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

Making masks could be your new career move, Barmeyoldbat !!

Ah yes Sparklefizz I will have to wash it and that is why I making more. I will probably only wear it at the Airport and on the plane as the Dr I saw on Thursday suggested it.

I am 73 and have damaged lungs. We'd normally be at the pub now chatting but are watching absolute rubbish on tv. I hadn't been out for a couple of days so we have just been for a walk.

Oh well, the house looks clean and tidy so it's an ill wind.

Calli, I live abroad, so it is our local U3A. Barmeyoldhat - no-one knows. I am supposed to fly to UK at that time. Wait and see.

I couldn't get a mask but I have made one which I must admit is rather good.

You will have to wash it after every wearing.

Well I am flying to Malta on the 20th March for a holiday, does that mean I can't go? I couldn't get a mask but I have made one which I must admit is rather good.

I haven't heard anything about U3A activities being cancelled.
It's my turn to make the tea/coffee this week.

bluebell your voice of reason and sanity will fall on deaf ears I'm afraid. All the 'coulds' and 'mights' have become certainties in a large part of the population.

At the moment the risk of catching Coronavirus is low

Actually, I disagree. I don't go out and about all that much for any exciting events, yet if I was going down with it and infectious, I could have infected dozens on the bus on Thursday, at the library on Friday, and on Saturday at Sainsbury's.

what about if you get caught up in quarantine situation while abroad, may not be able to return as/ when planned.

A friend's sister has not been able to get out of Italy to get home to Germany. She has been stuck there for 3 weeks now.

If think that if/when it peaks (predicted to be in May/June) schools may well have staffing problems and some will close. People I know aren't panicking, just trying to plan ahead, wondering if their holiday plans will change etc.

and how on earth would they police this?

Had a phone call today to say that all U3A lectures and activities were cancelled till further notice.

* Bluebell* I agree! In my city of over one million people there has been one confirmed case, who caught it at a conference out of the city. I am getting my news from the NHS and reputable newspapers, not hysteria inducing social media or sensationalist, doom- mongering newspapers.

Please get it in perspective in U.K. 21,460 people have been tested, 21,254 have proved negative Out of the ones tested positive two elderly and ill people have died
What’s the point in closing the schools the kids will just be wandering around
If you read up on this it says It’s very unlikely that Children get this virus yes very unlikely in fact up to the age if 20 it’s rare
You can’t close the country
Get on with your routine wash more frequently and if individuals are worried or compromised do what you feel is right for you but this fear is really over the top

I think it will be time to say no to childminding - if they ask - time to be extra cautious and selfish for once!

and that is why the elderly should self isolate.

Closing schools is not a good idea, our structure would fall apart as working parents would have to stay at home. Children and young adults are very likely to survive relatively unscathed.

It is down to us and I don`t think it would be mandatory but who wants to become a statistic. Parents need to combine to form self-help groups re after school hours etc rather than relying on grandparents. I know that my dd has already told me (medic) that the risk is very much with the vulnerable

Yes Grannmarie, kids are walking, talking germ dispensers!

My nephew has just returned home from teaching in Dubai, all their schools have been closed for a month because of the virus.

He has to return after two weeks' early holiday, then begin two weeks of distance teaching.

I wonder if we should be doing something similar, to prevent children catching/spreading the virus?

Forty years of teaching has taught me that children are very generous with their germs!

Luckygirl and petunia, it is always medical staff who make the final decision on whether further treatment is advisable.

Views of relatives are taken into account, that's all. Relatives don't decide, even with a Health and Welfare power of attorney!

Don't know how this would work. We, like so many other Grandparents, pick up our Grandchildren from school and would no doubt look after them if the schools closed. While I accept this probably makes us more likely to catch the virus unless their parents can work from home there is no real alternative.

about = amount above.

One of the main keys to seeing the country through this epidemic is to ensure that the supply side of retail distribution and the distribution centres themselves are maintained in operation.

However, with up to 25 percent of staff expected to be off sick at the height of the outbreak, planing a route through such circumstances is proving very difficult to accomplish.

The above stated, the cooperation of those often underrated and underpaid staff in those distribution centres is remarkable and everybody should be in appreciation of that as all this begins with the rediculas about of panic buying being seen.

Doramar - The risk to the public has been raised from low to moderate. It's on the NHS website.

The wife of a married couple who are friends of ours and who has serious heart problems had a phone call from her GP yesterday. The GP stated that she was very seriously advised to remain indoors throughout this coronavirus outbreak and not allow visitors into the premises.

He further advised that she should not visit the supermarkets etc and gave strong advice to her husband on the precautions he should take while doing so.

So, the advice to those most vulnerable and elderly persons in regard to self-isolation has very much begun.

Well, I’ve searched everywhere for the statement that the elderly will be asked to self isolate, and I can’t find any such advice from the NHS or the government. However, the Telegraph and Evening Standard are saying the government/ NHS “may advise” elderly and vulnerable people to do this. That “may advise” seems to be based on the Government’s covid-19 paper, which details long- term strategies. These long-term strategies will be used in a worse case scenario. At the moment the risk of catching Coronavirus is low.