Good morning, it's Paul here, with Friday's SCVR.

As usual, this post is initially a placeholder, so that readers can add your comments from 7am, whilst I start writing the main report section by section throughout the morning.

Estimated timings - I have to finish early today, so will be done by noon.
Update at 12:29 - today's report is now finished.


Coronavirus

I think it's quite important to keep a record of what's going on, and how it affects the markets, given that it looks like we could be about to experience potentially the biggest crisis of our lives in the next few months this year. That's if coronavirus does sweep through the population, as experts are now predicting. Boris Johnson gave a stark warning last night, that families must prepare to lose loved ones (sick, and elderly people) before their time. What a dreadful thought.

In my family, my main concern is for Mum, who is 83 and badly asthmatic. She nearly died from heart attack & pneumonia a couple of years ago. The NHS came up trumps in this instance, and sorted her out. The miracle of stents now means that she's enjoying a new lease on life. I rang her last night, and had a long talk, emphasising that I wasn't being alarmist trying to put her in lock-down about a week ago, that it was really necessary. She reluctantly agreed to cancel forthcoming social events, and is already doing food shopping online.

We've got another more distant relative in a care home, suffering from dementia. The care home have now banned visitors, so my family are asking to get Skype set up, so that we can stay in touch. I dread to think what would happen, if a member of staff accidentally brought the virus into any care home - it would kill off many of the residents, for sure.

Personally, I split my time between London (in a household of 4, including 1 elderly person who is house-bound), and my own place in Bournemouth. Therefore, I have decided to self-isolate today, and travel back to Bou'mth. Once there, and living alone, I actually want to get the virus, so I can get it out of the way & build up some immune system response to it. Living alone in Bou'mth, I won't be at any risk of passing it on to anyone…

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