Here in the UK the government is stepping up that action but trying to do it with the softly, softly approach. The advice is that anyone over seventy and any one with underlying health problems that are serious enough for the normal medical advice is to have the flu jab every year they should self isolate, the suggestion is that this advice will last a least for 10 the 14 weeks. Sadly as I have type 2 diabetes with some complications that includes me. Reading the advice in detail that keeps me indoors with the exception I can go for walks as long as I keep a distance of 2 meters between me and anyone I meet. To be honest I am not too bothered about it, although I will need to get a longer lead if I am taking the dog on a walk because so many people like to stroke him. I have plenty to do indoors and I can exercise at home as well while shopping might be an issue.
For the wider public the advice is to avoid groups of people, something they are calling social distancing, but the size of that groups depends on who is doing the advising the range of 50 to less than 10 seems to cover most advice. Further advice suggests not to go to pubs, restaurants or theaters which leaves their owners in a real limbo as they have not been told to shut but if people take the advice they will have no customers.
At present all of this is advisory but if people do not take the advice I expect it appears to be mandatory. According to our news here that is what happen in France as they gave similar advice but it appears the government were concerned at the numbers of people ignoring the advice over the weekend and now there is a mandatory lock down. Whether that is the case I cannot say but that is what has been widely reported here. So far I have to say most seem to be heeding the advice with most places but supermarkets pretty empty. Most the people I know that work are working from home, some because they has been a confirmed case of the virus in their workplace but many just as a precaution.
I guess the real concern I have is the impact that this will have on the elderly that either live alone or have restricted movement. Panic buying has wiped the shelves here of toilet roll, soap, hand wash, eggs and most over the counter painkillers. The supermarkets have had to respond buy refusing to sell any customer more then three or four of any given item. I totally understand that but if you are trying to buy for a number of elderly people because that cannot shop it adds to the complications. Of course it is really only the well off that are creating that problem as, if your are struggling to buy food, there is no change you can spend a weeks food budget on toilet rolls.
At the end of the day if we calm down a look after ourselves and others we will get through this, sadly I am not sure enough of our population has the social awareness and concern for this to happen. I really do hope I am proved wrong but the 'look after me a stuff everyone else' attitude seems fairly strong at present. Of of course all this ignores the financial impact we are going to have to deal with.
I think this is the general advice everywhere.
Germany announced Monday afternoon new measures which include non-essential businesses and shops to shut down, plus a blanket ban on gatherings in clubs, sports and leisure facilities, adult education centres and places of worship (churches, mosques, synagogues) and holiday travel will be halted/banned. Schools and kindergartens are already closed while playgrounds, outdoor recreation centers, zoos, parks, etc will be shut down or closed sometime this week.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, post offices, delivery services, drycleaners, optometrists, hairdressers will remain open, even longer than normally and also on Sundays as of now. Usually some restrictions in number of visitors, especially for smaller shops (mostly voluntary right now).
Visit regulations for hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes, a general entry ban in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, kindergartens, schools and universities for people who have stayed in risk areas.
Restriction on opening hours for restaurants and cafeterias, plus new requirements to minimize the risk of the spread of coronavirus,eg regulating the distance between tables and the number of visitors. (some shops shut down their sitting areas voluntary)
Border controls between Germany and Austria, France, Luxemberg and Switzerland; plus the EU is trying to close all borders for 30 days.
And of course, social distancing.
And if that doesn't work to minimize the risk, pretty sure we end up on lockdown like France.
