Wuhan virus.

[Workingman]

When it comes to panic I cannot say anything about the Mail as I do not read it or its website, and the same goes for the Sun, Express, Star etc.

What I can say is that the UK's major news websites, the ones most viewed, BBC and Sky, leave no stone unturned in churning out coronavirus stories. The BBC has even dedicated a section to it. Most of the stuff is a rehash of stories from the day before, which in turn were a rehash of stories from the day before that, and so on. Changing one sentence or a picture from one article does not make it a new one.

Then there are plenty of pictures of empty shelves, people on hospital trolleys, medics in hazmat suits and other such images. They are all accompanied by the graphics articles... What is it? How do I catch it? How do I avoid it? Your questions answered. How to self-isolate. How to work from home. It all goes on ad nauseam.

There are very few "new" news stories about the virus and hardly any containing other news. It is all doom and gloom and has already become fatigue making.

[Workingman]

I survived BSE, bird flu, swine flu, SARS, MERS, and I will survive Covid-19 even if it means locking myself away, but I am not sure that I can survive daily updates from No 10.

Some things are too much to ask of a nation.

[Suff]

Better not to read them. I ration myself to once per week.

[JoM]

I've seen a lot of offers of help on local Facebook pages and Next Door (think it's called that) today. People wanting to know how they can help others who are isolating.

[Workingman]

Better not to read them.

Read them! It's the three monkeys at their podiums on the TV answering the same questions from the same journalists over and over and over....

Jo, this one is doing the rounds. It's a postcard we can put through our neighbour's doors to offer help. A good idea IMHO.

[medsec222]

I just wonder how all this is going to work with the over 70s in quarantine. The suggestion is that neighbours or friends will leave shopping on the doorstep and then move 6' away. It would seem ok if an shopping order had been placed and paid for on line but what about day to day shopping like bread and milk and other small items. How will payments be made to helpful neighbours. Eventually over four months will the over 70s run out of change to pay for these items.

I hope it will eventually come down to commonsense. If you are unwell keep indoors and self isolate, if you are not, keep shopping to the minimum and shop at off peak times. I have always been very independent and never relied on anyone before other than my son, who now lives in London. Partial self isolation would work for me if I could order a main shop on line and have it delivered, but then still be able to out to the corner shop, perhaps first thing in the morning to pick up a paper, milk etc. as required.

[Suff]

Better not to read them.

Read them! It's the three monkeys at their podiums on the TV answering the same questions from the same journalists over and over and over....

Ah, you watch broadcast TV Live... How 20th century...

[TheOstrich]

I just wonder how all this is going to work with the over 70s in quarantine. ……. I hope it will eventually come down to commonsense. If you are unwell keep indoors and self isolate, if you are not, keep shopping to the minimum and shop at off peak times.

There is some talk, not yet confirmed, that Iceland are going to make 09:00 to 10:00 a slot just for "oldies". We have one locally, so it will be interesting to see.

[Suff]

The government would be better by allowing 24x7 shopping and allow pensioners to come in around 3am. Also they would be better relaxing the licensing laws to allow everyone to avoid the peak periods if they want to buy alcohol.

Scotland has 24x7 shopping and it is perfect for this. Main issues are alcohol and the wet fish counter.

[Suff]

I must admit I am waiting for the activation of the reserve to help with the manpower. There are more reserves than there are in the active military and they do not draw down on our forces ability.

I count myself fortunate to be too old and not well enough to be called up.

But this is exactly one of the situations the reserve are there for.