I suspect it is using the reality that we are a little behind the curve in terms of how the virus is taking hold to put in place measures before we go down a similar route.

The only medical expert I know (she was the Maid of Honour at my wedding and has more letters to her name than she can remember, now heading up a major medical research organisation) told my wife today that the only way to defeat this pandemic is to copy what China and Italy have done/are doing.

Now of course, that could be disputed but I think we are past the point of no return. The virus is in the population and it is spreading. My understanding is that we have too many cases now without an obvious direct link to either Italy/China and that state-wide isolation is one of the few measures that can delay it.

Matt Hancock is due to give a statement in Parliament tonight at 7pm and I suspect that by this time next week, the entire country will be effectively locked down.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

All of that. Also a few days might allow for logistics arrangements to be put into place, move military units (not for anything sinister but to provide back up in a variety of ways) and generally prepare the background stuff.

Italy made a huge mistake in trying to do it regionally and that leaked, causing the virus to probably spread even more. We are perhaps in a more fortunate position in that the only land-border we have is with Southern Ireland but even that is only a minute concern given that what impacts us, impacts them and visa-versa no matter what.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

Until this weekend past, I would have decried any talk of a total lockdown as hysteria but given how events are moving at such a speed now I see no point in delaying it for longer than needed.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

Can't see any football taking place after this weekend and as for the Grand National, not a chance.

Why have flights from Italy been allowed to land here in the UK? France, Spain, Germany etc have banned them.

You had one silly person, called a 'Londoner', but was an American, who flew in from Rome today, complaining that there were hardly any signs warning people of the dangers, but, STILL used public transport to travel between 2 airports to recover car.

Edited by eagleman13 (11 Mar 2020 6.12pm)

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.

First case in Kings Lynn hospital today....not that far away from Stirlingsays fortress.

I'm gonna listen to the health secretary tonight but I'm quite close to pulling the kids out of school.

Edited by Stirlingsays (11 Mar 2020 6.18pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)