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.

This is the link for the article :
www.itv.com/news/2020-03-14/elderly-to-be-quarantined-for-four-months-in-wartime-style-mobilisation-to-combat-coronavirus/

People over 70 will be instructed by the government to stay in strict isolation at home or in care homes for four months, under a "wartime-style" mobilisation effort by the government likely to be enforced within the next 20 days.

It is part of a series of measures being prepared by the prime minister, health secretary, chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser to prevent the health service from "falling over" and to save lives as Covid-19 becomes an epidemic in the UK.

Other measures already being planned include:

the forced requisitioning of hotels and other buildings as temporary hospitals;
the requisitioning of private hospitals as emergency hospitals;
temporary closure of pubs, bars and restaurants - some time after next weekend's ban on mass gatherings;
emergency manufacture by several companies of respirators that would be necessary to keep alive those who become acutely ill;
the closure of schools for perhaps a few weeks, but with skeleton staff kept on to provide childcare for key workers in the NHS and police.

@dellacucina noooo. Because we would have built up enough immunity as a nation to allow the oldies to come out of hiding again

I think it’s logical too. You protect the most vulnerable first by isolating them. It won’t feel like it to them, though. The rest of the population carries on, getting the virus and generally recovering from it. The vulnerable are moved to separate accommodation if they can’t be isolated. Those with children can take their children with them, but those children cannot mix in mainstream society until the threat has diminished.

thanks @StormyClouds

It’s not as considerate as it sounds. Boris doesn’t want the elderly overwhelming the health service so he’d rather they were all out of the way. Then, when there are no beds or resources for the few who do get sick, he can say, “Well, I did tell you to self-isolate.”

It’s been my parents’ plan from the start, they keep themselves as safe as possible while those of us less vulnerable try to keep everything functioning - & we all hope for a seasonal drop off/flattening of the curve/herd immunity/vaccine asap.

I think that there is going to be much more domestic abuse on the cards for vulnerable children if we close schools. Sometimes school is the only respite children get.

But my husband still has to go to work and will bring it back. Even if I wanted to be apart from him for that long we couldn't separate due to the design of our house.

Also what about families where vulnerable person is main wage earner? I don't think we can survive four months without me working. Won't people lose their jobs?

But how many 'vulnerable' and elderly people live with people who still work?

It's not especially palatable but it makes more sense than shutting down the whole country.

My parents were out stocking up on library books and gardening supplies for just such an eventuality yesterday. Being in their 70s they already have 6mth supply of toilet rolls!

As one modeller said he’d stick everyone at risk up north and let the rest of us get it.

Closest to that I suppose. Makes sense to me.

Concerns raised about the increase in domestic abuse of older women:

mobile.twitter.com/polblonde/status/1238946287183151105

And the only food...

Make it illegal to close schools so school staff don't ever get sick? You numpty

Sorry that was in relation to including people who are immune suppressed or vulnerable. Some of them are also children or teachers

The school part hasn’t been verified as far as I can see

I'm baffled by the stupidity of some of you to be frank.

Let me blow your minds.

Lots of old people live with their grown up children. Lots of old people live in care homes, and these carers have children and live in the world outside the care home.

Lots of immunocompromised people are not old.

Herd immunity is not relevant. Her immunity is a result you get when you have vaccinated a population and have a certain level of the antibody in the community. We have not got a vaccine for this. There is a reason we vaccinate for things like smallpox and this virus is it. There is no guarantee that would even happen as we don't know if this vaccine leaves the antibodies behind to create herd immunity. So that is literally antivax bullshit.

This virus has made it to the sodding president of Brazil. The most important man in the country at the very opposite side of the world to Shanghai. Do you really think it can't make it into a nursing home down the road?????

It's tantamount to genocide frankly.

it is on the news now. I think poor elderly people will die of loneliness potentially. I could happily hole up for a few weeks on my own but I am half their age and I think even then I would go a bit mad. With a family it would be very different for me. but for my mother on her own, recently widowed and already feeling low but fit and healthy I kind of feel she would be better being able to get out and about a bit.

But you can’t “lock our oldies down” because the most vulnerable live with family, or have carers going into their homes every day and those family or carers will be mixing normally and carrying the virus to the most at risk.

There is no legal retirement age in the UK. People can choose to work until they choose to retire. The 65 retirement age was abolished years ago

I'm in a vulnerable group but also work full time and have three kids in school. How's this going to work?. I can see the work could go (sod the mortgage) but what about the kids?

Genocide? Am I allowed to call Godwin on that?!?!

This is what we are doing in Ireland, schools, creches, colleges etc shut. Large events gone. No mixing with grandparents. Over 60's, those with underlying conditions sent home from work. Playgrounds, cinemas etc closed. Most working from home

The 'oldies' are people, not pets. You can't just lock them in their houses.

Some of those 'oldies' have jobs, caring obligations, responsibilities. Some of them are doctors.

This is a bit silly.

What about carers going into elderly people's homes, without which some of them may die?

What about elderly people who live with younger working relatives/ school aged children?

What about all those adults who are vulnerable, because of asthma, diabetes etc. who are young, way under 70 and also working possibly with school aged dc?

Seems like a half baked panic move to me.