whoever was responsible did not get the NHS prepared, or all the staff within the NHS adequately prepared.

They had 8 weeks to prepare for this, and only yesterday were running around looking for ventilators. They do not even have enough masks!

The NHS has been under funded (or incorrectly funded and mis-managed) for decades. Both Labour and the Conservatives have mishandled over the years, in different ways.

The NHS was never going to be ready in 8 weeks. We're talking years of work to get it ready for this. They're under staffed, mis-managed (director/exec level) and funding is directed to the wrong things.

They likely heard about this months ago and did nothing about it. That comes from the top but everyones been busy arguing about Brexit, nobody noticed us slipping toward this nightmare.

 

[MOIC]

The NHS has been under funded (or incorrectly funded and mis-managed) for decades. Both Labour and the Conservatives have mishandled over the years, in different ways.

The NHS was never going to be ready in 8 weeks. We're talking years of work to get it ready for this. They're under staffed, mis-managed (director/exec level) and funding is directed to the wrong things.

They likely heard about this months ago and did nothing about it. That comes from the top but everyones been busy arguing about Brexit, nobody noticed us slipping toward this nightmare.

I agree with you.

Equipment to combat this virus should have been thought about and purchased, not left to the last minute.

I'm getting enquiries TODAY from the NHS for masks and ventilators!

This should have been done in January.

Germany are buying all the ventilators currently available. There will be none for the UK for some time.

Unless JCB change all their machinery and start producing. It takes weeks, even months to do that.

Matt Hancock might be a nice person, but he was in charge.

 

[Mr D]

Oh I know. They'd call it all a terrible waste of money. These things happen once or twice in a generation, so the 30 odd years between seems a long time to be prepped and waiting.

Another issue is the combining of services, in to one building. It used to be the case that a town would have multiple hospitals, for different illnesses, to avoid the spread of infection. So, you'd have a general hospital (accidents) and 2 or 3 specialist hospitals for things like respiratory illnesses or unknown diseases. Patients were separated out. Now, everyone goes to a general hospital, through the same entrance, touching the same reception desk, speaking to the same reception staff. Saves money and works fine...until things like this happen.

Indeed.
Growing up there was a small hospital down the street for elderly patients. The place they recover from falls etc in.
Needing a bed but not needing a general ward at the A&E hospital.
Around the area within 10 miles there were 6 hospitals, some with specialists to do outpatient work the main hospital didn't have room for.

Would have worked fine to have multiple separated hospitals where patients could be sent as triage allowed for various treatment or make comfortable needs. Except all were knocked down, estate was valuable for housing.
Nice new shiny hospital that doesn't have enough beds... having less than half the beds the town had 30 years ago.


The UK does have an advantage some other countries don't. The islands.
Can physically cut off access to some parts of the UK to avoid spread of a virus - if we wanted.
No political will so far.

 

[Mr D]

The NHS has been under funded (or incorrectly funded and mis-managed) for decades. Both Labour and the Conservatives have mishandled over the years, in different ways.

The NHS was never going to be ready in 8 weeks. We're talking years of work to get it ready for this. They're under staffed, mis-managed (director/exec level) and funding is directed to the wrong things.

They likely heard about this months ago and did nothing about it. That comes from the top but everyones been busy arguing about Brexit, nobody noticed us slipping toward this nightmare.

The NHS should have protocols for infectious disease. They have a considerable amount of crises over the years in some areas such that beds are in great demand. Plus Norovirus outbreaks that shut down wards - and encourage people to wash hands thoroughly.
The equipment aside - the NHS had the same ability to learn over the years as it always had.

There will be mistakes made. Lots of them.
And there will be people stepping up, going above and beyond. And some paying the cost of doing so.
Would not surprise me if in next 12 months the NHS loses a lot of staff.

 

[MOIC]

Macron has suspended all utility bill payments AND RENT.

Hope Boris is taking note how other governments are helping businesses In their country and their citizens.

Doubtful, but we all live in hope!

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Macron has suspended all utility bill payments AND RENT.

Hope Boris is taking note how other governments are helping businesses In their country and their citizens.

Doubtful, but we all live in hope!

A moratorium on all payments for a few months would be decent. Can’t imagine a UK prime minister taking such a bold step though.

 

[MOIC]

Macron is allocating £300 Billion to assist businesses.

Boris is allocating £30 Billion to assist businesses.

A rethink is required.

 

[MOIC]

A moratorium on all payments for a few months would be decent. Can’t imagine a UK prime minister taking such a bold step though.

We are in unprecedented times.

An appropriate response is required. It will be interesting to see how governments across the world will help businesses and citizens in their country.

Jeremy must be loving this.

 

[Gordon L]

The issues with the NHS go back to when it was founded. The Labour Government who created the NHS (although actually the genesis of the organisation is Tory) said that they had to 'stuff the doctors' mouths with gold'. And since then, the NHS has, tragically, become a political football, largely as a result of the Labour Party using it to try to win votes (See Ken Clarke's biography 'Kind of Blue') for a more detailed explanation). Hence long term planning goes out the window, replaced by short term expedient politically motivated decisions. You can add to this bed blocking and the actions of irresponsible citizens who drop off their elderly parents at a hospital claiming they are sick. When they are not.
One of my pals was on the board of a CCG ('Clinical Commissioning Group - the Board which runs areas of the NHS), a group of people who are, I am reliably told, more interested in themselves and their jobs and pensions than the effectiveness of the NHS. My friend, much younger than his fellow board members, and supremely talented, left, sick to death of this awful senior management ethos (he now runs one of the foremost Medical Charities in the UK; he is a great loss to the NHS).
It is all well blaming Matt Hancock and demanding he should go, as @myofficeinchina, has demanded.
However this will achieve nothing. The NHS is what it is, and regardless of its huge shortcomings, is all we have, aside from the UK population takings its responsibilities seriously.

 

[Gordon L]

@myofficeinchina France is several weeks ahead of the UK , unfortunately. Let us see what happens before jumping to conclusions. I am sorry, but I maintain you are being hysterical in much of what you say. It may well be that Johnson does offer business support. There are of course other factors at play - Macron's unpopularity in France for a start. Can you please stop with the hysterics?

 

[DontAsk]

Indeed.
Growing up there was a small hospital down the street for elderly patients. The place they recover from falls etc in.

There still are such places. SWMBOs grandma spent time in one recently. Very nice it was too.

Macron is allocating £300 Billion to assist businesses.

Boris is allocating £30 Billion to assist businesses.

I think that says more about te state of French business than Boris.

 

[MOIC]

The issues with the NHS go back to when it was founded. The Labour Government who created the NHS (although actually the genesis of the organisation is Tory) said that they had to 'stuff the doctors' mouths with gold'. And since then, the NHS has, tragically, become a political football, largely as a result of the Labour Party using it to try to win votes (See Ken Clarke's biography 'Kind of Blue') for a more detailed explanation). Hence long term planning goes out the window, replaced by short term expedient politically motivated decisions. You can add to this bed blocking and the actions of irresponsible citizens who drop off their elderly parents at a hospital claiming they are sick. When they are not.
One of my pals was on the board of a CCG ('Clinical Commissioning Group - the Board which runs areas of the NHS), a group of people who are, I am reliably told, more interested in themselves and their jobs and pensions than the effectiveness of the NHS. My friend, much younger than his fellow board members, and supremely talented, left, sick to death of this awful senior management ethos (he now runs one of the foremost Medical Charities in the UK; he is a great loss to the NHS).
It is all well blaming Matt Hancock and demanding he should go, as @myofficeinchina, has demanded.
However this will achieve nothing. The NHS is what it is, and regardless of its huge shortcomings, is all we have, aside from the UK population takings its responsibilities seriously.

So, who should be responsible for the shortages of testing equipment, testing procedures, PPE for front line staff, shortage of ventilators, not enough masks? (even the flimsy ones used by the public)

Please answer that one.

Within 2 weeks you will see images coming from many hospitals showing scenes you don't want to see.

The tragic thing is that this could have been prepared for, certainly with regards to testing equipment and PPE.

Unfortunately people like bashing China because they don't like the government, but this virus does not just attack Chinese, it attacks humans as the rest of the world are experiencing including UK.

Where were the top medics in January, when this virus took hold of China to devastating affect?

Lessons should have been learned.

They were not.

 

[MOIC]

@myofficeinchina France is several weeks ahead of the UK , unfortunately. Let us see what happens before jumping to conclusions. I am sorry, but I maintain you are being hysterical in much of what you say. It may well be that Johnson does offer business support. There are of course other factors at play - Macron's unpopularity in France for a start. Can you please stop with the hysterics?

Hysterics in your books (and probably a few others who have not experienced the effects of this virus at first hand).

I'm just reporting the facts and offering my opinion.

Just as you are.

That's what a forum is for.

 

[MBE2017]

A new virus model is predicting up to 18 months until the virus rolls through and a vaccine available, 250,000 UK deaths if everyone adheres to official advice. The NHS will be totally overwhelmed, estimated eight fold, eight patients to each bed, resulting in many deaths.

Elderly, 60+ years, people with pre existing conditions such as asthma, heart disease, a BMI over 42 etc to be confined for the next twelve weeks. Bear in mind, this is the best case scenario, ALL world Governments IMO are lying regarding this virus, using the usual tactic of releasing small doses of bad news, extra measures etc.

This could be happening for the next year or two, no-one living will have seen this before. This is a complete game changer, the military are being mobilised in France, how long until it is in the UK?

Hopefully the new suppression tactics will help, but so far all the Gov seems to do is change its mind every day, keep safe guys.

 

[Jeff FV]

Have dusted off my crystal ball (it’s been in the cupboard since the summer, wasn’t much good then in predicting a landslide Tory GE victory, but here goes ...)

I reckon in tomorrow’s (Tuesday) briefing the gov. will officially ban social gatherings.

He (Johnson) is (quite rightly) now taking a lot of flak for throwing the hospitality industry under a bus. He’s advised/asked people not to go to them, but if he doesn’t compel them to shut they can’t claim on their insurance, meaning they’ll go to the wall, but the insurance giants get off the hook.

As has been pointed out above, he’s being compared unfavourably to Macron.

By tomorrow the situation will have “developed” further and they’ll force the closure of social gatherings- (in an attempt to save face & votes, rather than lives)

 

[Mr D]

A new virus model is predicting up to 18 months until the virus rolls through and a vaccine available, 250,000 UK deaths if everyone adheres to official advice. The NHS will be totally overwhelmed, estimated eight fold, eight patients to each bed, resulting in many deaths.

Elderly, 60+ years, people with pre existing conditions such as asthma, heart disease, a BMI over 42 etc to be confined for the next twelve weeks. Bear in mind, this is the best case scenario, ALL world Governments IMO are lying regarding this virus, using the usual tactic of releasing small doses of bad news, extra measures etc.

This could be happening for the next year or two, no-one living will have seen this before. This is a complete game changer, the military are being mobilised in France, how long until it is in the UK?

Hopefully the new suppression tactics will help, but so far all the Gov seems to do is change its mind every day, keep safe guys.

And the people confined for the next 12 weeks - no bills, no insurance, no parking, no fuel charge, no parking charges?
While of course running up bigger bills by being in the house all the time.

Somehow cannot quite see businesses and indeed NHS happy to lose staff for 12 weeks.

 

[simon field]

Have I missed something, or is the latest advice from our government:

Avoid social gatherings, go to school?

 

[Jeff FV]

Schools:

I’m only crystal ball gazing, but this is what may happen - the gov. hopes that schools limp through to the Easter holidays (circa two or three weeks away), then possibly add an extra couple of weeks on to the end of the Easter hols (effectively meaning schools closed for about 4 weeks)

Then, if schools can’t re-open for all students, they re-open for Y11 and Y13 students so they can do their GCSE and A level exams. The limiting factor (to schools opening) will probably the availability of teachers.

We live in strange times, but as a teacher I know the flak we/schools get when they close for a day or two for snow or INSET training. People may be happy for schools to close now, in the midst of hyperbole and hysteria, but once the kids have been off for a while opinions may change.

 

[MOIC]

What I'm about to say is not meant to be 'hysteria' as some would claim.

This is a business forum and I expect readers and posters to be of a certain experience to be able to accept good news and bad news and be able to adapt to it.

Tomorrow morning, those that think that this is nothing to worry about, will be in for a rude awakening.

The UK will be shut down within 2 weeks (probably 1 week) and will probably be closed for at least 2 months (if other countries experience is to go by).

You should read Tom Whipple's article in The Times tomorrow, he is The Time's science correspondent who was at the meeting with the group of top scientists and advisors to look at and discuss "The Model' that was being used as the strategy the UK government was following.

It will open your eyes.

The government MUST help all citizens, not just businesses, but employees and those who need to survive.

Years of hard work by many people building their business may well come to a brutal end if they cannot get enough help or have sufficient cash flow to survive.

This virus is following the path that it took in China, it was there for all to see.

What happened?

 

[MBE2017]

I think the UK will be on lockdown by the end of the week myself. I take no comfort from it, but it makes sense to try and time it in a similar period to the rest of Europe and the USA.

After all, where is anyone going to go, do business with, travel to? Almost the whole of the West is in shutdown, or about to be.