‘Rona Virus – Reality Check

“Where are we going Piglet?” asked Pooh.

“We need to get supplies,” said Piglet. “For the Coronavirus”

“Ahh,” said Pooh, nodding in understanding. “Things like bread, milk, cough mixture, tissues and cat litter even though we don’t have a cat?”

Piglet did a little laugh, and a sort of leap and bit of a cough. “No,” said Piglet. “No, those aren’t the sort of supplies we need at all! What we need are family sized bags of chocolate buttons, massive toblerone, jelly babies and crunchies and a freezer full of stuffed crust pizzas, and all of the Prosecco that we can possibly carry, so that when we get quarantined we won’t mind it even slightly. THOSE are supplies.”

All of a sudden, Pooh thought that the idea of coronavirus didn’t seem quite so bad, and actually, getting quarantined with Piglet and their supplies really didn’t sound such a terrible thing after all. “Oh Piglet,” said Pooh. “I really do think you are a very wise animal.”

As they walked along they spotted Eeyore stood by a stream watching the sticks float by…..

“Hello Eeyore.” Said Pooh, “we’re off to buy supplies to sit out the quarantine, would you like to come?”

“No thank you.” Said Eeyore “I’m just going to stand here, look at the stream and contemplate the Economic impact of a media induced panic that several companies are projecting folding straight out of Brexit. Also the NHS being brought to its knees by a huge panic, and the social impact of people distrusting others because they look or are associated with China. People are dumb.”

“Well that’s sad.” Said Pooh “I much prefer eating Pizza.”

“The ironic thing” smiled Eeyore “is that Panic induces the Stress Response, and the first thing the stress response does is switch off the immune system.”

“Huh.” Said Pooh. “why would the media do that.”

“I don’t know.” Said Eeyore “I just watch sticks.”
– Cass Clayton, UK,  on Facebook, March 5 –

A bit of practical information from a number of websites (facts will undoubtedly change as more information about the virus is discovered):

The new Coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease Covid-19) is thought to have originated in wildlife and been passed to humans via a live animal market in Wuhan, China… or it escaped from the Wuhan lab.

Most people who are infected with the virus will have mild symptoms (dry cough, high temperature) and will recover. Tiny droplets from coughs and breathing are the most likely method of transmission. Keep your distance from people who are coughing and sneezing. You have to be in close contact with an infected person to be at risk.

Older people and those with other health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are most vulnerable to the new virus. The resulting symptoms (pneumonia, breathing problems) have killed a relatively small number of people at this time.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating. To protect others, wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Also cover your mouth and nose while sneezing. Use a tissue or your elbow.

A comparison of Coronavirus to the flu:

So far, the new coronavirus has led to more than 100,000 illnesses and more than 3,000 deaths worldwide. But that’s nothing compared with the flu, also called influenza. In the U.S. alone, the flu has caused an estimated 34 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths this season, according to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
– How does the new coronavirus compare with the flu? –

Update from WHO

However, there are some important differences between COVID-19 and influenza. 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. Evidence from China is that only 1% of reported cases do not have symptoms, and most of those cases develop symptoms within 2 days.
– WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 3 March 2020 –