Dear Boris

[DearPM]

Dear Boris

I hope you don't mind me chipping in. I know I'm just Jo Blogs with no high brow medical training or political experience. But I have an idea for lockdown. So, please hear me out!

To get out of our current predicament I suggest the following ...

1. People in the v v high risk group must continue to stay at home. We must protect them.
2. All those with high BMIs, with asthma, with diabetes, over 70, or with other underlying health conditions - please continue to stay at home.
3. Everyone else is free to go back to business as usual if they choose. So .. schools can open if they want to. Parents can send in children if they want to and their school is open. People can go back to work if the workplace is open, and they want to. Employers can open their business if they want to. Sports clubs can resume if parents choose to send their kids or go themself...
4. People who choose to continue to stay at home should continue to be supported to do so. Parents who choose to keep their children home should be supported to do so.

By taking the steps above we can keep our vulnerable group safe and keep the NHS from being overwhlemed, but the rest of the population can start to build herd immunity so that the vulnerable group.will eventually be able to be set free too, even if no vaccine materialises.

The risk of dying or getting seriously ill from coronavirus if you have no underlying health conditions and are under 70, is very very slim.

People now know about coronavirus. They know the risks. Let's enable them to make choices for themselves and get the economy running again.

Yours Sincerely,

Jo Blogs.

OP, the problem with your plan is that the NHS would be very quickly overwhelmed, and people would then start to die who would otherwise live because of a shortage of beds, staff and ventilators.

But are on the right track.

We need to reopen, but we also need to test and trace and quarantine. So, if someone has symptoms, they can be quickly tested, and if found positive, all who have had contact can be notified and can quarantine.

We also need the ability to slow down the country if necessary and lock down specific areas if necessary.

But we are not there yet. Hopefully soon.

My point is about choice. Up to you what risks you take

Nope, your point is about privilege. Not everyone can afford to make choices.

Nope, your point is about privilege. Not everyone can afford to make choices.

My point has nothing to do with privilege

I have been at work as I'm a key worker. My employers put me in the position of catching coronavirus (pretty much impossible to maintain the 2m distance rule at my workplace) so now my whole family have had it. I'm ok with that. I work with suicidal people and my going back has contributed to saving lives. However, I have collegaues with medical problems who I think should have been given the choice to stay at home - either to assist with whatever they could in a 'work from home' capacity, or in some other way - perhaps change of role to supporting phonecalls etc..

I have friends who need to get back to their jobs. They need their kids to go to school etc. Because they are really struggling financially. And if they choose that I think it should be allowed. I also have friends who have v poor mental health, as do most of my clients, and the endless rounds of 'going for a walk' as the only option are really starting to become Waring. They need to start getting back to normality.

My post is about choice. Where the heck does privilege come into it??????