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.

I second Alice....

@MorrisZapp That is quite true, but it’s not hard to envisage the scenario of a young and old patient presenting with symptoms & with only one ventilator available & the younger one getting the ventilator is it?

It is up to the older individual. If you are 70+ and decide not to lockdown against government advice there could be fatal consequences. If the OAP fully understands that & is ok with it, cool.

I’ve got a feeling we will be seeing a return of the old public information films during peaktime TV etc - & the more blunt the message, the better imo.

In countries that have closed schools, who is doing the childcare for essential workers who cannot stay home to care for them? What safe arrangements have been made for that?

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

They clearly do, though. People already can't be bothered to self-isolate because it's inconvenient

I third Alice. I'm sorry but paranoid conspiracy theories like this arent helping anyone. Theyre increasing hysteria and panic and doing absolutely nothing to help us whatsoever. Granted, they give the person spouting them bragging rights that they are "the only ones" who really know the truth eye roll

They clearly do, though. People already can't be bothered to self-isolate because it's inconvenient

Exactly- the government is going to announce the over 70s should isolate and everyone is saying "they'll be bored and lonely!"

You cant fcking win lol

In countries that have closed schools, who is doing the childcare for essential workers
Different countries have different policies. In France schools are closed but will take in children with no other option.

It does make me laugh that people think that the herd immunity is an approach that only the UK will take. It is where all European countries will end up if they want to resume normal life. The question is how painful is it going to be getting there. For the Italians it is looking mightily painful. And the Chinese have a looooong way to go.

And what is being promised to the vast numbers of people who work in tourism, hospitality and entertainment, and the businesses which employ them? Capitalism can’t help them.

@Bool but as previous posters have said, that can be a last ditched attempt if less drastic (and whole country quarantine is less drastic than just killing off the vulnerable and elderly to ensure the strongest survive) but we are leaving ourselves with no options, we are jumping straight into physically drastic measures.

Ok I admit I'm angry and worried, so shoot me!

It just feels like we're not doing anything/enough. Every other country is taking drastic measures and all we're getting from Boris is 'people will lose loved ones but what ho, stiff upper lip and crack on chaps'. Why? Do we think we know better than all the medical and scientific experts the world over who are advising the polar opposite. And the lack of communication and solid explanation is woeful.

The idea of self isolation doesn't float my boat from a practicality POV - I have elderly parents myself and a teenager who will spontaneously combust if she can't leave the house for 24 hours let alone weeks/months (tbh I'd quite happily be a hermit for as long as it takes!).

Everyone is going to a have a different point of view based on their personal circumstances.

Whole country quarantine is extremely drastic in a globalised, capitalist world economy.

I third Alice. I'm sorry but paranoid conspiracy theories like this arent helping anyone.

So anyone who trusts the advice of the WHO and the approach taken by the rest of the world is a conspiracy theorist?

Britain, you really do live in your own strange little bubble.

To the British people who can see this lunacy for what it is, you have my sympathies. I'm very grateful to live in a country that takes this seriously.

sewingsinger Does anyone know exactly what the policy is?

Only the chosen few?

A few months ago on MN I came across the phrase Social Darwinism but don't even go there...

I'm a single mum with Asthma I am not prepared for my daughters (or myself) who have "underlining health conditions" to be part of the UK "herd" experiment!!!

Cracking idea 👍🏻

So anyone who trusts the advice of the WHO and the approach taken by the rest of the world is a conspiracy theorist

Yes, thats exactly what I said- word for word! Good grief- can you even read?

I do not believe this is a ploy by Boris to kill off the elderly and the infirm, no. That makes zero sense.

That does not mean I agree with everything the man does, like him, or think he's suitable to lead this country. I didnt vote Tory.

Do you understand now?

Whole country quarantine is extremely drastic in a globalised, capitalist world economy

Of course it's drastic - nobody is saying it's not, but sometimes drastic measures are necessary to ensure people survive.

adaline - but what would the death rate be if there was a complete collapse of the global economy? I’d say way more than 1-2%.

The problem here is that we have an ageing population, many of whom are in their own homes with disabilities or illnesses like dementia.

My mum, whose now in a care home (currently under lockdown), is fine. She has 24 hour care. But two years ago she was in her own home with carers coming in four times a day to make sure she ate and had her medication.

What happens to the likes of her in that situation if you have to self isolate? My mum would forget to eat. Calling her made no difference, by the time she put the phone down she'd forgotten about the conversation!

Matt Hancock was on Andrew Marr and said 'if the community or carers are well and the person is well, of course they should go in to help with personal care etc'. Which is fine but some scientists say, based on Wuhan, people are contagious up to five days before the symptoms show. Which is why we now self isolate with a cough, in case it turns. So if you have a tickly cough, don't go to the elderly person next door who's been relying on you for their meals, who does?

It's a sticking plaster over years of cut backs. We're down 150,000 professional carers in this country at the moment.

Four months isolation for a person with dementia or a disability that needs personal care is petrifying. This isn't being bored. This is not eating or drinking.

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.

Backed by the fact that every other seriously affected country virtually is taking a different tack.
Backed by the fact that the WHO is telling us to shut up shop.
Backed by the fact that several countries in Asia are beating the virus.
Backed by the fact that several provinces in China are beating the virus.
They are trying to defend their economy AND the health of their people. We are just interested in the former.

It seems like eugenics to me. Kill off the vulnerable.

This is an unprecedented crisis in the UK. Normality has gone despite us clinging on to it for now. The UK response has an appealing logic. Lets hope this is Boris Johnson’s darkest hour when he swims against the tide to save the UK. I have zero time for this govt but I can’t help but think that misery without death for the elderly who have lived the majority of their life is a better option than the creation of a generation of orphaned children because their vulnerable and or middle aged parents couldn’t access treatment. The morality of their plan is self evident it’s the science behind it that’s the bigger concern.

You're absolutely right Cam77 but people will just respond with a whole load of whataboutery.

@Sakura7
“So anyone who trusts the advice of the WHO and the approach taken by the rest of the world is a conspiracy theorist?
Britain, you really do live in your own strange little bubble.
To the British people who can see this lunacy for what it is, you have my sympathies. I'm very grateful to live in a country that takes this seriously.”

Yep you’re absolutely right. They live in their weird little bubble. Only (some) British experts are to be trusted. We shouldn’t follow those foreigners even when it leads to, in some instances, bringing active cases down to ZERO from the low thousands (see several Chinese of similar size/population to the UK) . I’m done for the day.