Friday 13th March. Self-isolation Day 1. Jinping Pandemic Darwin Award: Danish "Ostrich" politicians.

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Friday 13th 41F, very heavy overcast with gales. Trees rocking again against a leaden sky. A depressing scene at the best of times!

My walk was without incident in unusually light traffic. Just a few tradesman's vans and some lorries. It began to rain increasingly heavily from the half way mark.

Today's Pandemic Darwin Award goes to Danish politicians who were certain the Jinping virus would never enter Denmark. Even though it was "business as usual" until the very last moment.

This is our first day of deliberately staying at home to avoid public contact. Though the risk of seeing another person on my morning walk is usually close to nil. I see perhaps one or two other pedestrians, per year, on the rural roads and lanes I frequent during the morning rush hour. There is never any exchange. Apart from a friendly smile or a nod to show I am not a serial killer looking for more victims. Our neighbours can be seen moving about outside sometimes but we rarely interact at close quarters. Living, alone on the end of a long, muddy drive suddenly has some value.

Our greatest risk is arguably the arrival of post and parcels. The virus is said to be able to survive on different surfaces for quite some time. Though the figures for infection are unreliable or simply untested. Bleach is said to be the best killer for hard surfaces which doesn't involve neat alcohol. To which few have ready access. Bleach isn't a substance you want to be splashing about either.

The Danish government has given itself emergency powers to control the movements of infected people. Most institutions are closing or already closed to slow the spread. Given that most people will be exposed to the virus eventually, it really feels like a death sentence to be over 70 right now. Pneumonia kills lots of older people every year. That was when treatment was as optimum as it ever gets. What chance access to antivirals, respirators and oxygen now? Or in the immediate future as the contagion peaks? 

An interesting aspect of all this is the number of global "leaders" who are close to, or actually having the infection. Or already confirmed in family or close associates. There could be a major power shift. I really don't believe in having older politicians anyway. They should have a sharp cut-off at [say] 60 before compulsory retirement. Not that the deluded "entitled" would ever vote for it, of course.

The Chinese are now trying to shift blame onto the US Army for the Jinping, viral outbreak. Just more empty propaganda? When they, themselves, probably allowed the leak of the virus in Wuhan through trivial carelessness? Or even a one man, or woman rebellion? By somebody with a grudge against corrupt and evil communist dictatorship for personal, private profit? 

If the Chinese are going to enjoy even greater economic and manufacturing power, as the rest of the world literally goes under, what then? Nobody voted for Sly "Nero" Jinping. But then, neither did the Chinese!

Is Pootin really safe from infection? He is presently seeking a lifetime job as the wold's second most corrupt dictator after Sly "Nero" Jonping. I seriously doubt Boris has long for this world. Not given the sloppy way things are being run in the UK. What price Brexit now? It is ironic that it is almost exactly 100 years since the 1918 flu Pandemic. That killed up to 50 million people. Nothing was learned from that one either. Life is a rollover lottery. With no winners in the end.

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