Coronavirus

[ChrisW]

Guys,

Some advice if you can please.

As i'm sure you are aware, the risks of suffering critical illness or death from the coronavirus are linked to the following:

1) Being male (yep, i tick that box!)

2) Being late middle aged to old. (i'll agree to late middle aged)

3) Having other underlying health issues ( i'm immunosupressed, have genetic heart issues and yep, a couple of cancers, confirmed or being investigated)

At the moment, i am self isolating here in PP.

Here is my dilemma.

If i catch the virus at home, i can phone the relevant department at a top London teaching hospital and know that i will be admitted and given top quality care. What ever happens after that, well que sera sera...

Here, i am much less likely to catch the virus BUT if i do, and this is the question, how do i get high quality care? Who do i get in touch with? Will they speak English etc etc

Any advice on this last point much appreciated.

(Sorry, not a cheery subject!)

C

 

[mike_dublin]

@ChrisW

Can't give you much advice about accessing medical care in PP or on the island, other than pointing you to the phone numbers in case of medical problems -
https://www.forum.puertopollensa.com/medical/12295-useful-numbers-medical-problems.html

I'd say the hospitals will by now have a Covid19 protocol and helpline in place and can give you a point of contact to talk to in English at least.

If I find anything else on-line I'll let you know.
But hopefully you'll get more info on here.

The very best of luck, not just with the self isolation.

Here's to many more happy and healty years in PP.

 

[Tiggy]

The Majorca Daily Bulletin report 04 March

Two new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Majorca, according to IB-Salut.

A man and a woman were admitted to isolation wards in Inca on Tuesday night and are reportedly part of the same family as the woman who tested positive after returning from Bergamo in Italy.

The patients called the 061 Emergency personnel when they developed symptoms and biological tests on both came back positive for the Covid-19 virus.

The General Directorate of Public Health & Participation has already started sifting through their contacts to track down anyone else who may be infected and advise them what action they should take.

Cases in Mallorca

Five people have now been diagnosed with coronavirus in Majorca. The first was a British Expat who lives in Marratxí and has already overcome the disease. A woman who tested positive after she returned from Italy is in an isolation ward at Son Espases Hospital and recovering well, and another woman who has coronavirus was admitted to Son Llàtzer Hospital on Monday.

Trip Advisior has a report on Inca Hospital

All the info you need is there if in doubt ask Dr Google

 

[ChrisW]

Mike, thanks for that and your kind sentiments.

Tiggy, thanks for the info.

Chris

 

[Millipet]

Just seen an announcement that all education centres in the Balaerics (presume means schools as well) will be closed from Monday for at least two weeks! Has anyone else seen this? Are things getting worse over there?

 

[mike_dublin]

Mike, thanks for that and your kind sentiments.

Tiggy, thanks for the info.

Chris

Sent you a pm as well.

 

[mike_dublin]

Just seen an announcement that all education centres in the Balaerics (presume means schools as well) will be closed from Monday for at least two weeks! Has anyone else seen this? Are things getting worse over there?

Same here in Ireland and a good few other European countries. Part of the process to delay the infection curve or spread out for a longer period, so the health services don't get overwhelmed and wouldn't be able to provide critical care.

 

[bobley]

Up until yesterday I was tempted to fly out to Spain and ride it out there but Spain is lot further ahead of the UK.

Being in isolation doesn't mean staying in the house but now I think I'll stay put. Follow the advice on line, if you're retired and child free then self isolate now. Dont go mad buying food, shops will stay open, just keep yourself to yourself.

Good luck everyone. I won't be seeing you until at least June now☹

 

[Magic Hat]

I've no experience of medical care in Majorca, but concern about it is the one thing that would make me consider cancelling our next trip(if travelling is still an option).

Given the expected 80% infection rate means most of us will contract it at some point, in your shoes I'd be heading home.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the very very best.

 

[Sparky]

Just seen an announcement that all education centres in the Balaerics (presume means schools as well) will be closed from Monday for at least two weeks! Has anyone else seen this? Are things getting worse over there?

Yes schools will be closed and the Easter parades have been cancelled.

Other than that it's pretty much business as usual at the moment .

 

[Sparky]

Markets will go ahead but only food stalls.

 

[bobley]

The official statement is slightly more serious.

"In the Balearics from Monday ALL schools will be closed for 15 days
Year group School vacations for the end of the year has been suspended for 2 months (Viaje de estudios) school trips
Libraries, theatres, Gyms, dance schools, retirement centres, youth centres, sports centres, open air markets, fairgrounds and street partys will all be closed.
If you need to go to the hospitals, please keep it to minimum people going with you or even better to go alone
Always have identification on you if you are going to any appointments as they will be controling everyone.
Visiting people in hospital or retirement homes, it will be 1 person only and signed in and out

If you have to travel they recommend only if necessary

They hope it will only be for 15 days but could be more or less.

Please use common sense

Hygiene is essential
When you cough, cover your mouth by coughing into your elbow or sneeze into a tissue
Keep a distance of 1m from anyone that may have breathing problems
If you have the following symptoms:
High Temp
Coughing
Loss of breath
Headaches
Its recommended you stay at home and call 061

The emergency services have opened up more lines, but please remember that they are emergency lines and not to saturate them.

Stay safe"

 

[Sparky]

My posts so far today only relate to the Pollensa area and have been posted on FB by various news agencies, some areas are bringing in more restrictions but of course it is changing all the time, at the moment the mayor has said it is essential to keep the food supplies available.

 

[bobley]

Absolutely. Just don't go to the market expecting to be able to sample stuff. If you use your head you can shop without touching anything too much. Cash is a bit scary. Nothing dirtier than cash. I'd probably let then keep the change

 

[bobley]

Update of latest measures etc just in from Government

Leisure:
prohibited the opening of the following establishments for 2 weeks from tonight midnight
nightclubs, music bars, cafe concerts, dance halls & discos. Also bingo halls, betting/amuesement halls.
Bars, restaurants & coffee shops can open if the licence is for that activity only, but can only have max pax of 300. Cinemas & theatres also have to reduce to same ammount.

After school classes, cultural visits, public librarys, museums & orquestral concerts suspended for a month

Sports competitions on Islands & mainland suspended until 25/3/20

Public transport
On rush hour, there will be more trains
Restricted temporary limited travel conections between Formentera & Ibiza.
Supended travel to Cabrera

Civil servants will be working normal hours
(please be very patient if going to the foreign office in Palma as there is restrictions in place of max 10 people at a time & will not let you go in unless someone comes out)

Airport restrictions on travel to high risk areas. The government will inform each individual person that has arrived from a high risk area that they will have to go into quarantine/isolation for 14 days

Please take these measures very seriously

 

[Teacu]

Have just read on The Olive Press website that earlier today the Government of Mallorca issued a raft of measures including, for the next 15 days, the closure of all bars on the island. Has anyone living/staying locally heard that ?

 

[mike_dublin]

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.co...9/coronavirus-precautions-ramped-majorca.html

...
Bars, sports centres, shops, gyms, discos and restaurants with more than 300 people have been ordered to shut down.

"We are closing all the places where we believe there will be a lot of people, said Francina Armengol."
...

President Armengol has recommended that people stay at home and take all necessary precautions to prevent the coronavirus from progressing.

“These are very drastic measures, but we believe that if we stop everything for 15 days it will make a difference and prevent the disease from spreading further, so for that reason we need the help of everyone."
...

see full article on the MDB website

 

[Sparky]

Have just read on The Olive Press website that earlier today the Government of Mallorca issued a raft of measures including, for the next 15 days, the closure of all bars on the island. Has anyone living/staying locally heard that ?

It's business as usual tonight in PP albeit a bit quiet .

 

[Teacu]

Bobley, sorry I missed your earlier post; Mike, thanks for that article (don't know how I missed that as well) - and Sparky, pleased (I think) that things there are almost as normal. My dilemna is that my wife and I are booked to come out to PP on 16/3 on a package holiday. The hotel assures me it will be open and the airline shows no sign of halting flights (quoting the FCO). Therefore, if I cancel, it's all down to me. Obviously, the cost of the holiday is nothing compared to the worst case scenario, and I note that others have said that they will not travel to PP for the time being. But we are inclined to go ahead. Will see what develops ..

 

[bobley]

Just be aware that other regions of Spain are going into lockdown. There's now no access to catalunya other than by road. My folks have been there now for 3 weeks with there caravan. They've been self isolating - not that hard when you're in your own accommodation. They plan to leave today and head into France only staying in the camp sites on the auto routes again in isolation and they're booked in the channel tunnel Tuesday ( so they won't have to get out of the car).

Mallorca sounds like it's ahead of the curve and might be able to snuff it out. But worst case scenario you may be stuck there. If that happens you'd be best of finding a little house to rent so you can isolate in comfort and prepare food safely. There are plenty of folks on this forum who would let you stay I'm sure.