Vulnerable children locked up in flats, deep recession, mental health eroded a future generation screwed

[Borkins]

I hope it flattens that curve. I hope it saves lives. Because huge sacrifices are being made.

There would also be those mentally scared by it spreading like wildfire and people dying en masse. Most generations aside from those born post war have been through pandemics/wars, we are fortunate that this is a very unusual situation. What would you do?

My child had to be inside for a month during the summer holidays. DC was not sick but had an injury that required him staying pretty sedentary for a month (too outing to give more details). DC was in the lower half of primary age and is an outgoing child. It was utterly heartbreaking to watch DC basically become depressed. Friends couldn't come over because all of them had gone on holiday, so it was very similar to this situation, only without the school work.

The first few days or even week is not a problem. By 3 weeks I anticipate more parents start questioning whether this is worth it. Not because anybody is expendable, but because they don't believe the mental health of their children is less important than the rest of the population. If it goes on for longer than 3 weeks, which it will, I also anticipate a lot of resentment. And that's without any of the economic factors taken into account.

"Parents need to step up for their children. Teachers are expected to babysit, feed, change, clean kids, but parents moan when they have to do it for a few weeks."

From someone who clearly has no understanding of the level of care that some children need. Many need the support of multiple agencies and that has all disappeared. And it isn't for a few weeks.

But the positives:
You can live through a lockdown. You can use this time to meditate; try yoga; start exercising; read a book; paint the house, rearrange furniture, organise the drawers, sew on that button...whatever you want to do.
You can work on relationships or decide what you’re going to do about them in the future.
You can spend quality time with children. You can cook more homemade healthy food.

WTAF?!
Are you kidding!
Do you have a primary school aged child in the house you need to teach whilst working from home?! Meditate? It's not a return to the 50s with a dollop of the 2000s in there.

There are people who can use this time to chill with family and pretend they're on holiday. I reckon they need to flick the empathy switch on PDQ though because that's not going to be the experience for the majority of parents. Working mothers in particular.

We have just had the Remembrance Day for the Jews during the war, many of whom only survived only because they spent years hiding in single rooms.
We have been in lockdown for a few years and suggesting that children will be psychologically damaged for life.
This needs putting in perspective surely.

I agree @sneeuw. We are both "lucky" in that our jobs can be done from home. However they are very full on jobs that are more than full time. And now we have to homeschool a five year old on top. I am literally collapsing into bed exhausted at the end of the day. My house is a pit - more people traffic, no cleaner and no time to clean is a bad combination.

It's not just 86 year olds OP although I also believe that their lives are valuable and worth saving.

In Italy people over 60 are being left to die because the health service is completely overwhelmed.

Young healthy adults and children are also dying. A small percentage of a large number is still a lot of people. Every single death causing unimaginable grief to dozens of friends and family.

So don't think about if you were 86 OP. Think about you now today, or your child. Would you like to give up your life today, or your child's life, so that other kids didn't have to stay inside for a few months?

No it's not easy to be in lockdown, but if you are lucky, when the lockdown is over you will still have your life to live and the opportunity to make the most of it.

I don't no whether to laugh or cry at that positives post. There will be households where the whole time will be spent trying to stop someone seriously hurting themselves or someone else in the house.

Thee worst case scenario is over a million. We are not being told this, but it is simple maths. If hospitals are full then the proportion of patients needing ventilation will die. So too will many of those needing oxygen. So too will anyone needing medical care that can no longer be given. The death rate in Lombardy reached 7% at one point. It was over 5% in Wuhan before they locked down. Rates this high are realistic for an overwhelmed health service.

Work it out for yourself.
80% of 66,440,000 with a 7% chance of death

0.8 x 66,440,000 x 0.07

What do you get?

THAT’S the real worst case scenario. It’s so bad no one is even mentioning it as a possibility, but it is very possible.

Now do you see why we are locking down?

I'm sorry but are you wilfully blocking out every single news report on this?? IT IS NOT JUST OLD PEOPLE DYING! It is killing younger people too; previously fit and healthy people, parents of young children, young adults. And many younger people are critically ill - they are being saved thanks to the medical treatment they are receiving. Not to mention the "underlying health conditions" that raise risks are things like asthma, obesity, diabetes - all things many young people have and are able to live with quite happily with the same life expectancy as anyone else. If we continue life as normal and let it run rampant there will be no medical treatment so the death rate will increase massively for all ages! And then not only will sufferers of Covid-19 die, but so too will anyone requiring serious medical intervention because hospitals will lack beds, staff and resources to respond to anything! Can we STOP perpetuating this utter bullshit that it's just a nasty cold that old Aunt Ethel probably couldn't cope with but the rest of us young 'uns will throw off within a week. It's BOLLOCKS!!! There will be many many more vulnerable children left parentless or with parents suffering life-long illnesses if they do manage to recover, along with many more children dead, if we don't adhere to these restrictions. I genuinely cannot fathom why people are struggling to understand this.

People who know what some children and families go through. It is a massive concern and something I wake up worrying about as much as the virus. Do not sneer and belittle others doing the same. As is clear from this thread many have no idea of the damage and dangers these children are suffering as we speak. You can pretend it’s not happening if you like,some of us can’t Yes your kids get an extra puzzle, meditation and larks whilst being in their safe home others don’t. Far from it.

Everybody is well are of the issues re CV thanks there is no not getting it so there is no need to patronise.

As an aside does anybody know if there are any charities helping such families and children?

I hear you, OP!

It's not that much different to the summer holidays.

Yep. Don't they habitually have 11 weeks off for summer in the States? I think it's a bit dramatic to claim it will, 'screw an entire generation'.

Excerpt in the summer holidays children in shite dangerous situations can get out. Parents don’t have the same worries, have support from agencies, can get out.....

You’re really comparing this situation for vulnerable families to the US land of acres of space?

@KatnissK - I agree with you.

People need to start thinking before they write comments about parents needing to step up. Do they want to contribute to pushing someone over the edge. Well if not then shut the fuck up.

@nellodee. Your figures are not right, as the 7% rate was not a percentage of the whole population, it was the percentage of those infected AND who were ill enough to be admitted for hospital treatment. Many many who get ill do not. Still rubbish, have no doubt, but not as bad as you said

If we don’t lock down, nurses will be overwhelmed. It’s safe to say that if we do lock down, social workers will be overwhelmed too. As though both these groups aren’t stretched to the limit under normal circumstances.

My heart goes out to everyone caught in the thin end of this - to the sick and vulnerable, to the abused, the addicts, the homeless, the mentally ill, the carers.

I really hope that these new tests we are getting allow us to have some kind of return to normality in the relatively near future. Right now, that seems to be our best chance.

No, Sollasum. It was the death rate amongst confirmed cases.

There are charities who work with these vulnerable people who are desperately trying to adapt operations, scale up to help etc. A DV charity is launching virtual chat so those self isolating with abusers can talk to someone when they cannot phone.
But all charities are taking a massive and immediate hit on income. Events are cancelled, no sports, no bake sales etc. No one was ready to launch virtual challenges on facebook. You can donate to funds and appeals if you can. Or volunteer, the NHS need phone volunteers to check on those self isolating.

If two thirds of the people dying of corona were going to die within a year anyway, is it really worth the cost to everyone's future? I know it's sad to lose elderly relatives but 86 year olds weren't going to, statistically, live much longer anyway
Yes, some younger people are dying which is also awful but the great depression killed millions too. Starvation isn't a great way to die either.

Some posters have a disgusting attitude towards the elderly. This virus can and likely will kill all ages. We have been on lockdown for a couple of days not years. Such selfish people

Absolutely mydog. This is really ringing out the worst in some.

this is the most appalling thread I have ever read about this situation. To single out the older generation and blame them for everything is actually making me sick to my stomach. You who have voiced such comments on this thread should be ashamed of yourselves.
How have such a generation been raised that they are wishing death on a whole generation they do not know so that their life can continue in its smooth path.
Of course we all feel for those children who may suffer more in this situation - along with the frail lonely person living on their own with no support network.
I would remind you all of what demonising a section of society and wishing them dead would be called

Leaving the virus to run its course would have led to ICU being filled 8 times over. There is a massive social cost to shrugging your shoulders at that. And if my vulnerable sister dies from this and someone says "it's only the sick and elderly" I will not be held responsible for my actions. Her life is just as important as yours, or your kids.