The Corona Virus

[Matthew Blaisdel]

Are you afraid of it?
I'm starting to be a little. Already 7 dead and hundreds infected in Italy now.
If they don't find the cure or a vaccine soon, then it will slowly spread the whole world..

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

This is how it spreads:

 

[Jimmy Todd]

Are you afraid of it?
I'm starting to be a little. Already 7 dead and hundreds infected in Italy now.
If they don't find the cure or a vaccine soon, then it will slowly spread the whole world..

I'm not sure what to think. Sometimes I think that this will die down once we get into spring. I feel a little jaded because of hearing about the West Nile Virus, Hoof and Mouth, SARS, Ebola, and Zika. They were bad but did not become the pandemic many had predicted. However, when I read how it is spreading I do begin to worry.
I live in a major city with a large Chinese population and I'm not surprised it hasn't hit us already the way it has hit Italy.

 

[Matthew Blaisdel]

However, when I read how it is spreading I do begin to worry.

That's the Corona-situation right now worldwide: https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

 

[Sarah]

I'm afraid. I have a sore throat and I'm a bit of a hypocondriac. It does frighten me. China is the last place I would ever go but this virus just doesn't seem to be going away

 

[Willie Oleson]

This is how it spreads:

"I need more air!"

 

[Angela Channing]

Are you afraid of flu? About 1000 people die each year of flu and so far no one in the UK has died from covid-19 so the risks have to be put into perspective.

If the unlikely event someone becomes infected with covid-19, their body's immune system will deal with it, just like it would do with flu. Healthy people have very little to worry about, however old people or people with a condition that can lead to a weakened immune system may find it more difficult to fight off an infection.

I'm more worried about Arsenal winning their next match than I am about covid-19.

 

[Sarah]

I think it's the news @Angela Channing - and the rate of which it is spreading. I just had a call to work asking why we had allowed a Chinese cruise ship into Belfast port as it will be carrying it! OK so I don't believe that...

 

[Angela Channing]

I think it's the news @Angela Channing - and the rate of which it is spreading. I just had a call to work asking why we had allowed a Chinese cruise ship into Belfast port as it will be carrying it! OK so I don't believe that...

As usual the media are not reporting the story responsibly and are being sensationalist about it. Yes, there is a risk and people shouldn't ignore that and take any necessary precautions but is the rate at which it is spreading any worse than seasonal flu?

I think around 6,000 people in the UK have been tested for covid-19, and only 13 have tested positive so that's a very low strike rate. Overwhelmingly, those who have been tested positive worldwide have recovered without the need for any medical treatment.

It's still the case that someone is more likely to die from seasonal flu than from covid-19 but there is no panic over seasonal flu.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Are you afraid of flu? About 1000 people die each year of flu and so far no one in the UK has died from covid-19 so the risks have to be put into perspective.

If the unlikely event someone becomes infected with covid-19, their body's immune system will deal with it, just like it would do with flu. Healthy people have very little to worry about, however old people or people with a condition that can lead to a weakened immune system may find it more difficult to fight off an infection.

I'm more worried about Arsenal winning their next match than I am about covid-19.

However the young Chinese Dr who blew the whistle on it in China died from it

Agree with AC though, its mainly older people who have a weakened immune system who will be more susceptable to it, i find it all a little bit scare mongering and all the hypochondriacs at work are going into meltdown.. They probably have a better chance of getting run over by a bus!

From a web site on global research

The common flu virus will infect millions across the globe. It can be easily spread and will especially strike the young and the elderly. But this is not what has been described as the Wuhan virus. The common flu is far deadlier. This is not to downplay the Wuhan coronavirus flu, or to give it its medical name, 2019-nCoV.

The common flu causes up to 5 million cases of severe illness worldwide and kills up to 650,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization

 

[Emelee]

I'm not afraid. It has to get much worse before I get scared. Virus breakouts happens now and then, I have yet to be scares of SARS, the Mad Cow decease, the Bird Flu or the Zika virus. I'm neither old or previously ill, so if by chance I would get this virus, I'd most likely survive.

 

[Michael Torrance]

I think it feeds on the age's paranoia about pandemics and plagues--it has been in vogue even before the age of social media. 12 Monkeys was quite prophetic. Some professions do deal with a large number of people and environments with big concentrations of them, so that puts them more at risk. And some people do have a weaker immune system, for example because of diabetes. But at work some of the same people who freak out about the coronovirus refuse to get a flu shot, so there's that.

 

[Sarah]

Lots of schools are either closing here or sending pupils who have been to Italy home. I've read today as well that a lot of people are cancelling trips (Trip Advisor) or not planning until it goes away.

I have a trip planned and have no intentions of cancelling it...should I?

 

[Michael Torrance]

Lots of schools are either closing here or sending pupils who have been to Italy home. I've read today as well that a lot of people are cancelling trips (Trip Advisor) or not planning until it goes away.

I have a trip planned and have no intentions of cancelling it...should I?

I just came back from a trip to Europe Monday. I had no intention of cancelling it and am glad I did not as I enjoyed it immensely. But in the end it's your own peace of mind that matters. I am always concerned I will catch something on a plane so I bring disinfectant wipes and treat the tray table, the seat, etc. and then use hand sanitizer after I touch any surfaces. It makes the 8 hour trip just fly by.

 

[Sarah]

It doesn't really bother me as such, it's just the widespread-ness of it all that is worrying. In case we go into a world wide meltdown aka 28 Days Later.

 

[Angela Channing]

I have a trip planned and have no intentions of cancelling it...should I?

Depends where your trip is too. Are you going to northern Italy? If you're not going to Lombardy or Veneto you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If you are going to those regions you should check what the latest advice is before you leave.

 

[Sarah]

No - France @Angela Channing

 

[Angela Channing]

No - France @Angela Channing

I wouldn't worry, go and enjoy yourself.

 

[Sarah]

Yay! Think I deserve to @Angela Channing

 

[Barbara Fan]

BBG used to pin a quote on her dressing room door

It said

If you cannot live today for worrying about tomorrow, then how wise are you?

I have always heeded that advice! You cant not do things just because.............. or you would never do anything/ Life is for living and if that involves a risk then so be it.

If i was a 85 yr old with COPD or chronic chest/heart problems or suffered from a weakened immune system i might think twice but im not 85 and in good health

The week after 9/11 I didnt get to NY on the 14th Sept as planned due to islamic terrorists but they werent going to stop me and i re booked for 2002, and it made me make up my mind that after years of saying "I MIGHT" go to Australia to see my best friends from school in different parts of the country, I had booked a trip and was there 4 months later. Id never have done that if 9/11 hadnt happened.