Paphos Life

What a load of false news that is... How have they collected all that data for cancer Diabetes and Heart disease... I don't believe that story

Morning survivors.

Of course this is very serious, Italy in particular had a bad few days, for sure Cyprus will be affected sooner than later, with the tourist season about to start those traveling from affected countries will no doubt add to that possibility, stay out of crowded places and areas shops etc make a lot of sense.

My departed Father once said to me '' in the end lad something will get you''

Good health all.

From a friend:
1. The virus spreads asymptomatically. This means that you may be a carrier already, and spreading the virus unknowingly. To contain its exponential growth, please minimize large gatherings, travel, handshakes, and touching your face.
2. The main reasons the global numbers are low, especially in China, are science, detection, recognition, testing, preparedness, and draconian measures. Without them, we'd be looking at millions of deaths in China alone in a very short time.
3. Don't laugh off the virus: (a) its spreading rate is way worse than the flu; (b) its mortality is way worse than the flu; (c) our innate immunity to it is way worse than to the flu; (d) there are no vaccines for it, unlike the flu; (e) its asymptomatic spread means we cannot contain it by asking people to stay home. Tiny differences in exponents can turn 10,000 deaths into 50 million deaths, so don't underestimate them.
4. Don't wear a face mask. It accumulates germs that you will then spread to your face, your home, and your loved ones, when you eventually take the mask off. If you're sick, and *need* to go outside, yes, wear a medical mask to protect others. But if you're not sick, these masks will make you sick, and will be dearly missed by hospitals and healthcare workers nearby. So please don't hoard them.
5. If you're actually sick with only moderate flu symptoms, stay at home instead of going to the hospital, to leave room for more severe cases. It's probably the flu, but even if it's coronavirus, there's no cure, no vaccine, no treatment, and nothing the hospital can do for moderate cases. So save the beds for those that need oxygen and respirators.
6. Treat every surface as infected. Wash your hands often. Minimize touching your face. Replace handshakes with elbow bumps. Treat your phone as constantly infected, wipe it with disinfecting wipes, and keep it out of your bed. Push doors open with your legs, pull doors open with a wipe, dedicated object, or the back of your hand. Smother your kiddos with kisses (you share all your germs anyway) but keep outside germs outside. Some of these things will become natural, and maybe next year's flu won't be as severe with better hygiene.
7. If we're paranoid, we can minimize its exponential growth to a lower exponent, giving our healthcare system a chance to cope with a slower rate of severe cases. Yes, you're healthy, and you won't get sick. Yes, maybe everyone you know will eventually be exposed to the virus. But it's all about the rate of infections. If we slow down that rate, our hospitals will not be overwhelmed, and mortality will be kept way lower than otherwise.
8. Eventually, warm weather will hopefully help slow the spread of viral particles, with more air circulation, more time spent outdoors, more sunlight and UV exposure that denature the virus. Hopefully, by the next coronavirus 'season', we will have more innate immunity, perhaps a vaccine, and it will eventually be just another 'flu shot'. But the next few weeks are crucial, so treat it like a pandemic, to avoid actually living one.
9. Spending time with your family is awesome. I've cancelled 4 events this week alone (my birthday party, a joint lab retreat with five other labs, a talk at the Greek Consulate, and a conference in Europe). I have no regrets, i get to spend more time with my students, my family, our close friends, learning, posting (this), and working on important papers and grants. A self-imposed travel ban is actually pretty awesome, and re-focuses attention on the important things.
10. Most of all, support basic science, trust the advice of experts, and appreciate the awesome advances of medical science and detection. We'd be looking at tens of millions of deaths without it, with all of us wondering why the gods are so angry. (we can still wonder that, but at least do something about it).
Conclusion: Don't panic, but don't underestimate this either. Act rationally, minimize the spread to protect others, enjoy time with your loved ones, and act as if it's a pandemic, so it doesn't become one.

Totally agree, Louise. Don't panic, but don't underestimate. Yes, it's currently top of the list in terms of world news but if the media stories reinforce the need for people to be more responsible, that can only be a good thing. To date I've seen folks leaving loos without washing their hands, coughing and hawking in supermarkets close by fresh food without using tissues. You notice these things much more when it's brought to your attention.

Simple! It's the way the global human mind works! Bad is news, good gets forgotten. Devil's philosophy!

To be honest I'm not interested in the media or in public opinion which tends to be based on what they have seen or heard in the media - or at the pub.
At the end of the day it is up to each individual to make informed decisions that may affect them or other people. Posts like those from Louise are extremely informative - wish I knew the source so I could put it on some other medical forums.

The UK, along with the US, have taken Political decisions on Covid19 - rather than Medical. We are more interested in Economic impact, than medical and moral impact. So, we downgrade it, we limit testing, we do nothing to support individuals that may have no pay and have to live on SSP - while Ireland gives €305 a week (as an example)

IF the UK ends up like Italy, we will be much less prepared and will have ignored warnings and lessons learnt. In Korea, they have wholesale tested and despite more over 75's than ANY other country worldwide, their death rate is exceptionally low - so finding out early, means people self-isolate and also the ill can be treated earlier, leading to fewer deaths. This uses "Rapid Testing" that gives results in 15 minutes - rather than 4 days. China now does this. Italy and Germany and France are trialling. The UK has REFUSED to consider - despite tests costing a few pounds as opposed to Lab tests of £25 and more.

That is because we are Politically driving the response and Public Health England - who are managing this for the whole UK - are being told what to do!

Why would BJ refuse to take a test I wonder? Might they find something surprising in his blood? Yes I know he is an ancestor of King George II, but I didn't mean the colour blue!

Jimgward wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:57 pm The UK, along with the US, have taken Political decisions on Covid19 - rather than Medical. We are more interested in Economic impact, than medical and moral impact. So, we downgrade it, we limit testing, we do nothing to support individuals that may have no pay and have to live on SSP - while Ireland gives €305 a week (as an example)

IF the UK ends up like Italy, we will be much less prepared and will have ignored warnings and lessons learnt. In Korea, they have wholesale tested and despite more over 75's than ANY other country worldwide, their death rate is exceptionally low - so finding out early, means people self-isolate and also the ill can be treated earlier, leading to fewer deaths. This uses "Rapid Testing" that gives results in 15 minutes - rather than 4 days. China now does this. Italy and Germany and France are trialling. The UK has REFUSED to consider - despite tests costing a few pounds as opposed to Lab tests of £25 and more.

That is because we are Politically driving the response and Public Health England - who are managing this for the whole UK - are being told what to do!

Very very good post. I was just having a good read at the news this afternoon, and I came to the same conclusion.
I think 5 of the 6 Covid cases in Cyprus have come via the UK. I also read a bbc article - I think - about S Korea, saying that rapid testing was saving lives. They've had 66 dealhs. Italy - over 800. Slovakia has just closed its borders to everybody, except residents apparently !! Very serious measures. And far fewer cases than the UK.

I will add that the waiting time for testing in the UK is creating a time-bomb of cases. After a week tracing contacts is a waste of time. People in the UK are waiting over a week for testing, and then a week for the results.

Thank you. Just read that the Czech Republic has blocked entry to people from 15 countries. Including the UK. Cyprus needs to do the same.
And the Canadian PM has just gone into self-isolation - after his wife returned feeling unwell after returning from... you guessed it - the UK.

As for the delay - well - my mathematics isn't bad, but this is specialist. With a delay in testing of say 12 days (before results) what is the real number of infections currently in the UK? They say about 600 currently, but... add on a couple of weeks' of spreading... even if you only double every two or three days... Your guess is as good as mine. But no wonder so many cases in the world now are getting linked to the UK.

As for China,
China’s coronavirus epicentre sees single-digit cases for first time
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east- ... -prior-day
read elsewhere they may be down to zero cases by the end of this month.

From Evening Standard

Boris Johnson described Coronavirus as the "worst public health crisis for a generation" and warned families to be braced for the deaths of loved ones.
His bleak warning came it emerged there are 5,000 to 10,000 Britons carrying the virus that is sweeping the world.

So, it is already out of hand and we do nothing yet...

Agree. Just read 189 died in Italy yesterday. That's the road the UK is on. Boris is simply out of his depth. Following the lead of his hero, Donald. Hoping it will just - go away.
Regarding closing schools, I can't believe the "science" he is espousing. If the children infect each other, and then go home, they infect the parents. Ok. It appears that children are not badly affected by this virus, but when they visit the grandparents?

lionelcyprus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:14 pm Agree. Just read 189 died in Italy yesterday. That's the road the UK is on. Boris is simply out of his depth. Following the lead of his hero, Donald. Hoping it will just - go away.
Regarding closing schools, I can't believe the "science" he is espousing. If the children infect each other, and then go home, they infect the parents. Ok. It appears that children are not badly affected by this virus, but when they visit the grandparents?

Sorry, but that isn't rocket science. Just don't visit the grandparents.

Dominic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:43 pm

lionelcyprus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:14 pm Agree. Just read 189 died in Italy yesterday. That's the road the UK is on. Boris is simply out of his depth. Following the lead of his hero, Donald. Hoping it will just - go away.
Regarding closing schools, I can't believe the "science" he is espousing. If the children infect each other, and then go home, they infect the parents. Ok. It appears that children are not badly affected by this virus, but when they visit the grandparents?

Sorry, but that isn't rocket science. Just don't visit the grandparents.

I think you'll find that many very elderly grandparents live with their children and grandchildren, so separation would be neigh impossible.

mike strand2 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:04 pm

Dominic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:43 pm

lionelcyprus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 8:14 pm Agree. Just read 189 died in Italy yesterday. That's the road the UK is on. Boris is simply out of his depth. Following the lead of his hero, Donald. Hoping it will just - go away.
Regarding closing schools, I can't believe the "science" he is espousing. If the children infect each other, and then go home, they infect the parents. Ok. It appears that children are not badly affected by this virus, but when they visit the grandparents?

Sorry, but that isn't rocket science. Just don't visit the grandparents.

I think you'll find that many very elderly grandparents live with their children and grandchildren, so separation would be neigh impossible.

Yes but lionelcyprus was asking about visiting grandparents.

Splitting hairs Dominic!

Easy way to make a mask,

mike strand2 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 9:47 am Splitting hairs Dominic!

Don't be daft. I was answering his specific question rather than speaking in general terms.