How are the vulnerable still getting it in such large numbers?

[Nothingfeelsbetterthancrisps]

Just that really, given the high death rates at the moment, indicating that the most at risk are still catching it despite us having known which groups are vulnerable for a long time now, how is this happening?
Where and how are vulnerable people still catching it? Maybe it’s my optimism but I would assume most (especially the over 70s who shouldn’t still be working) would be staying well out of harms way at home, with the hope they will get a vaccine fairly soon and have access to deliveries etc to minimise risk. I know it’s a rubbish way of life and this thread isn’t meant as accusatory or inflammatory but I just don’t understand? Perhaps it is to do with care homes/hospital transmission but I’ve not heard of this in the news for a while!

Looking at my local public health website, a lot of the deaths in the area are still happening in care homes, although this isn’t reported like it was in the first wave.

@somewheresorted interesting, I remember it being such a big deal (and rightly so) during the last wave but admittedly it was reported belatedly

The new variant is much more infectious and it would seem that the usual precautions are not sufficient.

@somewheresorted are you able share where I would find that info for my area? Thank you

For the same reasons it's never been possible to simply shield the vulnerable and let everyone else do what they like...

The vulnerable don't live away from everyone else - lots live with other people who still need to go out, or have formed "bubbles" with others. Many will have carers going in, too. Hospital transmission does account for a lot of cases too and care homes are still struggling too - staff is bringing it in from the community.

Many over 70s are also going out to the shops and generally coming into contact with people.

Care homes or from care workers or in hospital when admitted for other conditions.

We’ve heard a lot about hospital transmission so I’d assume it’s from that and situations like care homes etc.

My friends husband died after thier daughter caught it at school.

The most vulnerable live with people, are looked after by others and cannot all get deliveries of everything they need. They need to put bins out, share communal areas in flats. They need healthcare, dental treatment...it’s been a year!

Besides the death rate includes vulnerable ‘people with pre existing illnesses’ include lots of people in employment paying mortgages and bringing up children.

I completely understand the day to day risks and of course the ‘vulnerable’ should never be confined to the house, it just seems very high numbers at the moment given restrictions, I know many of my friends have not seen parents for months now in anticipation of a vaccine

Many vulnerable older people need care in some form. They still need medical care, food or possibly personal care. My husband is ECV and until Christmas out 4 year old was in school.

Added to the comments about people who are vulnerable not being able to be completely isolated / shielded, those who have an “underlying condition” is not the same as “Clinically extremely vulnerable”... this is the most critical piece of information that people are missing out.

My whole extended family is vulnerable for one reason or another, as is my entire department of nurses. Funnily enough we all have mortgages to pay, critical / keyworker jobs to go to, kids at school, shopping to do, shielded family members to provide care or services for...

Thanks for all responses, genuinely appreciate a bigger picture, especially when, on reflection, many of my vulnerable relatives are in quite lucky situations. I hope that in the current situation anyone still at a high risk can get the help they need to be as safe as they can!

It's very infectious is why.

Loads of people are going out to work and despite what other threads say, there's a huge amount of people who need to go to work to keep things ticking over.

People live with other people.

People with vulnerabilities are going out to work, I mean there's so many risk factors.

It's a successful virus, from the viruses point of view. As they mutate they generally get more transmissible but less lethal so hopefully that's the way it will head.

We do have a fairly elderly population and a lot of people with underlying conditions/ risk factors which sadly means that it's not trivial for a lot of people given the size of the population.

They are still going to supermarkets, going on public transport, going out walking, driving (petrol), mixing with support bubble, going to chemists so lots of opportunities for transmission.

Well, I'm over 70 and cev. I don't go out at all. But my daughter, who I live with, has to shop for us. Despite being cev I , cannot get a place for delivery in my area.

We do Our best, daughter showers on her return from shops etc. Her and her partner still have to walk our dog.

This is the thing about cev people, we don't all live in a bubble,on our own. So if someone in a shop isn't wearing a mask, or is symptomatic but still going out, she's possibly going to bring covid home.

This is what gets me about people who say they are going to make their own decisions about their own health. They are not. They are taking decisions on my life too. I may not have much time left of it, but id rather these people didn't decide for me when it's going to end.

It’s massively transmissible, much more so than earlier in the year. We think my vulnerable dad caught it at a hospital appointment, despite social distancing, masks and other precautions. And a friends family must have either caught it through a Tesco click and collect order or on a walk as they had done nothing else in the prior fortnight (all working from home) - you would have thought these were very low risk activities.

A lot of over 65s still have to work. On one hand they are “vulnerable” but the government classes them as fit to work until the state pension age of 66. Increasing to 68 over the next few years.

@Confuzzlediddled

My friends husband died after thier daughter caught it at school.

Omg that is awful so sorry

Weight is a huge risk factor, independent of age. And lots of keyworkers who have to work face to face with the public are overweight (not fat bashing, weight is not a moral attribute, just reporting what medic friends working with covid patients have told me).

@Confuzzlediddled so sorry, that’s awful,

@Wnikat yes I’ve heard that, I feel it’s not very widely reported though? I think maybe more awareness is needed, I say this as far from a skinny mini!

That has always struck me as such a stupid question, as the most vulnerable are those least likely to be able to isolate properly, what with their vulnerabilities tending to mean they need things like medical attention and treatment, or social care interventions.

My friend’s mum & dad (both 70s) had a friend over on NYE, whose husband tested positive for covid the next day. The friend then also tested positive, and asked my friend’s mum if she wanted to go for a walk!

I’m sure many vulnerable people are not breaking the rules like this, but too many people (vulnerable or not) are.

Schools.

@Walkaround yes but with medical or social care provision i would imagine they will be working to the most stringent of covid secure procedures