Isolating over 70s for 4 months

I can see the sense of this. If the elderly self isolate then this should reduce in theory the risk of them catching the infection, which means less pressure on NHS. If that what it takes to keep our love ones safe, then I would do it

Lindy loo - I think that is fake news. No vaccine will be available for a year or so.

JCB and Rolls Royce asked to make ventilators? Shocking!

Why is that shocking?

What happens to people like me who are undergoing cancer treatment?

The elderly are, for the most part, the ones suffering the worst affects of this virus. They’re trying to protect us. All these posters moaning about ageism. Stop expecting the government to do everything for you. If you want to end up on a ventilator in ICU or the alternative, being left to die gasping for breath because there isn’t a ventilator available, then just carry on going shopping in crowded places, seeing the grandchildren etc. If you want to remain virus free then heed the advice and put up with a boring couple of months. Most of us have gardens, phones and laptops. It’s not the end of the world to remain isolated for part of the year. My widowed son will struggle without my help with the boys but he knows he’ll struggle far more if I’m gone for good.

What this government has done to our NHS and social care since 2010 is now absolutely in full public glare.

Germany with a comparable population, have 4 times the level of ICU beds and have already ordered 10000 more ICU beds.

Ask what the U.K. government has done.

One good thing to come out of it then mbmb

The people who are dying, old or young, are all people with pre-existing conditions. Each is in individual tragedy for their family, but the 10 who died yesterday were over 80 and had just such a medical condition.

To go from that to putting all over 70s in lock-down is an unreasonable jump. Surely, as adults as capable of rational judgement as anyone younger we have a right to make our own judgement of risk.

DH and I are both aware of our risks and are certainly now limiting what we we do and where we go, but unless the government wants a major mental health crisis among the elderly, it needs to rethink this scheme.

Risk begins to increase from the age of 50.

You will be at increased regardless of underlying health condition.

From 50 the risk of complication associated with covid19 increases exponentially.

You may survive the virus, but at what cost to the NHS.

It is everyone’s responsibility to assist the NHS is this massive crises facing the staff and infrastructure, both understaffed and lack of appropriate equipment.

To refuse to isolate when every country in the world is calling on its population to do so is both utterly irresponsible and potentially criminal in some countries.

It is time to stop thinking “me” and replacing it with “us”

Absolutely Wwm2

I will be very interested to see what a JCB ventilator looks like if it’s anything like their diggers I would worry.

well we are are all DOOMED!!!

It is still a phoney war situation here. Perhaps when a few of us oldies have died, and the funerals cancelled, we will understand what the priorities should be.

I know I should have paid more attention to keeping fit and looking younger!

If I'm reading this correctly! The UK is going for Herd Immunity, (this could change) so they want the majority of young ones to get the virus, as they can fight it off easily. Meanwhile keeping older ones out of the way, as much as possible, while this is all going on.
Then hopefully the virus will have nowhere to go and will gradually burn out.
Other countries are going for lockdown but according to an immunologist on tv, as soon as the lockdown is released, the virus will flare up again. He reckoned, the only way, is to get the majority of people immune to it.
Meanwhile a vaccine is being made to treat the rest of us but this will not be ready for probably a year.

I am going to rush out and plant potatoes and other things to eat!

Polly- I heard on a Radio Four interview that a vaccine has been developed and is now going through animal testing, this can take some time. It then has to be confirmed to be safe for humans and then go into production. All this takes time. I got the impression its the production faze which will cause most delay.

I wonder how many of these headlines come from the office of Dominic Cummings and his motley crew?

Yes nfkdumplng that’s my understanding and it will then take a long time to go into production.

Herd Immunity with regard to covid-19 is at present only a theory.

There is no scientific evidence to back this up at the moment. We have no idea of the level of immunity you have once you have had the virus.

Vaccination is the best and safest method.

Unfortunately the U.K. will be leaving the EMA at the end of the year, which of course means that that no “accelerated assessment” will be carried out.

We have already left the EU emergency bulk-buying mechanism which speeds up the access to pharmas and the latest products during a crises such as we are seeing.

Unfortunately we have yet no trading agreement with regard to access to pharmaceutical products.

We could avoid the worse if we agree to align with the EMA regulations -

why wouldn’t we?

Whitewavemark2

The government is doing something in a calm and considered way. The NHS will be stretched we can debate the ways and wherefores ad nauseam but we are where we are. I have an elderly husband and as a cancer survivor my immune system is impaired. Therefore I will do what it takes to prevent exposure to the virus and if that means 4 months of isolation so be it. That way I am doing my best to safeguard my loved ones whilst not putting pressure on NHS. There is a big element of personal responsibility here, and rather than government bashing and so called experts having their 15 mins of fame, it would help the nation if the opposition parties supported the goverment and present a unified approach. We are in a unique situation but one that has been planned for, for years, just because our approach is differing doesn't mean it is wrong, the real danger is public opinion bouncing the government into a course of action for political reasons to our detriment.
Today my husband and I will sit down and plan in discussions with our families based on advice.

Buffy - I think that your post sums it up. This virus is rife now and things can only go downhill. I think that it's our responsibility to take all possible measures to protect against infection. We are already social distancing but it's a small step for us because of my husband's health. There's no science behind the government theory so it could all be for nothing, but whatever there's going to be a great cost as Johnson warned last week with his ' some people are going to lose loved ones before their time statement.' In my family there are younger people with health issues that make them vulnerable, not only the elderly are at risk.

YouTube has lots of 'at home fitness workout' videos for those who can't get to the gym. DH will continue walking a couple of miles around the village each day. My walks are slower and shorter and I shall be doing some gardening, weather permitting.

Gagajo we are fortunate. There are many in your situation and it must be worrying.

JCB and Rolls Royce asked to make ventilators? I didnt know that. Gosh..it's like a war situation. .getting prepared. I hope we don't get to use them all, but I hope they work fast! I wonder how many we have already.

Right now, I need a human touch and a hug from a friend. I know I'm not the only person in this situation and I don't want to be selfish but the prospect of months in isolation leaves me in despair.

I live alone now since my husband was killed in an accident 8 weeks ago. My only relative in this country is my daughter who lives 150 miles away. Others will understand the anguish and loneliness of being alone with no casual touch of a hand, an arm around the shoulders, all the little day to day contacts. The only thing that has kept me sane during police investigations and endless legal bureaucracy has been seeing friends and neighbours and having a hug.

Next Friday, OH's ashes will be interned in the presence of our friends and there will be lunch in the pub afterwards. As some of those friends are over 70, am i supposed to cancel? Some of them are coming long distances; are we to be forbidden an embrace in greeting and comfort?

I fear for the mental and emotional health of thousands of people if months of isolation are forced upon us - not to mention the decline in physical health when fresh air and a brisk walk are forbidden.

The grief, anxiety and stress are already having an effect on my rationality . I truly fear for my sanity if isolation is imposed. I'd rather take my chances with the virus than end up slitting my wrists in lonely grief.

Oh, and to those who think it couldn't be enforced: the Emergency Powers Act of the 1930s has not been repealed, so far as I'm aware. If the government chooses to invoke that, the military will be authorised to shoot anyone disobeying orders.

So many opinions....
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51892402

Risk begins to increase from the age of 50.

You will be at increased regardless of underlying health condition.

From 50 the risk of complication associated with covid19 increases exponentially.

You may survive the virus, but at what cost to the NHS.

It is everyone’s responsibility to assist the NHS is this massive crises facing the staff and infrastructure, both understaffed and lack of appropriate equipment.

To refuse to isolate when every country in the world is calling on its population to do so is both utterly irresponsible and potentially criminal in some countries.

It is time to stop thinking “me” and replacing it with “us”