W H O Advising All Over 60S To Stay Away From Supermarkets, Crowded Places ..

[ladybirder]

public transport, doctors' surgeries and hospitals etc. Especially if you have respiratory problems and some other conditions.
That's it, I'm cancelling my hospital appointment and I suppose my opera at the ENO in London is now out of the question. I said I would make a decision nearer the time but I'm following WHO's advice.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8060407/Health-chiefs-urge-60s-avoid-crowds-coronavirus-panic-spreads.html

Will any of you follow this advice?

[Canary42]

Yes.

[ladybirder]

Good. I know lots of people think it's over the top but I'd rather be safe than sorry. With my health recently I don't think I would survive it, so I'm not taking the risk.

[jno]

not yet, it hasn't spread very far in Britain; but I will be keeping an eye on developments, as I suppose everyone will be, 60 or not.

[jno]

just to add, my OH has had a couple of appointments at the Royal Free hospital in London in the last week, and kept them both, though some patients are being quarantined there.

[ladybirder]

jno ... every time I type your name I have to go back and change it from jon!! Every time.
It hasn't spread very far yet but I'm not going to wait until it does.

[albaqwerty]

I'll let Mr Alba know. He's over 60 and not in the greatest shape.
At the moment tho, I don't think it'll stop him from going to the supermarket.

[tonyav]

I can't really, ladybirder ( I don't know if my employers would be understanding of the situation ). I work at a very big place and I mingle with hundreds of people daily on my shift.

[Mamyalynne]

I was at the hospital yesterday - I think everyone has to make their own decisions based on personal circumstances.

[ladybirder]

Difficult if you're still working Tony. Do you have any of the health conditions mentioned in the link though?
Alba if he's got any of the conditions mentioned in my link I'd order on line if I was you.

[lankeela]

We have got Crufts next week with many thousands of people and over 20,000 dogs attending from all over the world - am I worried? Not a chance and will be gutted if it gets cancelled. Been looking forward to this all year.

[Caran]

OH has hospital appointment on Thursday do we cancel or not?

[tonyav]

ladybirderQuestion AuthorDifficult if you're still working Tony. Do you have any of the health conditions mentioned in the link though?

Thankfully not, ladybirder.

[Mamyalynne]

Caran, if he has any of the aforementioned ailments and it's a routine appointment then contact the department to check if he should cancel.

If important, I'd go and sanitise hands at every stage of the visit.

[maggiebee]

Is this warning UK wide or just for England?

[ladybirder]

Tony, good. You are not on the WHO list so keep working please. We need you, x
Caran does your husband have any of the problems mentioned in my link? I am going to try and arrange to have a telephone consultation instead of visiting the hospital. Could he do that or will he need to be seen?

[ladybirder]

Lankeela have you any of the health problems mentioned?

[albaqwerty]

Fortunately, Mr Alba doesn't have any of the conditions listed, he's plenty of others tho :-))

It's an ever changing scenario tho, on Thursday the WHO weren't declaring a global warning. Obviously it's changing daily.

[tonyav]

Keep your eye on the situation, alba.

[Buenchico]

Typical Daily Wail reporting!

All that the Director-General of the WHO said was " . . . if you are over 60 years old, or if you have an underlying condition like cardiovascular disease, a respiratory condition or diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing severe disease. You may wish to take extra precautions to avoid crowded areas, or places where you might interact with people who are sick".
https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---28-february-2020

That's basic common sense. Older people often have weaker immune systems than younger ones, so it's sensible for them to avoid crowded areas in general (especially when there's any form of bug going around).

However 'avoiding crowded areas' is NOT the same as telling people not to go shopping in supermarkets, etc (as the Daily Wail seems to imply). As I'm about to start on a course of chemotherapy, there will periods in the next few months when my immune system will be almost totally switched off. The nurse who was briefing me on the implications of it told me that I should "avoid crowded places". When I asked if that meant I should effectively become a hermit during the relevant periods, she said "Definitely not! Try to avoid getting into crowded lifts and going to other places where you're squeezed in against other people but you can still go shopping and you can still go to the pub. Get out and enjoy yourself!"

The official WHO advice is here:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

[douglas9401]

This hand sanitiser that doesn't kill viruses, do we still have to use it to kill the virus?