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’d rather take my chances because I’d rather die early of corona virus than live to be 100 with dementia.

That's fine. But you also need to acknowledge what you are expecting of overworked and run down medical professionals, some of whom will die in the course of treating patients.

I don't think mum would expect me to call an ambulance for her. Neither would I (asthma). I always say the advantage of living alone is no one can fuck it up and call an ambulance for you!

she doesn't come from the UK, so watching elderly relatives die slowly and horribly at home is not new to her.

but I think total self isolation will literally kill a lot of people in her age bracket, who need care. I hope tomorrow we get clarity on what self isolation means.

They’re joking right? The stress and isolation will kill more people than the virus. 56,000 people die every year from flu!!!!!!! This whole thing is media led and scaring the life out of elderly people, literally. They can stick there plan where the sun don’t shine!!

I'm glad to see some over 70s on here being sensible and planning to isolate. I have had an extremely frustrating conversation with a relative who is 73 and very social. She is refusing to stop doing any if her social activities and is about to go on holiday (in the UK). I think there is either some kind of denial for a lot of folk, or, I'm sorry to say, just a massive selfishness on the part of some of that generation.
My grandparents stoically lived thru the war and did what they had to do. My kids are steeling themselves for being cooped up in a tiny house when the schools close and not seeing their mates.
My OH will possibly lose his (hospitality) business and my (leisure industry) income will stop in 3 weeks.
Sick pay is a joke and universal credit will take weeks (and is 300 quid a month or something!)
But hey, Auntie might get bored stuck at home in her nice house with her big garden for a few weeks.
I know some older people will struggle more than others, but we are all going to suffer one way or another. I can't actually believe, when people are facing hunger and chaos , that anyone is complaining about not being allowed to go to their pub quiz or bingo FFS.

I think it's pretty clear that if you're over 70 you won't be treated, and you're basically on your own from now onwards.

@Janemarpling fortunately I am not in charge

I would say that we are ALL in charge and need to be responsible and work together to get through this.

Hepzibah - again, it's not selfishness really if they're not going to take up a hospital bed.

the irony is, my late father, who died at 79, would likely have been called back to the NHS to help with this, due to his particular field.

I am wondering if 70+ MPs will self isolate. It's quite mad. I think 3 of the local GPs at my surgery are over 70 as well.

so what else should we do? what we do is we all take personal responsibility not just the elderly or those with underlying health conditions.

If everyone takes steps to avoid being in close contact,then we do not need to start resorting to such draconian measures or singling out specific sectors of society and holding them responsible. Because that is what’s happening here. People are very much saying that if older people go out they are putting others at risk. That they shouldn’t expect to call an ambulance should they fall ill.

Does that just count for the elderly then? If you insist on commuting to work aren’t you putting others at risk? If you choose to go out with friends to the pub should you expect to be able to call an ambulance if you fall ill?

There is a difference between protecting yourself and reducing risk to others. Case in point:

I have a serious heart condition. I’m probably going to die of it at some point anyway but we’ll cross that bridge if we have to.

For my own benefit I am for the most part staying at home, handwashing etc has always been present in my life anyway so that’s not an issue. So hopefully I won’t catch it.

But in terms of minimising the risk to others, my DP came into contact last week with someone who claimed to have symptoms. She actually had a cold but was joking about symptoms, and by the time it emerged she only had a cold we had decided that he won’t come to see me this weekend, but that’s not only for my benefit, but for the benefit of the other vulnerable people who will be in the hospital clinic I have to go to on Monday. So in that instance I am limiting the risk to others.

From the other side however I have a job interview next week. I have to go. I need a job. And I will have to travel by public transport to get there. Or would people recommend that I ditch applying for work right now and just live the rest of my life in self isolation and on benefits? All because I am already considered to be vulnerable?

I get the sense people think this is the ultimate answer. It isn't. It could be a good idea in principle, it could reduce it but it's not enough on its own.

I'm prepared to hunker down with my Family for 4/6 months, have been preparing since early October after watching Event 201 a pandemic exercise on youtube to illustrate preparedness when they were table top war gaming this with the Johns Hopkins Center for the Health Security in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in October 18th 2019 watch this and prepared to be shocked

Ready to protect and care for my Mum the best I can and that is all we can ask.

Prepare for the Worst, hope for the Best.

@Janemarpling fortunately I am not in charge

I would say that we are ALL in charge and need to be responsible and work together to get through this.

I think you missed my point. This wasn't directed at you!

Though I do agree we are all responsible.

I've read the BBC article on this and it says all over 70s plus younger people with certain health conditions. It doesn't specify which health conditions. I'm now wondering will it be things like under cancer treatment or immunosuppressed, or things like asthma.

My mum who is 80 says there is no way she is willing to self isolate if symptom free and she thinks many of her contemporaries will feel the same way. She says it is unenforceable in this country as "against human rights"

@AutumnRose1 nobody is forcing anyone to isolate. So that’s fine. Do as you please. Others will take a different approach and protect those most vulnerable. We know you disagree with that. It’s fine. Especially if as you say they won’t then take (or be given) a precious bed/ventilator. Carry on as normal.

snog would she say the same with a full lockdown for all too? I'm just wondering if this is why they haven't done anything drastic yet as they know many people are not going to comply anyway!

And here’s people saying lock us down like China

Now it’s happening this is what we say here.

@Janemarpling you are right. This will be one of a series of measures. They are going to turn hotels into hospitals. They are going to turn private hospitals to state. They will get the army in to help out at supermarkets to ensure food supply. They will ask JCB and Rolls Royce to make ventilators. And I am sure many other measures.

Bool nothing I read in these threads says it's suggestion, more a government order.

@snog maybe she will change her mind when more horror photos emerge from Italy and Spain.

The stress and isolation will kill more people than the virus.

No, I expect the virus to kill thousands of elderly people, especially towards the peak of the epidemic as there simply isn't enough space to treat everyone.

Much more sensible to isolate yourself and endure a bit of boredom imo.

@AutumnRose1 well whether it is an order or a suggestion - not sure how they will police it. I am sure they won’t pull the over 70s off the streets into their houses!!! It won’t be like China. They will be relying on enough us pulling together and being sensible. But it is weird isn’t it that first we ‘aren’t doing enough’ and now something is muted there is an outcry. Is that because everybody wanted schools to shut because that is so much easier for everybody.

My mum who is 80 says there is no way she is willing to self isolate

Wow, so she's willingly exposing herself to a virus that will likely kill her ?

I honestly don't get that...!

It’s odd the defiance and full on lock down and you would probably see the same from many.

*Wow, so she's willingly exposing herself to a virus that will likely kill her shockshock?

I honestly don't get that...!*

If she's anything like my mum, it's because she knows life doesn't last forever. I don't know about you but I've done all sorts of things which could have killed me. We are all going to die. Some people will choose living the way they want with a risk of death versus a few months essentially in captivity where they might die anyway.

Bool - to be fair, those of us who object to this were quite happy with what was being done already. Me and my asthma went to the theatre yesterday. On public transport, as that's the only option I have. My friend and I hugged more than usual because we fear we won't be allowed to see each other.

We want everyone to calm down. Ideally I'd like a massive government issue of some kind of suicide drug so anyone who gets it and is okay to be finished by it can just take it, but I realise people will use it for murder so it's not practicable.

but some of us would probably just overdose on what we have our homes...