Any over 60s planning to avoid public transport/ places where people might be sick?

[EnidBlyton]

I work with some in this category
my dm is going to carry on regardless

I am a nurse in a GP surgery. Two of our nurses and at least one GP are over 60... Not much chance of avoiding sick people!

I'm not 60 but have long term health issues so will be working from home once it hits my local area I think

Is 60s really elderly? Most people I know in their 60s are working full time and down the gym daily....

If all the 60 and up's stayed home we'd have no nurses left at work where I work.
It'd be me and two others all of us are part time.
Even the carers are pushing 60 (one is over 70). We'd only have the least experience ones left.
The managers would be at home along with the company owners.
I don't think the three of us could cover it.

I've got diabetes, OH has cancer, we're both mid 50s and both have impaired immunity due to our conditions.

We do our best to avoid public transport and crowded places anyway, and have done for years since our conditions were diagnosed. We still live a reasonably "normal" life, but don't deliberately put ourselves in harm's way.

For example, we avoid Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport like the plague. It's an overcrowded tiny hell hole squeezed into a corner of the airport (old domestic terminal). We choose flights out of terminal 2 instead - yes, costs more and limits our holiday options, but it's a much more pleasant experience, far more spread out, far less busy, etc. When we choose seats on the plane, we either choose front row or back row so we can be on last, off first, and surrounded by fewer people, and usually do short flights. Never seen any airport abroad anywhere near as crowded/busy as Man terminal 3 - even "hubs" such as Amsterdam are far better designed, more spread out, etc.

Same with shopping - we avoid busy days like Saturdays and Sundays and shop at quiet times when the shops/malls are virtually empty.

We never eat or touch our faces without having washed our hands first, especially if we've been out, touching door handles, holding handrails or shopping trolleys etc.

When on holiday, first thing we do is go around wiping down surfaces, handles, taps, etc., and we tend not to let the "maid" in every day. Many years ago, we were in when the maid came in to clean and were horrified to realise she only had one cloth in her hand, which she used to wipe the kitchen area after she'd been upstairs wiping the bathroom! - she was doing more harm than good spreading germs around, and she didn't change the cloth when she went in next door!

Hopefully, the corona virus will at least make people think and increase awareness of hygiene and cleanliness. I can't believe people still aren't washing their hands after they've been to the loo in public toilets - nor people sneezing away in public without making any attempt at all to catch it in a tissue or their sleeve. Still lots of dirty buggers about.

My mum is 80 and I can't see her staying at home unless forced to. I suspect she would say she would rather enjoy life and die now, rather than sit at home miserable and then die of dementia in 10 years' time. She doesn't have underlying medical conditions though except for a bad back.

60s isn't old, I can understand them giving out such advice to the over 75s.

I can't believe people still aren't washing their hands after they've been to the loo in public toilets

Not much point if the water is cold, there isn't any soap, or, as at my local station, you have to keep one hand on the tap to get the water out. I was swearing at it yesterday - how are you supposed to wash your hands like that! Oh and the other sink in the ladies loos has had a sign on it since Christmas to say it's out of action!

My GP is in his 60s. I'm hoping he's not planning to avoid places where people might be sick, or our surgery will be closed!

Not much point if the water is cold, there isn't any soap

Then carry a hand gel or a pack of wipes. No excuse for being a dirty bugger and not doing anything at all.

Even in places where there is hot water and soap, people still can't be arsed to wash their hands.

People need to stop making excuses for poor personal hygiene and take some responsibility. We need to make it socially unacceptable, just as has happened (finally) with smoking and drink driving.

Then carry a hand gel or a pack of wipes

Where do you suggest they come from? They’re sold out everywhere.

My mum is 80 and I can't see her staying at home unless forced to.

I don't think people are suggesting never going out. You can avoid crowded places by minor changes to your routine, such as getting a different bus that isn't as busy, or going shopping at quieter times rather than Sat/Sun or lunchtimes, etc.

Whether you're over 60, have an immunity disorder, or whatever, it's a bit crazy to put yourself in harm's way by deliberately continuing to use public transport at busy times, or shop at peak times, if you have the freedom to make minor changes to your routine. It not only helps protect yourself, but it also makes the buses/trains/shops less busy at those peak times for everyone else who doesn't have a choice, i.e. workers, school children, etc.

Where do you suggest they come from? They’re sold out everywhere.

Stop making excuses. They're not "sold out everywhere" at all. Amazon have loads of options available. Our local Spar shop have both hand gel and small packs of anti bac wipes. Have you even looked for some? I've no doubt some shops/supermarkets have temporarily run out, but it's certainly not across the board. Open your eyes and shop around.

Perhaps you could send me some from the microclimate you live in which somehow seems to be exempt from the anti bac famine? In the meantime I’ll just continue wearing gloves. Good thing it’s winter, isn’t it?

Kazzy

Perhaps you could also post information on places which definitely have these items in stock on the threads where many MNetters are finding them impossible to track down in their local shops?

DH is 65 and I can't see him staying indoors as he's currently running my 84 year old to and from hospital appointments when he's not working.

Can't you wash your hands in cold water

You can but it probably wouldn’t have much effect.

I am quite worried for my parents. They’re mid 70s. Neither are in good health. One is on a cocktail of drugs including one that suppresses white cell production. The other has high blood pressure. Yes most people would be fine but with most illnesses you wouldn’t want the odds that come with Corona.

Under 60 but with an underlying condition. I don't know why the headlines focused solely on the age risk? The WHO advice was for people over 60 AND those with preexisting conditions - which can be any age. I'd like to follow the advice. I already work from home but DP commutes on crowded public transport so it seems a bit pointless!

Incidentally, if 60 is elderly, perhaps the pension age should be lowered?

62 and with impaired immunity due to cancer - so yes I am listening and acting on the advice to stay away from crowded places and public transport. I'm also staying away from the gym, my craft group, and weight watchers. I think the hardest bit to get our heads around is the how long for? question,. When we have to change our lives and routines due to a bad weather event, we know that awkward and frightening as it may be, it is only going to impact our lives for a short while and that even if badly affected (eg roof blown off, flooded home), we will be able to move forward and carry on. But until we know more, it is all decision makign in the dark with no answers

It's about time society realised that 60 is no longer old. As pps have said, most of us are still having to work until we are 66/67. I am 59 and my husband is 60 and I really don't think we are at anymore risk than someone 20 years younger than us. I do yoga, go to the gym, run two or three times a week, I eat healthy and am not overweight. What makes me a higher risk?

The advice is for the over 60s because death rates so far are much higher than for younger people

Economically, we have to work, even if we are knackered
and many of us stay fit, most of us wear the same sports gear & jeans as the kids

BUT we are kidding ourselves if we think we have the resilience to recover from disease and injury as we did in our 20s

Biology sucks, but it trumps any illusions we might have

Our markses had 10 packs of antibac hand wipes by the checkouts if people are wondering where to look.

AW the OP:

I'm 63 and retired 6 weeks ago
Very thankful that I no longer spend 35 hours per week in an office of sneezing & coughing colleagues,
also that I can stay in any day if I don't feel 100% or iif bad weather

Changes I've made:

I've stockpiled 6 weeks supplies instead of my usual 2 weeks
Weekly food shop instead of 3 x week
I wash my hands - with soap - more thoroughly and more often
I've cancelled planned retirement trips to Frankfurt, Heidelburg, Berlin, Rhine cruises (I live in Germany) and won't visit museums or galleries
I'm visually disabled so can't drive, but either I walk or I cycle or I don't go - I won't risk public transport

BUT I'm mostly continuing with normal life:

6 days per week at the gym
5 days per week eating out, but only at my 2 fav restaurants
Daily Rhine walk - but I can avoid other people

A vaccination against this virus will take another 12-18 months and I refuse to be a complete hermit for that long unless officially advised to do so.

Are those just anti-bac wipes, or do they have the 62% alcohol necessary to kill the virus ?