I have a stent and I have a small bronchiastisis with Asthma plus inflammatory arthritis. I am a 54 year old teacher and was looking forward to being told that school would be shutting and therefore being more confident of avoiding coronavirus. I believe that I have a poor immune system. I will talk to my principal , hopefully tomorrow. He is not going to pay me to stay away for two months at the most crucial time of the year? Yes there is teaching by skype but I've never done that before and I'm not sure we are set up for it Has Boris just signed my death warrant? What does everybody think? what else can I do?
Kind regards
Stan
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Stan2
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A risk assessment needs to be carried out by the school.
I would anticipate that your local education authority will have a policy about how to manage this issue taking advice from Public Health England or relevant devolved government's public health board.
I agree I have heart failure and permanent AF, a pacemaker and 2leaking valves I to am totally confused. I think they will tell peopPeople who have underlying conditions like us to stay at home I think this may be in a few weeks however I am the same as you I work four days a week I am 64 and have to work I can’t imagine that I could stay at home for a couple of months I may be able to do some work at home but not for that amount of time I would have to go on SSP as my contractual sick pay would run out I am worried
Hi I don't regard 54 as old and still have a hell of a lot to give. Your self-sacrificing nature is all very well but if something can be done why not do it? Stop mortgages having to be paid (like Italy) keep vulnerable people at home and give everyone at the NHS more time to find a solution and make people do as they are told , like Italy, you can't do nothing and hope that altruism works , that's crazy. Your suggestion is what then? Give up? cross your fingers?
Just watched the one show and the BBC medical correspondant said "that even if you're in a high risk group, even if you're very elderly the vast majority of people will get through this".... I hope it's a bit of comfort
Personally I think the chickens are coming home to roost in our society. For many years now we've sat back and allowed the most vulnerable people to have their care and safety net removed. We've become a culture where money is always the prime consideration which is rediculous as it is a fantasy. Exactly what does 'I promise to pay the bearer' mean. The gold standard was removed years ago so the amount of money in circulation has no relation at all to any reserves or anything else for that matter. We've happily sat back and watched everything be cut, services, care, provision etc.
Well now we need it there are many people who will find that living on £94 a week or less is impossible. That waiting 5 weeks for infernal credit is impossible. We need a complete shift in our thinking towards a more caring society where the vulnerable are properly supported and if one thing alone comes out of the Coronavirus, then I hope it's that.
I don't think it's a death warrant, that is an overreaction.
Wash your hands and sanitise your desk and door frequently, stay at the front of the class with the pupils 2 metres away, don't touch your face or the kids.
At some point school closure is likely to happen but as mentioned yesterday attempting to isolate for the duration is just not possible. The measures are there to have the biggest impact when needed.
If you look at the statistics even at 54 the chances of it being life threatening for you are miniscule.
I know a little bit about how you are feeling. I have stents and am just being investigated for inflammation in my spine and have intertestial lung disease. Also my immune system is crap. We are higher risk than some. I presume you need to work, but you feel you need to take control of this and protect yourself.
Hello Russell. All I can say is that with me working in the education safety service for 45 years, risk assessment was crucial. You have an underlying condition (or two!) that could make you a higher risk than others. There'll be an occupational health service somewhere for the school or at least a health and safety bod?
If you're unable (or don't want) to take time off, wash hands regularly, keep a little more distance between yourself and pupils if possible and ask the school (again if you can) what emergency/contingency plans they have in place for school closure. You've got the Easter break coming up so hopefully time to get away from it!
Mind you, I have cancer and type 1 diabetes. Do you think anyone from my local council carried out a risk assessment for me!?? -Nah......
All the very best xxx
I agree entirely with Chappy. Despite our electronic devices and modern living we are basically just animals living in a natural world, most people alive at the moment (in this country certainly) have enjoyed living in a world free of natural disasters, wars, famines and have enjoyed a flourishing economy along with gold plated pensions and a very good standard of life. Things do not go on forever, and we will need to get used to a very different way of life when the implications of climate change really start to hit home and people will have to get used to things like seriously curtailing flying and cutting down or even out meat consumption. I truly believe people of my age (61) have lived in a golden age and that things in future will be very different. To be quite honest the doom and gloom merchants on TV such as Robert Peston and his like make me sick, we all just have to roll our sleeves up and get on with it, which included making our own decisions and possible sacrifices. The bottom line is at the moment we have no idea exactly what threat this virus poses and also not much of an idea of what exactly to do about it, which is probably very little until a vaccine is available. Maybe when the dust has settled we need to reflect that in a supposedly civilized and developing country people should not be trading live wild animals in Markets. I also think that as a nation we need to face things like people did in the past and stop panicking!
Totally agree with your comments. We have been living in a Golden Age have not suffered the trials of previous generations. I also wholeheartedly agree that people should not be trading wild animals - this pandemic catastrophe is the result of it. I have just written to my local MP (never done that before) to ask this government to stop putting money before people and close all schools, uni's and nurseries for as long as it takes. I don't give a damn about the FTSE.
I don't think we should close schools and Uni's, I think the plan is to let the virus spread in a controlled manner, what the Italians have done will not work. However I also am sick of hearing about the stock market this world needs to slow down and the relentless race for growth and economic success needs to stop, if it does not we are heading for way bigger problems than this in the future. How on earth are people going to cope if they can't fly away into the sun 4 times a year?????? Most of them only do it because they are stuck on the economic merry-go-round and need to escape for a few weeks a year.
I so agree with what you say. It has gone on too long with the wildlife trade in China and the terrible conditions they are kept in. Every single virus has come from China. The leaders in that country need to make some serious decisions about animal welfare and the trapping and eating of wildlife as well as educating the poor who do not have many skills and we in the Western world need to rethink on many things also and climate change is at the top of the list. We can still live in a golden age but with some drastic changes.
When I stand in the queue at the co-op I watch people buying lottery tickets and I have a little chuckle and think wow, I have already won it three times - I was born in the first place, in this wonderful country, and I am fit and healthy (thanks to the NHS). Oh, and I somehow managed to get my wonderful wife to marry me so that's four times.
How lovely, but you are quite right. Indeed we certainly won the lottery to be born in the UK and have such a good NHS, yes I know it could improve however think of all those African countries and also Asia where non exist at all and hygiene is at it lowest.
Well said! Maybe this virus will give some relief to the poor Pangolins being hunted ( and pretty much anything that walks, flys or crawls from the animal world ) by the Chinese.
Hopefully, but I am not counting on it. Those poor animals they trap and kill in such a horrendous way. I so hope that this pandemic helps to get the Chinese to practice some good animal welfare, but I fear not.
I'm afraid animal welfare is not in their genes. But hunting wild animals has been banned in China which might give some species time to rebuild their populations ( the Pangolins in particular) until the Chinese start hunting again and we are confronted with a new threat ☹️
I agree but with laws it could have an effect and stop the wildlife trade and those dreadful wet markets. I could weep and the thought of those poor animals suffering so much pain and stress.
I'm on the senior management team of a small/medium sized charity. On the advice of our solicitors we have complied a list of staff deemed to be 'at risk' due to underlying health issues and/or age. Those staff will be required to work from home if they can, if not will be given time off on full pay, should the need arise. I imagine the management team at your school will have recieved similar advice. We will take our solicitors advice, and/or watch what the offical advice is to enact this. We told our staff of our plans just yesterday. We are probably ahead of the curve on this because we can be. Public bodies will probably take longer to react because of thier inbuilt procedures.
I was very happy to hear your comments on this. I work for a very well know charity and not had anything like this, no one has said anything even though I have been mentioning all week. I can’t imagine for one moment that they will pay us or me as I am one of the people who would have to self isolate for long period I call got a off the cuff remark well people will have to go on sick pay as I will only get half pay it is going to be a nightmare
I wish all employers were the same you would think all charities are caring but they are not
We plan to keep things under review, if this goes on for many months, or too many people are off, we probably would need to review things in terms of affordability. But for now that's our plan. We hope people will pull together and those not 'at risk' can carry on working as normal.
I think many of us are concerned greatly about our disabilities and Covid 19. I have taken great faith in Dr Andrew Saul, videos on youtube and the amazing success the Chinese are having with high dose Vit. C. (They have shipped in 50tons of Vit.C.)
I am now on 10gms a day vit c, and feel better than for many a time and am well stocked. Check him out, watch his videos, along with Linus Pauling, Dr Klennor (doctoryourself.com/klennerb... and all those gone before. Remember the first successful cure for Polio was with high dose Vit.C.....I know some sections of the medical world dont believe, but remember the saying, .....dont tell someone it cant be done while they are doing it.. .. have faith in knowledge...there is nothing to fear but the unknown, and fear itself.
I fully believe our older generation will be left to our own devices and the NHS will fall apart under the pressure. Our health is to a large extent is in our own hands. Good luck.
Hi Stan. I’m the mum of a younger High School teacher , my daughter, who has very similar health issues to your own since being 8 months old.
I have nursed her from beIng a baby through countless episodes of pneumonia fighting to get a breath. Each time she has a cold it turns. Her chest is so bubbly with the Bronchiatesis and Asthma and chronic bronchitis she gets I fear sometimes she won’t pull through at all. .
There are many who think with her health issues she’s in the wrong profession , but teaching is her vocation and I am told she’s inspirational at it.
. It’s certainly been a challenging one in terms of her health. I worry about her and the Corona Virus and was personally hoping that the schools would have been advised to close today. I think she’s very worried about the impact of Corona Virus too as she knows how seriously ill she has been in the past , even the common cold can develop into an awful bout of pneumonia - we’ve tried everything.
However, I can see a lot of sense in keeping schools open at least for now . I have advised my daughter to boost her immune system as much as possible with high doses of dissolvable VIt C and other vitamins in addition to her daily meds. She has also been taking NAC N-Acetyl Cysteine amino acid. ( twice daily) Research shows it can be very helpful with a variety of chest infections.
She’s convinced it’s helping. You may want to check this out. She’s keeping her throat well lubricated too as she knows that virus and bacteria’s love dry throats more!
Also she’s hand washing like mad and disinfecting her desk and books and computer etc etc on an hourly basis. I think her colleagues think she’s OCD. Lol. They don’t know how she suffers though - so she’s not worried.
I used to suffer with cold virus and flu multiple times a year. Since i started on acidophilus capsules 5 years ago i have an excellent immune system, no flu and 2 colds. If the virus gets past your nose/mouth your digestive system is its 2nd line of defence. Good gut bacteria kills viruses. Alongside these capsules, a diet high in veg fruit and fibre, good sleep habits increase the helpful bacteria. Its so easy to do yourself and a way we can all take control of our health.
I really do sympathise Stan2. I am a retired teacher, 72, and was frequently ill with colds and ear infections from sick pupils. I have two hearing aids due to damage from viruses. Children were frequently sent to school while ill. I don't understand the government's 'delay' reasoning and wonder why stricter measures aren't in place to prevent the UK becoming another Italy. Russia is being extra strict and have very few cases. Our liberally minded democratic ways may be to our detriment. You could come off with stress which might compromise your health record. You could just come off work unpaid which would not go down well with your HT. Whatever you do you have to be selfish regarding your health. Skype is the easiest thing in the world to set up. Download the app and follow instructions. Using the video or sound of FB messenger is even easier. Your students will be well up on these. Good luck!
Sorry almost all you have presented is not Substantiated .
I recently saw an advertisement for paid healthy and fit volunteers to be infected with Covid-19, the lab was in East London. Source Please. I would like to Volunteer.
My point is that this government could not care less about people with health problems or the elderly. We are just sacrificial lambs. When the virus spreads as it has in Italy, I can't see a way of avoiding it. Except for
I believe Corky in a previous post who is going to live in isolation. The government are playing it down and constantly lying. This is not political as I voted them in. The only person with any sense was one of the candidates
for the Labour party leadership who is a casualty doctor. She said that the NHS has been underfunded and does not have the equipment to treat everyone.
Download the podcast and hear it for yourself LBC 1pm 13/03/202
Other information was gained from the government web site and the World Health Organisation. The information about the local hospital is fact just phone them and ask them, Queens ,Romford. I do not have the time to trawl through it all again and post links.
Some people on here seem to be burying their heads in the sand. This is a serious situation for some people and avoidance of contracting it is essential if you want a chance of survival and it is not going away any time soon. The present advice is call 111 and self isolate at home, they are not testing at present only if patients are in hospital, sufficient equipment is not available and should the illness escalate to critical they will decide who will live and who will die.
Sorry if the truth hurts but fact is fact if you require any links to any part of my post just ask and I will try to find the artice and post a link.
The current advice is to use the NHS 111 website rather then phone, only phone if you are really poorly.
You seem to be getting yourself really worked up about this. I understand you don't have a heart problem but all this stressing cannot be doing your health any good and all this constant panicking isn't helpful to others either. Maybe you could consider speaking to the BHF nurses on Monday so they can help put your mind at rest.
The reasoning behind no more testing is sound. I believe there has been over 30000 people tested but there's been less than a 1000 confirmed cases of which the vast majority have had minor symptons. So it makes sense to redirect the resources to where its needed most.
I know Romford very well, Im aware of the death in queen's hospital, where was the 2nd death?
And also Statex it seems that only people in hospital in the UK are to be tested so the numbers of people becoming infected will not be counted and UK statistics will appear far lower than the reality and the government will appear to be taking the right path.
However we can protect ourselves by taking the basic hygiene advice.
I will say it again and again the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves is to wash our hands properly.
Consider avoiding large indoor crowds. No more greeting friends and relatives with a hug and a kiss.
If you have any symptoms self isolate.
My adult children will be returning from university soon. All will be directed to the sink to wash their hands and then asked to change their clothes before I will give them a hug.
Even if we are unfortunate enough to catch the coronavirus only a small minority of people will be badly affected.
You are obviously concerned many of us are anxious but I will ask again if your approach is helpful to us all on the forum.
There is a Balance to be made here. I for one am not paranoid but I do have a concern that the information I receive is accurate. I have about 24% of my Heart Muscle beyond repair, which gives me Heart Failure so I can assure you I don't have my head in the Sand. I will do all I can to stay safe and I will follow the Government advice, Because it's not the Government advice it is the advice from a Panel of Experts who have a far greater Knowledge of what is going on than You or I have . Hope that helps to make my position Clearer
Unfortunately the UK experts seem to be at odds with the experts from other countries including Italy. Their only wise move for themselves is to be testing only the people who land in hospital but not those at home thereby creating a greatly reduced but false number of real new cases.
I won't at my age of 72 be taking advice from the UK government but following what is happening overseas and keeping myself away from gatherings and of course washing my hands at every turn. There is no treatment for this unkown virus. Everyone please look after yourselves.
Re vaccine: not everyone will need it. as with the current flu vaccines and most will gain immunity. Once they get a handle on it should be easier to keep up with all the mutations that will occur. Roll on the quantum computer that can make fast analysis and speed up research and production of vaccines as microbial infection will take over from prevalence of CVD and most other diseases. No doubt we will come up with something. World population is the biggest problem of all and why this is all happening (alongside that population travelling more).
The NHS seems to have forgot that the older generation aren't all PC literate. They say that they don't want people attending the surgery . But u can't order prescription over phone. Either online ( if u have access) or by attending surgery.
111 service is a total waste of time over coronavirus, I phone today because my normal health problems have got worse and got dry cough and muscle aches in places. All I got from them is do u have flu like symptoms, yes but have these as normal. Do u have fever, Yes but it comes and goes. So he said quarantine yourself for 7 days if no better , quarantine your for another 7 days. But if u have any concerns ring back.
ER. WHAT DO U THINK I RUNG FOR IN 1st PLACE.
Just had 10 days in hospital in a hospital that was been made a coronavirus hub while I was there.
The logic of these UK medical advisors would mean let's infect 60% of the population with bubonic plague so with herd immunity we need never fear its return. The medical spokesman from Los Angeles was tearing his hair out at the stupidity of the UK followint this method. I'm 72 and wish the government would prevent as many as possible from catching the virus before we're down the Italy route with many many elderly now dead. Maybe there is method in the government's madness after all, as long as you're a healthy under 50/60.
I seem to have upset a few people on here therefor I wont post again. My posts were confirmed today in the Daily Mail and before you ask I do not believe all I read in the newspapers, although I used to work for the Mail.
The article said that due to the low number of critical care beds if they think you do not have a good chance of survival you will be left to die. This has always happend as when my mother was ill the critical care team assessed her and they obviously did not think she had a chance of survival because they just let her die and my father was placed (murdered)on the Liverpool Care Pathway a month later. Therefore I have no faith in the medical profession, especially the so called experts. I have written to Boris and expressed my opinion of their decision to do run this country wide experiment.
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