Over 70s to self isolate

[Dodie66]

Over 70s are going to be told to self isolate even if they don’t have the virus and this will be coming in 5-20 days and last 4 months
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-coronavirus-over-70s-told-21694397?fbclid=IwAR2k9MqPf7vOzNcnqfVroLXVp0sQjYRmihHKBiL9pvdhSi5780WpYkgFNnI

Has anyone seen the BBC "documentary" on Wuhan following a couple and a single man under lockdown in the city. The wife Ling Ting is a nurse and catches COVID-19 and we are shown how poorly she gets although "young and healthy". She looks like she is in utter pain for 2 weeks before getting better. It is horrendous to say the least.

Are we underestimating this virus with the "it's just a cold" attitude. I was taking precautions and am also young and healthy, but was not overly worried about catching it, until now. It looks like a dangerous illness and is definitely not just a cold as she is writhing in pain and crying before being admitted to hospital as her condition deteriorates spending a week at home in isolation.

If anyone is in a vulnerable group it will be even worse with breathing complications and possible death. Why on earth risk it? I'm worried about my parents who are late 50s, and dad turning 60 this year but has hypertension. This is not something you want to catch if you can avoid it

This isn’t letting the elderly take the worst of it. It’s protecting them. I would love to stay inside with my DD and stay safe from this virus.

But I’m an nhs worker and healthy so I will send my daughter to nursery and go to work to care for the sick. I’m putting myself in danger (most of the healthy deaths in China were healthcare workers) and to a lesser extend my dd because that’s my duty and to pay for food for my mum and grandad who are isolating .

If your old and vulnerable your duty is to isolate so that you don’t catch it if at all possible so that the hospitals can cope with those that do catch it.

Other option is we all isolate.

@Blubelle7 Generally it seems -
10% get no symptoms
40% get mild symptoms
35% get symptoms that mean they do not need to be hospitalised but will be very ill, up to and including "mild" pneumonia
15% need hospitalisation with 5% of those needing ICU.

So 50% will not get mild symptoms. Some of that group may have long term complications such as lung damage.

The differing mortality rates in other countries is largely influenced by the 15% in hospital (although age structure in countries makes a difference too). If they get good hospital care, the vast majority survive. When they don't, the mortality rate rises.

For those saying people have carers etc - just as in Italy where people were able to go to work - I'm sure carers visits will be allowed. The idea is to avoid crashing the NHS. Obviously that is also going to happen if people don't have food/care etc.

It's pretty brutal, but simple, and (economically) efficient - if you are over 70 (well, they say that, but they actually mean 60 (and realistically, when the hospitals are overwhelmed, 45-50) - to be lowered as needs must) - we are done with you, we need the inheritance tax and houses (awesome bonus!), we can't afford the pension pot and all the charges on the NHS for your elderly care so please do the country a favour and, you know, drop off quietly, yes? You old people are expensive and we've long since spent the funds you put in so - yeah, bye. If Boris is left to continue on the herd immunity line, he is quite correct that, from what I have read, once someone has caught the virus, they will be immune for a while - but the UK will be a very young country.

Great in the long term - not quite so good for anyone with a memory of eugenics.

Over 70s can isolate or not - this will be coming back every year with the usual flu viruses - just that if they get it this year, they need to be aware they will not be getting any care from the NHS as the beds will be going to the young and viable. Harsh but . . . .

Lol at my mum getting a text alert ... She doesn't know how to read them and only turns her mobile on if she's out and I might need to get hold of her .. maybe once a month.

My dad is 70 and runs a pub! That's not going to work...

from what I have read, once someone has caught the virus, they will be immune for a while

Do you remember where you read it? My second biggest concern is that I can't find any evidence that those who recover will be immune.

Nobody knows if someone will be immune. There is zero evidence. The virus has already mutated once.

Mum nearly 80 is delighted at the prospect of self isolating and has already put in a request for a separate kettle, her online crosswords, iPlayer and tv sorted

@alloutoffucks
That is reassuring somewhat. It is just worrying as you cannot be sure whether or not you would get mild symptoms surely it is better to err on the side of caution particularly if you are in an age group with high mortality or have an underlying condition.

According to Dr Stephen Gluckman, an infectious diseases physician at Penn Medicine and the medical director of Penn Global Medicine, who spoke to the outlet, it seems likely that having the disease once results in immunity in most individuals - as is seen with other coronaviruses.

“Coronaviruses aren’t new, they’ve been around for a long, long time and many species - not just humans - get them,” he explained. “So we know a fair amount about coronaviruses in general. For the most part, the feeling is once you’ve had a specific coronavirus, you are immune. We don’t have enough data to say that with this coronavirus, but it is likely.”

Do you remember where you read it? My second biggest concern is that I can't find any evidence that those who recover will be immune.

Didn't a Japanese woman contract the disease, get hospitalised and recover only to be reinfected again

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-japan-confirms-first-case-of-person-being-reinfected-with-covid-19-11944295

My 87 year old dad will struggle so much with this - my 89
Yo mum is in hospital and after 60 years together they will both find this so difficult. They will understand and follow instructions but it does mean my dad will likely not see my mum again to say goodbye. My heart is breaking for them

Blubelle:

fortune.com/2020/03/06/coronavirus-recover-test-positive-twice/

Thanks angelica. "Likely" seems like one hell of a gamble though.

I dont think I've ever seen so much whining in one place

Thanks Angelica...
M

@Flaxmeadow not whining - our family will follow the guidelines because we know that is the best thing for the community.i remain, however, heart broken that my parents who have spent 60 years together, will be apart when my mother breathes her last. We will do what has to be done and she will have her children with her at the end.

.@

This is no different then if the country went into full lock down like many of you are asking for. This way the most vulnerable are isolated away yet the country can still run albeit at a slightly smaller capacity than normal.

Good idea if you ask me. [ there is no idea that will be good for everyone. however this idea will cause the least amount of damage overall.]

Mojo “ Again - it doesn't matter if your parents work. If they don't self-isolate they may die a very horrible drawn out death on their own.”

This is what happened to dad, with cancer. He wasn’t alone but he wasn’t really noticing anyone around him so what’s the difference.

This is much more about the NHS not wanting the elderly to fill beds.

So Boris is (maybe) doing something to help the vulnerable and posters are still not happy? There’s a surprise...

It’s far better than closing schools. If schools close, then kids should be stopped from going out as well otherwise what’s the point. They’d be at the grandparents probably anyway for babysitting which puts them at risk.

This is a very sensible proposal. I have been telling DH for the last couple of weeks to persuade his 74 year old parents to stay at home. I have also been saying the same to my dad. He is going to be very lonely stuck in his flat on his own but we will Skype him every day. We are going to have to make some very tough decisions in the next few weeks. All visitors to hospitals need to be banned too, except for children who should be allowed one parent to stay with them.

What about multi-generational households? What do you do, lock the 70 something in their bedroom?