I'm not sure if this has been covered before,but for those who want to know the scientific basis on which the government is basing it's decisions,it's here
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p7f/
The key factor is the "R nought" value,the number of people on average one person will infect if there are no mitigating factors.
Roger
Thanks for the link. I've saved it to my Favourites list in the rapidly expanding "Health" folder.
I'm asked if I have any symptoms at the radiography reception desk when I arrive for treatment each weekday. No relatives, friends, carers or drivers allowed past main reception desk at front of building since Tuesday. The only place they can visit is toilet near main door. They have to wait outside the building. Cafe & seating area at front of reception has been restricted since midweek to patients waiting for appointments or transport. No longer the busy, friendly place it was.
Volunteer drivers for the cancer support charity are now restricted to 1 patient per car. No fellow patient to chat with about treatment or normal life, or work or life before cancer, during the long journey. The charity put out an appeal a fortnight ago for hand sanitiser for drivers as their usual supply was unobtainable and all that was available was going to cost "silly money".
The number of chairs for patients waiting outside individual treatment rooms has been halved. They are placed about 4 feet apart. We sit as far away from each other as possible and raise our voices to speak to each other. A vacant row of chairs was cleaned while I was waiting. Armchairs with fabric seats have been pushed against the wall, facing the wall so that nobody can sit on them.
Yesterday I had the entire waiting area for 2 treatment rooms to myself. There was a fault with the fire alarm and aloud, incessant, high-pitched whine from a box on the wall behind the chairs. Decided I needed a displacement activity in an attempt to ignore it. Remembered I hadn't done my daily physio so moved to the opposite end of the room and concentrated on my exercises. Still plenty of time to wait for my appointment - so took advantage of the expanse of floor space, which is lacking at home, to dance. Began with a solo version of Morecambe & Wise "Bring me Sunshine" routine; (It was Daniel Radcliffe's 1st choice on "Desert Island Discs" that morning.) I'm Ernie as I'm little; I had to imagine Eric beside me. I sang quietly. Next, a simple European folk dance, learned at school. Then I tried Irish dancing but that was a step beyond what my recovering body can cope with. (I've been singing a verse & chorus from a hymn to St. Patrick to time hand-washing this week.) Realised leg muscles have been drastically under-used these past months and 2 hours sitting in a car + time in waiting-room 5 days a week wasn't helping, so practised fencing moves up & down the room. Double-doors were wide-open; I paused movement whenever I heard people approaching along the corridor. Then my name was called, putting an end to activity.
A radiographer gave me 2 Covid-19 information sheets specifically for cancer patients having treatment.
I'm practising new skills - turning taps on & off and opening hospital toilet doors using my elbow. Elbow also deployed to push button for opening waiting-room doors. N.B. I do not sneeze into my elbow; I carry tissues in every pocket.
