Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

Yeah, its very easy for me to see this with cold logic....you're better off dealing with the problem you already have rather than risking that getting more serious to avoid something that may never happen. Its not that straight forward. Surgery is nervewracking at the best of times. Imagine needing it in your late 70s with pre-existing conditions with this news in the background...

Sone positive news from Marc Lipsitch - estimates for R0 are being lowered closer to 2 and he has therefore updated best estimate to a range of 20% to 60% of adults being infected (prior range was 40% to 70%).

Also an article from Bill Gates in NEJM that is interesting:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2003762

https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1235252608845197314?s=20

It is very easy to forget how savage real flu is.

As was said to me in the early 90s by a uni tutor - if you wouldn't crawl across a ploughed field to get to a £50 note then it is probably flu. May need adjusting for inflation.

That is a really tricky situation.
Can the clinic/service provide any helpful advice?

Yup, i've had real flu twice and it made even the heaviest of colds feel like a walk in the park.

I've not tried to keep up to date with what's written, and appreciate that the knowledge will be growing with time. However:

Bill Gates, 28th Feb:

There is also strong evidence that it can be transmitted by people who are just mildly ill or even presymptomatic

WHO, 3rd March:

First, COVID-19 does not transmit as efficiently as influenza, from the data we have so far.

With influenza, people who are infected but not yet sick are major drivers of transmission, which does not appear to be the case for COVID-19.

These appear to be different statments, from two (likely) reasonable sources.

source

Starbucks also said in a statement that it was “pausing the use of personal cups and ‘for here’ ware” in its stores.

'For here' ware. How in the juddering bollocks could anyone actually use this phrase.

Flu? Pah. I've had pneumonia twice. Then you really know you are ill.

First time I was about 15 and primary antibiotics sorted it. Second time I was about 40 and secondary cleared it up. A bit of coronavirus going to my lungs and a hospital admission could be required assuming there are any beds available.

Lots of support in place. We've got it covered.

Getting old sucks.

I had pneumonia last year. Complication of some cracked ribs.

Being a fool, I didn't find out that I had cracked ribs and pneumonia for five weeks after the accident. Turns out that pneumonia can randomly be quite mild in some people. Only found out after a chest x-ray and I was already on the mend by then.

I think they called it "walking" pneumonia.

These appear to be different statments, from two (likely) reasonable sources.

Yes and no (they're different but not contradictory.)

One says that you can transmit it even when just mildly ill or asymptomatic.

The other says that the main driver of transmission of COVID-19 are not asymptomatic people. In other words, the main driver of transmission of COVID-19 are people already displaying symptoms. (But the assumption is you could still be infected by someone who is asymptomatic.)

Lies. HTFU.

HSBC in canary wharf has a case apparently. Expect lots of companies pandemic planning will swing into action around here

So if flu is bad, and COVID-19 can be deadly, what are the symptoms of COVID19? As in how would one feel while suffering full blown COVID-19...

I’m going to a gig in Brighton tonight. Does that mean I’m done for?

And should I wear a mask?

Lots of people saying: “Pah! Masks don’t do anything!”. While others say wearing a mask can reduce the risk of catching the virus.

masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/yes-worse-than-flu-busting-coronavirus-myths-covid-19

Honestly, where do you start with this shit-for-brains:
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1235409660104015873

Where did you hear that?

The trick here is to listen to the medical professionals and not the armchair pundits.

I guess it's a rumour, apologies, I possibly shouldn't have posted. My colleague has a friend there.

Edit: not a rumour:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/05/hsbc-evacuates-floor-of-canary-wharf-after-coronavirus-test

There was an AMA on reddit by some doctors. One questions was wether masks were effective. When they responded 'not really for the general public', the cries of 'conspiracy! they just want the masks for themselves!' was deafening

HSBC virus is on Bloomberg scrolling news ticker.

ah no worries, I'm based there (in canary wharf) but wfh most of my time. Was pondering going in tomorrow to pick up some stuff, maybe i'll give it a miss anyway.

I think the flu comparison is unhelpful. Influenza is from a different family of viruses to SARS-CoV-2. There might be some overlap in symptoms, but it is an apples to oranges comparison as I understand. You might as well ignore the 'OMG I had the flu once and felt like I was gonna die' posts, because COVID-19 seems to range from unnoticeable or mild symptoms to ARDS and death, and you are probably in a low risk category and will experience the milder end of the spectrum if you ever get it at all.

A friend of our was sent home from American Express. She got home, sent her husband and kids to stay with his parents and is now posting photos of her drinking wine in a dressing gown to the 'mum's group' whatsapp.