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!

Also not for a minute saying it’s just the over 80s sadly dying, just it’s still the vast majority

I live with someone 88 CEV various illnesses. I’m now not working because my job can’t be done from home so I don’t get paid, my children are off school. I can’t get any slots for shopping so do 2 weeks at a time, collect meds 1 month supply. So far even when kids at school one 13 one 11 we have been ok. She is having vaccine Tuesday. I have followed rules religiously. Was unpaid first lockdown too. I’ve used all my savings, what else can I do? I’ve done my bit

many of the people older than 75 ish may not have/be able to use/have computer or modern phone for doing anything on line
People forget this - in fact I suspect many more people of all ages don't have internet access or they feel trapped or lonely & need to escape 4 walls. Balancing mental health risk & quality of life against what they may perceive as an orchestrated/exaggerated risk (remember they are unlikely to have internet access & find this unbelievable - a year ago we all would have agreed)
I suspect the younger old are more computer literate & are more likely to be able to order on line. There may be other people who live in poor internet areas (I know a few villages near us a internet black holes) or they are not internet savvy or be able to afford the internet
But hey lets judge without thinking

In dentistry we have to risk assess patients and contact them if we feel that a routine check up is not necessary ( obviously we are seeing all emergencies and urgent cases regardless of age and vulnerability). It has astounded me how many elderly, 70+, patients have insisted on attending, citing it is their right to be seen.
I have now started pointing out that they are signing a form when they attend to say that it is at their own risk.
Many come in and tell us that it is the first time they have been out since match, but after digging a bit deeper it is rarely the case. They don’t consider shopping, filling the car with petrol, meeting up outside with family, the list goes on, as being out. Truth is they often don’t consider ‘essential’ trips as going out. What they really mean is they haven’t been ‘out,out’.

@Spongebobsquarefringe sounds like you’re doing everything you can, I wish the best for you and your family!
Interested to hear these stories of different family’s and risk factors

& over 80's often need support bubbles or go into hospital see doctors or have carers etc etc etc

@mumwon i don’t think anybody’s judging!

My 92 year old nan hasn't yet been vaccinated. She's carrying on regardless of covid. She is very independent, and walks to the shops.

She says she'd rather take her chances wwitth covid and shield. She has the attitude she could be dead tomorrow regardless of covid.

*Rather take her chances with covid than shield even. Damn phone.

In our area it’s the 20 to 29 and 40 to 49 that are the highest catching it, those over 70 are very low in numbers

I really think the mask thing is confusing everyone. Wearing a mask isn't a magical covid barrier and I think it's giving people a sense of false security. Just because everyone in the shop/bus/taxi is wearing a mask doesn't mean you can't catch it. I say this because my parents (over 70) seem to think this is the case.

@HairyToity my great aunt of 96 is the same, I know it’s morbid but she always says ‘if it’s her last year of life’ she doesn’t want to wither away on the couch, so she still does her local shop trip every day!

I know we have outbreaks in all the care homes in our small SW town. Assume that asymptotic staff are taking it in.

@Nothingfeelsbetterthancrisps - no, it’s the fact that you can’t isolate the vulnerable. They exist in society amongst the rest of us, they are obliged to mix with us to exist. It’s really not difficult to understand. We can all minimise our contact with others, but we cannot remove all contact, hence the need for everyone to limit contact as much as possible if you want to limit spread of a respiratory virus.

They think it’s still to shop in person ( don’t believe online shopping is as good, prefer to choose their own fresher food ans bargains, like talking to people, don’t believe in covid, don’t have a computer.
They go into hospital for another reasons and catch it. No healthcare workers or carers have more than a plastic apron , surgical
Mask and gloves. We are vectors.

I'm cev and have children in school.

I am less worried now they are off school. But obviously I'm worried about the dcs especially in exam years and their mental health not seeing friends.

But i still have to turn up for blood tests, chemo and then it's a roll of the dice whether I'll catch it in hospital or at GPs. Can't have vaccine because of treatment.

Also worried that if I have a relapse the treatment will not be available because of NHS pressures.

I don’t think it’s as easy to shield as people think. I’m cev and 40 with 2 children and a husband who works outside of the home - in healthcare. Until recently both my children had to go to school. One of them has complex health needs. I have complex and rare medical conditions which means on average I need one medical appointment a week - either blood tests, seeing a doctor or a consultant. Putting myself at risk either way - go and get Covid or don’t go and risk the risks from my medical issues.

Nothing is straightforward in the pandemic when it comes to vulnerable people.

Bagels*andBrie
*
We are in the same leaky boat...xx

@Walkaround ive never suggested isolating the vulnerable, but nobody is mixing and shouldn’t have been for a long time? We could all say we’re obliged to mix with people but I haven’t and neither have any friends, it’s not about segregating a certain subset of people, my point was that surely they are being extra careful (no judgement if not!) unless there are big outbreaks attributed to supermarkets?

Loads of people have been getting infected in hospitals. And vulnerable groups and elderly are more likely to have had to visit hospitals and/or access healthcare services. My 89yo nan had been shielding absolutely to the book all year but caught it in hospital just before Christmas and died. She had no option other than to go in for treatment for a gallbladder problem.

A few elderly people I know have various different carers and nurses etc. going into their homes every day. These care workers are in close physical contact with tens, hundreds even, of other elderly people in the local community. So the risks are increased.

@ThursdayLastWeek

Well two weeks ago was Xmas day when we were allowed to gang out indoors with family...does that count towards this weeks figures?

And kids haven’t been in schools for three weeks now, so can this all be pinned on schools?

Primary school kids were forced back into school on Monday in case you hadn't noticed. So they could all socialise and hug before locking down again.

I am cev and kept my child off.

A lot of these situations sound really difficult! Hope you all are keeping safe, i completely understand how CEV find themselves in impossible situations with regards to work and childcare, it is still the case that the vast majority of patients admitted are elderly and still trying to understand how!

I’m cev and have been working from home since March. But my primary age children were at school until Tuesday and I had to do the school run also. My daughter who lives at home is a nursery nurse and has to still go to work. I also have hospital appointments.

I'm shielding and my only COVID exposure (that I know of) so far has been as an inpatient in hospital. I had a negative test and was put on a 6 bed ward. The next morning we found out the lady opposite had tested positive. We were then told to self isolate. My biggest risk is always going to hospital