Covid-19 - Suspend Chess Immediately

[Matt Bridgeman]

So potentially playing chess in larger events may indefinitely remain a high risk activity for the older demographic?

[Neil Graham]

So potentially playing chess in larger events may indefinitely remain a high risk activity for the older demographic?

See my comment on the English Senior Championship due to be held at the end of April.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I got the impression that a lot of the people I spoke to about the 4ncl weren't looking forward to playing. If it is going to be cancelled that takes the decision out of their hands which makes it a lot easier.

Absolutely - the event happens because the people want it to happen. If the people no longer want it to happen, it doesn't matter whether that's because they fear coronavirus or they fear checkmate.

I would have played if it had gone on. But obviously it's not just the danger to yourself, it's the people you come into contact with on a daily basis, who might be quite elderly and who may have underlying health issues.

There does seem to be a greater degree of "bring it on" among the younger folk than the older. I would have assumed that when I get old, I'll prefer to die of something like coronavirus than wait for my brain to wear out. Fear of regret is a powerful thing though. You don't want to think that you could have avoided getting coronavirus if you'd acted differently.

If anything, I am getting the opposite impression.

Many older people don't seem bothered at all, some even using the now all too familiar from Brexit "DURING THE WAR" spiel - others are keen government supporters who simply presume that "good old Boris will sort things out and everything will be OK".

[Chris Rice]

Live tracking data for the coronavirus. Not something you want to look at too much I guess but it will give you the up to the minute information for every country should you need it.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Thanks Chris - a useful addition, I've been looking at

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboar ... 484dd4bb14

https://experience.arcgis.com/experienc ... ee1b9125cd

[Nick Grey]

This morning so no match tomorrow.

To Club Secretaries and Officials

In light of the fact that the English Chess Federation (ECF) has
recommended suspending evening chess leagues the SCCA Board hereby
serves notice that the SCCA Club Competitions should be suspended
immediately until further notice.

The SCCA Board has decided to not limit the suspension for the three
weeks suggested by ECF but to make the suspension open ended in light of
the uncertainty regarding how the coronavirus epidemic will develop.

The SCCA Board will provide further updates to clubs as the coronavirus
situation develops.

For and on behalf of the SCCA Board

Peter Lawrence
Administrative Director
Surrey County Chess Association

[Mick Norris]

The Nottingham Congress scheduled for the forthcoming weekend has been cancelled - a statement is given on the Congress page.

Bolton Easter has been cancelled too

[Mick Norris]

Austria have just announced they are banning groups of 5 or more. And you’re banned from entering from the UK.

Surely you mean 50 or more?

I have just cancelled my trip to Vienna...

Nope 5, according to the BBC website

Germany will "largely" shut its borders with France, Switzerland and Austria from Monday to stop coronavirus spreading, government sources say.

Other EU states are also taking radical action, with Austria banning gatherings of more than five people from Monday.

Romania is to declare a state of emergency. The Czech Republic, which has already closed its borders, could introduce a nationwide quarantine.

[Phil Neatherway]

Andrew Rawnsley in the Guardian said:-

Faced with an invisible menace with extremely visible impacts, a clamour for instant and total shutdowns is understandable. But it comes accompanied by the danger that kneejerk responses by frantic governments can end up doing more harm than good. One scientist drew my attention to the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan in 2011. Later studies found that around 20 people died from radiation. Many more, about a thousand, lost their lives as a result of the decision to evacuate: casualties of car crashes, heart attacks and other medical emergencies triggered by trying to clear the area in a rush. Sometimes the obvious reaction to a crisis will not be the correct one.

[Chris Rice]

Even more drastic measures being taken in Norway.

[Matt Bridgeman]

The good news is that it’s just been announced the EU will pool resources among its 27 member states ...oh. Oops!

[Mick Norris]

I'm assuming the national stages of the County Championships will be postponed until the autumn? There were some MCCU matches played yesterday

[Tim Harding]

Even more drastic measures being taken in Norway.

The Republic of Ireland health minister announced this afternoon that all pubs and bars will close from this evening until at least 29 March. Some will probably never reopen.

If there isn't compliance, emergency legislation will be passed, I think.

This has been done because too many (mostly young?) people went out enjoying themselves on Friday night and last night ignoring the big public health advice on radio, press and tv about social distancing etc.

Good Friday in Ireland used to be dry and Lent was effectively suspended for St Patricks Day (which is Tuesday, a bank holiday).
The boozing will no doubt continue, but at home.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"The Republic of Ireland health minister announced this afternoon that all pubs and bars will close from this evening until at least 29 March. Some will probably never reopen.

If there isn't compliance, emergency legislation will be passed, I think.

This has been done because too many (mostly young?) people went out enjoying themselves on Friday night and last night ignoring the big public health advice on radio, press and tv about social distancing etc.

Good Friday in Ireland used to be dry and Lent was effectively suspended for St Patricks Day (which is Tuesday, a bank holiday).
The boozing will no doubt continue, but at home."

Difficult for all concerned (no cheap jokes about Celtic drinking) - pubs are closing at an alarming rate as supermarket booze is much cheaper. This will make that situation worse throughout the UK.

[Andrew Zigmond]

Even more drastic measures being taken in Norway.

The Republic of Ireland health minister announced this afternoon that all pubs and bars will close from this evening until at least 29 March. Some will probably never reopen.

If there isn't compliance, emergency legislation will be passed, I think.

This has been done because too many (mostly young?) people went out enjoying themselves on Friday night and last night ignoring the big public health advice on radio, press and tv about social distancing etc.

Good Friday in Ireland used to be dry and Lent was effectively suspended for St Patricks Day (which is Tuesday, a bank holiday).
The boozing will no doubt continue, but at home.

This is the part of the whole Coronavirus issue that is starting to scare me. If pubs, clubs (and other venues such as restaurants and cinemas) are forced to close then the people who work there are unlikely to get paid and obviously won't be able to find work elsewhere. These will be mainly (but not all) young people who will be unable to pay rent or pay for food and will end up homeless or starving. There is a serious risk of public disorder, particularly if food supplies grow scarce. This is why I think a `keep calm and carry on` approach was ultimately necessary and very much the lesser of two evils, particularly in light of the panic buying and hysteria we're seeing.

This next bit is controversial but I am going to jump in with both feet and say it. Most people are not going to die of coronavirus. There IS a real risk to elderly and vulnerable people but surely the people in this demographic (who aren't in semi and full time care already) can identify themselves and take all reasonable precautions?

There is talk of the restrictions lasting until next Spring. I had quite a few things planned, not just my usual congresses (limited to the British, Scarborough and Hull) but a list of rock concerts that could all fall by the wayside. It's no massive skin off my nose in the end as I just take my money back but for the people depending on my custom for their livelihoods it may well be a death blow (literally).