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

@Poppydaisies my grandmother is very elderly, in pain daily from arthritis and house bound/reliant on others taking her out. Her husband passed away decades ago and she’s never recovered from that. She can’t wait to catch it but I suspect she will survive even if she does (Has survived a lot that would kill others!) and she will be livid 😳😂

Im so sad for her that she’s still here and for her sake I can’t help but hope she gets her wish but I can’t imagine life without her

those of who do survive this would be looking at a much nicer world if it was substantially less populated and polluted.

Sure, tell that to people who stand to lose beloved family members luckily most people are not into eugenics.

@cervois I hope she doesn’t willfully catch it and take a bed from a 40 year old father.

I am in my sixties and have many healthy and active friends in their mid sixties to late seventies, not a few of whom have partners well below the age of 70.
How will this even work? My DH's best friend, 60-ish, is married to a woman around 15 years older.
What If a younger partner is still working, in an essential occupation, and is in good health?.
There are many such eventualities and if it's not compulsory some people will not comply, or not fully comply (Oh i only pop out to get bread/a paper etc..)
I don't think it has been fully thought through.

There’s a bit of me that thinks the planet’s fighting back. The human race has abused it for so long, now it’s fighting back. It seems that the environment in China is massively cleaner than it was three months ago. It’s definitely a lesson in humility.

@tartyflette it is not the governments job to think through every individual case. That is for the individuals to think through and make their choice.

@bool

Given I stated she’s housebound I would say the chances are slim

Alsohuman exactly. I'm amazed the planet didn't fight back before, I don't understand why people are so surprised.

@cervois that will depend on who is coming into contact with her when housebound and whether the necessary precautions are taken.

We’re not in a dictatorship and I doubt it will be fully enforced confinement. It will be advised and maybe 50% if that will comply?

But maybe the rest will reduce social interaction and be more careful. It will all have an impact.

Just been to b&q and speaking to a worker who is over 70, he told us that the manager has informed him and the other members of staff over 70 that they are finished until this virus is over. They will be paid.

How will this even work? My DH's best friend, 60-ish, is married to a woman around 15 years older.
What If a younger partner is still working, in an essential occupation, and is in good health?.
There are many such eventualities and if it's not compulsory some people will not comply, or not fully comply

Nobody is forcing you to protect yourself! This is about reducing the risk of catching the virus, but it's up to you and if people don't want to comply, they may catch the virus and potentially die from it!

Also I don’t think we should be debating every individual case on here. It’s general advice from the government and some can and will chose to ignore it.

I think it’s a good plan and better than closing the schools..

The environment in China is massively cleaner than it was 3 months ago
Is it really??
I've heard nothing about this??
have you been sent here by the Chinese government to help them maintain their facade?

@bool

Quite, but that’s very different to wilfully catching it. Her carers will have contingency plans in place but nothing is foolproof

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"

I was speaking with my grandma yesterday. She is in her 80s and is self isolating. She said her friends at her local sports club are not taking this seriously at all, and have been laughing about it and shaking hands in “defiance”.

My grandma is, however, taking it very seriously. She has a busy, full life and certainly doesn’t feel like “taking her chances”. She is also a very strong, independent woman and doesn’t rely on her children or grandchildren for anything. She is prepared.

I think those saying that they would rather “take their chances” will quickly change their minds when they need are in need of treatment, which probably will be denied to them when medics need to start making difficult decisions on who gets treated and who doesn’t.

he told us that the manager has informed him and the other members of staff over 70 that they are finished until this virus is over. They will be paid.

That's really heartwarming to hear.

If even huge companies can find their humanity, perhaps people can stop all the vile comments about elderly people stealing beds from younger people.

I think there is a sense of fatality about the over 70s. Having done their ‘three score and ten’ they would rather die at home than take a hospital bed from a younger person.

Those who are looking after elderly relatives would like to see a realistic contingency plan for those people. There really are not enough kind neighbours, young people or voluntary groups to care for them.

The idea of sending Deliveroo to a person with dementia is laughable. A lot of them either won’t open the door, or won’t know what they are supposed to do with the package or manage the money side of things. How will these people feed and clean themselves and keep the home safe without the support of families.

A lot don’t understand why a fit older person is isolating when unhealthy younger ones are not.

Oh do grow up @UYScuti.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/01/dramatic-fall-in-china-pollution-levels-partly-related-to-coronavirus

@bool

But yes I do agree with your point, I too would hope the NHS would treat a 40 year old father over a lady in her early 90s waving (one of) her (laminated...) DNR in their face as soon as she got through the door

I was trying to day that if the measures for self-isolating certain groups are not compulsory they could well be ineffective!
Just now BBC R4 News had announcers saying both that people will be 'told' to do it, then 'asked' to do it.
Someone who does not heed the request to self isolate is not only putting their own life at risk, they may also be complicit in the spread of the disease.

"We are not a police state. People will not be held at home under armed guard"

I have spoken to several people over 70 this morning and I said much the same to them but one of them made the point back to me that they are not worried about the police but would this mean that if they went out they could expect to be shouted at in the streets and shops by people telling them they shouldn't be out.

Thanks for the link Alsohuman😊
interesting stuff!

The thing is. It’s fine if they want to defy it and carry on with their social lives. If that’s a risk they want to take. We know that we don’t have enough ICU beds and a younger person will be prioritised over them. We know it hits you harder the older you are. This government hasn’t been particular pro-active so I would listen to them if I was told to self-isolate. They are basically saying they can’t protect this age group.

Each person will need to decide for themselves what level or risk they are prepared to take.