Isolating over 70s for 4 months

If the curve is flattened surely there will be fewer - not none but fewer people who will actually pass on the virus when we reappear? Those who have had it and recovered some time ago don't pass it on do they - or don't the authorities know yet?
Measles, for instance, is very contagious but only, if I remember rightly, for about eight days.

It will also help the economy, I would have thought if the most vulnerable are kept out of the mainstream. Wouldn't that make it easier for those who can to carry on their work?

gg3

Scientists do not yet have sufficient evidence that being infected by the virus gives you short, long term or life time immunity. The herd theory is just that at the moment just a theory.

If the herd immunity theory proves correct then as the virus runs through the population, it will have less and less receptive hosts making the chance of picking up the virus not impossible but less risky for those not yet infected.

The best thing will be vaccination.

But therein for the U.K. lies another story.

So in practical terms the theory is

100% of the population at present are likely to catch it if nothing is done to try to prevent the disease by some sort of barrier like self isolating of those who are most likely to need medical intervention.

As the virus infects more and more people they will be left immune and so cannot carry the virus to infect other hosts.

So say 60% of people get infected?

That only leaves 40 out of 100 people you may meet will possibly have the virus. The risk has been lessoned.

Hopefully the NHS can now cope with those of us of higher risk.

All theory of course.

Spain imposing a fine of 25k for breaking the quarantine is a joke. That will never work.

I just thought about the hairdressers too. I go once a month for a cut and blowdry.
Isolation I can handle but no visit to the hairdressers! That will be difficult.

The curve may have flattened but there are 5 million or so of us. The numbers could still overwhelm the NHS that will be run down and below par after a three or four month ordeal.

I can see absolutely reason for feeling any complacency, because if older people cause a flair-up, that will spread to those in the community who managed to avoid it first time round but get it second time round.

I don't think anyone is feeling complacent Monica just trying to manage the whole thing as best they can. Of course, the outcome will not be 100% good; this is a very real life. However, hopefully, it will be a lot better than it could have been.

I cannot believe you are finding difficult not to be able to go and get your hair done in 4 months. So vain. So superficial.
I don't think you are all grasping the severity of the situation.
Getting your hair done when you are dead or on a respirator is way harder than waiting for 4 months.

I feel worse for the hairdressers, how are they going to make a living.

I have a relative who has a position in the public health dept.
She seems to think that we are very well prepared for the influx. As well as we can be. Many beds and a lot of specialised equipment is at the ready.
Some of you will pooh pooh that information but I’m going with her opinion.
I am interested to read that so many of you think that other countries are more prepared than us.
I don’t think so.
Australia’s 2 week isolation policy started this morning, I’m in Aus) but they’ve been running round like headless chickens until that decision was made last week.
We will self isolate when we get home but my biggest problem is how to get home from the Airport. We were going by train.
First time we haven’t driven, what a time to try and save the planet?. Bad decision.

From what I've read the virus should gradually die out when the weather gets warmer. If that's the case, by the time the 4 months self isolation is up, the virus shouldn't be around to attack us when we come out of "quarantine"

So vain. So superficial.

Whilst such comments are simply bad-mannered, personal and rude. Which is worse I wonder? An admission that our discomfort will be added to because we can't get to the hairdressers or trying to be superior when all around us is changing and needs all our willpower to cope with those changes.

Should I go home? Presently visiting a very elderly relative in another part of the uk. I need to go home in the next week or so. Worried about travelling through airport and flight and if they will be available. I’m also in a vulnerable age group. Any advice?

“War time Spirit”

You realize most people Alive today didn’t live through the war, right?

Surely times like this are when we most need decent haircuts, colour etc etc. I was so relieved that my hair appointment was last Thursday - and my hairdresser clipped me short. I am hoping I will have had my eyebrows done before they close down on us and make sure I have several packets of hair colour in the drawer.

Some of you may want to wear sack cloth and ashes to match the times, but not me. I am going to cheer myself up by looking in the mirror each morning and being very pleased with with how I look. If I end up a corpse, it will please me (now) to know that I will be a well-groomed corpse

By the way I was born during the war and survived the V1 and V2 campaigns over south London where we lived.

I think I could cope fairly well with self isolating . I have never had any problem spending time on my own to do my own thing, but I am sure a lot must depend on your living conditions and being shut inside a flat with no access to fresh air except by opening a window must be very hard. This situation has certainly made me count my blessings. I have a computer and sewing machine, both well used, lots of CDs and DVDs, books I have never got around to reading plus a large garden, and my beautiful cat. Ask me again after four months isolation to see if I still feel the same!

Maybe not Summerlove but we all understand what it is .

I agree with Monica. It will be even more important to feel good. I like to shower, do my hair etc. each morning and shall continue to look my best and care for myself whilst isolating. I don't feel good if my hair doesn't feel good but I'll cross that bridge.....

M0nica mine too, I was a bit horrified that she cut my hair shorter than I wanted but it could last for 4 months.
I did want to book a leg waxing but suppose I will have to use a razor.
Mind you, if I can't go out or for a swim there's no point.

Some of us don't need to look into a mirror and tell ourselves we're beautiful!!

Unbelievable shallowness and vanity!

We've spent the last four years listening to people saying we got through the Blitz, so we'll get through Brexit. Well, we've got Blitz-like conditions now - and people are worrying about their hair ffs.

PS. Some people might have been children during WW2, but very very few were adults, who had to worry about putting food on the table and dealing with bombed out houses. There's so much nostalgia about the war. I wonder how many really understand how many selfish people there were, who complained about the government's restrictions and/or were involved in the black market. There were probably some who complained about not getting their hair done, too!

Oh, for goodnsss's sake, it doesn't hurt to have a little light conversation amidst all the doom and gloom.

It doesn't mean we are not concerned about the situation, especially about our families far and wide.

If it really is light conversation, fine! But it didn't sound like it.

Oh dear

My mother worked on munitions during WW2, A V Roes, she had her hair washed and set every week. She had the money to do it which she hadn’t had before. Morale is very important.

I often have to remain indoors, mostly alone, as I live alone for weeks or months at a time.
It is hard to so but
I can't believe that people are making such a fuss....I see it as my choice about my mental health and I can cope the best I can or not It is up to me to cope, a choice to cope.
I repeat it is not easy and yet if it helps the country to survive then it is the right thing to do.
A lot of blatant selfishness on this forum. People who have good comfortable lives seem unable to cope with not having their own way for a few months is shameful.

You are capable of staying sane while you are indoors. Most of you have gardens. You have the internet, TV and books and telephones.

Why "Oh dear"?

I'm really not in the mood for such silliness.

I'm self-employed and don't have a partner/husband to [ay my bills. I rely on my work, which involves going to people's houses.

I've just spent hours over this weekend working out the logistics of doing my work online and it's been frustrating. I need the work and money to survive.

Although I'm not yet 70, I have a number of underlying health conditions and, of course, I'm anxious and have already been doing everything I can to self-isolate and be responsible.

I don't appreciate reading about people prattling on about their hair, eyebrows or leg waxes.