Corona Virus - Should we be worried?

[Jack The Stripper]

A jump of 34 new cases in the UK alone today doesn’t sound promising.

[5co77ie]

Presumably the declaration of a global pandemic means the Government now activate the 2011 strategy legislation:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pandemic-flu#uk-influenza-pandemic-preparedness-strategy-2011

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pandemic-flu

Edited March 4, 2020 by 5co77ie

[parsonjack]

39 minutes ago, squirrelarmy said:

t looks like the virus has mutated into two forms. The more deadly version is on the decrease and is harder to transmit however a new strain is the one that is spreading rapidly. This version isn’t as harmful as the previous version but you’re far more likely to catch it. 

This is how viruses work....the last thing they want to do is be so deadly and virulent that they end up running out of hosts and destroying themselves. 

[waynewdk]

2 strains aswell

[5co77ie]

Just now, waynewdk said:

2 strains aswell

I believe it's the second strain that has prompted WHO's global pandemic status

 

[northernringo]

16 minutes ago, 5co77ie said:

WHO just declared it a global pandemic

 

https://www.mylondon.news/news/uk-world-news/coronavirus-covid-19-declared-global-17858887

Not on the WHO website as far as I can see

[AlexOvd]

16 minutes ago, Jack The Stripper said:

A jump of 34 new cases in the UK alone today doesn’t sound promising.

It's not that bad and it's obvious it was going to escalate a bit. It will follow soon France, Germany or Spain. The key of all of this is having a proportional escalation and not an explosion like Italy. This month is very important as it will be the peak.

[Quark]

BBC news ticker:

14:39

'A global pandemic' - German health minister

"The coronavirus outbreak in China has become a global pandemic," says German Health Minister Jens Spahn.

Speaking to German lawmakers on Wednesday, he said: "The situation is changing very quickly... what's clear is that we have not yet reached the peak of the outbreak."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet labelled the outbreak a pandemic - the description reserved for an infectious disease threatening lots of people all over the world simultaneously.

For more information, read our guide: Could coronavirus become pandemic?

[whitehorses]

Mountain Mayhem in end of June cancelled, Glocs. Eek.

[FestivalJamie]

Just now, AlexOvd said:

It's not that bad and it's obvious it was going to escalate a bit. It will follow soon France, Germany or Spain. The key of all of this is having a proportional escalation and not an explosion like Italy. This month is very important as it will be the peak.

Health officials expect the peak number of cases of the virus to be in May/June. This is just the build up at the moment

[eFestivals]

3 minutes ago, northernringo said:

Not on the WHO website as far as I can see

that was fake news, it's been removed.

[Splatt]

16 minutes ago, Jack The Stripper said:

A jump of 34 new cases in the UK alone today doesn’t sound promising.

Not great but within expectations, looking at other countries it seems the number will likely increase by 25-75+% a day (more likely at the higher end for the next couple of days before hopefully staying hovering at the lower end). We will be in the region of low 1000's by this time next week. 

[whitehorses]

24 minutes ago, parsonjack said:

They're considering it.....not a done deal yet. 

Beg your pardon, you’re right 

[northernringo]

15 minutes ago, whitehorses said:

Mountain Mayhem in end of June cancelled, Glocs. Eek.

This seems a very strange decision to me... 

Why cancel something scheduled for June at this point?

Edited March 4, 2020 by northernringo

[5co77ie]

32 minutes ago, parsonjack said:

They're considering it.....not a done deal yet. 

Italy to ban public events to contain coronavirus - draft decree

Italy's government is set to close cinemas and theatres and ban public events across the whole country to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak, according to a draft decree drawn up on Wednesday.

The decree seen by Reuters orders "the suspension of events of any nature... that entail the concentration of people and do not allow for a safety distance of at least one metre to be respected."

The draft decree also tells Italians to avoid hugging and shaking hands to prevent as much as possible a further spread of the potentially deadly illness which has been mainly concentrated in the country's northern regions.

[eFestivals]

Just now, northernringo said:

This seems a very strange decision to me... Dare I say maybe even a publicity stunt?

Why cancel something scheduled for June at this point?

because they can't get cancellation insurance.

They'd be shelling out lots of costs to set it up, and (probably) be bankrupt if it couldn't then go ahead.

I guess any festival which has held back on paying out for insurance is now stuffed.  

[northernringo]

Just now, 5co77ie said:

Italy to ban public events to contain coronavirus - draft decree

Italy's government is set to close cinemas and theatres and ban public events across the whole country to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak, according to a draft decree drawn up on Wednesday.

The decree seen by Reuters orders "the suspension of events of any nature... that entail the concentration of people and do not allow for a safety distance of at least one metre to be respected."

The draft decree also tells Italians to avoid hugging and shaking hands to prevent as much as possible a further spread of the potentially deadly illness which has been mainly concentrated in the country's northern regions.

This will be interesting to keep a track of for the rest of the world. 

[eFestivals]

1 minute ago, 5co77ie said:

Italy to ban public events to contain coronavirus - draft decree

Italy's government is set to close cinemas and theatres and ban public events across the whole country to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak, according to a draft decree drawn up on Wednesday.

The decree seen by Reuters orders "the suspension of events of any nature... that entail the concentration of people and do not allow for a safety distance of at least one metre to be respected."

The draft decree also tells Italians to avoid hugging and shaking hands to prevent as much as possible a further spread of the potentially deadly illness which has been mainly concentrated in the country's northern regions.

is it a law to close them now, or a law to give them the power to close them at an appropriate time?

[AlexOvd]

I am getting a bit tired of this events cancellation. Meanwhile people will still go to discos, cinemas, schools, churchs, metros...

So a person cannot go on June to Mountain Mayhem, but in the same morning take the metro in Berlin with thousands of people in a closed space at the same time, go to have lunch in a restaurant with another couple of people and for a drink in the night again with some peole in a closed space. It's just pathetic.

I don't really think cancelling this events will have ANY effect in stopping Coronavirus spreading.

Edited March 4, 2020 by AlexOvd

[northernringo]

Just now, eFestivals said:

because they can't get cancellation insurance.

They'd be shelling out lots of costs to set it up, and (probably) be bankrupt if it couldn't then go ahead.

I guess any festival which has held back on paying out for insurance is now stuffed.  

Ah ok, that'll teach me to read to the end of the post...

I'll edit my comment re: publicity stunt

[squirrelarmy]

2 minutes ago, northernringo said:

do not allow for a safety distance of at least one metre to be respected."

Time to invest in Strutter Bubbles. 
 

[dotdash79]

Our work have banned international travel for work, and have asked that people don’t travel between offices. 
we’ve all been told that we need to take our laptops home every night. 

[5co77ie]

5 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

is it a law to close them now, or a law to give them the power to close them at an appropriate time?

According to Kaz's aunt who lives in Sicily it goes into place in the next few days - the no hugging she says will prove really difficult in a population where that's ingrained.

Edited March 4, 2020 by 5co77ie

[kingbadger]

Can see many poor selling festivals and the like cutting their losses and issuing refunds using it as an excuse. Or as Neil quite rightly pointed out, not having the adequate insurance.

[5co77ie]

see amendment just asked for clarity