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Original poster

Over 50s

60 replies

CathyandHeathcliff · 30/04/2020 11:56

I’ve just seen an article stating:

The over-50s should be kept in lockdown for longer than younger groups and fined if they cannot prove their age when out and about, researchers at the University of Warwick have suggested.

I’ve been pinning my hopes on seeing my patents and in laws some time in the near future and now I feel utterly devastated. Sorry if I sound dramatic, I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.

OP posts:
FliesandPies · 30/04/2020 15:26

Topseyt i'm sure he'd be happy for any excuse not to have to be at work..shame Raabit and Hancock are too young

catinasplat · 30/04/2020 15:26

Not going to happen. Unless they lower the state pension age to 50 and pay people's rent and mortgages.

Missillusioned · 30/04/2020 15:29

I'm not sure over 50s are at hugely greater risk than those in their 40s. Is over 70 where the risk climbs sharply and again even more so over 80.

Going by this logic, maybe men should stay in quarantine and we release women from lockdown. Sex seems to be as much a feature as age when it comes to mortality.

The younger baby boomers are 50 something. There are still huge numbers of them in the workforce.

Port1aCastis · 30/04/2020 15:30

What a stupid idea extremely ageist and not very clever, clearly not a lot of thought gone into that as we have an awful lot of over 50s doing medicine teaching etc

RingtheBells · 30/04/2020 15:30

Yesterday it was BAME, most vulnerable and before that men, it also said that under 50 we’re getting heart attacks and strokes today

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 30/04/2020 15:31

What about the obese?
I believe they are a particularly at risk group? As a fit and healthy 50 something I'm damned if I'm staying under house arrest while my obese 35 year old neighbour wobbles into town.

Mascotte · 30/04/2020 15:31

They can fuck right off! I need out.

SallyOMalley · 30/04/2020 15:32

I'll be 50 in a couple of months. My kids are 8 and 10, and I need to work. There's no way I could do this!

3catsandcounting · 30/04/2020 15:35

50% of staff in our small primary is over the age of 50, including the Head. We'll struggle then!

longearedbat · 30/04/2020 15:37

what a load of twaddle.

Callimanco · 30/04/2020 15:45

Well I am 50 in the next few months but my dp is only 48. So if I am staying home and he is going out to work, he will just be exposing me anyway. Unless he stays home too. And then my kids are still in school so they will be bringing germs home too. ...

Fallsballs · 30/04/2020 16:25

I saw something similar last week and I think it’s a load of bollocks. The PM would have to go into lockdown for starters.

bengalcat · 30/04/2020 16:26

Sod that - anyway I’m a key worker .

PilatesPeach · 30/04/2020 16:32

males 45- 64 much more at risk than females same age - between a third and half more deaths. Takes no account of health, weight etc. Slim & fit 52 female almost certainly less at risk of death than an obese 40 year old male. Cannot work, especially when pretty much everyone in their 50s has to work and even those in their 60s particularly with pension age for some now late 60s.

SuitedandBooted · 30/04/2020 17:10

What about the obese?
I believe they are a particularly at risk group? As a fit and healthy 50 something I'm damned if I'm staying under house arrest while my obese 35 year old neighbour wobbles into town

^
This.

I saw the article too. It clearly demonstrates that you can be "academic", but not sensible. Who's going to pay my mortgage and bills?

Where I work, most of the senior and highly skilled people are over 50. Are we supposed to just hand it over to the younger lot, and pray they don’t screw it up?

I am 55, 5.6in tall and weigh just under 9 stone. I haven’t needed to see a doctor for 9 years, (had to go as I broke my hand) and I have only had antibiotics once in my life, so I would say I have a good immune system. I walk and run every day and have a very good peak flow reading. Frankly, I will take my chances.

Looking at the actual deaths, it would seem more sensible to lock up all the BAME people indefinitely, and all the fat ones, but I presume that’s not politically correct, whereas ageism is!

Shodan · 30/04/2020 17:14

Lol.

I'm 51. Healthier and fitter than a lot of people younger than me. Not a chance in hell would I stick to that ridiculous 'rule'.

Hagisonthehill · 30/04/2020 17:17

Oh good,can all us frontline NHS workers go into lockdown?Can I stop doing overtime filling in for those sick and sheilding ?Can I isolate if I've had contact with a person with Covid?
I'm 60.
Thought not.

dementedma · 30/04/2020 17:20

Am 56 and head of department. Also main breadwinner for family. I will be in work.

AnyFucker · 30/04/2020 17:22

That might prove difficult for me

I am 50+ and working in a Covid area.

MereDintofPandiculation · 30/04/2020 17:29

I expect they'll pick an age where the people most affected aren't sufficiently numerous to object effectively. Clearly 50 is a non starter. 90? most people would find that OK - there aren't many 90 year olds around, and most of them are tucked neatly out of sight in care homes. 80? Probably manageable. 70? There are a lot of fit, active 70-79 year olds, many of them active volunteers in the community, or providing childcare for grandchildren, many of them married to 60-69 year olds.

Just hope they don't make it compulsory. I'd be happy to continue lockdown in the sense of avoiding shops, supermarket, stop going out for meals, going to concerts, cinema, theatre, but I would like to be able to go out for walks in areas where I won't meet anyone.

TabbyMumz · 30/04/2020 17:58

"it also said that under 50 we’re getting heart attacks and strokes today"
Well.....that is true actually.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 30/04/2020 18:15

"The over-50s should be kept in lockdown for longer than younger groups and fined if they cannot prove their age when out and about, researchers at the University of Warwick have suggested."
Well it's a good job that Boris Johnson is going to make the decision along with members of his cabinet after listening to his own scientists and advisors.

There is speculation in the press every day - in papers other than the tabloids. The decisions the Govt take will have nothing to do with some researchers at Warwick University.

Recently there was newspaper speculation that garden centres would be opening soon. The Govt then had to state there is no way that garden centres will be open for the first bank holiday in May.

One day the papers state that pubs will be the last to open and maybe not until the end of the year, another day they speculate that Wetherspoon pubs will open in or around June. It's all journalistic nonsense. There is no point in listening to wild speculation and getting wound up by it.

lljkk · 30/04/2020 18:23

72 year old man rows solo across Atlantic in 93 days in a home-made boat but he's too fragile to be allowed outside due to covid19.

Yeah. Right.

Over 50s
aerosocks · 30/04/2020 18:31

Oh what utter bollocks. That age group makes up quite a high proportion of the workforce, especially since they don't usually have to consider childcare issues. And they've raised the bloody retirement age.

Unless the government wants to pay 100% of my salary for me to stay at home, then stuff that for a game of soldiers.

UntamedWisteria · 30/04/2020 18:34

Statistically, the risk does start to climb more quickly for over-50s.

But as PPs have noted, it's also greater for men, the obese, BAME ....

There's no way they'd be able to implement something like this.