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

I do think this is the most sensible, I dont know if carers can still be used if they have no symptoms. (I know not 100% but better then the over 70s being on public transport, shopping centre etc where risk can not be managed).
I do also think they should extend it to anyone vulnerable.

Let's wait for an official announcement then

@Alone07 absolutely. This approach should be used for the most vulnerable.

This article was actually in the Lancet but is behind a paywall. I can’t really see them publishing anything unsubstantiated.
I’m over 70 with health conditions. If I get the virus I will most likely die.
I don’t want to as even with my poor health I have a lot to live for.
I’ve been self isolating for some time now and will continue to do so.
It’s lonely, boring, stressful and bad for my mental health but the alternative is much worse.
I really don’t understand what people want to happen. Anything done, e.g. closing schools, is going to cause problems for many people but something has to happen as this virus isn’t going to go away anytime soon and left unchecked will kill many people as it is already doing in Italy.
I have little, or no, faith in this government but think that we should all be putting pressure on them to put measures in place, especially financial ones, to make it possible for everyone to take steps to protect themselves, their families, and the rest of the UK.
It won’t be easy but it needs to be done now. The figures for infected cases and deaths show we are only two weeks behind Italy.

I want this and schools closing. I’m looking at the burnt match analogy. If we all said screw the economy, it could work.

It would certainly work to screw the economy.

We’re all going To be in lockdown anyway soon.

You tell the elderly first so that when they shut schools, all the kids aren’t sent to the grandparents.

That's what I think too. The Government will eventually shut schools. They don't want grandparents to be used as childcare in that case. They want to protect the elderly first!

Makes perfect sense to me.

My DM is 79. I cannot see her being pleased with this if it is true. She will implode with boredom and frustration. She also has several short trips planned within the UK and won't be happy if she can't go.

We are all in the same boat here. People of ALL ages are self isolating and cancelling trips. I don't suppose they are 'happy' either, but it's something we just have to accept.

Mummy. How long for?

A year? Would they have the vaccine ready and manufactured by then?

Enough to vaccinate everyone? Where would this country be on the list?

We just don't know. That match isnlikenone of those candles that you get for birthday cakes. Where you keep blowing it and it never goes out.

I really think the WHO need to say this.

Too many people clearly believe that complete lockdown will get rid of this virus. It's not going away.

No one will be pleased with it.

Except everyone else apparently because we’re all asking for lock down.

Will stop many from dying though.

My mum (80) lives with us. What do I do, put her in the shed? Not everyone lives alone or with a single generation!

If we all said screw the economy, it could work

No it wouldn’t.

How do people dissociate like this? On another thread a pp was worried airlines wouldn’t be bailed out as her Dh would be out of work. People can grasp that but not what screw the economy means.

Random
China seems to be doing ok. That has been a lot less than a year, hasn’t it?

@bemoreeverything I know this. I'm just expressing how she will be feeling. It will be hard for all the elderly given they are probably already the most socially isolated group. I have had to cancel a holiday too but I am not going to be in lockdown plus I have my DH and my DD at home for company. . She lost my DF last year and is already feeling very lonely. I think it is okay to talk about how difficult it will be for many of our elderly generation whilst also understanding why it is necessary.

Exactly. A tanked economy means the whole edifice of society could fall. We are never that far away from anarchy.

Marsha
I’m not talking about people left to starve. Society as a whole would be encouraged to help. The government would have to provide basic food. I am a landlord, I’m well aware I’d be severely out of pocket by thousands and thousands.

There will be many left to starve if the economy completely tanks as you wish.

FfS because its China!!!!

And no we don't know if they will be OK.

They haven't opened up again, but that isn't sustainable long term.

So many people are making the mistake of looking at China.

How many people have 'disappeared' over there because they spoke out or broke quarantine. We will never know.

There’s no point in going on about China I agree.

None of the Western countries are where China was. And we’re all in the same boat.

As an initial strategy this is preferable to a full lockdown, although I suspect that will happen eventually. Everyone has their part to play if we are to get through this - even the over 70's. If they self isolate they are protected, the rest of us can keep schools and businesses going and the burden is reduced on the NHS.

Interesting interview with Irish doctor who has advised his parents to isolate

Where did this insane belief come from that ‘the economy’ is only something that ‘rich’ people need to worry about? I’m seeing it all over this board - the financial illiteracy is shocking. The people who do worst in a recession are poor people, when the economy is screwed there will be no functioning NHS, social care, pensions, benefits, education. People will lose their homes & their jobs, people will die as a direct result. Those people won’t be the rich people.

Screw the economy

The economy isn't some abstract concept - if you screw the economy, numerous businesses go to the wall, what do you think happens afterwards? The long term consequences will be significant because the scale of the closures required would be far beyond those of a normal recession. There won't be jobs to go back to for huge numbers of people. That means long term persistent poverty and austerity on steroids.

Yes the financial illiteracy is shocking I agree. Do they even teach economics at schools? They should.

It’s interesting that they’re not worrying about the economy in Italy and there is no anarchy, looting or rioting. I want an Italian style lock down. Why would it cause issues in the uk when it hasn’t in a country, where it’s citizens certainly don’t blindly follow the rules?

You’ll probably get further restrictions when the time is right. And it’s not so long term that the economy tanks.