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I'm in a very high risk group having multiple health issues including heart failure, a genetic connective tissue disorder and I'm over 60. I take 91 tablets a week just to stand still. I suspect that, a) they wouldn't bother with me overly much and b) I'm unlikely to survive it anyway. I could get morose and fearful but I prefer to drink red wine and cider, sometimes in the same pint glass, no, not really and partaayyy like it's 2029 (which I'm unlikely to see). My missus has cancer, has had her thyroid removed and suffers from multiple joint disorders. I said to her, "You know we're likely to die from this if we get it?" She said, "Yeah, what ya gonna do?"(Homer Simpson voice required) We've been in isolation since last week and pretty soon I'm a gonna have to kill her. No, not really, we get on great. I've got no great wisdom to pass on, it is what it is. Do the basics, be sensible and maybe, hopefully, we'll come through to the other side. If I/we should fall by the wayside then remember this; We were City fans. Good luck to you all.

The more I read, the more irrelevant football becomes. I’m past caring about finishing the season, Euro 2020 and when next season will start. I fear it’ll be all lost in the noise over the coming months.

You have absolutely no idea if the strategy taken by our Govt. is the right one or not. Neither do I. Honesty is not a pre-requisite of ANY politician. It doesn't matter what their slavish, drooling allegiance is to any dogmatic 'political principle'. If the red ***** were in power we'd just as likely be in a bigger mess. Let's give the blue ***** the benefit of the doubt for now. Johnson and Cummings are no more dishonest than any other politicians of whatever political stripe. I'm surprised you think otherwise. Stop trying to score political points, it makes you look idiotic.

And, to be honest, this is the problem with the current government mixed message - people will die but just wash your hands. It’s the epitome of contradictory. And as such people carry on as normal. I’ll reiterate - I do not know if our approach is the right one (Herd Immunity). It’s either genius or madness. But the government need to level fully as to what the long term strategy is, rather than leaving it to loons on forums (myself included) to speculate as to what’s likely. We’re not at war with other countries. This isn’t Brexit. All that needs to happen is honesty. Unfortunately, that’s totally contrary to Johnson and Cummings way of thinking.

The death of betting may be one of the few good things to come out of this postponement. Alas, it is wishful thinking with the cash they have.

It happened. It’s the possibility of a decent trade agreement that’s being screwed by this (Not that I ever thought we’d get one). Love to see the Venn diagram between all those ‘Blitz Spirit’, ‘Dunkirk’, ‘D-Day’ spouting gammons and those stockpiling ******* Andrex. I’m imagining just 1 circle.

Please do keep us posted

What a fantastic gesture by our players on as much as £20,000.00 per week (or more) to donate a small proportion of their salary ( which gets paid no matter what) to a help and assistance fund for the elderly and/or vulnerable long term loyal City fans to help ensure they get the provisions they need to get through this crisis. A wonderful gesture to those people who have supported City through thick and thin over decades despite their own personal circumstances. Or did I just make this up because that's what I'd most like to happen?

You’ve not been dealt the best hand there Keyred. I hope you profit from your life to the maximum . My positive vibrations being sent from a small corner of France that is red . We are all going to die one day that’s why it’s so important to live your life to the full, follow your dreams , call up that old friend, forgive your enemies , drink cider /red wine in the same glass ... Live each day as if it is your last because one day it will be. Peace and love to you all.

We're not at war with other countries. this isn't Brexit, wtf are you on about? and while I'm at it stop trying to make this a political argument you have no idea how this will pan out, just your own political bias, stop trying to blame the government look after yourself and do what you think is best for yourself and family most of us don't need telling what to do.

There is not much on the horizon I’m afraid. We can support patients and their organ systems but there are actually very few antiviral treatments. One potential is a drug that was developed against Ebola and is apparently already in trials in China but that is at least months away at best. The concern I have is that people don’t realise how long this is going to last. We are talking months not days. Keep calm, but do not just carry on. Wash your hands much more than you did, especially before eating, and if you have potential symptoms self isolate, including as much as possible from your own family members. And if you get really sick (and I mean properly sick, not just feeling a bit rubbish) then go to hospital. The vast majority of us will get through it but it’s going to be a difficult time, and to be honest football, as much as it’s a great diversion most of the time, really doesn’t feel that important right now.

From Forum this is superb! Tour of the stadium?! A monthly direct debit similar to the 50/50 run like the postcode lottery would be a good idea. Also I love the open day but as a one off as raising funds why not charge £1 entrance fee? Other clubs have paid tours of their stadium I know ours isn't great but it could be a way of raising money especially if there were players available to speak to and have photos with. Limit the number per tour so that the fans feel they get a personal experience

The Venn diagram of those that actually experienced those events might be a less surprising inter-section. ?

Add Brexit to that list as well

Quite. The majority of the public are stupid - witness the panic buying and mass hysteria. Can't be trusted with anything remotely like the actual situation.

Another example of what I mean about poor communication leading to worrying news announcements: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/uk-coronavirus-crisis-to-last-until-spring-2021-and-could-see-79m-hospitalised?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other What on Earth is the point of secret briefings to Senior NHS managers that contradict what we have been told publicly? Inevitably things like this are going to leak out and erode confidence as it creates a sense that we are not being told the truth. We urgently need to be trusted with the truth about how bad this will get and what we should expect. There is nothing to be gained by any other approach.

Hang the BJ Hang the BJ ???

I think a lot of the problem is the lack of clarity. For example, there is a strong belief that the government's policy is to push for "herd immunity" and everyone is treating that as fact but, as far as I can tell, nobody has ever said that is the government strategy and the government have now explicitly said that it is not their strategy at all. It is far from clear whether this was ever their strategy or simply some journalists' interpretation of the society. Similarly, earlier Matt Hancock said that over-70s - and possibly those with underlying health conditions - would need to self-isolate for up to four months but now it appears he may have meant minimise social contact, not self-isolate completely, and it is unclear whether or not those under 70 with underlying health conditions are included. My worry is not necessarily the government approach - I am not wholly clear on the government approach and I am not an epidemiologist, or even someone who was quite certain what an epidemiologist was until about three weeks ago - but the fact the government is losing control of the narrative and not being clear enough on what they are trying to do so people can understand the plan and the reasons for it. I think the only way to get things back on track is for them to treat us like adults and be transparent and explicit about what the steps are over the next few months and who is going to be asked to do what and in what order. The reality is people cannot trust the government's plan if they don't tell us what that plan is and I think a lot of the lack of clarity and frustration is not necessarily because the government is doing the wrong things but because we don't really know exactly what they are doing and what the reasoning is. As it stands, the uncertainty is making us fear there is an inadequate or flawed response and I can't see a way around that beyond clear information.

What I don't get about all of this is we are constantly being told that the best way to protect ourselves (apart from self isolation) from catching this coronavirus is to wash our hands after we've touched things and especially before then touching our faces or eating. If we cannot wash our hands - due to the unavailability of sinks and running water in everyday situations - then hand gel is just as good. Now that is something we can all carry around and get into the habit of using. After all, it will be a lifesaver. Now this is the bit I don't get. In the last war, it seemed likely that the home front would be subjected to poison gas attacks. Gas masks were thus quickly issued to everyone in the country and everyone carried them around in the supplied cases. Gas masks cost a fair bit of dosh to produce for a nation that in the late-1930s was still in the midst of the Great Depression. Yet it was done. It was seen as a necessity to protect our population. Now in 2020 we are a far richer country than our 1939 former selves. Yet, there has been no talk of providing everyone in the country with hand gel. Hand gel being significantly less expensive than a gas mask to produce. Instead we are just told about how hand gel can be a lifesaver and when one looks to purchase a bottle at the supermarket, there's none there because someone has bought 59 years worth of supply. I can imagine back in 1939 a Public Information Film telling us that gas masks were essential but it was your task to find one on the empty shelves of the local stores. Surely it isn't beyond the Government to impose emergency powers upon the alcohol sanitising gel manufacturers and get them to produce enough to provide everyone in the nation with a bottle or two a week.

That's harsh. These players need to pay to put food on the plate for their families you know. It's not cheap to source White Pearl Albino Caviar and Swallows’ Nest Soup, accompanied by a large glass of 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah...

We aren’t at war but countries will be arguing and competing over other things. Ventilators have suddenly become a “must buy” for every health service worldwide. And where is most of our medical equipment manufactured? Europe. Also since we have pulled out of the European Medicines Agency as part of Brexit (an agency we used to host in London) we will be behind every EU country in getting access to a vaccine, because of the change in our regulations. Read into that what ever you want from a political point of view but the law of unintended consequences comes to mind.

Just rang the old man to tell him about self isolation for anyone over 70. His reply was' we're staying in, just staying in Spoons rather than home'. Got to love the older generation.

well done Cristiano!!! https://gulfnews.com/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-transforms-hotels-into-hospitals-to-help-fight-coronavirus-1.70400161

Not true. We have a lot of ******* idiots in this country who lack an awful lot of common sense Parcel force driver delivered an item to a customer the other day who had ordered something to his home address. He came out and openly started discussing the fact he was in self isolation as he had symptoms. The Weak messages from our government have not helped in the slightest

Kinda with you CR. I know it’s a bit of banter re Liverpool potentially missing out on a long awaited title, or on the other end of the scale, club’s desperate not to be relegated....but I think even over a few days, we’ve seen people start to worry less about football and focus on more important things. Whatever will be will be in terms of football. Some will win some lose.

I think it varies a fair bit every year as they have to guess what the strains are and cook up a vaccine that covers the most likely suspects in pretty short order to get it manufactured in time.

The British public cannot be trusted with the truth. Would instantly descend into chaos if people were overwhelmed. Part of the government's responsibility is to control the inevitable chaos. And BS is very much part of that.

It simply shows the contempt with which we are viewed by our Government.

He'd have to use his clowns outfit instead

As someone who it seems to have an underlying condition, type 2 diabetes (and only one kidney) I would welcome greater clarity. I would be happy to self isolate for several months, provided I could have delivery of those provisions I need, but remain unclear as to the need when I possess no symptoms of the virus. We are being told that all of the 35 who have sadly died thus far had underlying health conditions, but that in itself doesn't seem enough. I don't wish to pry into anyone's grief but it would assist me to know how many of the 35 had type 2 diabetes, or have some indication of the severity of the underlying conditions that caused the tragic loss of life.

Apologies - I stand corrected. But still Matt Hancock is saying the opposite: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/matt-hancock-on-herd-immunity-and-coronavirus-1-6562302 Clarity is needed urgently.

Found this quite interesting: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

Like all other viruses Coronavirusus constantly mutate, if they didn't mankind wouldn't have developed and wouldn't be able to survive. Often when they mutate they display similar properties (hence as with seasonal flu you're unlikely to be vacinated against this season's strain but recieve some immunity as to effects based on previous strains.) Occasionally a minor RNA change causes huge differences in the degree of damage a virus can cause - as it appears is the case with Covid19. Caution there's little controlled data (other than the cruise ship in Tokyo) as to what Covid19 impacts are? On that ship it was suggested up to 50% of those infected were asymptomatic (i.e. didn't know they had it) and in other highly publicised cases those exposed and who later died appear to be a subset of those at a greatest degree of risk. Note, too, that should the mortality rate for this virus be in the region of 1%, of the modelled 350k who might die within a year that's NOT in addition to the 640k who'd die anyway, it includes a fair proportion of those who most likely were to die in the shorter term and who's lives were sadly foreshortened. So follow the virologists advice: viruses really, really hate soap and hot water, monitor the improved data and advice as and when it emerges, don't panic buy (there's no need,) and carry on sensibly carrying on.

Yep. I hope that the government approach of using behavioural science to drive their response takes into account that a significant section of the general public are morons.

The health service is busy making preparations but it’s like watching for a tsunami. We know it’s coming, the tide has gone out, but we really have no idea exactly how big the wave that’s due to come crashing our way will be. All we can hope is that we can cope with it. And the reality is no one quite knows exactly the best way to deal with this pAndemic anyway. China has pretty much limited the infection to Wuhan by closing it down for a few weeks. However at some point the virus will spread back through the rest of China and then a whole new vulnerable population will be at risk. The herd immunity idea is a reasonable theory (it’s the same as vaccinating 90-95% of a population and keeping pretty much everyone safe) as is trying to spread the peak of the outbreak, but still having it occur during our summer months, when the NHS will be more able to cope. However no one knows for certain if this plan will work. The one thing I can tell you is don’t go hoping for a vaccine any time soon. As it stands, we have never managed to develop a vaccine against any Coronavirus.

Yep. My M-i-L is 90 and she was indignant that anybody would dream of curtailing her social life. After two weeks of isolation she'd be bat-shit crazy. The only thing might have got through was telling her that she could be infecting others including her children/grand children/great grand children. Whether we can actually stop her from going out is another matter. Anybody know where I can buy a taser?

I think all 'meetings' of people over 10 will be the new normal 'maximum' amount. We clearly aren't being told the whole truth and the effects of this pandemic are being 'manipulated' to try to re-assure the public. Even with the 'scary' headlines. Look at some of the facts (as reported by actual government agencies) The implementation of MARTIAL LAW in some countries, inc the UK very soon (forced detention of sick people) Republic of Ireland trying to free up 10,000 beds - yes 10,000 hospital beds Italy applying a cut off age of SIXTY for mechanical ventilation. How many people do you know over 60? A lot of ventilated patients are already dead - as in no hope of recovery. Case in point the 1st victim in Italy - in his 30's and now ventilated for 39 days.He's a dead man, and someone needs to pull the plug. Europe is completely unprepared - Spain,France,Germany all already struggling, yet with a fraction of Italian cases. Iran and China supplying false death rates - multiple vids showing piles of unburied dead. Something else just does not add up - look how many 'famous' people have it. Politicians, sports stars, Actors - yet Governments would have us believe only 150,000 have the illness - it is so disproportionate the number of well known people in that 150k. It's the 3rd world I fear for - India has 1 billion people living there with appalling health facilities. Ditto Pakistan,South America, Africa etc. 3000 have died of Ebola in Congo but hardly a single article from the press (because you know, black people apparently don't make good headlines) - and most African nations struggle with basic health anyway. Put it this way - does anyone believe Thailand has only 82 cases when they had 50 over 3 weeks ago? Personal factual info - Queensland Health alone have just bought an extra 110 ventilators (at $400,000 each) - and Australian Hospitals are amongst the best on the planet - so if a state with only Brisbane as a city of any significant size spends that sort of $$, just what are they expecting. Here in Victoria, we have erected 200 pop-up testing facilities. These are existing physiotherapy, pathology, closed GP surgeries so have the basic medical facilities - and the queue's are hundreds long - and we are catching the infected.Walk In, test, wait, and if infected,direct to isolation. And yet our tally grows at a terrifying rate - over 250 now - doubled in 2 days. Private hospitals are being emptied and designated as Corona Centres (no doubt at great profit to the greedy bastards owning them) but Anaesthetists I work with are all absolutely certain we will be having to make the decision on age eligibility for mechanical ventilation within 14 days maximium. Numbers are being hidden, and the death toll is far in excess of quoted figures. The death toll in the Western Countries will be significant over the next 12 months - but in Pakistan and India - god help them, for they have no defence at all unless a person is extremely wealthy. It is impossible to overestimate the POTENTIAL for world deaths at this point. It really is potentially that bad, unless we bring in draconian measures immediately. And that includes use of the Armed Forces. I hope everyone uses common sense, washes their hands and isolate themselves as much as possible.

The problem is that the previous Coronavirus outbreaks (SARS and MERS) burnt out before a vaccine was really needed as the mortality rate was so high. There are specific issues about Coronaviruses as a group that may make it more challenging to develop vaccines, but as I understand it the current lines of development build on the work done for SARS and MERS. However it will be next year before we see a vaccine, if at all. It’s unlikely to be that helpful for this outbreak but may help if Covid-19 becomes endemic and keeps coming back at regular intervals, which is quite possible. Swine flu is still out there and we still isolate it from sick patients from time to time despite the annual flu vaccine.

Warning: off-topic pedantry incoming. I have issues with the “And” in your user name.

On Twitter, I read something. Apparently in Japan, someone who made a full recovery has been reinfected. Any truth to that and that's very worrying! Herd immunity may or may not be a sound plan, but the Government are taking one hell of a gamble here!

do us all a favour and self isolate don't touch your keyboard ,phone etc.

On the subject of season tickets the deadline for renewing your seats or lose them is on Monday , with massive uncertainty for many and just a small global crisis I notice the caring sharing club has not done anything to acknowledge this by perhaps extending for at least a few weeks , many people I know including myself and family have not done so as yet, I suppose depends how many sold , if not so many might do , but nothing in the PR dept of this club makes me think they give a shit

I am not interested in arguing or mud throwing especially on a subject where none of us really know what we are talking about. No need to lie though. I said the season would never be cancelled. I didn’t say it wouldn’t be suspended. Back to the grown up conversation: Footballers aren’t immune I agree. But nor are any other workers who have to go to work so what is the difference?

Can someone explain why the season can’t just be completed behind closed doors? Inconvenience to fans but surely it’s the answer

Two good pieces I saw on legal, commercial etc side of all this. https://www.brabners.com/blogs/coronavirus-are-pl-and-efl-clubs-prepared https://www.sportslawbulletin.org/coronavirus-sport-law-frustration-and-force-majeure/

Game's been called off, probably just as well as we'd only see another defeat they've already beaten us once this season. Some have booked tickets with Great Western to have made the trip over there but are hoping for reimbursement. Not sure if Coronavirus if a viable reason to offer a refund right now but hopefully given the circumstances and growing concern of subject matter those who have paid will be entitled to refunds. Wouldn't have gone personally it's hardly a short journey and besides watching Town at the moment is hardly an enjoyable experience. I wonder to what extent the remaining games will be effected not just here but in Europe and possibly Euro 2020, will they be cancelled ? All hypothetical but the virus thing seems to be getting out of hand and sport's being disrupted to such extent you wonder what potential impact it will have on the months ahead.