Coronavirus

[johnb]

I've just received an email from the dental practice I use cancelling all appointments and asking people to only phone them in an emergency. The e-mail also includes a list of people/conditions that are at greater risk and who should phone them for advice in an emergency. I've posted it here because it is more detailed than what I have seen in the press:

• aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
• under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
• chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
• diabetes
• problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
• a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
• being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
• those who are pregnant

[burning dog]

I think its agreed that you are unlikely to catch the virus by walking outside and keeping your distance. Walking outside in isolation and at distance you are less likely to touch anything, except yourself, than in other situations. Using hand gel, if you have any, and washing hands on leaving and arriving at your destination should make things safe. I'm concerned that because of people who aren't "acting sensibly" we will all be stopped from going out for a walk when following the above rules should prevent us from spreading or catching the virus.

[Dave2002]

I've just received an email from the dental practice I use cancelling all appointments and asking people to only phone them in an emergency. The e-mail also includes a list of people/conditions that are at greater risk and who should phone them for advice in an emergency. I've posted it here because it is more detailed than what I have seen in the press:

This seems to be common now. I am slightly concerned as I had an appointment scheduled for 1st April - hopefully for a filling. In the scale of things, if I eventually lose the tooth, that's better than the alternative. I just hope it doesn't start giving me significant pain.

The indications are that some special centres, or special arrangements may be set up "soon" - though how soon that is going to be I don't know. Dentists themselves are a particular very high risk group - both in terms of picking up diseases, and also passing them on. Maybe they'll all have to actually catch the wretched disease, and then be tested, to ensure that they don't pass things on. I feel very sorry for them, and hope there is a way of avoiding the problems both for them, and for us patients.

Maybe robotic dentistry will be the way .... mmmmm.

[burning dog]

I've just received an email from the dental practice I use cancelling all appointments and asking people to only phone them in an emergency. The e-mail also includes a list of people/conditions that are at greater risk and who should phone them for advice in an emergency. I've posted it here because it is more detailed than what I have seen in the press:

It's from the Gov't website

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

[Dave2002]

I think its agreed that you are unlikely to catch the virus by walking outside and keeping your distance. Walking outside in isolation and at distance you are less likely to touch anything, except yourself, than in other situations. Using hand gel, if you have any, and washing hands on leaving and arriving at your destination should make things safe. I'm concerned that because of people who aren't "acting sensibly" we will all be stopped from going out for a walk when following the above rules should prevent us from spreading or catching the virus.

Playng ball games is not a good idea, either.

[LMcD]

For once, and it is very hard to do so, do believe the blonde scruffy hair chap if he says that you shouldn’t go out.

Also, I would be cautious about mentioning that the virus doesn’t last long outdoors. Do we really know that? Tests have been done with “similar” viruses, and some can last for a long while on some surfaces. I was expecting a delivery of wood the other day, and I was prepared to move it all by hand (bare hands) which I have done before. Then I thought to check whether the virus could remain active on wood for a while. Clearly it shouldn’t matter if it hadn’t been exposed to the virus, but as my mother used to say “don’t touch that, you never know where it’s been”. In this case it’s not only where something has been which is important, but also who may have handled a product, or sneezed or dribbled over it.

I looked up details of tests for virus longevity, and decided that if my wood had been affected the virus might last outside for a week, possibly more. I decided that I could leave the wood outside for at least a week, and then only move it using gloves (probably disposable ones). As it happened the delivery didn’t come, but looking for information about how long viruses can exist in different environments, surfaces and at different temperatures, was helpful to me in deciding a strategy.

It is the case seemingly that it doesn’t survive for long in some situations, but it can clearly survive for long enough on some surfaces to still be a problem.
I believe that walking outside should not be a problem if you don’t go close to people, or touch anything, but recent news items suggest that many people aren’t acting sensibly, ignoring advice, and very possibly creating new hazards for others.

Until we really know for sure that it’s OK (i.e. highly unlikely to be a risk) to do so, I’d suggest caution in picking anything up, or touching objects.

As for stealing toilet paper from public toilets - probably guaranteed to get something from that!

I didn't say the virus doesn't last long outdoors - it was the lady on BJ's left. As she came across, at least to me, as far more convincing, authoritative and knowledgeable than the man on her right, I don't see why I shouldn't follow her advice rather than his. He was clearly struggling, and I didn't learn anything from him that I didn't know 24 hours earlier.

[oddoneout]

For once, and it is very hard to do so, do believe the blonde scruffy hair chap if he says that you shouldn’t go out.

As for stealing toilet paper from public toilets - probably guaranteed to get something from that!

It would help if said scruffball didn't waffle and mumble so that the message gets lost - or perhaps he's improved on that score recently. I don't watch but the written transcripts I've read are opaque and I would think are even more so 'live' when blurred by his speaking style.
This is Australian but is relevant here I think https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...ut-dont-go-out

Re: toilet paper, yes the chance of getting something that means said item has to be used are quite high I would think, also I was concerned to read several days ago that virus was present in faecal samples from infected individuals.

[burning dog]

Playng ball games is not a good idea, either.

I think the Germans have got it about right - Only two people allowed out together or households - I hope they don't restrict things further in an effort to look tough, when there is probably an infinitesimal difference in effect.

[eighthobstruction]

....What have super franchaised Conservative government brought us to....talking about the toilets in Skegness....{now no doubt under CCTV...} ....or in fact with the lack of face to face Tele and productions halted etc ....that may now be the combined TV output....LIVE from SKEGNESS....

[Bryn]

Just seen this on FB
Very sad news

From 2.00 pm this afternoon, Resonance FM will be rebroadcasting a selection of her Sound Out programmes, in tribute:

https://www.resonancefm.com/programmes/5e77615850000b1efd000003

[johnb]

I caught the press conference given by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Chief Medical Officer and someone else. The Scottish CMO and NS were impressive, much more so than BJ & MH (didn't hear the third speaker).

[Bryn]

I caught the press conference given by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Chief Medical Officer and someone else. The Scottish CMO and NS were impressive, much more so than BJ & MH (didn't hear the third speaker).

Johnson is clearly out of his depth (such as it is). How long before his party decides to turf him out in favour of, say, Rishi Sunak?

[Serial_Apologist]

Johnson is clearly out of his depth (such as it is). How long before his party decides to turf him out in favour of, say, Rishi Sunak?

When not indulging in the usual banter, he always manages to look like a little boy caught our doing something naughty like reading Health & Efficiency behind the bike shed by the housemaster.

[Frances_iom]

When not indulging in the usual banter, he always manages to look like a little boy caught our doing something naughty like reading Health & Efficiency behind the bike shed by the housemaster.

Well we've had our constitutional crisis, now the viral Reichstag fire, the enabling act is about to be nodded through - any thoughts for the future ?

[Dave2002]

II don't see why I shouldn't follow her advice rather than his. He was clearly struggling, and I didn't learn anything from him that I didn't know 24 hours earlier.

Choosing which piece of advice to follow to suit your own purposes is not always a good idea. OK - you don't believe BJ, but that doesn't mean you have to believe someone else who looks more convincing. After all, almost anyone would, most of the time.

I would listen to "her" advice, and then follow it up to see if it could be true or at least 90% correct, and then personally allow a margin of error for caution. Of course you don't have to follow "my" "advice" either.