A message from a coward re coronavirus

Perhaps she will choose not to come for a while?

Not at all. I won't go swimming anymore at the moment. Who knows what is in the water? Although, I have heard the virus struggles to survive in heat, so maybe your hydrotherapy pool would be safer if it is warm/hot?

I won't resume swimming until the epidemic is over.

This virus thingy is getting out of control in people’s minds you are possibly meeting many people every day who have come back from somewhere You have no idea if the person that serves you in the supermarket has just had a holiday in Italy you don’t know if the bus driver has just been to Tenerife

Forget about it and attend your class and enjoy life while you’re here

I disagree, BlueBelle. The boarding school I work at had a raging virus going around last half term. 90% of the staff and students had it at some point or another, being off for between 4 days and 2 weeks. I was one of the 10% who didn't get it because I stayed away from crowds of people and took lots of precautions. I have a lowered immune system, from having radiotherapy, and did very well not to get ill.

Why be ill when you can be careful for a few weeks and avoid it?

I'm sure your swimming friend will be tested at the airport on the way into UK if that makes your decision any easier?
I agree with what BlueBelle has posted; who knows what we pick up in daily life?
I think we all need to take sensible precautions like frequent hand washing and using and binning tissues but I think there's little else we can do .

One would hope that she will do the decent thing and self-isolate if she's returning from that area of the world ?

Why be ill when you can be careful for a few weeks and avoid it?

Agree entirely Gaga. If more people took this view then viruses wouldn't spread like they do.

Each to his own but I think this is all gone completely out of hand
Obviously if you are elderly have a lowered immune system or lung problems look after yourself as only you know how I
Bbarb didn’t give any indication she had health problems bar arthritis but all this stockpiling of food, not going anywhere, and constant scaremongering is not healthy for us
In my opinion
Unless you are going to literally isolate yourself from EVERYONE and stay in your house with NO visitors then it’s pointless as you are going to meet people, sitting on a bus going shopping, sitting in the doctors waiting room and all those are probably far more likely to be harmful than going to an exercise class

I see some of your point BlueBelle. Obviously, total isolation isn't necessary in the UK, or indeed where I am. I wouldn't try that even if I could, which I can't because I work. But there is a happy medium.

Public pools/jacuzzis etc are known breeding grounds for germs. I'm not so hysterical that I would never use them, but at the moment, I wouldn't. Equally, I'm not socialising in large groups either. I'd have a coffee with a friend, somewhere quieter, but certainly not in a busy city centre place. And I'd wash my hands before and after too. And if anyone was coughing and spluttering (as some students in my classes do), I stay over 2 metres away from them (the distance it has been said sputum etc can carry from a sneeze / cough).

I think the virus we had in school last half term was much more virulent (albeit quite harmless) given the amount of people who had it. If I managed to avoid that, I hope I'll be able to avoid the nasty one.

Ev.eryone thinks they are immune - look at Zara Phillips. Now I call that really irresponsible.

Just to help Bbarb Vietnam has apparent,y had 16 cases all of whom have left hospital and areok The oldest was 73 All now we’ll they have had no new cases in 15 days according to Aljazeera

Only 16 cases in Vietnam, 20 in the the UK. Vietnam is probably safer x

We will see in the next few weeks how Corona Virus spreads, there has to be a limit how much isolation is possible. If it becomes so disruptive, that food and essential services break down it will have to be abandoned, so we will all have to carry on and take our chances.

Just like a Flu epidemic

Personally Bbarb I wouldn't go. You aren't a coward you are looking after yourself. Take care.

Are UK airports testing?

bbarb you must do what you feel is right for you You asked for opinions No one can decide for you We each have to make our own minds up whether we want to stay in and isolate ourselves or whether we want to act sensibly with hand washing etc but carry on as normal
Three years ago I had three friends who came close to losing there lives through pneumonia after flu two of them were half my age Most years there is a flu epidemic and often new ones too we don’t normally wear masks or shut schools
Surely we must keep everything in perspective
Am I right that you live in the Far East Gagajo did I read that somewhere ? If so there may be need for more caution if it’s an area that’s been hit hard

i have read that no-one is being tested at airports.

This virus is not like flu.. You can go to bed with flu and will most likely recover.
Most people will need hospital care for this virus and it's not going to be there if the virus takes hold because the NHS is already on it's knees.

Don't go swimming for a couple of weeks. Better to be safe.

Being older and having a virus spread that is 10 times more dangerous than seasonal flu is not cowardly though and it's not silly to take precautions x

I was one of the 10% who didn't get it because I stayed away from crowds of people and took lots of precautions

Gaga I expect that's more due to luck than any actions on your part. In 2009 I was working in Saudi Arabia during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic. Along with all my colleagues I was extra vigilant, and for some reason I was one of the about 10% who didn't succumb!

I agree with Bluebelle, just get on with life and be sensible.

I don't think anyone has said that this virus is more dangerous than flu, certainly not ten times more. Sensible precautions certainly need to be taken as one should with any kind of flu virus. There certainly does seem to be a fair amount of tv and newspaper hsyteria, as if we haven't got enough to worry about with flooding and other things

Bbarb there are 20 cases so far in the UK
Thailand has had 41 cases as of yesterday.

I was in Hong Kong at the time of them SARS outbreak, had a compromised immune system but did not catch it.

Bbarb I do not think it is a case of being a coward if you do not go or brave if you do. It is a case of what you feel is right to do. Me. I would go. I am not going to give up things I enjoy. I am not giving up things I do not enjoy, like supermarket shopping! I went this morning. Unless you are going to stay indoors for the next few months and see no one I feel it is irrelevant. IMO do not worry. Wash your hands thoroughly immediately you return home from going anywhere.