I don't think there will be a professional rugby league game played with a crowd in attendance again in 2020. I know a couple of people working on the frontline of vaccination in the pharmaceutical industry, and they were telling me last week then don't expect the next football season to start in August, let alone see the current one resume in April.

There are still people trying to write this off as "just a bit of flu", but the reality is in some quarters they are estimating it could lead to up to a million deaths in the UK alone, and it will obviously have an absolutely devastating economic effect - way in excess of the 2008 crash - that lasts years beyond that. Already there have been lay offs in the travel and hospitality industries, and we've barely got started.

If my expectations are right then rugby league as a professional entity might not survive at all sadly, but by then pretty much everyone will be a lot more concerned about the health of their family and their ability to pay the rent/mortgage, bills and put food on the table than they are about any sport or leisure activity. Obviously I'll be rounded on for this as a doom and gloom merchant, especially as I'm just an occasional poster rather than one of the RLfans oracles who are obviously the experts on everything. To qualify though, I very much hope it is me that is wrong. An awful lot of people are still massively underestimating what we're potentially for though.

I fear that you may be right.
Having said that, unless its just a couple of games, the "behind closed doors" option doesnt really help anyone.

I think that scenario is as likely as any other. Anyone who thinks that they KNOW what is going to happen is deluded. We just don’t.
I think (but don’t know) that the economic impact will be much bigger than the health one. There will be millions who are put out of work and millions of business that rely on people going to them just won’t survive (pubs, restaurants, holiday sites, arenas, clubs etc, the list could go on).
We are looking at an economic crash on an unprecedented scale, I think.

I really can't believe the fans asking for games being played behind closed doors, I mean were being told to keep our distance and not meet up in groups while were happy for players to be in physical contact with each other and just get on with it

I cannot see how those figures can be realistic, when the epicentre of this virus is already on the downward curve in terms of new cases, and the deaths from those currently infected. We are nowhere near their levels, and with higher levels of hygiene (typically) over here, living conditions not as cramped or close, I cannot foresee those levels you mention coming to fruition. That is not to say that I am going to be any less cautious

I was very much of same mindset until this last week.But reading the imperial college documents and looking like on verge of lockdown I fear DM's post is more likely and some serious hard times ahead

You are in for a shock suprise then. This is gonna get a lot worse in the west before it gets better. The situation in Italy, France and Spain should tell you what is yet to come.

Europe is now classed as the epicentre. China brought this under control within 3 months but that was with a collective national effort with everyone pulling in the same direction, the collective over the individual and that meant yes people individual rights were infringed upon. Literally no one was going out, people who went out all wore masks. Heads were appointed for neighbourhoods who managed people coming and going to get essentials, delivery drivers wore gloves and avoided any physical contact when delivering, equipment was disinfected multiple times a day, people working had to log their temperature multiple times a day. Wechat would collate individuals data (linked in with social credit system) and stop people travelling who needed to be isolation.

I guess the point I'm making is we are facing one hell of a challenge to bring this thing under control and the government will IMO have to implement more stringent measures.

Germany is reporting near enough 2000 new cases per day. Europe should have looked at the Chinese and South Korean response.

You're probably right but, in China, people generally do as they are told, something that just doesn't happen in the Western World.
Also ,in China, for all of it's faults, they are great at mobilising people and getting government projects done quickly and efficiently - none of the NIMBY stuff over there, over hear we are too soft with peoples opinions and dont want to upset anyone.

Even the government advice is just too wishy washy, leaving it for everyone to make up their own mind.
This can be great in certain circumstances but, in a time of crisis, it's probably better if the advice given is black and white.
The time for pishing about has gone.

Bare minimum should be mass testing. Lots of People with symptoms finding it a real struggle to get tested. If you have no symptoms then totally forget it. The government know there is people who show no symptoms but can spread the virus. South Korea for example done huge testing of population and people with virus were not sent back to homes with family and friends to isolate so they couldn't spread the virus.

Indeed
Back in the UK we all but stopped testing people, which was to help with staffing numbers in hospitals etc.
Unfortunately, unless someone is admitted to hospital, nobody has a clue as to who has the disease or, which areas are most severely affected.

You have to have some sympathy for those in charge, having to come up with a strategy at short notice but, there are people that are paid huge sums of money to get this right and in theory, we have the advantage of being able to learn from China and Italy but, having confidence in those in charge, is a real teat.
We are all left crossing our fingers and just hoping that we and our loved ones remain healthy.

Ah, yet another expert who knows all the logistics involved, can we assume you will be joining COBRA at some point

Mate, you have no idea, none of us does.

The Government based it's decision to implement social distancing on an Imperial College report. Going off that, social distancing is likely to continue for 12-18 months so we can consider the season done.

And next season too ?