Did anyone else see the DM’s headline “Vulnerable could be told to isolate themselves at home from next week”

@bradfordlass, if you are on do tell me how things are in NZ, my son and DIL are there so it makes me anxious especially as she expecting their first child and my first GD or GS.
My son thinks they are panicking a bit more as it is harder to import things there.

How long do we have to isolate ourselves? Who knows how long this will go on?

If someone who was vulnerable isolated themselves and were already incubating the virus and had no-one to check on them, what would happen if they became so sick they could not contact the outside world?

Sorry, I have social events planned and I still intend to go.
I was surprised that children are back at the DGC's school who have recently returned from the Far East and from Italy though.

How about the vulnerable, barely mobile and/or elderly who depend on visits from younger family members for shopping/cooking/care ? Who will look after them ? The nurses, social workers and volunteers who will be caring for the percentage of the population who are seriously or critically ill and need constant attention?

Should they lay out their will and their "do not resuscitate" statement on a handy table, order their coffin, climb into it with a supply of water and nibbles, and wait it out?

it was on tv today and makes the greatest sense. Meantime the younger ones go get covid and develop their immune systems as they recover, by autumn there will be fewer carriers about and less chance of the elderly getting the virus. Its a hugely logical thing to do, rather that cause that huge spike requiring hospital admission. Meantime stocks of oxygen etc can be built up ready for next winter

As a fairly solitary 'elder', I won't find it too difficult to self-isolate myself. Much as I would love to board a train to go and visit my family, I'd be putting myself at considerable risk. In the past I've caught several bad colds from train travel. I am hoping my DS who commutes to London daily on stuffy and crowded trains will be able to work from home.

Good to hear everyone is being pragmatic as usual on gransnet and sensible in limiting risks to ourselves and friends and family. I’m under 60 by a couple of years but DH is over 60 with heart issues so crossing fingers we avoid it before hopefully dies off before summer

My Son and DIL who are living in NZ reported panic buying before it started here so regretting I did not get any handsantiser etc for my elderly relatives. My MIL relies on myself and DH for everything but I’m thinking I will have to leave it to him to do the visits as I would never forgive myself should I pass it onto her

I saw that too I'm a bit worried if they start closing schools due to coronavirus outbreak and we as grandparents have to look after grandchildren we are more vulnerable to it and could catch it

Luckygirl, I feel for you. We have just gone through something very similar. For us, it was the right decision, being strong enough to say, no more. Definitely.

How will my DGC, aged 9 and 12, manage to travel from York to Oxford to check on us?

We were able to buy hand sanitisers and disinfectant wipes this morning in Morrisons but they were rationing the sanitisers to two per customer.
We are not over zealous but wanted to be able to wipe trolley and basket handles when we go shopping.

petunia - very pertinent post for me as OH has just died after we, as a family, took the decision not to send him to hospital for IV treatment of his chest infection. He had end-stage PD and was completely physically incapacitated and also was suffering mental torture. The hospice doctor had, on several occasions, gently tried to engage him in a discussion about what he wanted in this sort of scenario, but he resisted this.

A very difficult situation for us all; and I will never know whether we took the right decision.

Oh does this mean social groups too. I go to exercise classes and knit and natter both are with older people???

Actually Marydoll, I think you are right. Is it kind to move heaven and earth to prolong the life of someone who has given up, is ready to die but is surrounded by people who don't want to let go. Or is it kinder to not treat the chest infection or whatever, but make that person comfortable and well cared for as they drift away. It is a discussion we need to have as a society but we avoid it until it affects us personally. Waiting until this scenario happens in the family is too late.

As I left my hairdressers yesterday a client was expounding the view that Boris started it all deliberately! Not sure how he thought Boris spread it internationally!

We went to Sainsbury’s yesterday and the down escalator had about a dozen men most just carrying toilet rolls! There were loads in the shop and staff were filling the one empty space with new stock. Perhaps the word had gone out on social media.

It's not just the elderly, its the vulnerable.. I believe the elderly in this case are 60+

The academic who made the statement was Professor June Andrews, a former nurse and NHS manager in Scotland, who is the Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University.

Speaking to the Scottish Parliament, she is quoted as saying:

As a nurse my job is to be kind, but I also rip off sticking plasters, so sometimes it seems unkind what you have to say.

Curiously, ripping off the sticking plaster, in that hospital I’m thinking about that has 92 delayed discharges, a pandemic would be quite useful because then your hospital would work because these people would be taken out of the system.

Now that sounds like a horrific thing to say, but it is the case that somehow or other we have put people in the wrong places by not having the kind of strategic views we should have.

I think there is a discussion about this somewhere else on GN.

Gosh if the headlines are true then now I know why my DS & DIL have invited me to tea this afternoon as I never usually get an invitation from them without there being an ulterior motive.

But who are “the elderly” who will self isolate? Are they people of retirement age?
Are they 70 plus ?
Are they 80 plus ?
What if you are as fit as a flea at 90 but your child is 65 and a frail, unwell individual. Who avoids who?
I also read, with some horror, that some academic has suggested that we let the virus rip through the population and that it would kill off the sick and vulnerable releasing hospital beds. Wow. And just think how much money would be saved on pensions and bus passes as well as disposing of these pesky old people. Maybe she has shares in an undertaking business.
Are we loosing our minds over this virus. Panic buying and killing off the oldies! Pass the wine, I think I'll need it.

publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/04/coronavirus-covid-19-what-is-social-distancing/

Marydoll - we had a similar wedding situation with DD's wedding which was 2 weeks after 9/11. There was meant to be a party of 16 American relatives heading over and most did not feel confident about flying. We were very lucky that one of the cousins and his wife still came as their two daughters were bridesmaids. They flew into Manchester on the Friday, travelled up to Glasgow in a hire car and flew back early morning Sunday. They thought the wedding would finish late afternoon - not realising that the dancing wouldn't even have started then and he had hired a full kilt outfit. They left the reception at 11.00pm and drove through the night so it ended well but I do understand how you must be feeling just now.

do we need to touch people at all in greeting.
better to stand back a bit and wave.
how does elbow bumping figure with advice to sneeze/cough into elbows, rather than potentially over other people.
guess its less likely to survive on fabric than hard surfaces, but still, why touch at all, in any way, why come that close.
can greet, wave, talk from 6 feet distance.
re going to thailand, there is a lot of risk in doing that.
and moreso for relatives in italy.
what about if you get caught up in quarantine situation while abroad, may not be able to return as/ when planned.
and thats just logistics, not medical risk.
the more travel, the more risk i think, esp if airports are involved. i certainly would not go abroad to see any vulnerable people.
everyone has to made their own best informed decision, as with any moral question.

The Premier League announced it yesterday, it will be in the sports section of the papers today apparently - Sun, Mirror etc quoting it.

Dora I did see this yesterday, we have been discussing it this morning. I cannot remember where, I will have a search. Was it the FA, I'm not sure.

Scottish Daily Mail's headline is "GP shuts doors over virus fear" and cites one of the reasons as the surgery covers an area which is home to a lot of elderly people - those most at risk. His practice is in Arygll which could affect "Soop" I would think. Phone consultations only and medicine can be collected from dispensary window but needs to be left in boot of car for several area before opening.