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

Uber and deliver ooo are a pipe dream round here. No such thing.

4 weeks not 4 monthd

In London many will starve - no family nearby- not ill so no careers no links to the neighbours except maybe fellow elderly.

She’s not. You don’t suddenly become decrepit on your 70th birthday.

I'm quite aware of that thanks.

However the mortality rate for those in their 70s is 8% bearing in mind that there will be a significant proportion of those that don't die that will have severe pneumonia which is no fun at any age.

For all age ranges the chance of more severe symptoms is 20% - they haven't split this by age but I would assume that it would be 50%+ for those in their 70s.

It is one hell of an ask for someone to have little social contact for 4 months. Loneliness kills. Loneliness can destroy people.

This. My mother would waste away. So would I, and I'm pretty damn introverted.

I think the subtext may simply be that there will be no itu level care considered for those over 70.

my Dad is early 70s and fully pc literate, watches netflix and amazon, has an echo dot even has a smart phone. So he has done his big shop and got a freezer full of things, he can do online and click and collects and he is getting an exercise bike ordered to continue his heart rehab work.

Fundamentally he is 6 months over where they said he would live to, he lost my Mum in November and whilst v matter of fact is missing her and lonely. We have nagged him into submission and he is no longer doing routine appts for diabetes, heart, liver etc nor his gym sessions. He goes out for nothing, he has one neighbour he gets on with whose wife also requires care. I am worried for him, He has also had to let the cleaner go for now its too risky.

MIL is on her own in London at 89, paper, shopping and church are her outings. She is not au fait with shopping or anything online, I may have to set something up for her. I have a few possibilities in mind.

On top of all that we are self employed so sorting everyone else out as well as ourselves and keeping a head above water is going to be interesting - we are already in iso, a week to go...

@Alsohuman

By 28 days, how many died long before that?

The stats don't say but 40% of those that died still hadn't died after 28 days in ICU so either way you look at it this isn't a short, quick death.

You effectively slowly drown in your own fluids with no-one you love near you.

I wonder how they will know if there are older people in a house self isolating?

There's no official register - although the Councils should know.

It would need proper logistics to find out who they are, support they have and any underlying health conditions.

In London many will starve - no family nearby- not ill so no careers no links to the neighbours except maybe fellow elderly.

Why do you think nobody in London has links to their neighbours Certainly not the case where I live

I assume family or neighbours will leave it at the door. This has been rolled out in France has it not? I assume the same applies.

This and the Deliveroo/Uber remarks goes to show you how utterly fucking clueless most people and the government are about the reality of life for tens of thousands of people.

It's unworkable.

I think the subtext may simply be that there will be no itu level care considered for those over 70.

^ This. Basically if the NHS is overwhelmed they won't treat the over 70s. I've even seen rumours that the cut off point would be 65 which seems horribly young.

Curious to know if the ones objecting to this possible measure also object to total lockdown as surely that has the same effect for everyone over 70?

We know schools alone doesn't work as other nations started with schools then ended up on total lockdown anyway.

At least if the elderly and vulnerable lockdown as much as possible, the rest of us can support with protective measures whilst not being locked down ourselves. Although I expect eventually we will all be locked down but a gradual approach may be more sensible.

Tbh if someone is an at risk person anyway and scared of this virus then I'm not sure why they aren't doing this already.

Why do you think nobody in London has links to their neighbours

Many people in London have no links to their neighbours, let alone older people.

Age UK run campaigns every Christmas about loneliness. It is a massive thing for many older people.

Honestly everyone shouts that the government is not doing enough as if we don’t have any brains or common sense of our own , and then when they try something to protect the whole group who are at risk everyone slags that off as well .

This is because some people are so anti Boris they can't see anything beyond that.

For people on the 'it's unworkable' and 'my parent wont do this'...

This is a GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

I don't understand what people are missing.

Lots and lots of people are going to die. Most of us on this thread will lose someone we love.

Yes, it may be unworkable. Your loved one probably won't survive. I don't know how to make that any clearer. You need to start preparing yourself for it.

Why is it acceptable to essentially lock up kids, but not older people?

And I say this as someone who has DP's where circumstances are very tough already and this is going to make it so much worse.

But I would hope at the end they could see their grandkids again.

My real hope is that my family get it and we know enough about the disease to say it's safe to visit.

Some over 70s still need to work...

@wheresmymojo it's very easy to quote facts when you're detached from a situation. But when you glibly talk about stats for over 70s for me you're talking about the man that I love with every fibre of my being. My husband, my soulmate. A man who is fit and healthy, but who is older. For other posters it might be their mum, dad or grandparent. These people are every bit as important as everyone else. They are real people who are living their lives and it will be hard for them to shut that down. Yes, it might have to happen. But please at least understand that it's not easy. Our bodies may get older but we don't feel any different inside.

If we really do move to a war-type footing and pull together the resources and organisation, I think this idea has merit.

During WW2 the UK set up huge social and economic structures like rationing; evacuation of children (lasting years); British Restaurants (community canteens); a raft of new hospitals in Scotland to cope with population flooding northwards from the anticipated invasion...

Part of the way China has coped as been by implementing food and medical deliveries.

If this is thought through and implemented well, it sounds like it could work to reduce deaths (assuming herd immunity does emerge). If it's left to the free market to implement according to consumer choice... yeah, no.

@Uyscuti. That's disgusting and ageist.

No one's going to suggest elderly people dependant on help are locked in a room and left to their own devices, of course carers and family will still have to see those who need help.

It seems very odd that people who are in favour of having the whole country locked in can't tolerate this plan. Maybe it was all about having a few weeks off after all!!

I'm really worried about my elderly Dad and step-Mum (both in their 80's). They both have health problems and I'm in another country. They do have some local support but are definitely vulnerable to the virus.
My Dad said today that he's aware that if he gets it, that'll be it. His lungs and heart are in bad condition already so there's no way he'd survive.

People complaining the govt are not doing enough but when it gets suggested that they want to do something. Then people don't want to do it. I think boris is generally an idiot but in this situation it honestly seems like he can not win.
People want schools to be closed and children to be kept inside but you dont want people over 70 to do the same? My parents are in their 60's and in good health but even they have said that they are going to stay home more now.
I went into my local town today and I saw more older people than I did younger people tbh.
Surely this idea has a good point. If the most vulnerable practice isolation as much as possible they are going to hopefully save themselves from catching it.