All the publicity re corona has spooked me a bit, we are the ones at more risk, immunocompromised and elderly (me, that is). Am I over reacting declining an invite to a party at a city centre hotel/pub.... especially as it’s taken 6 weeks + antibiotics to get over a virus? Thanks in advance
Corona and other nasties: All the publicity re... - PMRGCAuk
Corona and other nasties
Written by
123mossie
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
83 Replies
•
I am going about as usual. Washing hands more.
I’m starting to get the heebie-jeebies about a Cruise we have booked in May, we are due to pay the balance Mid-March but if we reschedule it before then we won’t lose our deposit, just an Admin Fee to pay........
GOOD_GRIEF• in reply to
If it was me, I'd be cancelling and re-booking for a later date - say 6 months from now...
• in reply toGOOD_GRIEF
That’s my gut instinct especially as l seem to be collecting other issues on a weekly basis......
How are you doing? x
GOOD_GRIEF• in reply to
We're OK. Just read that 800 people here in New York State have been told to stay home for 2 weeks because they may have been exposed to the virus. That's concerning.
My OH is off this semester so he won't be exposed to 200+ college students, who carry around as much in germs and viruses as little ones, it seems. I'm sleeping in another room because I'm still going to the office and don't want to bring anything home to him. He has a heart condition, and I imagine this virus would be dangerous for him. He's in good shape now, but I worry this would cause long=term damage if he caught it.
At the office we've already cancelled all face-to-face internal and external meetings, all plane travel, made sure everyone's remote and work-from-home setups are working, issued Clorox wipes to everyone to use on shared copiers and printers, light switches and door handles, and in the bathrooms.
We've also banned all food delivery, because lots of food service workers just don't stay home when they're sick. (We have mandatory sick leave in NYC, but it doesn't kick in until they've been at the same job for 6 months, and many are undocumented immigrants who change jobs frequently.) When it becomes necessary, we won't be accepting mail or package deliveries either.
We closed the company cafeteria and locked away all the glasses, cups, plates and utensils. People will have to eat in their offices using their own supplies, and dump their leavings in their own trash. (We've never allowed washing up containers etc in bathrooms.) We've asked everyone to tie up their own plastic trash liner at the end of the day so the cleaning staff aren't exposed through that vector. We've also closed the conference rooms, and told everyone to use texts or email or conference calls in their offices. Currently, the pregnant, cancer patients, others who have health issues, and parents who have kids with health issues are working from home. We don't want to expose them to additional risks.
Some people have been against this program, saying it's not necessary (yet). The management vote was to go ahead now, so we can find the holes and plug them. If this doesn't turn into a bad outbreak, we'll have had the experience of going through it for future reference. If the schools close, many of our employees will have to stay home. If the mayor tells everyone to stay home, hopefully we'll be ready.
• in reply toGOOD_GRIEF
You’ve certainly got excellent, well thought out protocols in place & there is little more you can do.
We’re both Retired so it’s easier than if we’d still been working, my biggest bug bear is the constant need for people to hug & Mwah, Mwah 😚 😚 my daughter in laws family cannot help themselves........
We just have to hope & pray that it doesn’t get a foothold.
Well, it’s 3.30am here in the UK ~ l need to try & catch some sleep.
Take Care
Angela x
GOOD_GRIEF• in reply to
We have a number of disaster planning and recovery policies developed after 9/11, "Bird Flu", SARS and Superstorm Sandy. New York City is always a petrie dish for viruses, with a couple of hundred thousand people from all over the world coming in every day, and several million commuting in and out from the Tri-State area. It's a wonder things haven't been a lot worse before this.
With airborne viruses, one person can infect 20 in an elevator, fifty on a bus and a hundred in a subway car.
Wow that is impressive. I work in two schools—nothing in place.
How eminently sensible.
Wow!!
This is impressive. And as you say, it lets you work out any issues for the future as well.
YuliK• in reply to
My daughter has booked for Japan in July. It looks, according to media news, that the olympics may have to be cancelled. 😢
Problem with the virus, is that many countries in the middle and Far East ( Philippines as an example) are not prepared to handle the epidemic.
Saudi Arabia are handling thousands of visitors from all over the world , there for the annual ‘HAJ’ celebrations.
As others have advised you Mrs Nails, postpone , it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I saw on the news this morning, that Israel’s health minister has advised people not to fly, unless it’s absolutely necessary.
If this virus really takes hold, then many elderly people will be affected. 🥱
People think, that wearing a face mask is protecting them, it’s the opposite. It’s partly protecting others against your germs ..
aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/...
This 👆news is pretty scary.
YuliK staying indoors if possible.
• in reply toYuliK
It's more pertinent for possibly infected to mask up. I was in the chemist and the boy behind the counter coughed into his hand. I wanted to to should have said cough into your elbow/shirt. My change was tipped into a bowl and washed with soap and water... New notes will stand it. ..
If you buy a mask it needs to be like a proper army full face thing so why bother. The virus can enter your eyes... Even I would baulk at wearing that. The virus is small enough to get through most masks and if you touch the outside face part then you might as well not bother.
I am younger than some here but have long term diabetes, take pred and a dmard, have fibro and feel ill anyway. My only prep... If someone coughing and sneezing in a flu way... Stay away, don't shake hands at anytime, I do wash my hands a lot and use hand sanitisers. I keep antibact and antivirus wipes in my car and use if I go in shops to clean trolley and basket handles. I try to pay by card not cash. I take wrapping off any food for fridge I can. I have seen shelvers doing weird things like scratching, coughing, picking off the floor etc and that in public view. And let me tell you that is my pre current scary virus routine. 😂🤣😂😱
Constance13• in reply to
With your background this year Mrs N I would be rather careful. Not only Corona but quite a lot of other things have gone wrong on cruises during the last year.
Good luck.
Constance
Ooh, like what?
Food poisoning on a big scale and storms keeping cruisers from docking, etc etc.
It is interesting though that cruise ships are required by law to track and publish rates of Norovirus etc but hotels, resorts and the like aren’t so they seem safer. Also, land based providers have a very mobile clientele so people are in and out so the source and spread cannot be pinpointed easily, so it and other faecal oral diseases remain highly prevalent. I’d all but given up on international travel because I got ill every time, but cruising (all 3 of them) I have never got a thing and have great confidence in the kitchen system having seen it. On the last one I was near the pool and a high alert call out came from the airwaves. A hit squad descended with haste with trolley and equipment so I thought it was medical emergency or man over board, though I wasn’t sure why there was an industrial sized gadget. Nope, a kid had been sick near the pool and it was the emergency vom team. It was a few minutes from chunder to disinfected area and it was cordoned off for the day. Last time I saw a similar incident in a resort, there was a sorry individual pushing it around with a mop and paper towels and one could smell it for hours. Anyway, I guess if one gets unlucky there is a different view.
I was confined to my cabin for 3 days once (years ago) because I had been sick and had a temperature. I was well looked after though.
123mossie• in reply to
Hmmm I’d be inclined to reschedule as we don’t know when this thing will settle down, you may also find that your stop off points are disrupted too. Good luck whatever you decide x
• in reply to123mossie
Thanks Mossie, this is when you realise booking with friends is not the best idea, if it was just us l’d have already cancelled. Our friends are up the Amazon right now, will catch up with them over the weekend on WiFi & see what they think.
Have you had anymore thoughts about your Party Invitation?
123mossie• in reply to
Yes, You don’t want to let friends down, same with me. I’ll probably give it a miss though, I’m early days with my pmr diagnosis & control seems to be a bit precarious at the moment.
Michiganpbc• in reply to
Don’t go on a cruise until it’s all clear get your money back. You could be quarantined if just one person is sick
• in reply toMichiganpbc
Thanks Michi x
alvertta• in reply to
I would cancel. You need to go when you feel confident it will be a good trip. We booked a cruise for November. Fingers crossed. Have until July 1 to cancel without penalty
Purplecrow• in reply to
Trip insurance is an excellent investment, given the expense of cruises..
.just sayin....🤓
• in reply toPurplecrow
We have Insurance but it would be simpler to reschedule than pay thousands then try & cancel but on what grounds specifically?. . . . .
Just in case someone has Coronavirus. . . . .
It’d be a no brainer if it was just the two of us, maybe D&A maybe having similar thoughts themselves.
IslandShell• in reply to
I was just watching a show discussing Corona Virus (in the United States) and they did site Cruises and suggested that would be the one thing to cancel or postpone.
• in reply toIslandShell
Interesting, l’m sure there will be many people considering their options at this time. One of the big Ships was refused permission to dock in Jamaica, as they had One Crew Member with the ‘Flu’ & subsequently they couldn’t disembark in the Cayman Islands either. I haven’t heard/read any update on her progress today.
Since I've been sick with gca and on high dose prednisone, and now actemra and even more immunocompromised, we have been more careful. Hand washing, disinfectants and we haven't gone to gkids sports events in their schools. My rheumatologist told us to do these things early on and we've followed his advice. He also said to wear medical masks in & out of the clinic. I think the flu is much more a risk to us than the Corona virus. Everyone has a different comfort level about these things. You need to do what you feel is safest for you and your family.
Unless you are in a hotspot stop panicking. You are more likely to be involved in a car accident.
Trouble is Glynis, nobody knows where a hotspot is. ...🥱
I don’t think that people are panicking, just being that extra little bit careful.
Let’s face it, none of us here, who are either pmr or GCA sufferers, can take the chance of catching this nasty virus.
Keep well
YuliK. 😷
Agree, prior to pmr I used to shake off viruses really quickly but not now.
Im still learning about my new immune system and not at all impressed !
We do know where the hot spots are. Northern Italy around Milan for a start. Too much panicking. Yes I have two autoimmune diseases and my OH has cancer but apart from normal hygiene measures it is more likely that one of us will be involved in a car accident then contract the virus. Or even the flu.
Glynis so sorry your OH has cancer, definitely not easy for either of you. I am sure you are being vigilant and taking precautions like most of us.
My post may have come over as a bit pretentious on my part and that certainly wasn’t my intention. 🙏
A few days ago we had no idea that Italy would become a ‘hot spot’, so I think less travel is the safest way to avoid this horrible virus.
Keep well and let’s pray that this threat will pass quickly.
YuliK 😷
No - you know where it has been looked for. Not where it may actually be.
Can you tell me when our immune systems start to recover? As we lower our dose, completely off, year after?
I don't know you can blame pred for everything - I would say I have had fewer infections since being on pred, I heal fine, none of the claimed effects. What is sure is you have a deranged immune system due to the autoimmune disorder - so you would hope your immune system will return to more like normal as it burns out and goes into remission.
• in reply tobunnymom
I have had fewer infections since pred. I think one dose of flu when I was late getting my flu jab. I have also been on a dmard for almost 3 years. Keeping low carbing and keeping blood sugar lower and without massive spikes has helped I am sure. I had loads of glandy issues and skin infections in the 2 years prior to dx and pred.
They know that is a hot spot because the Italians immediately screened a LOT of people. You only know it is a problem if you look for it - and people are returning home after holidays and testing positive AFTER travelling on planes and then public transport. There is a first case in Northern Ireland today - flew from Italy to Dublin and then travelled on to Belfast, not known how. And the next day tested positive.
I live in northern Italy, well over 200 miles from the designated "hotspot" - we have a single positive case in the region who is in isolation and his close contacts have been cleared. But we are about to "send" thousands and thousands of ski tourists back across Europe - and that is what has happened out of northern Lombardy, Bormio is also hundreds of miles from Codogno. The head of the labs at our local hospital, who spent all day on Wednesday occupied with the problem, says he believes it is already all over - just not identified.
My husband also has major lung problems - he would be at tremendous risk if he got it. But we haven't changed our habits - don't go anywhere anyway!
Some people may find this helpful -
drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Coronav...
• in reply tosennetta
And this. ....which I was reading before I saw the thread..
independent.co.uk/news/worl...
YuliK• in reply to
Scoopitup good morning
Unfortunately some poor souls will believe those myths.
Viruses do not respond to antibiotics.
YuliK. 😷
• in reply toYuliK
Indeed. I know its scary as WHO have said this could be disease X that they warn will be a doozer....
We have 2 confirmed cases in the isolation ward at my local hospital and a case a few miles away of a parent at a school which has now been closed. But no point panicking. Just good hygiene practice and luck now.
SheffieldJane• in reply to
We’ve got Australia flights all booked and paid for in September, stopover - South Korea! 😷 Will they even let us in to Australia?
Happy never to fly again but 8 family members live there.
• in reply toSheffieldJane
Hopefully by Sept we will have a better idea of it!
I’m sure by September things should be under control 🙏
You should get together with my OH the sun always shines with him too.😊
Believe me Jane, it’s the very best way to live. Your hubby has the right idea. You are lucky to have a partner who is positive in his outlook. 👏
Mine too! We are very lucky! I'm "not allowed" to get miserable!😂😂
This panic is all very interesting when you take note of the fact that there have been over 15 million cases and over 8,000 deaths in the United States alone from the flu virus so far this year. The worldwide statistics on the flu are staggering.
Rheumatologi st offered to shake my hand, I smiled and said, should we?? He said it's all got out of hand with the media, people are dying with flu, always have, but no big fuss made about that.......
• in reply toLongtimer
It's in the tens of thousand in the UK normally that are counted as flu deaths.
• in reply tonuigini
I don’t think Panic is quite the right word, particularly as there has been much information on what has happened on the Diamond Princess l think it’s made Cruisers a bit more wary.
Princess did everything they could, they were governed by the Japanese Authorities but still people got ill & if they’d let them all disembark where would it have spread to?........
The advantage here is we can discuss, research & think more about it. Yes the risk of ‘flu is much greater & many people die every year from the effects of it but this is a New Virus & at this time there is No Vaccine, like there is for the ‘flu......
SusanEleven• in reply to
I agree that it’s not panic but caution. This is a new virus. No vaccine. No real clarity yet on how it spreads. And while not yet clear, the fatality rate is currently estimated as much higher than the flu.
Galloping• in reply to
I wonder if it's the air conditioning system on cruise ships that would spread the infection to every area of the ship.
After all, the Diamond Princess had everyone confined to their cabins but still it spread.
• in reply toGalloping
It’s very possible, or the incubation period is a lot longer than they suspect?
This is another perspective on the flu comparison.
PMRproAmbassador
Just came home after a discussion with the head of our local hospital lab - who was presumably unavailable yesterday because he was discussing monitoring Covid19 cases.
He says it is everywhere - the apparent hotspots are not any more hotspots than a lot of other unidentified place: they just LOOKED for the virus. As soon as it was registered in the Milan region, they checked contacts and tested and tested ALL contacts. We have compulsory registration for tourists here, they can be contacted later fairly easily when it is required. That doesn't apply if you are just staying with family/friends but even so they have been able to find those cases for testing too.
He pointed out that Germany is probably the highest risk country in Europe - the UK can't be far behind I suspect - because of the high level of business contacts with China. Germany currently has a major flu epidemic with more cases in Germany than corona virus worldwide and 130 deaths from flu alone. But are they all flu? If they didn't look ...
dw.com/en/massive-flu-wave-...
And the Tenerife hotel shows they have learnt very little from Diamond Princess - the idea in quarantine is isolation to stop person to person contact. You won't achieve that by allowing all those potential contacts possibly incubating the virus to head for the buffet and eat together. And at the end there must be a clear 14 days after the last confirmed case is identified before everyone can be released. But they are already wondering if the incubation period may be as much as 24 days.
Sensible precautions as Scoops describes make sense. And we will not be mixing outside any more than we must - but that is the case in winter anyway.
Hi, we have a cruise to Portugal and Spain booked for 4th April. We have paid in full and for trips so would lose it all. Not sure what to do as could not afford another holiday this year. If it is everywhere then just as likely to pick it up in UK on your doorstep. The idea of being isolated for ages if a case were identified on board worries me as much as catching the virus. Very grateful for any advice. Many thanks.
I think if I’d paid I’d go - & be obsessive over handwashing & wipe over everything you come into contact with before touching , re clean your cabin even if the cleaner has just been in etc.., take plenty meds & spares just in case. You’ll need a separate suitcase for antibacterial wipes!😂
Thank you. Very helpful. Jenny
• in reply toPMRpro
One of the people quarantined in tenerife was on bbc News. This am. Said 600 or700 wondering around together after initial lock down.
I had a cold in January and a worse one this month. I am not panicking, do go to small gatherings, but my daughter and I are postponing an overseas trip this year until we see the development abroad and here in U.S. It is very disturbing to see Asian people who have lived here for years being ostracized by others in the community, and stared at unkindly when they do their shopping.
• in reply toNoosat
It's not like it was on purpose. People are silly.
It’s now spread to New York and Georgia California we are cancelling our trips..
Recommend worldometers.info I think it’s /Coronavirus after that...on web, excellent country by country site, shows daily increases & deaths & recovery by country, also many graphs & explains the linkage daily of new cases. We have lived in ‘virtual’ lockdown for the past 3 winters, after I was told that if I got yet another chest infection my lungs would not cope, & my immune system was already shot. At that time I didn’t have Polymyalgia (but already had fibromyalgia) & had other health issues & was only on steroids for 10 days at a time, then a gap of about 4 weeks. We risk one sunny spell in Florida each winter, where we rent a home & self cater, no restaurants, but, while home, rarely visit any shops, one pub lunch a month only, & we risked a small wedding of 40 people last Sunday. All food is delivered to open front door! David occasionally goes to village shop...once a week. We keep gloves in car, which we use for all door handles, etc. Dispose of them when home. Wash hands constantly, use hand sanitiser. I was instructed to do this by a professor in charge of a large unit in hospital. Masks do one good thing, if you are a person who constantly (without knowing it) then you touch the mask only. But the virus will easily enter eyes. But then the mask must be changed very regularly, too! We spend our winters walking in the New Forest, where we live, & getting on each other’s nerves in bad weather! We were going to Italy in May & California in June & July, but will not book anything unless it can be cancelled without losing money. It’s interesting to see very differing reactions from different governments. Hope you find this helpful, sorry it’s so long. I worked in a laboratory environment for 20+ years, & finding the virus story very sad. Mrs Nails...if I were you, I wouldn’t go, but it’s your decision! Airports are high risk zones, naturally! S xx
I am in Nebraska, USA. So far it is business as usual concerning the Coronavirus. However 57 people were sent here to be quarantined at our National Guard Camp. They have since been released. We also have a few people being quarantined or treated at the University of Nebraska Med Center in Omaha. UNMC is a highly trained facility for this sort of event.
I'm not panicking but realised yesterday that I hadn't replaced thermometer which I broke some time ago. Ordered one online but it was alarming to see how many sites had sold out.
I'm just recovering from a nasty virus which began with a cough and feverish symptoms and then settled on my chest; my grandson and daughter had the same. I got checked out by GP and have stopped coughing now but the symptoms were so close to those of Covid 19 that had I had it a couple of weeks later I might have been panicking.
In the middle of writing this I was interrupted by my younger daughter Skyping from Norway to say that she's going ahead with a work trip to Brazil on the 7th March. Now I shall be worrying about her until she gets back on the 17th but I suppose flights will be stopped if it gets worse. She told me that there is one case in Norway already - that was one place I hadn't seen or heard about.
• in reply tomaria40
As pmrpro has said from someone "in the know" it's everywhere so it's as long as people wash their hands, stop picking their noses (😉), coughing opening, and we all are hygienic and lucky it'll be OK. There's not much else we can do.
I would ordinarily be hygienic and clean things with antibacterial and antiviral cleaners in shops, airplanes etc so I don't have anywhere to go but panic. Refuse to do that. 🌻
I had what sounds like the same virus a couple of weeks ago. Like you i wasn't worried about Coronavirus as it hadn't really spread then. It did make me think though and if I'd had the same bug now I think I'd possibly be panicking!
If you are like that my advice would be not to go. In my book it is better to be safe than sorry. I have a husband with a poor immune system. It is a problem when you are like that.
I called in at a small well know mini supermarket a few hours ago and they were literally filling usual meds shelf and ALL the shelves at the tills with cold and flu products. Boy are proctor Smith kline glaxo Johnson or whatever going to make a bomb.
Here in SW Florida (here in vacation) you can't find a surgical mask for sale near where I am, so probably some amount of concern here. Flu was really bad in Michigan this year. Doing my best, too, to stay safe. I'll try to order a mask online.
Only the fancy ones are worth it - the others last about 5 minutes. And only if worn correctly ...
I have just listened to an excellent interview with Dr Chris Smith, consultant virologist at Cambridge University on Radio NZ. It is up to date and sensible about the behaviour of Covid19, the risks and advice. Worth listening.
Here : rnz.co.nz/audio/player
Or here: podcast.radionz.co.nz/downl...
Thanks for posting. It was an interesting listen.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Against all rules and advice for PMR, All types of arthritis and 'other' nasties
This was sent to me by a friend recently:
If you're happy and you know it - stay in bed
If you're...
PMR & Corona Waves
Hi all,
After going back up to 10mg from 5mg due to being very poorly 4 months ago it has now been...
Eyes and other things.
I get a weekly digest of posts to this forum and was reading the thread re missing travelling,...
How Covid19 works - on the basis of what is known about other corona viruses
First of all - a warning: this link is quite detailed and if you are squeamish or anxious please...
Corona Virus
Are we considered to be more at risk for contracting it and having it more severely ?
Related Posts
O dear I have corona virus 
Alendronic Acid ....and other worries
Backache and other bugbears
Rheumatologists and other Medics.
Hair-loss and other side effectsModeration team
Fran_BensonPartner
SophieMBPartner
