Jersey has 'nationalised' all GPs for the next few weeks (or perhaps longer). I don't know who this will work as all GPs are private here, they pay for their own premises, staff, equipment, pensions, insurance etc, and set their own prices. There is a subsidy of £20 for qualified patients for each consultation.

It ought to be interesting to put it mildly. Will it mean that we no longer have to pay for consultations? Watch this space!

I haven't seen anyone post from Hong Kong. We are inches from China so it could be terrifying. Amazingly we have only 4 deaths to date , out of an 8 million population. I think we learnt a lot from the SARS outbreak.
Our schools have been closed since January and most are running a really good online programme. Teachers at the school I was Principal of are flatout, but it works. Government are helping children with limited Technological resources at home.
I am in a care home with my own room. Government homes are crowded so the situation is worrying there.
We have always had delivery of basic foodstuffs and home needs like toilet paper. The companies have continued their regular deliveries so that's good.
We have rigid rules in place and have done for months now. No visitors at all, no going out at all. Exceptions are essential medical appointments. Going out we must wash , change clothing completely and our temperatures are constantly checked. This is now a way of life and we have no cases of positive tests.
I think we learnt a lot from past experience. Most people stay in and keep to rules. Shops and restaurants etc have been closed for weeks , many gone bust as a result of the protests.(not a great year for Hong Kong, this!).
Stay safe everyone and remember: Yes it affects the elderly and frail most, but you have a part to play in preventing death by sticking to rules, however miserable and boring it is.
I thank God for FT and its quizzes, BBC for its wonderful news coverage and my android phone for helping me stay in touch with the great outside world.
It will go on for a long time, but it is going to end, if we use common sense, and take care of each other if we can.

We had our first death yesterday, an elderly person, much older than you dear one! This person was already ill and on an end of life path receiving palliative care.

Our government are still not locking us down, even though our sister island is in lock down, mind you, they have more cases than us.

From Canada, the news that I’m hearing is that Hong Kong has been taking suitable precautions on the back of knowing what SARS was like. Today is the second day I’ve left the apartment in the past two weeks (I have to leave to do laundry). Fortunately there’s not a lot of people out so maybe people are starting to take it seriously.

Sadly, in France medical personnel are beginning to receive letters, some anonymous, others not, asking them to find temporary lodging somewhere else, not to park their cars close to the cars of other residents, or not to touch anything in the common areas in their buildings. Medical personnel are putting their lives at risk every day they go to work to help with the victims of the coronavirus. Their work is difficult, often disheartening because of the numbers of deaths. For them to return home to this kind of harassment is shameful.

Absolutely Kyle, and as I said above, we have so far 4 deaths in a population of nearly 8 million,so it may be true. I have been locked down in my Care home for 2 months now. No visitors, no going out, except for emergency and no one here is even sniffing. We are yet to be isolated in our rooms, but the Health Dept are threatening if things get worse. Schools are coping, Hospitals are incredible and so far , apart from a daily moan, all is well. Keep this up and all should be well. We have to support each other and keep the rules.
My main terror is losing my marbles. So thanks FT for support in that area!

The following may make you all feel a bit better. I hope so:

"Some good news on COVID-19 from around the World today:

- China has closed down its last coronavirus hospital. Not enough new cases to support them.

- Doctors in India have been successful in treating Coronavirus. Combination of drugs used: Lopinavir, Retonovir, Oseltamivir along with Chlorphenamine. They are going to suggest same medicine, globally.

- Researchers of the Erasmus Medical Center claim to have found an antibody against coronavirus.

- A 103-year-old Chinese grandmother has made a full recovery from COVID-19 after being treated for 6 days in Wuhan, China.

- Apple reopens all 42 china stores.

- Cleveland Clinic developed a COVID-19 test that gives results in hours, not days.

- Good news from South Korea, where the number of new cases is declining.

- Italy is hit hard, experts say, only because they have the oldest population in Europe.

- A German company is getting very close to a vaccine which can be mass produced and received large funding from the EU to accelerate.

- 3 Maryland coronavirus patients fully recovered; able to return to everyday life.

- A network of Canadian scientists are making excellent progress in Covid-19 research.

- A San Diego biotech company is developing a Covid-19 vaccine in collaboration with Duke University and National University of Singapore.

- Tulsa County's first positive COVID-19 case has recovered. This individual has had two negative tests, which is the indicator of recovery.

- All 7 patients who were getting treated for at Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi have recovered.

- Plasma from newly recovered patients from Covid -19 can treat others infected by Covid-19.


Source: https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opinion/coronavirus-15-good-news-stories-from-around-the-globe-show-things-do-get-better/"

Creedy - thank you for the good news! It's so hard to find any over here in the US right now...

I'm on Day 14 of 'social distancing' in Toronto and I've left the apartment twice in the past two weeks-- last Saturday to get fresh greens and meat and yesterday for the same and to do laundry as I don't have machines in my place.

I'm normally an anxious person and today it's really been ramped up. The good news definitely helps relieve the stress a bit; it's appreciated.

I would honestly take two month of severe lockdown if it meant a light at the end of the tunnel.

I teach English in South Korea and our schools have been out since the last week of February. I've been trying to stay indoors as much as possible, but like others I have had to go out shopping for groceries and other necessities. I had to take a trip to the immigration office a few weeks ago and that was a bit nerve-racking since it was during the time that South Korea's outbreak was still growing as opposed to leveling off. Things are better here now.

When Korea's outbreak first happened, a lot of English teachers fled and went back to their home countries, which are worse off now than Korea is. My family in America was incredibly worried about me a few weeks ago with my mom even considering sending me a hazmat suit (!) in the mail. Now all I can think about is my family's safety back home. I'm afraid Americans of every stripe have been caught off guard. I can only hope we all survive and learn from this mess.

It really seems like no time at all that a certain president was saying that there was no problem in the US, that there were just 10 or 11 cases and they were on top of it.

What I would like to know is what happens with most of the medical services in the US being chargeable, will the insurance companies cover all the ICU care? What about everyone else, those without insurance, those on Medicare or whatever it is called?

Here in Jersey we do not have the NHS, we have a two-tier system, primary care is not free but our hospital care is paid for out of taxes so free at the point of use. As from Monday all GPs in the island (about 100) will become employees of the government for the next four months or however long it takes. We do not know the details yet, we do not know if we still contact our own GPs for our medical problems (other health issues don't stop because of the virus), we don't know if we will be paying or not for their services.

The problem was, while they claimed to be on top of it, there was no news whatsoever of the places these people had visited, so you didn't know whether you yourself could have been infected.

And yes, 10 cases they were on top of - the problem is when we get to 10,000 cases - we don't even enough ventilators and capacity.



So, here is my understanding:
- If you have health insurance, it is working as normal. Some insurance companies are waiving fees for virtual visits and such.
- If you have Medicare and Medicaid (for seniors and poor, respectively), this is insurance.
- If you don't have any insurance... this is where the problem is. I know people who have been laid off, and my next question is "What happens to your health insurance?"

The problem is that, even with insurance, there's deductibles, copays and coinsurance that you have to fork out before full coverage starts. For most people, it's already a lot of money if they are working full-time - you can imagine in a situation such as the present one.

You can let it lapse, as most probably do, or keep the same through COBRA for upwards of 18 months. Paying through COBRA is out of pocket at the total cost normally to the employer. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_Omnibus_Budget_Reconciliation_Act_of_1985

More on the positive:

"Scientists around the world are looking for a coronavirus vaccine. It's essential not to rush this process, and it will take months or even years to develop the vaccine and make sure it's safe. But the work has begun and some promising avenues have already been identified.

"Researchers have a head start as the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is similar to coronaviruses we've encountered before, including the SARS virus that struck in 2002.

"Clinical trials of potential vaccines are underway in China, testing methods of stimulating our immune system to fight the virus.

"The first US clinical trials for a potential vaccine have begun in Seattle. Biotech company Moderna has taken a piece of the genetic code for the pathogen's S protein -- the part that's present in other coronaviruses, like SARS -- and fused it with fatty nanoparticles which can be injected into the body.

"Imperial College London is designing a similar vaccine using coronavirus RNA, its genetic code.

"Pennsylvania biotech company Inovio is generating strands of DNA it hopes will stimulate an immune response.

"Johnson & Johnson and French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi are both working with the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop vaccines.

"Sanofi's plan is to mix coronavirus DNA with genetic material from a harmless virus, while Johnson & Johnson will attempt to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and switch off its ability to cause illness.

"In the meantime, existing antiviral drugs may have an effect on the new coronavirus, such as remdesivir or the anti-flu drug favipiravir."

And remember - "People do recover.
Around the world, many are recovering from the infection."

The leader of the German doctors' association has come up with an "interesting" proposal.

Once we have an antibody test, people who test as having been infected can go free. Others must remain in isolation.

Sounds medically and economically sound, right? We get people who can work and all that and they won't be in danger.

But I am sure everyone would appreciate those who ignored the advice and restrictions, endangering themselves and others, being rewarded while those who heeded social distancing get punished with possibly months of extra confinement (still unable to earn money, etc.)...

And how many would try to infect themselves just to finally get out again?

Can someone who doesn't think of people as just "cases" please point out the problem with this idea before some "economy first" politicians jump on the bandwagon?

I can definately see some people trying to get infected so they can have a future antibody in their blood. Police had to break up a "Corona party" in New Jersey here int he USA over the weekend. It is idiots like those people that will try to become ill for the sake of having antibodies.

I cannot think of what to say to the "economy first" politicians. I'm unable to listen to the main "economy first" guy over here. After a few minutes, I get a headache, stomach pains, and I feel equal amounts of disgust and anxiety rising within me.

Well, Virginia, Maryland, and DC are under "Stay at Home" orders. It's essentially the same as guidance before, but now you can be fined or get up to a year in prison. This is after a Washington Post article over the weekend detailed the problems parents are having keeping teenagers home (of course the parents didn't seem to get the idea of taking keys to cars or money away from the teens, just "Oh honey, don't do that").

I read that article earlier today. Scary, isn't it? I wonder how they are planning to enforce those orders. Tomorrow I will have to go to the grocery store (a 10-minute walk from our home, which doubles up as much-needed exercise), and I'm curious to see if there will be any police around.

I have a paper for just that reason, LadyNym. Where I work is considered 'essential', therefore, we are not required to close. We are allowed to get food and medicine if needed, but groups of ten or more are banned. Virginia's stay at home order runs until June 10.

What I heard was folks were congregating at the beaches here in Virginia, and the governor decided to put a stop to it.

Well if I was of a mindset to get myself infected so that I would be set free I would most certainly not do it yet, I would wait until there was more in the way of ventilators available, and also when doctors have found some effective treatment, it wouldn't be worth risking my life.

I have heard of cases in the UK where some people have been spitting at emergency and health workers, then claiming to be infected - I would charge them with attempted murder.

All parking charges here in Jersey have been stopped in government owned carparks (which is most of them) and the carpark nearest to the hospital has been reserved entirely for hospital use. The one nearest the police station has areas reserved for police staff.

There is a huge movement to assist our fishermen, they are doing a roaring trade and some people who had never tried lobster have taken the plunge. The wet fish (and shellfish) is the freshest most have ever tasted, buying on the pier or the beach and it has literally just been landed. It could well be that the practice of selling direct to the public without a middle man will continue.

There is a lot of appreciated for our health workers. One fisherman (or perhaps he represented a few) gave crates and crates of lobsters and crabs to health workers the other day. People are donating hand creams to the hospital for staff and all manner of treats are being sent in for them. There is a movement to provide health workers and their families with meals from restaurants etc free and delivered to them.

Our Chief Minister is still a weak man and I cannot see that he will be re-elected at the next election, people are angry with him and rightly so, they were angry with him before all this started and we have been proved correct, he is useless. The island ought to have been closed ages ago, but no. Most people only went into lockdown yesterday morning at 8am, lockdown here still means that people can be out for up to two horus each day, other than being at work in essential occupations. They only ordered their own test equipment last week so our tests, what there are of them, have to be sent to the UK and can take up to five days for the results. Guernsey ordered their equipment some time ago and are now processing their own tests an probably will end up having to do our testing until our equipment arrives.

Our 3rd week of lockdown. I have been stopped everytime on my weekly shop. Police everywhere. If you have no reason to be out or more than one person in car the fine is 600 euros. We are fast approaching 100,000 infected and the police are taking it seriously.

Well, it's happened. I've learned to knit. I told my coworkers I will have scarves for everyone when this is over...

If you are in a city, state, or country which has not yet put into place strict shelter in place rules, please, please contact your government officials and ask them to do so. The consequences of the virus are devastating. In France, the death rate for closed cases is 27%. France has mainly been testing those who show more severe symptoms. Of those who tested positive and their case is now closed (either recovered or died), only three in four people recovered. In Italy, the statistic for case outcomes is far worse - 44% deaths. Even in Germany, which is testing widely and has a much lower mortality rate, 5% of closed cases have been deaths.

The majority of people who come in contact with the illness will not themselves have severe cases or even receive tests; but how many of us will lose loved ones who are older or who have preexisting conditions? How many of our medical and emergency response personnel will we lose?

There have been suggestions by some world leaders that more rural areas are less likely to be affected and can avoid restrictions. Most of the significant breakout cells began with a single person or two. As long as people continue to move around freely in this peak period, the virus will spread. Even rural areas are not exempt. Governments alone can not stop it. Each of us as individuals have to what we can to socially distance ourselves. What governments can do is actively encourage people to do so through restrictions.

Cold here today - it's -16C which is 3F, with a strong wind - so that might be part of the reason, but grocery shopping this morning was fine. My store has taken to opening at 7am for seniors and at-risk folk, and at 7 this blustery morning, there were far more staff than customers in the store - and there weren't all that many staff! Shelves well stocked except for a few items, and some things were limited one per customer. So I stocked up a little, will have no problem going two weeks without having to hit the grocery store again, probably longer.

Has anybody seen any research on how well the virus lives on objects in subzero temperatures? I could easily let crackers and soap and toilet paper and cheezies sit in the car for a couple of days if it would essentially disinfect them.