This article appeared on the BBC News site on 18 November, 1998. I've archived the text here in case it vanishes from its original place.
Cornish women told to put family plans on hold
Women in Cornwall are being warned to avoid getting pregnant in November - so they don't give birth in the middle of next year's solar eclipse. Doctors are worried that the county will become gridlocked by the huge influx of people coming to see the eclipse in August. And that may mean women in labour will be unable to get to hospital.
Dr Matthew Stead, a GP from Bodmin, said concerns about the impact on health services had been raised in a circular sent out to GPs in the county. Dr Stead said: "If I was doing something that means you are likely to be in hospital on August 11 next year, I would think twice about doing it. I am quite seriously concerned that we could have a major disaster on our hands if we get the numbers of people that are predicted visiting the county for the eclipse."
Gridlock possible
Dr Stead said it was predicted that if more than 600,000 visitors descended on the country, the roads would be gridlocked. He said: "We are very concerned that we are going to be faced with a lot of severe traffic congestion, a large number of people living in tents who are going to need medical care and a much larger static population for a week than we are used to.
"Potentially with the eclipse we are going to be faced with a major, major influx and we are really not capable of looking after that. If some of the predictions come true there won't be enough water, there won't be enough food, there won't be enough medicines andd the whole thing could start to go pear-shaped."
Dr Stead said local GPs were already in discussions with local police, ambulance workers and health authority officials about how best to deal with the problem. He said GPs were planning not to take holiday next August. It was also possible that all routine appointments would be scrapped around August 11, so that GPs could devote all their time to dealing with emergencies.
Dr Stead advised eclipse seekers to stay away from the county, the only place in Britain where it will be possible to see a 100% eclipse of the sun.
Large parts of the country should be able to see a 98% eclipse.
Clint's note: Shame about this misleading quote; Devon, of course, will also see a 2-minute total eclipse. And, of course, even a 99% partial eclipse is still like a kiss from your sister compared to the real thing!
