Isolating over 70s for 4 months

monica I think that you are missing the point. Of course we will have no immunity and will if we begin to associate with other folk after a period of isolation get infected.

What we hope is that the curve will have been flattened and the NHS will be in a better position to cope.

That's very possible MOnica, but the plan is that there will at least be NHS beds and staff to nurse you. If you can hang on long enough, there might even be a vaccine.

I doubt if the country would come to a standstill if all people over 70 self-isolated.

Exactly, Alexa. Experience in other countries has shown that older people have a greatly increased risk of serious symptoms or death. The NHS is going to have to make choices anyway, so it's selfish to place a higher burden on the system than necessary.

If the country is really going to adopt a war-time spirit, individuals need to accept they rarely have exceptional needs and they need to follow the rules for the common good.

But when the seclusion is over and we all reappear, will we all go down with The Virus, because we have built up no immunity and groups of us resuming our usual activities are a fertile breeding ground for a recrudescence of it.

And it would be to lessen the burden on the NHS if old people are safe at home instead of gallivanting about getting infected.

It would be to keep the old person relatively safe from the raging pandemic outside .

Will we be set upon younger people if we venture out. Like something out of a science fiction book.

The country will come to a standstill if we oldies all isolate. It’s the oldies who volunteer, childmind, keep garden centres and cafes going. Some of us are war babies. Hitler couldn’t defeat us. We are solid. Chins up. Be brave and positive.

Beanie hat - always looks fine!

Pudding basin?

Chignon?

Flowing a la Kate.

Hair cuts
Someone different cut mine the other day as my usual hairdresser was away.
I reckon it could last me for 4 months, it's so short

We talked about haircuts today. As we won't be seeing anyone, we've decided haircuts is the least of our worries.

I am so shallow. I suddenly remembered haircuts too. I'm sure there will be a way - won't there?

A haircut isn't essential.

It's ironic really. We hear so much about the wartime spirit. Nevertheless, during WW2 the government faced all sorts of resistance from people who objected to their freedoms being curtailed.

One of my grandmothers was an ARP warden during WW2 (unusual for a woman) and she used to be full of stories of people who broke the rules.

Susiflo - never thought of that!?How scruffy we will all look!

With you on that SusieFlo not sure I could go 4 months without a haircut either. However needs must and it is a small price to pay for keeping safe and healthy.

I tried self isolating today and it was miserable. I agree with MOnica mental health is of equal importance. We should be allowed to be responsible for our own behaviour. I was on the bus yesterday and made sure to avoid skin contact with both people and handrails.

Of course we must look after the vulnerable but we can't do that without at least some human interaction. We are going to a friend for dinner tonight. At least we can still do that.

I am very sorry for you Scribbles in your grief. I hope there can be a memorial later on when everyone can come.

As usual, the UK is largely unprepared and behind other countries in implementing safety precautions.
DH and I, (71 and 79 respectively) had already decided to self isolate from tomorrow.
We have plenty of food, freezer and store cupboard are always full. Whilst probably not enough of anything to last the proposed four months, we have plenty of loo rolls etc without panic buying and depriving those really in need, and should we be unlucky enough to run out, we have plenty of newspapers, remember the good old days!
Brexit, what was that all about? Roll on July I say!

Couldn’t go 4 months without a haircut.........

I don`t object to cutting back on non essential trips, it is the enforced isolation that I can`t deal with.. mental issues, can`t be locked in

what about the thoughtlessness of the people who are STILL trying to go on holidays abroad..those posters who are condemning some of us for our opinions here?

there are far more thoughtless actions going on from fit and healthy, (I assume) people than anyone who happens to be over 70 not wanting to be incarcerated.

Today I visited the local Waitrose having heard they had a special offer on wine, it was bedlam, you couldn’t move.
Picked up the wine a few bits and pieces and a Telegraph.
100% doom and gloom worst case, no wonder everyone was panicking, obviously they had read the paper first.

I have actually been suffering from flu for 16 days now, over the worst I think, the worst flu I’ve ever had by a long way. All the symptoms of Corona virus if I had been vulnerable it would have been serious, yet my partner has shown no symptoms at all, and she has been back and forward to her mum who is 86.
So I guess its a complete lottery who catches it, only a small proportion of us are going to be seriously ill and I rather think the panic is going cause far more damage than the virus - we will see.

washerwoman I’m sure when people think about it rationally, they will begin to see the sense and step up to their responsibilities towards keeping themselves healthy.

What matters is as your daughter has our cooperation in trying to keep ourselves away from needing her services.

Give her my heartfelt thanks and all the others working with her. I think looking ahead she is going to need every support and empathy for her hard work.

DD is an ICU nurse.Her view is the more people who are the most vulnerable to the virus ie younger with serious health issues or elderly who remove themselves from general circulation for the immediate future the better.Not ageism.Common sense.So if not an absolute lockdown - unless advised - cut back on all but essential trips out.Some younger people will still be out of action and take some time to recover if they get a bad dose.We need working age people to keep shops,food deliveries,bin collections etc ticking over.And even though she's at heightened risk on the front line she also has to run a home and family outside work.Lots of over 70s becoming infected isn't great for them,or anyone.So being b minded and writing to your GP.?Why ?

Davidhs, how super you got the wine offer and a Telegraph.
You are getting over the worst “flu” you ever had and have an 86 year old MIL.
What a considerate gent you are to make sure the wine cellar is stocked.
I’m sure you were donning a hazmat suit and mask just in case.

Vampire queen totally agree with you, I am very active and will continue to cycle every day who can stop me I live rurally and will cycle up hills away from anyone but trees and grass, not doing this will rapidly de condition my body and do me no good.

A headline just popped up on my News thread that 40 somethings are now succumbing in numbers in Italy. So I think the idea of over 70’s isolating may go out of the window.