Omg. The next step in the strategy. And if we all stick together it may work

[Bool]

Next step in UK strategy. Lock down all the over 70s (and other immunocompromised - kids / adults) for 4 months. Lock them down. Then make it illegal to close schools. That means we gain immunity to the virus as a population and keeps the beds open for the unusual cases that are not foreseen.

What are you going to do with a 75 year old who fancies a walk? Shoot them?

I come into the vulnerable/immunocompromised group and am also a single parent to three school age dcs. There's bugger all point putting me - and thousands of others like me with dcs - into quarantine if the schools stay open.

Who’s paying my mortgage?

That's exactly why it would work in some countries (China) but I can't see a squaddie shooting an OAP here.

I do think it’s quite sensible.

Grandparents and children should not be mixing anymore but people can’t seem to manage that, and these are their loved ones!!
Some stronger framework around this would be helpful.

Can we PLEASE look at this at a population level.

I actually agree in principle. If you fall into a vulnerable group then you keep yourself away from the unwashed masses. Surely this makes sense and is what most people with weak immune systems are doing day to day anyway?!

Closing schools isn't going to stop people over the age of 80 dying.

Scientists have already earned that they don't know if 'herd immunity' is a wise approach, given that we know nothing about the virus/it's multiple strains.

Also, what about those of us that work in schools but live with immunocompromised adults/children or over 70s? Do we just potentially bring the virus home with us? Do we lock away those adults and children for the next 6 months?
I'm not too sure how that would work out...

There's bugger all point putting me - and thousands of others like me with dcs - into quarantine if the schools stay open
Yy if this is the strategy, we'll need to keep DC home with us or there is no point.

My mum would kill my dad being locked up with him for anything more than a week.

It’s the strong protecting the weak. And any strong that are unforeseen illness get a hospital bed.

I am sure that there are lots of individual ‘buts’ - but as a strategy at a population level it may work.

What about GPS who help with childcare? Who will pay to cover that?

Errr ...... carers?

We have to protect our most vulnerable whilst building up population immunity ourselves and stopping the NHS being overwhelmed. It is shit yes being locked away for 4 months. But it is also shit getting the virus for the healthy. We all take one for the team.

Where is this from?

Ok. We will have to solve all the individual cases but as a macro strategy it makes sense right

The reason that school closures are happening elsewhere, is that school is an environment where multiple people from different parts of an area are coming into close contact. It is basically a mass gathering, everyday. Closing schools helps to slow the spread and therefore free up beds, as it means that the impact of the virus is spread over time and that all 1000 or so adults and children, and then their families etc aren't going to get sick all at the same time. I'm not sure how making school closures illegal would help?

Daisiest would you really risk your parents lives over your bloody childcare arrangements? Who will look after your kids when they're dead or in hospital? Use them now.

Also, what about those of us that work in schools but live with immunocompromised adults/children or over 70s? Do we just potentially bring the virus home with us? Do we lock away those adults and children for the next 6 months?

This too. The Gov seem to have a real difficulty grasping the idea that being immunosuppressed/vulnerable is not defined by age, and many in that category will have dependant children/elderly parents/ other vulnerable members in our households. We're not all retired & living alone.

I am immune compromised and have been socially distancing already

I’m ready to take it up a step, but with school age DC I’m really not sure how effective isolation can be. I’ll be looking at the guidance carefully when it emerges

I’ll still need to go to my medical appointments though. Because my underlying condition is leukaemia, and if I can’t get my (closely monitored and hospital only) blood tests and prescription, I’ll die

Yes, Bool, we can look at it at a population level.
But, tell me, do you have elderly relatives? Or do you have loved ones who are immuno-compromised?
And, most importantly, are you happy to just write them off 'for the greater good'?
Because I can tell you, my answers are yes, yes, and NO.
As a friend in another country said, we are being thrown to the wolves.
If schools don't close, this thing will spread like wildfire to all groups of the population. Some / many will die.
I don't like the thought of that at all.

What about carers?!

I'd also like to ask why you think that going against the grain of many other countries is the way forward?

I agree tbh, and it is easier to financially aid a smaller population of imune-compromised working people and provide practical support to vulnerable older people (who are not working and therefore not impacted by not being able to work) I think this should happen in conjunction with mass testing to identify cases to be isolated. 10k tests a day is just not enough, if you could test 100k a day then you could clear entire communities and towns in a week.