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.

PieceofMaria that supermarket experience sounds horrendous.

I'd have decked one of the adult relatives.

@Bool
What has the biggest impact is washing hands and not going out with a fever or a cough.
Symptoms typically take 5 days to appear, sometimes longer.
If China had followed that utter nonsense you stated above they’d likely have 12 million active cases as opposed to 12,000 and decreasing every day.

@cam77 China is not out of the woods yet

Being in outdoor spaces at mass gatherings doesn’t have a huge impact on spread. What has the biggest impact is washing hands and not going out with a fever or a cough.
But I'm going to the football match asymptomatic because its only day 2. I'm touching hand rails and food counters and toilet doors. Or it's a days in, I've a bit of a cough but I'm sure it isn't Corona and being at outdoor events isnt risky so now I'm coughing in all those places too.
If you tell people that mass gatherings are fine but don't go out of you have a cough / fever you're ending up with thousands of potentially contagious people out spreading germs who just don't know it yet.

My mum is immunocompromised but she also has schizophrenia and I have told her over and over she might need to isolate but she doesn't understand because her mental capacity just isn't there completely. I know for a fact she will end up going out. What am I supposed to do about this? I can hardly go and lock her in her own house.

a lot of organisations will be shutting big events because they're scared of being sued later.

to get a bit of perspective
www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/
I am over 70 and happy to self-isolate but lets do it for a couple of weeks at a time and ensure that some voluntary, neighbourly caring support is available for those who live alone. The selfishness of some here and in MSM is frankly appalling.

potkettlexxx you didn't mention only referring to the retired, you said My concern is for the elderly that are capable of going shopping etc and do so on a busy Sat afternoon. I know over 70s working fulltime, I know a couple of nurses in their 70s who are working fulltime, I know carers as well. Even if they are retired they have as much right to shop when they want as you do. Why don't you go to a 24 hr supermarket at 1 am, are you working then?

*"It’s pointless saying care homes are in lockdown unless the staff are isolated in there too."

That's what I think tbh.

Who knows who the staff are in contact with-or the community nurses who go in?

Staff coming and going is a risk, but unavoidable. Would you want to be constantly working 24/7 (doubtful you could fit 2 shifts worth safely in the home) for months for minimum wage? I doubt it. There has to be an element of realism, and reducing the other risks of infection is wise. Doing nothing because what's the point is ridiculous.

"At some point most of us are going to get this. It doesn't appear to be too serious in the young and healthy."

How do you know it's not too serious in the young and healthy?

It apparently causes serious lung damage in some and may cause male infertility, according to some doctors in Wuhan.

But no, no big deal.

Plus that clearly says "and fuck anyone who isn't young and healthy."

Butter I’m not saying that staff should be shut in! I’m saying visiting should be allowed.

@1forsorrow

you didn't mention only referring to the retired, you said My concern is for the elderly that are capable of going shopping etc and do so on a busy Sat afternoon. I know over 70s working fulltime, I know a couple of nurses in their 70s who are working fulltime, I know carers as well. Even if they are retired they have as much right to shop when they want as you do. Why don't you go to a 24 hr supermarket at 1 am, are you working then?

Of course they have as much right to shop when ever they like, the problem with that though is they are placing themselves at risk of catching it more. So why would they?

You seem to be missing that point completely from my post. Do you think I would suggest they stay away for fun?? I mean it’s for their own sake. 😳 It doesn’t matter to me personally.

Again, the typical 70 doesn’t work full time.

And again as I said, it is different if the need to go out shopping as it’s their only day off. I just dont understand why they would if they don’t need to.

Funnily enough we don't go shopping for fun. I've been shopping this morning, I'm sure you'd be tutting but I've had family here for the weekend and teenage boys have eaten me out of house and home so you I did what most people do, I went to the shop and topped up the bread, milk and chocolate.

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.

I have to say it pains me but I agree. I also agree that we are leading on this and other countries will have to follow or see the decimation of their economy. If Boris turns out to eventually be right, it will be his Winston Churchill moment.

I frankly am shocked at some of the responses here. Tons of panic threads for days, berating of anyone not panicking, then when the government says sensibly, the elderly need to self isolate people are complaining about boredom. I mean really?

Then there's the paradoxical 'It will be too hard to enforce but lets shut EVERYTHING down because that will be more manageable'.

We have some of the best doctors and scholars in the world in this country, if the scientific advise is to isolate the vulnerable and try and develop herd immunity then I am inclined to trust it. People need to rise to the occasion and make the sacrifices demanded of us in this time. No one is going to get everything they want. Everyone will have to sacrifice something.

The Scottish Chief medical Officer has said (today I think) that it is not self isolation that would be asked of over 70s, but social distancing. Self isolation should only be for those who are symptomatic. It was on R4 earlier.

Yes I agree to CatherineofAragon. There isn't a perfect solution and it will be some time before we know who got it most right but for now the UK has a sensible and workable plan.

I would never ever have seen it coming but I think, if only Boris can get the public on side, he may well go down in history as the man who saved us.

@CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate - this is what the WHO and any other country who peaked already warns against. Lock up the elderly but keep the country running like all is normal?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8113661/Londons-usually-busy-streets-look-deserted-people-stay-away-coronavirus-outbreak.html

That Daily Mail article is journalism at its worst.

@CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate

Yes. It will be a thought out process involving virologists, epidemiologists and NHS specialists. They will have used computational biologists who have looked at TB spread in populated places and will have taken all views into account before designing a strategy.

Some times I wonder how close people are to real intelligent thinking. The kind that is genuine and informed. It exists in society but gets shouted down so quickly.

Some times I wonder how close people are to real intelligent thinking.

On Mumsnet, where Boris and the Tories are concerned, not very. Anything he decides/says/does will immediately be jumped on and criticised without proper consideration, just because it's him.

Boris = Wicked in their book and there's no telling them otherwise. They aren't actually interested in hearing a reasoned argument, they prefer to think this is some huge conspiracy theory designed to line the coffers of Tories while the gutters are overflowing with the bodies of the elderly.

@PieceOfMaria

Or social media in general

I’ve not read the thread, just the first post, but I like it. Makes sense to me.