[SA Chris]

My mother in law was telling me she'd be happy to look after the kids if the school closes. I told her in no uncertain terms she'd be on house arrest, and the closest she's get to the kids would be a Skype call. Late 70s, unfit smoker seems pretty high risk to me.

[SA Chris]

Given the state of the oil price, it looks like self isolation will be the least of my concerns shortly.

[Offwidth]

The WHO data page on technical guidance

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance

[rich d]

no pasta or tinned tomatoes in asda in notts today, idiots having to have a chilli for tea now.

[abarro81]

Aldi in Sheffield was totally normal the other day - no sign of any panic buying. If anything it looked like they'd stocked up on toilet roll expecting a rush on it that hadn't come

[rich d]

it is a bit southern down here, there were very few toilet rolls left either. Also no bread flour, and lots of people buying LOTS and LOTS of tins of spaghetti hoops.
I forgot half the stuff I was supposed to buy as I wandered around just staring at people in amazement.

[dunnyg]

To be fair, I fucking love spaghetti hoops

HOOPS HOOPS HOOPS

I can't imagine you would feel well after eating them for 2 weeks though.

[Will Hunt]

If you have the same essential metabolism as my 2-year-old's then I can confirm that you can actually live almost exclusively on spaghetti hoops. And you can still maintain a very varied diet. There are regular, Thomas the Tank, Peppa Pig, letters, numbers etc etc

[Andy F]

Also no bread flour, and lots of people buying LOTS and LOTS of tins of spaghetti hoops.

As long as they leave the tinned beans and sausages you're quids in. Those bad boys are like Michelin starred manna.

[Offwidth]

Some grim reading from Italy.

https://mobile.twitter.com/silviast9/status/1236933833653653505

[tomtom]

Some grim reading from Italy.

https://mobile.twitter.com/silviast9/status/1236933833653653505

Powerful.

So be patient, you can't go to the theatre, museums or the gym. Try to have pity on the myriad of old people you could exterminate.

[Oldmanmatt]

I am assuming here, that the Italian Government have not “taken leave of their senses” and that they have reason to believe their death toll is about to get much worse?


Italy extends coronavirus measures nationwide https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51810673

[lagerstarfish]

We're due to take my 80 yr old parents to Gran Canaria at the end of the month.
Mum has a knackered liver and low kidney function. Dad's imune system is somewhat muted due to meds for his autoimmune disease.
Neither are anywhere near fit.
Not staying in a hotel.
I guess we wait and see what the situation is nearer travel time.
My parents are willing to take their chances as long as travel is allowed.
What interesting times we live in!

[Oldmanmatt]

Yeah.

My parents (Mum, cancer survivor, diabetic. Dad, cancer survivor, getting frail), are insisting we visit them for Sunday lunch.
I’ve been in Glasgow, at college, for three weeks and flying home on Friday.
I’m about as “self isolated” as Boris is humble.

For the first time since I was an easily embarrassed teen, I dread my Italian mother’s over enthusiastic hugging and kissing.

And yet, saying no to the invite, seems impossible!

[fatneck]

Font in 4 weeks - staying positive...

Toilet roll shopping (normal amounts) yesterday had no issues at my local store but apparently larger stores (in more affluent areas) have been wiped out!

[andy popp]

The posh obviously have a greater right to shit in comfort and dignity.

[SA Chris]

wiped out!

Quality punning.

[Will Hunt]

Let them use bidets.

[gme]

Just been chatting to a friend on there way to a big DofE policy meeting re schools reaction to this.
Seems like they are looking at extending the Easter hols to 4 or 6 weeks starting early, maybe as early as two weeks time.
Nice for the kids and teachers but maybe a bit shit for people with kids to look after.

[gme]

Don’t worry though teachers. I suggested you could all just play catch up by reducing your summer hols to two weeks. I knew you wouldn’t want any more time of work.

[M1V0]

Font in ten days, trying to stay very positive nothing happens between now and then...

Not too concerned if, once there, they close travel out of France though. Worse places to get stuck, I suppose.

[spidermonkey09]

Just been chatting to a friend on there way to a big DofE policy meeting re schools reaction to this.
Seems like they are looking at extending the Easter hols to 4 or 6 weeks starting early, maybe as early as two weeks time.
Nice for the kids and teachers but maybe a bit shit for people with kids to look after.

I suppose the logic is that by then a good chunk of us will be isolating anyway so the impact is lessened?

[gme]

But the effect on middle age suicide rates and infanticide needs to be considered  if you lock parents inside with their children for 4 weeks.

[SA Chris]

True that.

[SA Chris]

Looks like all Italian ski resorts are shut down for the season.

Where we were last Easter (Gressoney on the Monte Rosa ski area) posted on Facebook that they are now closed for the season. Small town with a lot of economy relying on ski visitors, are they going to get compensation?