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.

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.

That's not my concern with this at all. I'm currently self isolating at home with my husband and kids because 3 of us have symptoms and one of dh's colleagues has been in direct contact with someone now confirmed to have it. It's absolutely fine. We have a ton of board games, books and booze. I just feel awful. Yes, I'm sad that we're not going to make our Easter holiday and that we possibly won't make our autumn break either but I can "live with it".

On the other hand, my mum lives alone. She struggles in the house without my dad and just lost her mum last week. She will find an extended period of time in that house by herself massively mentally traumatic. She's already on anti-depressants and has talked of suicide not to mention has the pills to do it. Self isolation is just as likely to kill her as coronavirus.

@BiologyIsReal that brings tears to my eyes. Thank you

Lockdown HAS worked in other countries. We are absolutely the anomaly here. We're the only country who has not closed schools or introduced lockdown measures.

Why does the UK think it's so special?

She will find an extended period of time in that house by herself massively mentally traumatic

Lots of people will. Including me. But that doesnt mean I wouldnt do it if advised by the government.

No Alice, this is nothing compared to what it will be like when 20%, 40%, 60% (which is the plan) of the population have it.

Other countries are working to ensure the lowest possible number of people get infected. The UK wants 60% to get infected in order to develop herd immunity (which may not even be possible). The opposite approach to literally everyone else.

I'm done trying to talk to people who will argue that black is white, buy everything Boris tells them and refuse to even consider any view outside of that (even when it's the overwhelming global consensus).

Sakura Germany is doing well so far and has done measures you suggest. But Merkel still states 70% will get it.

Is she right?

I think it makes complete sense to put people in vulnerable categories under lockdown and let others mostly carry on as normal, while taking some basic sensible precautions. It’s just much more easily said than done, that’s the problem.

Sakura, way do you think that everyone who doesn’t agree with you is buying everything Boris tells them. Can’t you accept that others may have an ability to research the facts and think for themselves?

@Sakura7
I agree with you 100%. The UK’s “strategy” is nothing but a gamble with the lives of millions of people. If “successful” mere tens of thousand will die. If not successful...

Sakura7 - in China they beat people up and padlocked them into their houses where necessary. Do you see that happening anywhere else?! And governments may be wittering on about not panicking about food shortages, medicine shortages, etc, but that’s a load of bollocks, too, if every country in the world goes into a China-style lockdown. Vast numbers of people have to put themselves at risk in order to keep things going. And closing schools in Italy initially resulted in parents grouping together to take it in turns to look after each other’s children en masse... How f*cking stupid is that?

@Sakura7
That's fair enough. We all have a different point of view. I think it's unrealistic to think you're going to stop it infecting 60% of the population (this is an expert opinion not mine) and I think it's unrealistic to think you won't utterly decimate this country by shutting it down for even 1 month.
So I agree with Boris and don't think the rest of the world is being very realistic.

Even if the elderly and vulnerable are locked away, our hospitals will still be overwhelmed and immunity is uncertain.

There is no science to support this risky government strategy. immediate total lockdown is the painful way forward as the majority of countries have realised.

Merkel is entitled to her one opinion. The individual states in Germany have decided to close schools on mass.
Countries like Germany can always adopt the desperate herd immunity approach at a later date
But there is no plan B for Britain’s strategy.

@Alice02132354
Most experts disagree with your expert

Yes they have Cam so I’ll ask you again what proportion of Germans will likely get it in your mind?

Btw I’m sure she’s not just pulling the figure out of nowhere and it’s not just ‘her opinion’

@Cam77
Prof Neil Ferguson - Imperial College
I think you'd be silly to think Boris is not listening to his experts... ie. our experts.

Surely it's a question of degree. You can't imprison people, nor can you demand they have zero contact with the outside world. But you can urge them strongly to take whatever measures they possibly can to self isolate. If you pop over to your mums and have a brief chat on the doorstep, nobody will arrest you.

As for the frankly ludicrous idea up thread that care will be denied to those who fail to self isolate, this is next level tin hattery. How on earth would hard pressed medical staff know the movements of presenting patients? There isn't a doctor or nurse in the UK who would pull a ventilator from someone who admitted to hugging their grandchildren. Can we dial this hysteria right down please.

Morris of course they won’t know. But in Italy harsh decisions are being made about who gets care based on age.

Sakura - Matt Hancock has been giving interviews all morning - he categorically said that herd immunity is not the governments policy. Does anyone know exactly what the policy is?

I heard yesterday of one poor old thing (very elderly) living alone, who was so worried and confused by all the advice, that she thought self isolation meant that she had to stay in one room in her own home!

Just as well someone was able to put her straight.

I didn't quite take it that way; I thought it was politician weaseling "Our goal isn't herd immunity, it's saving lives" (and we think the way to do that is to try and have herd immunity)

But I might be wrong!

Why does the UK think it's so special?

The UK population doesn't think that, we just ahve politicians in charge who don't give a fuck.

As for their policy - Kill off a few thousand plebs and pensioners and save a fortune on the welfare bill seems to be where we're at currently .

Oh for God’s sake, Minty. Is that the extent of your contribution?

This is from another thread about life in Italy under lockdown:

&She's not allowed to leave her house and must have a permit to go shopping/walk the dog etc. They are not allowed to socialise with anyone outside her only company is her neighbour in her apartment block. She can't even visit her elderly parents in the next province over at a risk of 3 months in jail if she attempts to.
The doctors are having to basically make decisions who lives and who dies due to lack of hospital beds and supplies and are mainly prioritising the young, leaving the elderly unaided. She's saying it's like a war without the weapons.

@MintyCedric
As for their policy - Kill off a few thousand plebs and pensioners and save a fortune on the welfare bill seems to be where we're at currently angry.
That is a very irresponsible thing to say. You don't have any of the answers - no one does. But you don't even have any of the information. "The government are just wrong" backed by nothing.