MORTGAGES
How outbreak will impact every aspect of our lives
WHETHER you fall victim to coronavirus or not, the outbreak is guaranteed to affect your life.
Our readers are quite rightly demanding to know what the Government and big organisations are doing.
So here is our at-a-glance guide to the impact the crisis is having... and what might be coming next.
Measures to limit the risk of face-to-face contact in GP surgeries and hospitals include using more phone appointments and video calls.
NHS chiefs are trying to push the outbreak’s peak towards the summer, hoping the warm weather will lessen the impact and let hospitals recover from winter.
But they have warned that dealing with urgent cases could mean other services being reduced temporarily.
That could result in routine ops like hip replacements being cancelled to free up beds for Covid-19 victims.
A&Es are already feeling the winter overload
Royal Bank of Scotland has confirmed customers affected by coronavirus can defer mortgage or loan repayments for up to three months.
Rival TSB is offering a mortgage holiday of up to two months and both are allowing savers with fixed rate accounts to get their money early without a penalty.
Trade body UK Finance said all banks would consider loan and mortgage holidays and increasing overdrafts, for those whose incomes take a hit from the outbreak.
Stock market turbulence due to Covid-19 led to the black hole in UK company pension schemes ballooning from £74billion to £124bn last month.
Heads are under pressure from health officials to stay open.
Shutting schools would have a huge impact on parents, public services and the wider economy.
China, where the outbreak started, took the drastic step of closing all schools and colleges. Italy, too, has closed schools and universities – and cancelled exams. Here, all efforts
Public Health England says there are currently no specific concerns about using public transport.
Restrictions could be imposed but it might depend where you are.
It could be tied in with advice for people to work from home where possible.
Previous research suggested London Underground commuters are more at risk of
British Airways has suspended all flights to Italy until April 4.
Budget rival easyJet is doing the same, until April 3, and is operating “rescue flights” for passengers already there.
Ryanair is halting services to and from Italy until April 8.
Passengers on cancelled flights should be entitled to refunds.
No-frills carrier Norwegian is preparing to cancel around 3,000 flights between mid-March and are being made to stick to the timetable for GSCEs and A-levels.
Delaying A-levels in particular could have a big knock-on impact on university admissions.
The Government says school closures are possible as part of “population distancing strategies” to slow the spread of the disease – although there are no immediate plans to do so. catching respiratory illnesses. Transport for London has upped its cleaning of Tube trains and buses. And Network Rail says cleaning of “high-touch areas” in stations has been stepped up.
The Government is not recommending staff on public transport wear face masks. But PHE says they should avoid close contact with anyone who may be infected. mid-June and temporarily laying off a “significant” chunk of staff.
Trade body Airports Council International said the outbreak was “turning into a shock of unprecedented proportions”.
It fears passenger numbers through European airports could plunge by 187 million this year.
If there is a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases here, other countries could advise against all but essential travel to the UK.
My husband has Parkinson’s. He takes fludrocortisone tablets as well as his Parkinson’s meds. Is he more at risk because of this?
Thank you, Gwen Dr Miriam: You don’t give your husband’s age but the NHS says Parkinson’s is most usual in 50-pluses. If your husband is in the band 50-60 he would not be more vulnerable than usual from the virus simply because of his age. But from his Parkinson’s, yes he would.
The fact that he’s taking steroid tablets by mouth can weaken the immune system and that would make him more vulnerable to the virus.
It would also mean that should he become ill with the virus, his steroid medication would have to be increased to help his body cope with the infection.
This means that hospital admission would be essential.
If he gets any coronavirus symptoms – high temperature, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath – call 111.
Inform members of your close family so that they’re on the alert about your husband’s condition.