Day 10

Thursday 12th March

Good morning!…Day 10….Thought I might sleep in. However, I wake-up (0900hrs) to multiple texts from the #SelfIsolation WhatsApp Group and friends from around the country….

Turns out at one of the hospitals, a patient swabbed positive for COVID19, but staff have been told NOT to self-isolate…It appears that too many staff have been exposed for them to send home so they consulted PHE who said everyone should come in!!..I wonder if they will ask us to come in if we do not have any symptoms…I don’t so would only be happy to. At the end of the day, people will continue to be unwell and will require healthcare. If people who may be exposed are well, then surely if the individuals stick to strict PPE policy then the likelihood of infecting someone is minimised. Latest research shows that that most people start to suffer symptoms after 5 days and if you haven’t got it by Day 12, you probably will not. People are now becoming really worried as what to do? On the radio this morning an individual discusses her concerns about looking after their sick grandparents. She cares for them and considers herself “paranoid” about going anywhere near them in case she might pass on the virus…This “paranoia” is probably feeding the hysteria that is circling currently. Someone suggests that this individual could take precautions and maybe she is over-reacting….but she phrases her answer as follows, “the downside of not seeing them is that…you just do not see them”…however, “the downside to seeing them is that they may die”. She agrees that it may be an over-reaction but like the majority of us she just wants to be safe. She would rather reflect back and say that they over-reacted rather than lose an elderly relative. This makes me think about the people in social care. What do they do? There is a care-home owner on the radio discussing the challenge and trying to maintain business. In relation to visiting, relatives can still visit providing they adhere to PPE. He does feel that they are on the brink of social distancing…but until then they will continue to follow advice…I personally think that there a lot of so-called ‘experts’ out there…with a bewildering amount of ‘expert’ opinions floating around…Some level headed analysis is required.. This is an unknown and people just do not know what to about an unknown. This reminds me of the Googler who comes into the clinic and knows more than you (healthcare professional) about the healthcare service etc. This leads me onto thinking about social media and terms like, ‘viral’. This information is flying around on the social mediaverse spreading unchecked information around the world. The wrong information can contribute to the spread of rumour like how viruses are spread. They need a host they need to be supported to survive and thrive…Just look at twitter. Those 280 characters are like the DNA that contributes to the spread of rumours. They thrive in times of uncertainty, unlike the old way of information dissemination by governments. Social media encourages us to question and form our own opinions whether they are peer reviewed or not. Governments and organisations are now having to deal with this as well as the epidemic/pandemic. There is a film called, Unseen Enemy (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4179582/), which is a feature-length documentary about the threat of epidemics in the 21st century and what we can do to fight them. It covers all the previous pandemics, endemics, how they were managed and what lessons we can learn from them. It made me think about how other pandemics were reported around the world, like smallpox, SARS, Ebola. It just seems like there is a difference here with coronavirus. This reminded me about the kind of questions journalists ask at times like this because this does not help too. Yesterday Athletico Madrid played Liverpool and considering Madrid was in lockdown, one of the journalists asked Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool manager), “Are you worried your players can get exposed?”..pause from Jurgen before the conversation goes https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1237436050408124417

JK- Are you from Madrid
Journalist- I’m from Argentina but I live in Madrid
JK- Are you concerned, in your city, they close schools etc
Journalist – I am not playing football
JK – Oh so that’s not special? So playing football is just playing a game. We (Liverpool Football Club) are not the society, we are part of the society and we should all be worried in the same way…and that’s exactly the thing I don’t like…That you sit here and ask me this question, but fly from Madrid to her. So, stay there! They closed schools and universities and you are obviously concerned, but that’s the question…But you think now that football is worth it to travel? That’s the situation, that’s our common problem, and we cannot solve it with football. We play football, it’s our part and your job is to transport information and I hope you do it better than you ask questions to be honest.

Now this is exactly the poor journalism that might lead to some of the hysteria we are seeing. Jurgen Klopp here has provided a level-headed answer…Now recently he was asked about this and despite making it clear in the media recently that he doesn’t want to talk about coronavirus because he’s just a manager not a doctor or politician, it seems that the journalists are seeking answers from celebrities…imagine if some other celebrities do not take a similar stance?…In the past there has been strange advice given which ends up on FaceBook…advice that has no science behind it.

Now this brings me on to the issue of masks. continues to spread around the world, face masks are in high demand as people look for ways to protect themselves. One of the reasons people wear masks is they think that it is going to protect them from coronavirus. I think the main issue with regards to the spread of the virus is being missed. It is not just spreading around the air whilst walking around going about your daily routine. Therefore, a mask is not going to be protective. Individuals need to be within 1 metre of a suspected or COVID positive individual for around 15 minutes. This is why healthcare professionals are advised to wear masks. The key advice should be on hand cleanliness. This is because touch has been linked to passing on the virus.

PING 0920.. link to the Guardian on the Groupchat https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/10/pressure-builds-on-uk-to-step-up-coronavirus-measures. So it appears that Downing Street has admitted the NHS 111 online service has been giving out the wrong advice on coronavirus to travellers returning from Italy, as the number of confirmed cases in the UK rose to 373 and a sixth death was announced. Returning travellers from the European centre of the outbreak in Italy were still being told all day on Tuesday there was no need to self-isolate if they had no symptoms. This is despite advice from Public Health England released on Monday night advising all people coming from Italy, which is in lockdown, to stay at home for 14 days regardless of whether they feel unwell. As you can imagine, the government and 111 have said that they are doing as much as they can. However, in my opinion and with what I have been seeing during my self-isolation period, is that despite the government considering itself appropriately being prepared, it seems that the public is not. Reflecting on this the advice is rapidly changing and people are not keeping up.

Meanwhile on the news, I read that US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping travel restrictions on 26 European countries in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51846923. This ban does not include the UK, Ireland and other non-Schengen countries. As you can imagine, the EU are not happy, and one commentator stated that this was Donald Trump’s way of electioneering. So far there are 1,135 confirmed cases of the virus across the US, with 38 deaths so far. Boris Johnson is expected to step up its response to the “delay” phase….remember this? This is the second phase of the government’s four part plan https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan/coronavirus-action-plan-a-guide-to-what-you-can-expect-across-the-uk where “social distancing” measures will be considered – which could include restrictions on public gatherings above a certain number of people. I think about the hotel my son stayed at last night. Maybe the hotel took control of this and felt the first phase (containment) was not sufficient…Interestingly Parliament is still open for business, yet a few more ministers are self-isolating. I personally think that considering what is going on, we need leaders to get us through this, so Parliament has to stay running if possible.

There are now 460 confirmed cases in the UK – 387 in England, 36 in Scotland 18 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Wales. In all, 27,476 people have been tested so far. Eight people have died.

Breakfast in the garden…the usual nutribullet…but so happy I can sit in the garden. I take a photo and update my twitter page with a comment about feeling happy I can sit in the garden. It’s cold…but I do not care. It’s nice to feel the cold wind on my face whilst enjoying the rays of sun filtering through the foliage.

1000Hrs..Breaking News On BBC Radio 5Live….All public activities until the 29th March should be suspended…Football in Denmark have agreed to do this and the game against England may have to be postponed…But Formula 1 still will happen in Australia….Lewis Hamilton doesn’t seem to be happy. England are expecting their test matches against Sri-Lanka to go ahead

Nice to read that there are a team of volunteers out there to help people who are self-isolating. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51821470 Groups in London and Cornwall are assisting with getting supplies to people unable to leave home in the coming weeks to contain Covid-19. The article describes a police cadet in Kingston who has been taking a lead on this. I think this is a fabulous idea and fosters community spirit.

Anyway, remember this story from yesterday’s log? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-51843128. This was the lad who was sent home from school or selling hand sanitiser. Initially this was going around FaceBook but has now been shared 130,000 times. Credit to the mother who tried to discipline him but that was not the view of many of the respondents on social media. This reminds me when I was at school 23 years ago, when my dad would buy a load of sweets from Makro. My brothers and I would go into school and sell all our sweets and undercut the school tuck shop. The process worked really well for a few months and business was brisk…however the with the tuck shop’s waning profits they realised what was going on and we were found out. We were hauled up to the headmaster, who confiscated our stock and gave us a detention. My dad was not impressed that we did not get our goods back! But that was that, no expulsion!

Interesting to listen to various people contact Radio 5Live giving advice on what they do to keep themselves busy…e.g. having structured days, going for a walk around the house when others are not around, try to do some mindfulness exercises as well as physical ones. There are many people coming on who normally work from home…who advise having a ‘to do’ list, regularly move, go outside…and try to make sure you get dressed as if going to work…all the usual stuff, I guess. I am taking notes…who knows, and god forbid I have to self-isolate again…

1135Hrs..BREAKING NEWS on BBC Radio 5Live. The Irish Premier has announced that schools, colleges, childcare facilities and public facilities will close until the 29th March. This includes indoor gatherings of greater than 100. He suggests people should work at home and minimise contact…advise social distancing. This is great but what about health care workers who do cannot work at home? He admits that healthcare workers will be in the front of the “crisis

1135Hrs.. More BREAKING NEWS, Team McLaren are pulling out of the Australian Grand Prix (F1) as some of their team has tested positive for COVID19.

1135Hrs.. More BREAKING NEWS La Liga has suspended the league in Spain for 15 days. This includes shutting their stadium for tours…Real Madrid footballers in quarantine!!

This is rapidly evolving…but rest assured, Cheltenham goes ahead!!! Wonder if this will be affected when the Delay Phase has been implemented. I do wonder why there is such disparity, but then let’s face it, we just do not know enough about this…but have I already said this before? I do feel as I am writing this, I am repeating myself a lot.

PING…1145Hrs another message to confirm that some hospitals are following this process. Anyone with a suspicion of COVID as per PHE definition…that is, anyone requiring admission to hospital AND have either clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia OR acute respiratory distress syndrome OR influenza like illness, these people will be admitted to an identified ‘cohort’ ward so therefore containing to a specific ward. What happens if a patient needs ICU treatment and there are not enough cubicles? I know there are specific hospitals with HEPA filter rooms but not sure how many of these there are…

PING…1200Hrs Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson has tested positive. Both, 63, were making a film about Elvis Presley. Another member of the Groupchat informs me that in the Nurses Groupchat they are finding things hard as a lot of them have children to manage as well. This is tough! They are also fed up…as are we, I guess. Like us, they are preparing themselves and would like to help but that is the thing…everything is an unknown, so we do not know what exactly to do. The commentator on Radio 5Live said that in 20 years in broadcasting, she has never come across such a period in society. I have to say I agree with her. I wonder if I was at work whether I would be constantly listening to the various ‘experts’ on the TV. I would just be getting on with the daily grind of work…

Now watching Politics Live…guess what…all the usual blah blah blah…how COVID is affecting us, what is going on….

PING …One of the Groupchat members is feeling frustrated now..they should be packing for a holiday that has now been cancelled and they are on Day 10 of self-isolation. Meanwhile another colleague sends through a copy of the Krebs Cycle (a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to release stored energy) as she is studying for their Primary Anaesthesia exams.

Now for that blog for the Royal College of Anaesthetists. They asked me to write a blog. I sent them excerpts of my diary but do not think they know how they are going to use this information. They have asked for a summarised version. This is a bit challenging now I am on around 24000 words as of now. A colleague on the Groupchat and I decide that we will focus on themes and see what they say. The college are preparing a website for COVID. Unfortunately, I am informed that there is only one person dealing with the communications for the college so it may take some time to get our blogs up. We might actually be at work before the blog goes up. Anyhow we will see. The article co-written …but mainly written by one of the Groupchat members has been received positively by the Faculty of Intensive Care. They feel it is “very interesting and informative, tells the story from the doctors eyes, honest and gives you food for thought.” …which is really good! Because that is what we wanted! Nnot sure how many people would feel about the idea of being self-isolated. Hopefully this will provide an insight into this.

Blog done…Day 1..titled, ‘What’s just happened? We have to be Self-Isolated?’..blog sent. I wonder what the Royal College of Anaesthetists will think.

Now for a catch up with my parents, friends then for home-based exercise…talking of which a friend asked me if they should go to the gym. I said if they have no cause for worry about themselves then they should…however, with some poorly ventilated gyms and with all the sweat, heavy breathing, communal showers etc then there is the risk that you might pick up something…so not to pander into the hysteria…I am not sure you can guarantee you will be safe…I suggested that going out for a run might be better as its naturally very ventilated!! or home based gym.

Just before I go to do ‘house gym’, I quickly check the BBC website….Boris Johnson has just been speaking to the public….commenting that it was “the worst public health crisis for a generation”. In total, 10 people have now died in the UK and now the numbers of confirmed cases are at 596…although it is estimated that the actual number of people infected could be between 5000, 10,000. In response, the advice is, “Anyone with a “new, continuous” cough or high temperature is now advised to self-isolate for seven days, as the UK government moves to the “delay” phase of its plan to tackle coronavirus.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51857856?ocid=wsnews.chat-apps.in-app-msg.whatsapp.trial.link1_.auin

From a personal perspective and listening to the events of today, I can understand why the UK are taking a gradual escalation unlike other countries which are closing schools, colleges and cancelling mass events. The government has said that the science doesn’t back this as it doesn’t control the spread. The aim now is not to avoid spread but to build up immunity. Public. The countries which have taken drastic steps will have to lift these bans at some point but by their logic, they are controlling the transmission, therefore keeping the numbers of infected people low. Is this a better way of already strained resources to manage the situation?…but then, if schools are closed, there is no benefit by doing this for a week, you have to close them for 12-14 weeks to get over the peak – longer if you shift the peak further away by slowing it down. Some may say that although kids are not casualties for this, there is the risk that they could spread the virus…There is also the economic impact of parents having to stay at home to care for said kids. They cannot go to work…unless they could work from home, but what if you are a front-line worker. Some people think larger sports events definitely should not happen as they are not essential…however there is an economy there. If these things are cancelled then this will have an economic impact on local businesses, etc. Unlike schools however, they are one off events, and will not affect the day-to day running of millions of families across the country, which would have a bigger impact on the economy. The question is, if sporting events are cancelled, then will people just go to the pub instead or sit together in the lounge with a group of friends, or in the case of Paris Saint Germain’s game yesterday, lots of people stood close together outside the stadium as the stadium was closed to the public. This group of people being held close together and tightly held against the wall because of the roads and police holding them back. This all demonstrates the challenges that organisations have…do they, or don’t they? The conversation on social media is very polarised. Going back to the school thing….it is such a grey area… there are proponents for and those against…European institutions have closed schools yet we adopt a gradual phase of “delay”…and I wonder why the public has no confidence in the government…It really makes it hard for the public health organisations to implement the plans required to get control of the situation.

Public Health England have changed their guidance and, today, recommend the following, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Key messages
• if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (See Ending Isolation section below for more information)
• this action will help protect others in your community whilst you are infectious.
• plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home.
• ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.
• stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible.
• sleep alone, if that is possible.
• wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.
• stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible.
• you do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

I have to say that this document is heaps better in terms of what was available when I started self-isolating on the 3rd March. It actually provides really good practical advice in terms of practical advice like, advice what to do if self-isolating, what to do if you are sharing a house, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, how to dispose of waste, handle laundry, hand washing process, how to order shopping, where to get it delivered, looking after elderly people, the list is endless…I strongly suggest you see the website above as I feel that you will gain a sense of preparedness.

On our Groupchat we are letting the new advice sink in….The self-isolation period for is now 7 days if you demonstrate symptoms…not 14 days…but then yesterday the guidance was that if you do not develop symptoms after 12 days then you are unlikely to get it…yet the advice was to be that individuals could still be carriers up to 14 days…and here we are the rules have been changed…I have to say I am not clear….Could we come back to work earlier? The ICU consultant joins in on the chat to clear up some of this…well the return to work bit…, “All shifts have been covered up until your return next week. There is no current plan for you to be returning earlier despite the discussions. It’s likely the next few weeks are going to be very busy.” ..I guess that will be it…who knows the advice will change again tomorrow….Will Cheltenham go ahead? Well the weather is going to be nice tomorrow

Anyhow, Manchester United are playing LASK (Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub), in case you were wondering are a club based in Austria. So, this is a UEFA cup competition that is being played in closed stadium…It sounds and looks really strange compared to the cauldron that was Anfield yesterday. Manchester United win 5-0….Wolves draw away at another empty stadium to Olympiakos 1-1….Oh, and in other news, the Australian Grand Prix has been called off.

In the world of economics, it’s the worse day since the crash of 1987…FTSE down by 11%, Dow Jones down by10%…

Time for Question Time (Program in the UK on topical affairs presented by Fiona Bruce), …By now I think I am “corona’d” out…with all the information flying around…but then the Groupchat are watching it and in a moment of solidarity, I thought I should. Especially as John Ashton (former regional director of Public Health in the North West is on)…and guess what…He says that he is “embarrassed” by the time it has taken the UK government to react to the coronavirus outbreak. He feels we have lost the plot and Boris should have taken firm action five weeks ago….In his opinion we have lost control. He talked about how 3000 people from Madrid came to watch a football match in Liverpool. Most will have been drinking and eating in bars and restaurants….these are people who have come from a place under lockdown where they are playing matches behind closed doors…so the virus will have been shared around in Merseyside, and is now amongst us. As people become ill, this will further stretch services. He continued talk about Ebola (2014), where the government took a narrow stance to this and didn’t understand the community aspects related to the burial practices of those in Sierra Leone meaning that controls were not in place to reduce the spread of the virus. This was something that was discussed in the film “Unseen Enemy” I talked about earlier. I agree with the Professor. Measures like this cannot be paternalistic, i.e. a top-down process. We are living in a much more heavily populated and diverse world than say 100 years ago, and so the government needs to work together with communities to find a common way forward. This also keeps everyone informed of the correct facts and reduces the myths that are flying around, which then leads to the hysteria we have witnessed. However, from the publics’ perception there is also the trust they have in the government in “providing the correct facts” you only have to look at the handling of the vaccines and BSE fiasco of the 1990’s and 2000’s http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/60510.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/218676.stm. The challenge here is that for a public health initiative to be successful, it requires the assistance of a government that the public will listen to. In today’s age of social media where everyone is an expert this can be challenging (as already discussed). John Ashcroft tells everyone how a colleague had three letters from the gym telling everyone about COVID and nothing from PHE…suggesting that the service was “dire”. Well…I have to disagree. I cannot begin to imagine what PHE computer systems are like. They are dealing with far more people than the local gym. I have had my daily texts…and if someone replied ‘YES’ that they were not well, they got a call. My employers (ICU department) has been fabulous too.

John Ashcroft also feels that there should be a gradual closure of schools depending on where the cases are…but then someone questions this….similar to the argument I have discussed earlier is that if children (who are least likely to be affected…and yes, could be carriers) do not go to school, then who will look after them? The elderly grandparents? (who at high risk)..Whilst the parents are at work? Will this not be a risk?…Good Question!!….unfortunately no answer to that…Come on Fiona…That deserved an answer.

Although, on the radio earlier I heard an interesting comment, where in Belgium they have implemented a compromise. They have asked working parents who do not have childcare facilities except elderly parents to continue sending children in whilst those that do, should keep children home. This sounds like a good compromise and could be considered in the UK but I wonder what the compliance would be like? Or do you reserve this policy for children from parents who are in front-line duties?

Back to Question Time…There is some discussion that Scotland have cancelled large events because of the policing that will be required…meaning more people mixing. Although John Ashcroft discusses how businesses can still work from home this does not clarify the position on front-line staff…There is some cynicism from the public and one member of the audience feels that unlike other countries, the UK is being caught “with its pants down”….once again, the panel waffles on about the science and cross party conversations…but…wait for it, schools are now being discussed but….no, no real answer but political clap-trap…And as John Ashcroft says, we are not listening to what the public are asking…thoughts go back to the trust in the politicians from the public..John Ashcroft goes on, Fiona shuts him down…back to the politician’s clap-trap…what am I watching?? But in fairness…I have been listening to political clap-trap all my life so why should I expect anything to change now.

All this reminded me of a graph I saw recently, which looked at the effects of social distancing on flu deaths on 1918 flu deaths. As the first cases of flu were reported in Philadelphia, the authorities played down the significance and allowed public gatherings to continue. Closures in Philadelphia were only enacted once the virus had spread. As a comparison, the first cases in St. Louis were reported in early October 1918 with measures to contain the spread enacted two days later. This resulted in a lower mortality rate in terms of deaths per 100,000 of the population…Now would this work in the 21st century? Well this would sound sensible…but I cannot help but think back to Dr Harries (deputy chief medical officer) comments that “coronavirus does not survive in the air for very long…that is why sporting events are still occurring…Now this was on Monday, or Tuesday (this self-isolating has really taken its toll on me…I think I know how Tom Hanks character in Castaway felt….Except in my case I have the dangling carrots of life’s comforts all around me…and all I can do is be in my room when family members were around…ok end of brackets)…and a whole lot has happened since with many cancellations or postponement of sporting events. Apparently if Cheltenham was next week then this would have been cancelled….Talking of which, the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and England and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi have test positive. Both Chelsea and Arsenal teams are self-isolating…this despite the Premier League saying that all matches will go ahead…I do not think so!

Back to Question Time…I get a sense from the comments being made by the public, all with their own narratives and questions, I feel John Ashcroft may have a point. There needs to be more communication between the government and local communities. There is not a plan for social care currently and this needs to be addressed. Someone has raised a really important point, what about the homeless…they are a group of people who could be immunocompromised from the conditions they are living in and so at risk of getting the virus. They are a major vulnerable group. Back to John Ashcroft’s soap box on working with the community and building community resilience…Are you listening members of the panel…that are the political party representatives. John goes on to discuss what countries are doing about prisoners in Iran and China where there is a high risk of contracting the virus. I am not sure about releasing murderers or high-risk criminals into the public, but maybe white-collar criminals?

But wait..Steve Barclay (treasury minister) says that they have had a co-ordinated approach to communities citing on the day of the budget the government had a conversation with the central banks and PHE…so from my view, that is not working with communities. John Ashcroft interjects, “why has there not been centralised modelling of a plan to be taken?”….silence from the minister, clap from the audience…that says it all…then a reply from the minister to say…”oh but we are”….BUT HOW??

Conversation swiftly moves onto the budget with someone from the audience asking, Has Rishi (chancellor) found a money tree? Laughs all around. This relates to the previous prime minister, Teresa May telling a nurse, at an election special of Question Time, “there is no magic money tree” to increase their pay for increased living costs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44524605. Seems to me that magic trees do exist, but selectively depending on what the government’s agenda is

PING…One of the #SelfIsolation Groupchat guys has a friend plus family who are all self-isolating as they have all come down with a mild cough. Unfortunately, they cannot get any Calpol (paracetamol syrup) in the shops as they have run out. They have a 5-year-old and 6-month old…so really could do with a soluble form. I have to admit, this slipped me by as I thought the issue with the public was toilet rolls, pasta, hand-sanitisers…and now this? Turns out that the parents have 500mg soluble tablets. I suggest that they could dissolve half a tablet in a known volume of water and mix half the volume (125mg) in some fruit juice and administer via a bottle. Alternatively, could they get a friend to write a private prescription as a Pharmacy would have large Winchester glass bottles of stock paracetamol which they would be able to dispense.

TWEET…someone comments on twitter saying that after a shift, they have had multiple texts from various groups with regards to COVID19. They finish the conversation stating that people might start to wear themselves out interacting with all these messages. Additionally, there is the thought that this medium, like social media is a host for spreading further myths. I personally hope that as people become aware of the truths out there (challenging I know) then level-headed conversations can be had. There is information overload at the moment and the number of texts, tweets etc is a symptom of that. For me, I feel our #SelfIsolation WhatsApp group has been very supportive…but then we started the group when it was all beginning to kick off. Who knows what it will be like by Day 14?

Anyhow on that note….time for bed…Good Night…but before I go? Football shirt of the day? Cheltenham Town shirt (he was brought up in Cheltenham)