Events involving large numbers of people could be banned by the Government if the coronavirus situation in the UK worsens, it has been confirmed today (Sunday).
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has not ruled out following in Switzerland’s footsteps by putting a stop to large gatherings in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19. Such drastic action could have a major effect on a number of events held on the Isle of Wight this year.
In Switzerland, gatherings of more than 1,000 people have been banned altogether, whilst in France gatherings of 5,000+ in confined spaces are now prohibited. An area north of Paris has had a total ban imposed.
Mr Hancock told the BBC earlier today that the Government is looking at ‘all those sorts of things’ when probed about France’s ban. He said that such actions could not be ruled out, but there’s also a problem if decisions like that are made too early.
Islanders should continue to assume that all events will take place as planned until advised otherwise.
The Government has been putting plans in place to deal with a rise in the number of cases of coronavirus with a COBRA meeting to be held by Boris Johnson tomorrow (Monday). This afternoon is has been confirmed that there are 12 new cases of coronavirus in the UK, taking the total number to 35.
The Isle of Wight has so far escaped any confirmed cases of the potentially deadly virus.
Some £40million has been allocated to fund a vaccine for the coronavirus, but that is said to be many months off yet.
May be wise to sell your tickets now, as can’t see us getting all our cash back as Mr G must have had huge costs already?
Wightbay is going to be full of ad’s saying ‘ For Sale, Festival ticket, Unfortunately I cannot attend this year because of unexpected ‘work’ commitments’ Yeah, right…
It may be the decent thing to do, and sadly call off the festival this year. The Island has many more elderly people than most other areas, and it is unfair that their lives should be risked by bringing over tens of thousands of people, who would undoubtedly bring many cases of CV to the Island.
Can you see some drugged, drunk, washing their hands for two minutes using soap, when at best, a couple of taps with cold water, with a queue for that stretching hundreds of yards to the muddy filthy ‘washing point’ is found?
Or people in the big top,or the other tents, shoulder to shoulder, reaching for the Kleenex as they sneeze, then walking to the long queue, after finding and then binning their infected tissue, to wait an hour to wash their hands before returning back inside again to the crowds, to only sneeze again?
All the milk jugs, the sauce bottles etc at the food outlets will be crawling with the virus, as will the toilet doors, and not just with ‘a case of the runs’ as per usual but a killer disease when you return home to your elderly or ill loved ones.
Don’t get me wrong, I want the festival, love it, always go, but for four days to take some innocent persons life is wrong imo.
Very sadly the world is not in a good way, this is one of those times when peoples health is paramount as an Island this has the potential to hit hard, Many people choose this Island to retire to, it is a social responsibility on all of us to protect those at risk, there is open conformation available that older people especially those with underlying conditions are most at risk.
Our Island health service is always under pressure, this virus has the potential to push this service to and above the limits.
Now is the time to be sensible, sincere, considerate and respectful, there is the potential that this will affect all of us in one way or another.
Lets be considerate to all Islanders and non Islanders alike.
seay
97% of virus cases show very mild symptoms and sufferers recover with no visits to a doctor – this virus, by that token is already global and all containment and the BS in the media is a waste of time.
9 million people a year, die of hunger and hunger and related diseases in the world, however, that does not stop people in this country turning up at the festival year after year, gorging theirselves on junk food and then discarding half eaten burgers in the bin.
726 people in the UK died as a result of being homeless in the uk in 2018 – didn’t notice you are anyone else rushing out to offer your sofa.
6507 cases of suicide in the uk in 2018, however, it didn’t stop others partying on.
The point is that people only want to see things like the festival stopped etc, because they worry that they personally may be affected. They are not worried about the weak or elderly, just their own skins.
35, identified cases of this virus, of which 34 are likely to recover. Keeping things in perspective is important with all this media frenzy over CV
none given; for once I agree with you
No doubt your comments are largely correct none given, unfortunately much of what you say is human nature, I note you state 34 are likely to recover, that means one won’t. It is being stated by ‘ experts ‘ we still know very little about the way this virus could mutate, potentially those not recovering could increase, regardless of this are we so shallow to disregard and disrespect those most at risk and condemn them, or should we not take the opportunity to be positive in our attitude.
Accept the Island population has a large elderly population, I take it you are not in the highest risk category due to age or health condition. Many are and a more considerate attitude to those at the highest risk is an example for all to follow, now is the perfect opportunity to change the attitude of many and accept we ALL should/must take and show responsibility to those at risk and those who care personally at home and lets not forget the NHS staff, there are medical staff in China who have died due to helping those with this condition.
RESPECT all and start Now.
Kev – how many elderly and frail people will be at a festival – none
how many elderly and relatively frail people will be walking around town in amongst everyone else out shopping every day – loads of them.
Those with a weak immune system, elderly or having a pre-existing condition are more likely to catch the virus from touching the same bunch of bananas an infected person decided not to buy or touching the door handle of a shop or touching the shopping baskets in the stores, than they are likely to catch it from people going to a festival.
there is no point doing anything different that you are already – as it is being spread far and wide, without any effort at all.
kev – you made your post at 12.03 today – my reply was an hour and a half later – in that time, just over 1500 people died of hunger on the planet. Were you eating lunch whilst making your post on this board.
none given, you clearly have an axe to grind, I trust you gave up your lunch today then and sent it to a starving person, it seems to me you are concerned for certain elements of the human race and that is commendable and to be applauded, it some what however seems rather strange that you seem to show such scant regard for a situation developing around us at present, you yourself make reference to 34 of 35 recovering, you can potentially aid that 35th unfortunate individual who by your words will not recover. How? by having some more respect for the situation and aiding with advice.
I very much hope this virus can be conquered and that as with everyone you yourself or someone close does not pay the price by becoming the 35th unfortunate one.
kev
I do not have an axe to grind, just get annoyed when I see people demanding that festivals get cancelled and then go to the supermarket with everyone else, after having walked around town amongst hundreds of people, if not more, been to coffee shops, been to work, spent time with friends, been on the bus, been to the doctors and so on. The exposure each day and interactional effect is the equivalent of a festival every day, at least.
The virus has every chance of becoming a regular, respiratory virus, alongside all others and will not ever cease to exist.
The spread of it will be reduced and slowed by immunity from those exposed to it, as there is no vaccine. It should be remembered that the annual flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective and in some years, they got the wrong strain and it didn’t work at all.
It is laughable when I see people like yourself, demanding that “everyone” jump to it, over something that may affect them, but couldn’t care less about other situations, that affect far more people everyday, because it is unlikely to affect them.
The advice is simple – wash your hands and use tissue for sneezes – this has been the standard advice for decades and there is good reason – it works – too many slobs these days.
None given, you are indeed very angry, you have your opinion and I respect your right to have your opinion, Seay made very reasonable comments on this years festival, I demand nothing, I however sincerely believe at this present time this situation requires a change in thinking, this virus requires us to think very seriously how we handle it. At a time when nothing is certain about this condition all things are on the table, some people are panicking and some feel there is no need to change anything.
Most I suggest are very unsure, until there is more understanding about this virus it is wise to consider things that we would never have thought about such as stopping large gatherings, life is a balancing act, there is the potential to disadvantage certain elements of our community by continuing as if nothing has changed when this is clearly not the case.
We know much about seasonal flu and its effects, we know little about this virus, until we do neither you or I know what the future holds, we all need to be educated, until then caution needs to be the way forward, one life lost through ignorance is one to many.
nope kev, just disagree wholeheartedly with the approach being taken.
if you feel you are at risk of something -take responsibility for yourself and stay indoors – you cannot quarantine the whole planet, everytime something shows up that isn’t understood.
It is already known that 97% of cases are mild and need no medical aid – that is enough to indicate that those who feel they are at risk, should stay indoors and the rest of us can simply observe good hand washing regimes.
you say, one life lost through ignorance is one to many. I note how that statement is only trotted out, when it potentially affects those talking about it, whereas remaining blissfully ignorant of all the other things that are killing far more people each and ever day is apparently ok.
An idiots view of a virus that kills indiscriminately and puts three times the no who die in intensive care
source : livescience
“On Tuesday (March 5), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said during a news conference that about 3.4% of reported COVID-19 patients around the world have died. In a Chinese analysis of more than 72,000 case records, 2.3% of those confirmed or suspected (based on symptoms and exposure) to have the virus died. Patients above 80 years of age had an alarmingly high fatality rate of 14.8%. Patients ages 70 to 79 years had a fatality rate of 8%. In Italy, where the death toll from the virus stood at 52 as of March 4, the fatalities were all in people over age 60.”
It is indeed a mild flu for most people, i’m not concerned about my own health ,i am however concerned about the over 65 year olds ,14% percent of the island , not mentioned people with underlying health conditions .
Closer to home my mum and dad are over 70yrs old and my brother has CF, I also have family members who are asthmatic .
You actually think they care about old people “ah bless”
Well, with the line up in decline year after year, they will be lucky to get 5k people going anyway.
What, give up all that profit…..I don’t think so! And whilst on the subject, flying into other countries passengers are vetted. Our friends just returned from Milan (a viral hotspot) the whole plane load got off at Heathrow and walked out with no checks whatsoever so British eh!