Anybody feeling scared?

Miss food love that is absolutely right. It’s selfish to keep going out and mingling as we are more vulnerable and susceptible to catching it and could be symptomless for a couple of weeks while spreading it in society. Keeping away from others is sensible and for our own good - it doesn’t mean being locked in your house (unless you have symptoms and are self isolating for a couple of weeks). It means stopping meeting with lots of others. It’s fine to go for walks (on your own or with your other half ) but keeping away from others. Fine to pop to the shop occasionally but avoid getting too close to others. There won’t be police patrolling the street - we are not in lockdown yet. Just protecting the most vulnerable and cutting down mass transmission.

Yes. I am worried. About people who have no choice but to attend hospital for life saving treatment. About people with illnesses that render them vulnerable. That includes me, but I am vulnerable anyway and it doesn’t have to be a pandemic for me to die. Something will get me.
What upsets me is dying alone and rotting away for weeks. I do have family. Either older or very much younger. With their own concerns. My siblings are in their 80s and in poor health .You can have family but be out of the loop. I don’t have any children, 2 stepsons who I love but there is a pecking order. That’s life.
I just hope that I can put heaps of cat biscuits and water down before my demise.

Txquiltz, common sense is just years of experience. It just doesn't apply under exceptional circumstances.

We are being asked to help others by self isolating. From an individual point of view, it's safer to catch the virus now. We have ICU beds and ventilators. In a month or two, there will be none available, so decisions will have to be made about who gets treatment:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/14/italians-80-will-left-die-country-overwhelmed-coronavirus/?li_source=LI&li_medium=li-recommendation-widget

Worrying times for you both.

I am undergoing treatment for cancer so as I am over 70 will that be halted?
My DH has diabetes and COPD so not much hope for either of us it would seem.

callgirl, that sounds a lot to cope with, sorry to hear that.

I like the idea of being escorted home by soldiers and police if I wander too far.

Joanna piano has such a strength with the demands on her. I wish her strength for the day.
I'm not scared, but rather irritated. Media has delivered such conflicting information. Manufactures gouge us with exhorbitant pricing, neighbors are hoarding causing stress in lifelong friends over toilet paper! I use common sense...hand washing and avoiding crowds. I may be in the "at risk" group, but I choose to not be in the foolish group.

Yes I’m worried. I have just got over a bout of some flu virus/ infection which has lasted 4 weeks. Was it covid 19? I won’t know as I wasn’t tested. If it wasn’t I don’t want another illness as it has knocked me sideways and I am still feeling fatigued. My OH has asthma and COPD, he didn’t get my flu and I worry about him getting anything else now. I also worry about my relatives in Italy who are in the centre of the outbreak and in their 70s. They are well but there are cases. / fatalities in their town. We are staying home as much as possible, have stocked up and will now avoid public transport and supermarkets. We have cancelled our April holiday. We are having a meal with our DS and family today and will tell him we may have to stop childcare. We have lots to do in our house and garden.

boho43, you're doing the exact right thing keeping yourself and husband in self isolation despite not having the virus... Both being octogenarians and both having cancer you need to protect yourself from other people.., that's simply the most important thing.,.
While you're well you needn't hole up in the house necessarily but if you live near a large country park or woods then perhaps you can get out for a walk, or even a drive to somewhere.. but stay at least 6 feet away from any other person, in a store or anywhere that you may have to be where there are others. I hope you have enough stocks in or can get someone to do it for you to last if you do get poorly...and can't leave the house, but do remember that you are still permitted to use your garden. However if only one of you contracts the virus then only one person can be out in the garden on their own.

Good luck to you, you have enough to contend with without the worry of contracting this Covid-19, and that's the same for all of you with underlying health issues and who are especially at risk.

JoannaPiano, so sorry to hear what you're currently dealing with. Just try and be brave and carry on, because, what else can you do in that situation? Thinking of you. Personally, I've begun to get a bit frightened. I work in a primary school and we have had loads of children going home early because of high temps and cough, but none of them currently diagnosed. I'm 65 with some underlying health issues, so I suppose it's only a matter of time before I need to self isolate? Just hope our local NHS services are up to the challenge?

Not scared just massively peed off.

I`m not scared for myself, but am for my eldest son, who is currently being treated for lung cancer, which has re-appeared after treatment last year. He has a terrible cough all the time, plus breathing problems.

Who on earth will patrol streets and arresting anyone who 'looks' to be over 70.
What about drivers over 70? Will police have cameras trained on their windscreens, scroll through CCTV footage or delve into who the vehicle owner is via NPR?
I'm all for sensible and strict precautions but has Boris really thought as to how he will effect these edicts,?
What about people (and there are some) who have no internet or cannot do online shopping for one reason or another, maybe because they don't know how to do it or don't trust online payments or only use cash?
How will they pay for shopping?
Not everyone has family nearby.
There may be unscrupulous people who will offer to shop for elderly folk in those situations.
No. Boris is going lots of the right things but binding over the over 70s isn't one of them.

Anything that stops the younger members of the family worrying about us is fine by me.

DS is in a country just locked down, DiL lives with us when working in this country, so won't be able to get back to my son and the young GC. Son feeling very down.

I do feel apprehensive. If they are going to put all over 70s into isolation, that means not allowed to leave your garden. All food and shopping to come via online or neighbours/family to leave it outside the door. Only allowed out if need emergency admission if you are lucky enough to be accepted, but if Italy aren't intubating over 60s, then I guess all you will get is oxygen if you are lucky!

TBH I really can't see me sticking to that for 4 months, I would be unable to resist going for a walk and trying to stay 2 metres from others. Will the police and the army be escorting me back home? Might be worth it!

Just a note on supermarket deliveries I have just booked a delivery slot for next Thursday - Sainsbury

I guess apprehensive would best describe my feelings lately.

I have always been of the opinion that we should all just carry on as normal for as long as possible , but things are progressing very quickly now, aren’t they?

It now all feels somewhat unreal - as if the whole world is in a Hollywood disaster movie.

Most of all though I am angry at the selfish devils who dash around supermarkets clearing the shelves like a swarm of locusts.

The cashier in my local Waitrose said there is absolutely no shortage of loo rolls or anything else, if people would just buy their normal amount.

MerlotGran, Grannyactivist and all other sensible gransnetters.... Thank you!!
It’s really not too much to ask to refrain from a few activities for a few days or weeks.
I am losing money as I’m self employed and my main client has suspended work, I’m also more than likely losing 2 holidays.
My expensive gym membership is going to waste and I have a son who lives in CZ on lockdown a pregnant daughter a son in London and a husband with an immune deficiency but thankfully we are currently all healthy?

I see my isolation as a lifesaver for my family and the thousands of people down the chain who I could infect.

On the positive side, we’re eating down the freezer, spring cleaning are ready to prepare the garden for summer and finally clear out our garage.

Agree wholeheartedly Missfoodlove

I can't see that making over 70s isolate for 4 months is any kind of solution. There are many on here who are under that age but have multiple 'health issues' plus family members who also have multiple health problems.
I have none.
I am not on any medication whatsoever either, so I certainly will have something to say to anyone ordering me to stay housebound.
I'll still go for my 90 min morning run at 6am when there is no-one around and still shop at the 24hr supermarkets or farm shops the minute they open if there is any food to be had on my return.
Other than that I am quite happy to stay home.

Miss food love exactly what I was thinking. Well put.

I'm scared. I'm over 70 and have asthma. DH has high blood pressure and other problems. I heard there were fights in local supermarkets today and someone upthread says there are no grocery delivery slots before the beginning of April. Luckily we have a small supermarket in our village so if necessary we will have to rely on that - assuming we are not quarantined. It all seems surreal and I still can't believe we have come to this.

I have a strong faith and having been very ill recently there were actually a couple of days when I was so ill we made plans in case I didn't survive. My affairs are in order and my family know that they are much loved, so if (when) death comes I hope (and expect) I can face it without fear.

However, I am also very pragmatic and I really do want to live as long as I can in order to spend as much time as possible with my family, so I have already begun my period of self-isolation and am doing what I can to stay virus free. My husband is very concerned that he may carry the virus into the house and has stringent precautions in place. My family are all quite worried about me; they all plan to stay away for the duration and I've found their concern for me to be very moving.

Well said, Missfoodlove. There is no longer any 'normal,'

Not scared - almost died of sepsis 2 years ago but I'm here and thankful for each day. Due to marry DOH in 2 months time (VERY small wedding) and just want that to go ahead after all we as a family have been through