What's your opinion on the coronavirus outbreak?

[Bookhaven, Upminster]

I must admit I'm having great difficulty with the coverage of the virus at the moment. Yes, it's looking increasingly likely that there will be a pandemic, but considering the nature of pandemics in the past, this one is relatively mild. It's not as if we are dealing with an outbreak of the Black Death, the Bubonic Plague or the Spanish Flu - yes, of course there have been fatalities, but these occur with every illness (and I say this as someone who falls into the bottom end of the elderly bracket and so has an increased risk). From everything that I've seen, most people will experience mild symptoms and may not even realise that they've been infected.
Maybe I'm being too blasé about the whole thing, but I just can't help wondering if treating it as if we're expecting an imminent visit from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is doing irreparable harm and causing unnecessary panic.

[Issyalex, Glasgow]

New COVID 19 cases in China are slowing down. I think/hope in the next month or so this will be the trend for everywhere else. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

[carol, welwyn garden city]

This made me chuckle, and is so true ...............................................Car ol

[Delboy, Essex]

So anyone still going with the "just a bit of flu" or is it time to realise this could be a bit serious. New York state on lockdown, northern Italy shutdown yet most on here "the vunerable ones" still think we are over reacting.
I and my family will in all likelihood be ok, any older relatives are already gone, but reading about the ages and health issues with many on here I would be worried.

My wife is in her mid 70’s and our forthcoming cruise in June is to celebrate my 80th birthday last month and our 55th anniversary end of this month, so would probably be classed as vulnerable.

My wife is on daily regular medication but not for respiratory reasons, I have recently had an echocardiogram and yesterday received a copy of the results sent to my doctor, which although I could not understand the jargon, the word normal is mentioned several times and underneath the result the cardiac nurse had written this is reassuring. I have a further assessment follow up appointment with the doctor end of this month.

I am certainly not worried, what will be will be, if the ship is still allowed to sail and we are virus free then we will be on it, unless my doctor tells me different.

I still do not understand the need for stock piling, we are just carrying on with our normal shop each week, have always taken care of our own personal hygiene.

[annie, Glasgow]

Regal princess being held pending test of crew members.

Should hit the news.

I read about that hours ago but was awaiting the test results. The crew members had been transferred recently from the Grand Princess but more than 2 weeks ago.

As I understand this week's cruises on both the Regal and Royal ships are cancelled.

Annie

[Smith7]

I'm not worried on a personal front. However, I have friends who have underlying health issues in addition to being in the vulnerable age group. One is worried about coming to choir practice in case she picks up the virus from someone who may not know they have it. Another friend is keeping away from public places in general because she is also worried about contracting the disease.

[Topdeck, London]

Regal princess being held pending test of crew members.

Should hit the news.

[annie, Glasgow]

So anyone still going with the "just a bit of flu" or is it time to realise this could be a bit serious. New York state on lockdown, northern Italy shutdown yet most on here "the vunerable ones" still think we are over reacting.
I and my family will in all likelihood be ok, any older relatives are already gone, but reading about the ages and health issues with many on here I would be worried.

As I am not yet over 70, male with underlying health conditions, I am not unduly worried.

Interesting is it not though that the two countries with the highest number of deaths are countries where smoking is more prevalent than in the UK?? just saying.

Annie

[Mrs M]

Lockdown, shutdown, panic buying...
Yes it’s possibly serious for those who have underlying health issues and shutdown, lockdown will have its impact and no, I’m still not worried.

[andyn, Bucks]

So anyone still going with the "just a bit of flu" or is it time to realise this could be a bit serious. New York state on lockdown, northern Italy shutdown yet most on here "the vunerable ones" still think we are over reacting.
I and my family will in all likelihood be ok, any older relatives are already gone, but reading about the ages and health issues with many on here I would be worried.

[Victoria, Aberystwyth]

My cruise.dot consultant phoned today asking if we had any plans to book a cruise. She sounded quite cagey when I asked her whether people were cancelling.

[Garfield, Waterlooville]

Hi Del
It's not recommended nowadays..apparently the modern bogs can't process it.
Regards
Garf

[Delboy, Essex]

Re using newspaper in case of shortage of loo paper. Firstly I remember when that was the norm.

For many years we have not purchased any newspapers, recently a representative from the local newspaper convinced us to take out a subscription to have it delivered daily.
As most of the content turned out to be about the main town14 miles away and very little local content, the print being so feint I can hardly read it, we were going to cancel.

However we have now put that on hold, well you never know.............😳😱😎

[Issyalex, Glasgow]

There would be no stockpiling of toilet paper if there was only Izal….. My father in law only ever bought that. It would have stopped the Australians buying it in bulk too!
It triggered memories of it when I saw it on the great programme 'Back in time' the corner shop last Tuesday. I believe there was carbolic soap on the shelves too.


Carol

OMG Izal toilet paper! We had that in our school. I’d rather use cut up newspaper than Izal toilet paper! 🙈😂😂😂😂

[Calgray, Yorkshire]

Carbolic soap now that’s a blast from the past Bill! My mammy used to say my hair had a great shine cos she used carbolic soap to wash it.

There would be no stockpiling of toilet paper if there was only Izal….. My father in law only ever bought that. It would have stopped the Australians buying it in bulk too!
It triggered memories of it when I saw it on the great programme 'Back in time' the corner shop last Tuesday. I believe there was carbolic soap on the shelves too.


Carol