Isolating over 70s for 4 months

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.

?

That was in reply to Monica - I type slowly :-)

I think it will start well but just look at what happened when children were sent to safety in the country during the war. There was a point at which people decided they wanted their children home or couldn't see the need for them to be away. Many stayed but not all. This is why they have people on the Covid team knowledgable in human behaviour and why they will not bring it in before they have too.

Am I feeling a sense of calm and a spirit of agreement breaking out?

How good would that be?

We have enough in front of us without tearing chunks out of each other!

If we were in a Italy we would break into song.

I hope it works out for you, Luckygirl

There's no doubt that the situation is very serious indeed. Self isolating brings with it endless challenges for the older age group but is the alternative acceptable?

I can see in the future a public inquiry where our government is called to account for why they let thousands of older people die, if they didn't act.

I am just worried that the 'cure' could be more damaging to our age group than the original disease.

www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18302490.carlisle-expat-issues-stark-coronavirus-warning-cumbria/

Carlisle expat in Italy issues stark coronavirus warning:

“There are many asymptomatic individuals who can spread the disease. The elderly and already sick people are most at risk, children are the ones who can bring more infections because of their social behaviour and because of their mouth in and out attitude. What will happen? They could kill their grandparents easily.

“Don’t be ashamed to exceed your government recommendations. They will laugh at you but please don’t care. Listen to who is already experiencing the problem.”

Lemongrove

Completely agree with your post Lucky.

Nothing to do with ageism. The advice given is to ensure we are protected from the virus otherwise it would be madness for any of us in the high risk category to go about as normal.
Normal life is on hold until we are all safely through this.

Self isolating is preferable than the alternative possibility!

Why not give us strong advice, encourage us etc but leave the final decision to us.

They may do it that way Monica. It hasn't happened yet.

This cheered me up. It was on FB.

Sorry, Gracesgran [sp]

Gracssgran I agree too and if they are not testing everyone with symptoms, which may be mild, they will never know just how many cases there are.

But we do need advice as to what actions are in the best interest - and then decide what we do. Of course there will be those who will flout the rules; but at least we know the rules upon which we base our choices. I do not think the police will be pouncing if an older person is seen at large.

merlot - I still have a buyer, and survey happened last week - it will either go through or not, and if it does I will move. I can self-isolate in either home. And take sensible precautions during the move if it happens.

Scribbles what a hard time you have had lately.

Nobody will be more surprised than me or GracesGranM3
To hear that I agree with her 100% on all her posts so far on the subject of coronavirus and staying safe and doing the best we can for all, under the circumstances.

Self isolation. How many suicides, possibly murders and how much mental illness will follow this? Especially among those trapped in cramped accommodation where one partner starts the isolation fit and well, but is looking after someone with dementia with nothing but phone calls and delivery men who do not stay to speak, just deliver goods and go, possibly for 4 months?

What happens when the isolation ends and all of us are released, none of us having had the disease, will it fly through our age group like wildfire because there is no herd immunity to limit it?

Why not give us strong advice, encourage us etc but leave the final decision to us.

With supermarkets giving 2-3 week delivery schedules, how will they manage to supply us. More importantly how will they deal with small value orders - say £25 and less. Will there be a swinging delivery charge?

We are all adults and most of us are as competent as younger people to make judgements. The ban flouters will always be with us no matter how draconian the rules.

Why can we not be trusted to act in our own and the countries interest?

I agree with all of your post, Luckygirl

Have you abandoned your house move BTW?

Scribbles..

Heart felt condolences.

When you see thread after thread moaning you must be thinking we should be grateful we are only discussing possibilities, you are living with the reality.

So many threads on the same topic so we are a repeating posts so here I go again.

I have been self isolating for 2 weeks as I have COPD Bronchiectasis and various other health issues so I accept I am in the ' High Risk' category. It is ' MY ' responsibility to ensure I do all I can to protect myself and have listened and watched and understood no government in the world can protect their population so I made a pragmatic decision.

I see my granddaughter (13) when she comes here for a lift home from school and we have ' elbow bumped' for days and I hate not kissing and cuddling her but we accept that it is better to do that now rather than possibly never doing so again.

I also feel I have the ability to self isolate with help, which I have, and I would rather those who do not have such help available are given priority.

I am not virtue signalling but I am a pragmatist.

Scribbles - that is hard - I too have just lost my OH, but we had the funeral 2 weeks ago and everyone who wanted to come was able to. This must feel very hard for you, but I would just say two things - the people who cannot come will be with you in their hearts and that is what counts; and, to be honest, my OHS's funeral passed me by in a sort of daze - I remember almost nothing of it. It is just a blank. I know that you will be remembering him, as will all those who loved him, and the presence of lots of people is not what counts just now - what matters is that he will be remembered .

As to the imposition of self-isolation for those who are elderly or in at risk categories: I think this makes absolute sense. It is this group of people who are most at risk, and also more likely to need hospitalisation. If they can keep themselves to themselves for several weeks, they will not be in danger of infection; and while they are out of circulation lots of young and fitter people will get it and, when the at-riskers re-emerge, there will be less of the bug around to infect them, and the hospital services will have more capacity if they need medical care. It makes complete sense.

Of course it will cause difficulties for those of us who might nee to stay out of circulation; but it is that or risk death from a serious illness. It is a no-brainer. There will be those for whom it is harder than most - e.g. those caring for an elderly relative at home, or whose partners are not in the at-risk category. But for many it is not hard to do. I am already semi-self-isolating: avoiding busy places, cancelling my singing group, lots of hand-washing etc. But I go for a walk (sometimes two) every day - I am lucky in that there are few people around where I live, and can see that this might be harder for those in more populated places. I have a garden and will be out in that when possible.

I think that, where possible, we need to try and be positive, knowing that it is the right policy, and to find positive things to do. My plans are to get back to writing poetry (been on hold while caring for OH), finish a quilt that has been waiting for some years, do some house-clearing ready for planned move later this year, practice the recorder and piano, enjoy exploring Netflix - this is an unexpected hiatus in normal routine and the only thing to do is to look at how this can be used positively.

It is a pain for sure; but we can only try and approach it with a positive heart.

One of the good spin-offs already is that a couple in Cornwall have printed cards to pop through everyone's doors, saying who they are and how they can be contacted and asking if there is anything they can do to help - boxes to tick for such things as phoning up for a chat, getting medicines, getting shopping etc. Let us hope that this will be a chance for the best in people to come to the fore.

wrong flue - flu

Merlotgran I can see what you're saying but let's look at figures. UK population 67,000,000 roughly - positive cases 1,140 - deaths 21 I rest my case.

Isn't that because it has basically only just started here. The increase in deaths is already growing exponentially - as was expected. The death toll from this virus is thought to be 10 times that of winter flue. People are just doing what they can, with the knowledge they have, to help us.

What do people hope to achieve by writing to their MP?

I am 70 now and quite happy to self isolate but hope that we get more information as to what that practically means. If they are telling me to stay away from people and not go on public transport or cinemas etc., I can do that (for the good of all) but can I really not move from my flat for 4 months?? not sure of that. But then again if it means that the virus is controlled maybe we have to do it!! Perhaps start a new 'isolation club' where all those isolated meet on the street corner (6' apart of course). .

I don't see this as pitting one generation against another - unless you want it to be. We are simply and factually more vulnerable. I am sure many younger people will want to help. It's a shame to see everyone as out for themselves. I simply don't believe that is the case but there has to be the best balance possible and if, while the younger generation are losing their jobs and the businesses they have built up, we can help by generally staying at home - I'm sure there will be some flexibility on that - then why not. It's then up to us to show our resilience and help others in our age group if only by staying in touch.