C-virus Diary - self isolating day one

3rd March 2020

We have decided to self isolate. Or we are at least trying to. We've been following the situation for some time, in large part due to the work of Chris Martenson and also the South China Post. Our reasons are that my husband's illness means he has a compromised immune system which puts him at high risk.

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Of course, it could already be too late as this virus can be spread asymptomatically for at least 14 days if not more. In fact, I do feel slightly unwell and have been coughing. Which would be the ultimate irony. It could just be a cold hopefully. Watching this crisis unfold at a distance is one thing, but then really suddenly it's in your town and everything feels different.

In our case the source of contagion is linked to several school parties returning from ski trips to Northern Italy. After being allowed to return to school one child has fallen ill with all the symptoms . Her tests returned negative at the weekend and to celebrate she went to the cinema. Anyone informed knows there have been high numbers of false negatives. I am not reassured.

In fact, who can rely on any figures, who can rely on the accuracy of the tests? Globally is there even a standard test that's being administered in a standardised way? Can we believe officials are reporting accurate figures? There is a lot of understandable scepticism - with some claiming over reporting and some under reporting.

The public are also getting mixed messages. Today the UK government drew up its battle plan to fight the C-virus. We will no doubt be fighting it on the beaches. It's a pretty wishy-washy plan with lots of "ifs". Meanwhile, the main message is business as usual, but don't forget to wash your hands! We know that the UK's government had employed a known advocate of eugenics, can a person be blamed for wondering if they want this C-virus to spread. They are certainly acting in a way that could promote such an outcome.

Photo AFP/Getty Images

I say trying to self isolate. We wanted to start on Monday but I had to pick up my medications. Then I had a rescheduled walk with my friend for Monday. As this may be the last time for a while (certainly I expect longer than the touted 14 days quarantine officialdom are currently sticking to) I balanced that it was still low risk.

I thought a walk out on the moors shouldn't bring us into contact with many people, especially as it was snowing. Naturally, it didn't turn out that way as we ended up rescuing a dog - had a trip to a farmhouse - got a make shift lead off a friendly man down the road from me -got a visit from the dog warden. So much from staying away from people. I air kissed my friend goodbye - from the opposite side of the kitchen!!

So we tried again on Tuesday. Only this time we had a few Amazon parcels pending. Plus, even though we have been prepping for this eventuality, as the reality faced us we still felt there were items we could have more of. Especially long lasting vegetables. Also, we had forgotten bin bags. Fortunately, we already had toilet roll, hand sanitiser and ibuprofen - three items now selling out like hot cakes. So we got a supermarket delivery. In retrospect, maybe some alcohol and chocolate would have been nice, but essentials have to come first.

C-virus cases have now reached 50 in the UK. We watch Chris Martenson before we go to bed as cases pop up in new countries around the world. I admit after hubby goes to make a cuppa, I look up the video showing all the body bags in the crematorium in Qom. Viewer discretion required. It's rather sobering and makes me think maybe we are doing the right thing.

Sergei Tunin