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.

@ygritt surely you realise that the random strangers writing contradictory comments on every post on MN should in fact be running the country, then everything would be much better. It'd be Narnia.

Yep and before it was we have the army, police, prison they can lock us down. It’s not hard.

Now like to see them stop my 92 year old gran.

If anyone on here was prime minister what would you do?

@UserV Completely agree.

It isn't the language that's putting posters' backs up, OP. It's the arrogance and high-handedness. You talk about your own parents, yet speak of these "oldies" "clogging up beds". It's all very callous. Did you write Boris's speech by any chance?

What about those who live alone, no surviving family anywhere (that's me, but 63)
and have to go out occasionally for essentials, or just to see another human being

The govt can advise but adults are entitled to make their own decision about quality of life vs risk

Over 70 I thought.

I work in a care home. Full of the people we are trying to protect from this. I also have children who would still be attending schools.
So, myself and my children are the people that the government want to catch this virus?
My dc could come home with the virus any day. Then pass it on to me.
How do I know I have it if we aren’t been tested anymore?
How do I know I am safe to carry on providing care for my residents?

I think they would know after four weeks by the figures whether or not locking down the elderly or closing schools works. You would not need to make it four months. It is a breathtaking experiment. None of us worldwide really know what will be the best way to tackle the virus for some time.

@1happiehippie

That's what I don't get, hippie

Your children will pass it to you, you will be asymptomatic and will unknowingly pass it to the elderly and they will pass it back to other car workers/visiting medical staff

@Wolfff there arent going to be routine gp and dentist appoitments very soon, there arent going to be cafes open for "lunch with friends", shopping will be like italy with lines up outside.....

@ch3rrycola the banks are operating mortgage holidays, it is isolate the vulnerable only or isolate everyone.....

@mumwon think now about how to support the disabled members of your family that need support if isolated. its this or full lockdown. make plans now

there is no option where life goes on as you know it. this is war. hopefully we come through with the least dead possible and a partially functioning society.....

The govt can advise but adults are entitled to make their own decision about quality of life vs risk
The government can enforce, if it wants, in a national emergency. Like in the war. Because it is a war.

"The people aged 50 plus are more laid back and nonchalant because they have been through WAY worse than this coronavirus mayhem and hysteria."

I'm 63 and there has been nothing anywhere near as bad as this crisis in my lifetime

The Cold War didn't worry me anything like as much, because it was a possibility, not a certainty
and a virus won't be put off by Mutual Assured Distruction

My late parents lived through the Depression and WW2, but except for their very few surviving contemporaries,
noone around has lived through anything comparable, at least not as adults who knew what was going on

Where is this info coming from? Please provide a link as I can’t see it on the usual channels?

What’s more important, mum not being bored or mum getting this virus and it killing her?

As has been pointed out, numerous times, it isn't just about mum not being bored. Many elderly people need care - be it living in or visits from family, or carers. These people may well have children who are being "herded" (and there is massive controversy over the effectiveness of that strategy in itself). So in effect, many, many elderly simply won't be able to follow the advice.

"The government can enforce, if it wants, in a national emergency. Like in the war. Because it is a war."

and they'll be well aware that the over 60s are the ones who vote the most ....

Of course they can try to enforce millions of over 70s staying home, but it is likely that police and military will be far too busy to try to impose different rules on different groups,
saying some people can live a normal life, but others must be locked up for months

Much easier to close all clubs, pubs, restaurants, hairdresseers etc - everything except food shops, chemists and transport - like in other countries

There will definitely need to be a lot of resources put in place; The talk of requisitioning hotels to use as hospitals - it may be that the intention is for some of those to be used for people who have more severe care needs than could be managed in the community?

There are undoubtedly challenges, huge ones. But they feel smaller than the ones generated by removing swathes of the working population because that doesn't provide the protection to the most vulnerable and removes the people needed to care for them

Really difficult decisions are having to be made. Keeping the vulnerable - elderly and younger but unwell - isolate for their own protection is surely sensible?

Children have 0/0.1% death rates from this virus. So if they get it, they will survive and be fine, as will a similar % of fit well under-65s. Awful if you're the 1/1000 of course but these are really hard decisions that someone needs to make a call on. Those over 80 have 15-20% death rate in all countries affected.

For those, as suggested by individuals implicated and understandably terrified, who might be medically vulnerable themselves and live with children or elderly, emergency provision will have to be made to help you and I'm sure that's something being considered.

But for the vast majority of our UK population, older people don't directly live with their families (unlike Italy...) and most kids live with fit under-65 year old parents. And they will get the virus and recover.

Then, in 4 months (or whenever) there will be fewer people in the population infected, so the spread to older and vulnerable people will be enormously less.

This is going to be huge and no-one knows (inc WHO) what the right strategy is. But a strategy suggested by scientists, virologists, epidemiologists etc is probably worth giving credence to.

As difficult as it seems, the world has changed, accept what will have to be, it may be unfair, may not feel nice, adapt we must. There is no other option. We owe it to the vulnerable in health.

We all take one for the team.

Bool. So tell me, what does the ‘one for the team’ you personally are going to take look like? What will your personal sacrifice be?

Are we also forgetting that the retirement age in the UK is 65!

Pestopastamad. There is no retirement age. There hasn’t been for years.

The age in the op is over 70 anyway

This is enough to drive people to suicide. More so when they can't get to see a doctor about other unrelated health issues.

How can you isolate pensioners for months when many/most of then need vistis to GP / pharmacy etc for various ailments. What about the dentist!

Specifically calling out those moaning that they’re mum will be bored etc.... the above situation you describe is different! but the point was not treating eldey who go out. So do we interview people and assess whether they had a good reason? Sorry, found out your Mom wasn't going out for basic supplies but cos she was bored ask were removing the ventilator.
What about younger people who get it by going out and enjoying themselves? Surely they bring it on themselves too

exactly, Spring.