I wonder if those who are so keen to show a 'calm, reasoned approach' to the threat of a pandemic virus would be as measured had Labour won the election and Jeremy Corbyn become PM.

Or would they now be shouting about the need to "leave the country" because the "UK is finished".

Are you really trying to make this political, jeez, I knew you were a bit daft, didn't have you down as stupid.

A silver lining to the cloud may be that, if sporting events have to take place behind closed doors, there may be FTA viewing for many sports, that currently charge for their services.
Every cloud...…………….

On a serious note, with Italy now "quarantining" 15 million of their population, should there be absolute travel bans put in place for certain areas.
Also, with older people being the most likely to take a cruise and the 65+ age group being most vulnerable, is it time to stop these large scale "prison ships" leaving port, which have started to look like incubators for the virus.

So, you're advocating Abdu Sharkawy's speech, IR80? You're hilarious you wannabe libertarian types!

You're all "every man for himself" when it comes to society, but the minute it looks like you might get really ill, maybe even die, you're all "we've got to look out for one another".

It's just like those Billy big balls types in government who dismiss experts and want to do away with 'interfering' advisers. They're all "we're listening to, and acting on expert advice" now.

There's nothing like a good pandemic to show the whites of people's eyes.

Very true - Michael Gove's words seem very hollow now don't they; I'm imagining a lot 'experts' going, "Oh - not so sick of us now are you...?"

It' quite strange that only certain types of experts are to be trusted or in this case, scapegoated if things dont follow "the model".

See also the NHS and its staff.

The speed at which they went from "a flabby, wasteful organisation, bloated with middle managers pushing paper around a desk, which needs to get leaner" to "our NHS heroes working tirelessly on the frontline of healthcare" was astonishingly quick, especially when the people saying the former realised they would be relying on the latter if they got sick.

Didn’t take long for various posters on here to go down the political route. Ref experts, most of them are deeply divided except piers Morgan he obviously knows the solution to that and everything else. The Israel method is to prevent it reaching the country, successfull so far (tiny amount of cases) argument against that us That it will break out sometime and the general population won’t have any amunity against the virus. Some uk experts believe that stamping the virus out now is the answer.
The government seems to think that maintaining a level of cases will eventually overcome the problem. So let’s face the facts nobody knows what the outcome will be. One thing is for certain is scores of companies and individuals will go bust. The big question is how many companies can the government bail out. Looking at rugby league, should the game go into lock down clubs who are already in debt will fold. Regarding the eu, Italian banks have been virtually bankrupt for years the Germans and the ecb have been reluctant to help out in times past. So unlikely to help out when this is all over. Italy will be bankrupt when this is over.Without doubt this country will overcome the health problems. I would think the financial outcome will set back the country years.

King Street Cat wrote:So, you're advocating Abdu Sharkawy's speech, IR80? You're hilarious you wannabe libertarian types! <snip> No, common sense prevails, not a liberal ideal. there is no chance of me getting seriously ill or dying anytime soon, sorry if that disappoints. Shrink wrap your knives and forks, laminate your copy of The Socialust Worker, stay at home, whatever makes you feel safe. but don't keep encouraging this hysteria...

King Street Cat wrote:So, you're advocating Abdu Sharkawy's speech, IR80? You're hilarious you wannabe libertarian types! <snip> No, common sense prevails, not a liberal ideal. there is no chance of me getting seriously ill or dying anytime soon, sorry if that disappoints. Shrink wrap your knives and forks, laminate your copy of The Socialust Worker, stay at home, whatever makes you feel safe. but don't keep encouraging this hysteria...

That's the point - even the experts don't agree. We had some shouty expert on QT on Thursday - Prof John Ashton telling the world the government experts were wrong. Ashton is Labour, but I don't actually think that was behind his outbursts and this shouldn't be political despite the usual whining mob on here. Some experts think it'll be gone by summer, others thinks it's here for years with seasonal peaks. Every expert has their own view...many of them conflict and they're all a damn sight better informed than any of us. Seems to me it's going to spread whatever and flattening the curve while isolating the vulnerable is about the best anyone can do - but the timing seems to be crucial.

Taking all things into account it seems likely the majority of us will contract it at some point. For 90% of us it'll be mild to a right 'orrible b'stard according to most evidence. About 10% will require medical or hospital intervention and something between 2-5% will die, mainly the most elderly and those with severe medical complaints. If I have one frustration - I want to hear what the 'pre-existing conditions' are when people succumb. I have a vested interest as I'm sure many of us do.

We are heading for a shutdown - most likely in the next 7 days if not sooner. Many people are heading for financial disaster. I'd like to see lenders ordered into mandatory 2 month mortgage/loan holidays (or part-holidays), landlords to vastly reduce rents (not all can afford to lose rental income entirely), perhaps even to dip into the deposit scheme. Business and utility rates waived for 2 months. To be fair some banks/buildings societies are quietly offering mortgage holidays - but if/when the shutdown comes it must be mandatory. Stick those 2 months on at the other end - what difference does it make.

Many people WILL lose their jobs in the next few weeks. Everyone in the travel & hospitality industries is bricking it right now. Airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, etc are laying off staff already. Many will go bust - some already have, Flybe being a bigger example but make no mistake some of the major airlines are on thin ice. Then think of the industries that rely on those sectors - catering, transport, events providers, cleaning, laundry...the supply chains are huge, many millions globally. Retail is in big trouble, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, etc...the list is almost endless.

My daughter's school closed for 2 days last week for a 'deep clean' after a child's parent had been 'in contact' with someone who'd been to Italy and was a confirmed case. Well intentioned, but utterly pointless several days on. Horse...bolted.