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.

There would be those who ignore the advice, yes, but then they risk catching it. In a full lockdown they would be in the same position.

Majority of elderly people I know will NOT be told what to do, I really don’t think they’ll want to be isolated and they won’t stay in what are the government going to do in that scenario
I don’t know. Possibilities might be things like social shaming, ramping up nationalism - do this for your country, the NHS- into war-like propaganda - those that break the guidelines are like terrorist sympathisers, enemy infiltrators. It will mount in intensity.

All well and good but those of us in the over 50's category will still be here with our arses hanging out.

I thought my parents would be in the "it doesn't apply to us'' camp but actually they've spent the week making plans to settle down for the long haul. Stocked up on library books, DIY stuff and gardening supplies. My mum's spare room is always full of toilet rolls and cereal boxes!

Mum especially will find not getting out really tough but they seem to have accepted it needs to be done.

Nobody is forcing you not to self isolate savethecat

No But I have children at school!

My parent is in a care home & they are asking relatives not to visit "unless necessary".

Fair enough to cut down people in & out as much as possible.

I can't help wandering what the risk for them is though from staff & visiting health workers.

Unless they are also isolating themselves as much as possible when not at work?

Lots of elderly, vulnerable people would be willing to risk dying to avoid the possibility of dying in self-isolation having been unable to see their loved ones for months. That’s because from that perspective, it’s just a personal risk they are willing to take. However, they might well change their opinion if viewing it from the perspective that if they fell ill as a result of not self-isolating, they might be contributing to the collapse of the health service and their loved ones might not be allowed to have a funeral for them, causing untold misery for those left behind.

Marsha I’m with you on all your posts. People complaining they want a full lockdown. So govt says okay, we will think about starting with the vulnerable and there’s outrage!

I think it's a good strategy to introduce things slowly - letting us know what will happen before it does. My DH is over 70 and I'm 59. I've been tearful this morning at the realisation our lives are going to change for months. Him staying in will be hard - he's fit, well and active - but to protect him it means me doing the same.

We will do what is advised. It will be hard and mentally I'm struggling with the worry of it all but that will pass I hope. Not all people over 70 are in poor health or elderly in their ways. We were about to go skiing!

All that matters now is staying well and doing what's right for our community as a whole.

Signed and shared that petition.

The NHS can not handle the amount of cases we will soon have, we need to flatten the curve now

If I'm forced to stay in for 4 months who's going to pay my rent,ct,water,gas, electric,food,phone and all my other bills? Not me on £94 a week ssp that's for sure.

I asked my 85 y/ol MIL about this.
Her reply was that she is sitting at home alone much of the time anyway so it wouldn't be a problem. Of course, I realise she probably doesn't understand it would mean more.

One way of silencing the leader of the opposition I guess.
@Sweetpotatoaddict

Absolutely hillarious!
We're going to need your sense of humour soldier

I realise she probably doesn't understand it would mean more.
Aww, it doesn't have to.
I think they can go out to the park etc speak to people - just stay 1m away at least. I'm facetiming my mum a few times a day, she's getting a bit irritated with me actually.

I don't understand how herd immunity really works in the case of this virus- surely that only happens when every last person has had it? Herd immunity only usually happens when a vaccine is used. If herd immunity worked then the flu wouldn't exist at all- but it does because there are new strains appear each year.

Yes the curve needs to be flattened now

So if the old person lives with a family, what then?

Freakstar - people stopped dying in massive numbers of the 1918 influenza pandemic eventually... and that was not because of a vaccine!

Human beings are inherently selfish - it's been shown time and time again on here, especially over the last few days. People don't want to self-isolate because it might be difficult for them. They'd find it too hard keeping their children entertained. They want to go for a run. They have tickets booked and don't want to miss out.

I'm not referring to those who are genuinely concerned about money, but plenty of people can afford to stay home for a week and are choosing not to because it's too difficult or they want to go for a walk or they don't want to be told what to do.

Until people start thinking about society as a whole, this isn't going to get better. People are too selfish and don't care enough about other people. That much is clear.

These are neccesary steps, and quite logical.
Life is going to change over the next few months and it's going to be extremely tough mentally, but we are at war.

It's fucking barbaric, is what it is
So is having to refuse life saving treatnent to people simply because they're over 65. This is what is happening in Italy right now.

Herd immunity doesn't need everyone to have it - or everyone to be vaccinated. It depends how contagious the virus is. Essentially you need enough people in the population who cannot catch/carry it that when someone has it they aren't able to pass it on. For something like measles it's very contagious so 1 infected person infects many (r0 between 12 and 18) so it needs in the region of 95% of the population to be immune through either previous infection or vaccine to stop it spreading. Covid-19 isn't nearly as contagious; they're still not certain but most estimates seem to be 2-3 people.

Once the average number of people infected by each infected person falls below 1 then the virus burns out, and that doesn't require 100% to have had it for covid.

Herd solution needs 60% to be infected. That is 40m people. If the virus kills 1%. That is 400k deaths. And we are still carrying on normal life. Am I missing something?! What is Boris doing?!

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

Cause they're all muppets. Just knee-jerk, feel good responses that won't do a damn thing but ensure they come in for the least criticism.
Our government has actually taken a very bold and calculated step that will address the problem rather than appease the panicking masses. Exactly what leadership should mean.
I voted labour and I'm being proved wrong. Boris has shown immense leadership here.

People on here are expecting the government to put a plan in place that suits everyone. It’s not going to happen. We need to be realistic