How do I tell them/

Bobo53 I was told in no uncertain terms that neither she nor her partner can work from home so we'll have look after the GC. I have HBP and asthma and I'm worried.
You need to tell her you can't do it. You are putting your lives at risk and I'm sure she would spend the rest of her life feeling guilty if she brought about your passing. This is a time for grandparents to step back and let their own generation help, either siblings or friends. Everyone is in the same boat.

Of course Marjgran I completely agree but even in the most horrendous of situations something can happen to spark hope, human kindness can arrive at the most unexpected or uninvited moments that is all I am saying

husghelp some more figures to add into the mix. More than 10,000 Italians have tested positive for the virus, of whom 631 have died. This represents a mortality rate of over six percent, which is six times higher than normal flu.

Will people please stop saying, 'it's just another kind of flu'. This is so misleading.
Seasonal flu has a mortality rate close to 0.1%
For corona virus:
80+ years old 14.8%
70-79 years old 8.0%
60-69 years old 3.6%
50-59 years old 1.3%
40-49 years old 0.4%
30-39 years old 0.2%
20-29 years old 0.2%
10-19 years old 0.2%
0-9 years old no fatalities
It is too soon to be sure but predictions are that the numbers catching it could be way higher than that of normal flu too.

The immune system changes with age—particularly in its ability to respond to coronaviruses. Unlike the flu virus, which does most of the damage to your body on its own, most of the symptoms from coronavirus infections actually come from the body’s immune response, Menachery says. Although he and his lab team are still characterizing these reactions, it seems like coronaviruses encourage older immune systems to kick in with extra inflammation, which can have a cascading effect. qz.com/1794241/seniors-seem-to-have-the-highest-risk-of-dying-from-coronavirus/

Whatever decisions any of you make, please don't do it based on, 'it's just like flu.'

Children between 0 - 9 are not immune. There is a 2 year old In Alder Hey Childrens hospital with it now.

Hubby & I are in our 60's. Whilst I am in good health, hubby has had pneumonia in the past and has permanent bronchitis after working 20 years underground. Our daughter is a nurse and we look after her 2 children after school a couple of days a week. Both hubby & I also work in a primary school with 250 pupils. According to the medical experts I've listened to, children between the age of 0- 9 will probably have immunity. We will be extra vigilant about handwashing, blowing noses into tissues etc, but I can't see us refusing to have them, unless of course we need to self isolate

Just had a conversation with my daughter about contingency planning. I was told in no uncertain terms that neither she nor her partner can work from home so we'll have look after the GC. I have HBP and asthma and I'm worried.

Of course you can’t look after them and they will understand.

Your adult children should be thinking about you, they I presume know your health problems and shouldn't be putting you at risk. If you get ill you won't be able look after them any way.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thanks for letting us know about the mix up with joke. I like a laugh and would of been scrolling away

There is no joke its a quiz on chat!

Me neither. I can’t find the joke!

*nansmummy what did you mean about having a sense of humour?
Is the op a wind up?*
A previous poster said that the OP had written one jokey and one serious post. I assumed the jokey post is on another thread.

They won't be able to rely on you if you're dead. Only those who don't have health issues or family with health issues would not take it seriously. They are to be pitied. Covid 19 is NOT another stain of flu. It is a new, unknown virus.

I sympathise, I feel like I should be protecting my husband and myself, and I won't deny I am frightened about this virus.

Rosequartz and Nitpick, you both got in there before me. Please everyone stop pretending that this is just another bout of flu. It is brand new to humans and so there is no herd immunity. If you have underlying health issues, including high blood pressure, and are over 60, then you are in the death zone demograph. Take notice how it evolved in Italy. We are about the same level as they were a couple of weeks ago. Make your plans, wash your hands, stay away from crowds, plenty of company here on Gransnet, and good luck.

Bussy of course people rise to challenges but people can also be broken by tragedies

Corona virus is no more flu than it is measles. But what it does share with flu is that both diseases mutate, so this years flu will be a mutation of last years and I seem to rememeber a panic when the flu injection was developed and made for one version of flu and another one turned up.

@Armoria this is not another strain of flu! It has similar symptoms to seasonal flu, but is 10 times more deadly. Please don’t tell people it is influenza. It is a virus, like flu is a virus, but this is very different. It is an infectious disease, there is no vaccine, and it may well mutate. The flu has been with us for a very long time, this coronovirus is 3 months old and we have built up no immunity to it.

First, they need to realize that isn't a game, it's a matter of life and death!

Responsible, mature, adults should be supportive when the needs of their elder parents supersede their own needs...it's that simple. If they're not, then you and your DH will have to be your own advocates. When it's your life you are protecting, others have to respect that.

How to tell them? Let them know preemptively that as soon as you hear of any cases in your town, they will have to make other arrangements. Going forward you will be self isolating in order to protect yourselves from this life threatening and extremely contagious virus!

Our 6 year old GD has been taught about handwashing this week and the teachers are making sure they do it at school. She was telling me all about it on the way home, how you had to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice, so when we got home I went with her into the downstairs cloakroom and we both washed our hands thoroughly and used the sanitiser.
As we went into the sitting room she suddenly exclaimed 'Oh no, I forgot to sing the song!' and ran back into the cloakroom, washing her hands and singing at the top of her voice!
I think she believes it is the singing that kills the virus!

The humor is referring to a puzzle I posted on chat. I would not be so callous as to make fun of CV!

Grandmaclampet I'm in a similar position to you so I sought advice from my GP. I was advised to distance myself from my grandkids for now. It turned out that I didn't need this advice (or back-up) as my DS and DIL had already thought of this and were wondering how to broach the subject with me.

I've got two extra children here this week as their school has closed for a few days for a deep clean following a confirmed case.
First symptoms from what I've read are fever, sore throat and a cough.
We're checking temperatures every morning as they arrive (to great excitement!), so far everyone is green and good to go on the forehead thermometer display.
We're also washing hands on arrival in the morning as well as the usual before food, after the toilet and after school.
They all tell me they are being made to wash their hands frequently at school as well.
I don't think we can do much more at the moment, just hoping for the best.