How do I tell them/

I’m in a similar situation, as we’re due to have the GC at Easter for a week. Luckily our son is already aware of our underlying health problems and has said they will make other arrangements, if the virus has really drastically spread by then. It’s await and see situation.
I had the pneumonia jab (three years ago) and have had pneumonia twice. It doesn’t work for viral pneumonia only the bacterial one. So don’t just rely on it.

Haven't read anything remotely funny yet. What's the joke?

I’ve told my daughter that we will look after the children if their school closes. We are in 60s and I have asthma, but my daughter and SiL are doctors and will be needed themselves. We all have to do our bit.

I wrote to my MP about the "plans" for the elderly.. whether or not they are living alone... I just got a Government splurge.

I am in a similar position, I am 53 my immune system is compromised due to a medical condition and I will be very vulnerable if Coronavirus comes to our town. I take all three of my grandchildren at different times during the week two babies and a 7 yr old ( not all at the same time ) I think the reality is communities will have to pull together and maybe neighbours or other available persons could take turns watching children who have to be looked after because if schools close the nursery’s will close also. Your son / daughter in laws? should already have put plans in place given that they know your health situation and should be monitoring the school and work situation; If this virus really does become a living reality on the scale they are predicting we would have to return to wartime strategies to look after the children, the sick and the vulnerable, unfortunately I am not convinced that there are many people out there who would actually care enough to help a fellow human being but then there are many good people who will help. Off topic but I think the people we need to be acknowledging are all of the first responders and the doctors, carers and nurses who are exposing themselves multiple times every day to the virus. It will work out don’t worry things always do in the long run.

Bussy - “things always work out in the long run”. Hmmmmmmmmmm

Namsnanny and Grosvenor, about 10 posts down from the original OP farview wrote: "One serious post...one funny post...hmmm" and several posts later the OP replied to that comment.

The 'funny' post was a quiz type question and another poster, I think it was oopsadaisy (although apologies if I am wrong) got the answer almost straight away , so you may not have seen it as it has probably dropped off the bottom of the Active list.

Armoria

COVID 19 is NOT a new strain of flu. It is not simply a strain of flu

It is a corona virus. And a new one so no-one has immunity

I agree that those of us with underlying conditions should be taking safe precautions anyway.

I put this to my DD yesterday and had a very negative response from her. She doesn't understand, like many people that I am worn out by having a succession of viruses on top of 4 chronic conditions I don't want to catch any more what ever they are called.
I certainly do not want to die yet.

Sympathies, OP. I hope the situation will work out with the least possible worry for you. In your situation, esp. given your husband’s state of health, it would seem utterly inadvisable for you to be running unnecessary risks.

Must say I’m very thankful that dd is on maternity leave until November, so that even if the elder two’s reception/pre school were closed, it wouldn’t be a problem - except of course for keeping them sufficiently occupied.

I find that they do work out in the end Marjgran, by saying that I do not mean that we all end up living on a rainbow eating chocolate cakes and counting our pots of gold; things will work out either the way we want them to or maybe the way we fear or in a third way a way we don’t expect. Having spent a lifetime worrying about everything, I have realised that whatever way it goes we are equipped to deal with it even if it’s not what we wanted or expected or have the confidence or belief that we can or have the inner strength. I have also found that in the worst of times people come out of the woodwork people who can be a stranger or someone known to you but who offers help or provides it without prompting out of the blue, so I have realised too that we are not alone in this world; good things can happen even when tradgedy strikes.

H. Ladies - one of my daughters has just got back from Phuket and Thailand - had checks re temperature everywhere they went . So got back to Heathrow they all thought they would be tested - especially as the plane from Phuket had so many Italians on - sorry Italians I do like you but not near me at the moment - well nobody was tested - !!!! So now they are all wondering around and could infect us - I know we could pick it up at the supermarket but the news has been saying they are testing them when they come back. So now one of my other daughters has said we shouldn’t see her for two weeks just in case as we are over 65. It really is beyond believe when we are all trying to protect ourselves that they weren’t tested. Anyway I am sad I won’t see her but think it’s for the best .

Make it explicit to them. If you get infected and it goes badly - they will be paying by the hour for all their child care (check locally what people pay!) as there will be no possibility of you helping from heaven! The government has just announced some measures to help people who cannot go to work cope financially for a short time. There must be other parents or informal arrangements they could look at for this one off situation. If they don't see reason I'd think very seriously about minding for them. The message would be 'my job is more important than your life'. I think the fact that the word 'flu' has been used in connection with this has done a lot of harm. This is not at all a 'flu' (and that's bad enough).

I would sit them down and have a chat with them. I have just done this with my grandchildren (16, 13 and 10) to explain that, although they hopefully won't be at risk, I am in the age group that is at risk and that they need to be more careful in washing their hands and not coughing/sneezing without covering their mouth/nose - I also had to point it out to my daughter as well as she forgets how old I actually am (and she admits it ) I am sure they will be as concerned for your health too and you will give them time to make alternative arrangements if the virus does reach your area, they may have to take time off work themselves in any case.

You haven't said how old they are.
If they are 10 and above, they may well have learnt from tv and school what is happening - most if not all schools are teaching children about hand washing etc.
Children younger, there is no reason that you can't teach them and insist, at least while they are in your house the hand washing , not touching your face, their faces etc and explain that there is a nasty illness going around and it could make you and grandpa really poorly if you caught it.
I think you yourself are getting the wrong idea - runny nose etc is not what you need to be worried about - it's the dry cough that can be a problem.

Your children should know better than to ask, they need to sort childcare or stay at home.
Please don't put your life in danger, I told mine, no way.
Likelihood is that they've passed it to you anyway, as there's probably thousands incubating it in the next 10-14 days.
Then the kids will break up for easter and contaminate anyone they see.
Open your eyes and read up, we're too late, it will be in your town by the hundreds.

It may not be you or DH who get it, it may be the parents! Tell then your concerns but surely they too will be anxious not to infect you. Childcare will be an issue all over if
schools start to close. Nurseries, childminders will all be affected too if staff have to go off sick. No one can predict so try not to worry, it may never happen.

I've got two extra children here this week as their school has closed for a few days for a deep clean following a confirmed case.
First symptoms from what I've read are fever, sore throat and a cough.
We're checking temperatures every morning as they arrive (to great excitement!), so far everyone is green and good to go on the forehead thermometer display.
We're also washing hands on arrival in the morning as well as the usual before food, after the toilet and after school.
They all tell me they are being made to wash their hands frequently at school as well.
I don't think we can do much more at the moment, just hoping for the best.

Grandmaclampet I'm in a similar position to you so I sought advice from my GP. I was advised to distance myself from my grandkids for now. It turned out that I didn't need this advice (or back-up) as my DS and DIL had already thought of this and were wondering how to broach the subject with me.

The humor is referring to a puzzle I posted on chat. I would not be so callous as to make fun of CV!

Our 6 year old GD has been taught about handwashing this week and the teachers are making sure they do it at school. She was telling me all about it on the way home, how you had to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice, so when we got home I went with her into the downstairs cloakroom and we both washed our hands thoroughly and used the sanitiser.
As we went into the sitting room she suddenly exclaimed 'Oh no, I forgot to sing the song!' and ran back into the cloakroom, washing her hands and singing at the top of her voice!
I think she believes it is the singing that kills the virus!

First, they need to realize that isn't a game, it's a matter of life and death!

Responsible, mature, adults should be supportive when the needs of their elder parents supersede their own needs...it's that simple. If they're not, then you and your DH will have to be your own advocates. When it's your life you are protecting, others have to respect that.

How to tell them? Let them know preemptively that as soon as you hear of any cases in your town, they will have to make other arrangements. Going forward you will be self isolating in order to protect yourselves from this life threatening and extremely contagious virus!

@Armoria this is not another strain of flu! It has similar symptoms to seasonal flu, but is 10 times more deadly. Please don’t tell people it is influenza. It is a virus, like flu is a virus, but this is very different. It is an infectious disease, there is no vaccine, and it may well mutate. The flu has been with us for a very long time, this coronovirus is 3 months old and we have built up no immunity to it.

Corona virus is no more flu than it is measles. But what it does share with flu is that both diseases mutate, so this years flu will be a mutation of last years and I seem to rememeber a panic when the flu injection was developed and made for one version of flu and another one turned up.

Bussy of course people rise to challenges but people can also be broken by tragedies

Rosequartz and Nitpick, you both got in there before me. Please everyone stop pretending that this is just another bout of flu. It is brand new to humans and so there is no herd immunity. If you have underlying health issues, including high blood pressure, and are over 60, then you are in the death zone demograph. Take notice how it evolved in Italy. We are about the same level as they were a couple of weeks ago. Make your plans, wash your hands, stay away from crowds, plenty of company here on Gransnet, and good luck.