Day 994 (Friday) 28^th February 2020

We had a very early start this morning because I started work in the Marriott at 9am. It was lovely and sunny but it was quite cold and really cold on Kisbee.

Luckily it only takes ten minutes to get to the Old Port so it wasn’t too painful.

I got the tram to the Marriott

and I was a little early so I sat on the Promenade d’Anglais and admired the view.

When I got to reception to ask for my student Nadia I saw that there were a number of hand sanitisers on the desk and when I looked around I saw that they were everywhere and everybody was washing their hands. Nadia took me downstairs and we had our class in a rather splendid conference room.

We had our break in one of the many gardens and on the way back we saw the headlines on the TV in the lounge – Nice has its first case of coronavirus. A student from Cannes had been to Milan and was sent to Nice hospital this morning. When I got home I found this article…

Coronavirus: The everyday precautions you can take to stay safe in France

If you're in France or planning a trip you may be concerned about the coronaviris cases that have been reported in the country. Here's the latest official advice on keeping safe.

Compared to countries like Italy and China, France has reported a small number of cases of coronavirus so far, but the French president and Prime Minister have both warned that they expect more cases in the days to come.

While this sounds scary, it should be remembered that the World Health Organisation states that of the people who get the virus, 80 percent will have only mild symptoms.

Just five percent of cases become critical and the majority of the people who have died from the illness have been either elderly or had underlying health problems.

Nevertheless, it pays to be cautious. So here is the latest advice from the French government on the health precautions you can be taking.

Wash hands your thoroughly and often with soap and water, especially after coughing and sneezing or before eating or it you have been touching surfaces that many other people will have touched such as on the Metro.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.

Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Cover your mouth with your elbow when coughing

Use disposable tissues and throw them away after use

Clean off surfaces with alcohol- or chlorine-based disinfectants.

The French government has set up a “green number” that people can call for any non-medical coronavirus-related questions. The line will be open all week from 8am until 9pm.

The number is 0 800 130 000.

Should I be wearing a mask?

The French government has put in a massive order for surgical masks, but these are high-spec ones for health workers.

The official advice is that you only need to wear a mask if you have cold or flu-like symptoms or if you have recently returned from an area that has a coronavirus outbreak.

The mask is to stop you potentially spreading infection. Other people do not need to wear a mask, and they will not protect you again the illness.

You are also asked not to buy a mask if you do not need one, as this could create shortages for people who are advised to wear them.

What about if I have been to Italy or one of the other outbreak zones?

If you have recently returned from China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Singapore, South Korea, Iran or the Lombardy or Veneto regions of Italy, the French government is asking you to self-isolate for 14 days to ensure that you do not have symptoms.

What does self-isolating involve?

Well firstly if you're self isolating that's not the same as being in medical isolation, so there's no need to brick up all your windows and install air filters.

The French authorities are merely advising you to avoid "unnecessary contact" and monitor your health. Trips to the shops are not banned, so there is no need to start stockpiling and panic buying.

The virus has a 14-day incubation period, so if you have recently returned from one of the infected zones, health authorities ask you to do the following for 14 days;

Monitor your temperature twice a day

Watch for symptoms of respiratory infection (cough, difficulty breathing)

Wear a surgical mask when you are in front of another person and when you have to go out.

Wash your hands regularly or use a sanitiser gel

Avoid any contact with vulnerable people (pregnant women, those with ongoing health problems, elderly people.)

Avoid frequenting places where vulnerable people are present (hospitals, maternity wards, old people's homes)

Avoid all non-essential outings (large gatherings, restaurants, cinema)

Workers/students: as far as possible, choose home working and avoid close contact (meetings, lifts, canteen)

Children should not be sent to school or nursery

What should I do if I think I have it?

If you think you have the illness do not go to hospital or your doctor's surgery. French health authorities are worried about potentially infected people turning up at hospitals and passing on the virus.

Instead call an ambulance and tell the operator it is a suspected case of coronavirus. The ambulance number in France is 15.

French vocab

Fièvre - fever

Maux de tête - headache

Courbatures - aches

Toux - cough

Difficultés respiratoires - breathing difficulties

Un rhume - a cold

La grippe - the flu

Coronavirus - coronavirus

SAMU - the French ambulance service, or service d'aide médicale urgente, to give them their full name.

Rather than finishing on this negative note, here’s a photo of Badger and his new toy – Huw’s new headphones.