It's not always that easy

That is the trouble with free will - it is a basic right and everyone wants it, but it inevitably includes the freedom of other people as well. Imposing someone else's decision in a time of crisis removes some of that free will - which makes sense when a certain action on everyone's part is essential, but sets a precedent which it is possible will be picked up at a different time by those who want power for its own sake.

My DH and I are both over 70. Our sons live 200 miles away. It worries me that we've got to go out to get food, but we really have little choice. All the delivery slots from supermarkets are booked solid and when we went to the village store on Friday the shelves were mostly empty. I hope the supermarkets will be able to sort out priority deliveries for older people so we don't need to go out, but I understand how difficult it must be.

Exactly Genevieve489 some of us have no choice but to make an infrequent trip to the super market. Not daily and not stopping for coffee etc.

The difficulty is when one person's freedom to do what they think best - ignore the requests for social distancing during this crisis, impinges on someone elses freedom to not be put in danger of their health and life as a result.

More and more local groups are being set up where volunteers will do essential shopping, fetch prescriptions etc for neighbours. In our small town every street has been covered so nobody vulnerable should need to go out. How long this will work will depend on these younger people staying healthy.
The government has also announced help schemes through local councils.
My daughter is self isolating for two weeks as her son has a cough. He seems well enough so it is hopefully not Coronavirus. If only they could be tested, she would be free to help too.

The country should have been in lockdown from the word go, meaning that everything should have come to a halt just like Boris is " trying " to do now.

China managed with their millions which halted a catastrophe, so just why didn't we ? Planes were landing left,right and centre with people from infected areas. I give up !

Are there any cases in Russia btw, a cold area where this virus thrives, supposedly ? If not, why not ?

Well I have choice but to shop for my dad and a few of his very elderly neighbours. Also my DD and her baby with no transport and my DH who is not well .

Good for those who have huge fridge freezers and plenty stuff to see them through.

Apparently 367 cases in Russia with 1 death. I asked Alexa.

I agree EllanVannin, that government interventions began too late and don't go far enough. 'Why didn't we? Easy, to protect the economy - a lost hope now - and by our 'leaders' opting to ignore advice from the WHO.

We don't really know about the situation in Russia (or China or Iran for that matter) as they're not known to offer accurate information.

Of course, with our level of testing, we can't give valid information either.

I just read through this (all the above) again. OK 'it's not always that easy' - true, but how many people are making real efforts to stop the shopping and get somebody else to do it?

Here, we have plenty of volunteers - and a lot of obstinate old folk flatly refusing to accept help or change their ways. They use the 'have to go shopping' as an excuse!

Hetty58. Spot on. How many elderly people “have to” go shopping ? Of course it’s not easy, for heaven’s sake it is a pandemic! I honestly think some people are still “denying”

I think we’d all get along better if we took full responsibility for what we do as individuals, and stop concerning ourselves with what others do. I have to go to work, and for my short walk there, and in the workplace, I shall stay 6ft away from others. Apart from that I am avoiding all physical contact with other people. Others may have good reasons to go out or into shops, or they may just be careless or selfish, but either way, it’s none of my business.

I am the somebody else doing it ! For gods sake .

geekesse, normally, it's none of my business either. We are not in a normal situation, though, far from it. It IS my business when people are putting my family's lives at risk!

EllenVannin Hetty58
I think you’re both right. I think this has been mismanaged from the word go. There was plenty of evidence from China and Italy emerging, the WHO said outright Britain was taking the wrong route. We were told we had to allow the virus to circulate and then we’d get ‘herd immunity.’ But there’d be a lot of deaths. IRRESPONSIBLE,
That’s playing with people’s lives. It’s saying some people, probably mainly older people, are expendable. It’s nothing short of disgusting, in my opinion. Now, too late, as Ellan says, the advice is different, but not anywhere near strong enough. Italy is in lockdown, whole states in America are in lockdown, China had lockdown, Paris has lockdown, Spain has lockdown. We need to be in lockdown too. Not tomorrow, NOW.

I am surprised at how nasty the country is getting towards “old people”. We are trying to social distance as much as possible, but as discussed before there are no slots for home delivery and nothing on the shelves when you go shopping. Last week I had to visit three supermarkets just to get a few bits and pieces. We try to walk on our local beach for a bit of fresh air but now the schools have closed the beach is covered in families.
We have no family or friends to do our shopping for us and any way DH is over 70 but I am not so I suppose technically it falls to me.
The other thing that confuses me is how people pay all these friends and neighbours for the shopping. Do they pop up to the local post office or bank to get some cash out, and doesn’t that rather defeat the object.
My eighty year old mother asked me the other day if it was alright to give her carer her bank card to get some money out to pay for her groceries.
Most of us are trying our best after all we don’t want to die from this, but a little more kindness and understanding towards “old people” who are after all human beings not just statistics wouldn’t go amiss.

I live in Cumbria and will continue to do mountain walks but be careful to choose less challenging walks to keep the risk of accidents low. Will aim to go to very quiet places with DH.

We’ve been told to stay at home.
If there are any failings it’s down to us, for years we have been moaning about the Nanny State, now they are telling us to STAY AT HOME. And yet there are posters on here still going out and baby sitting.
What don’t these people understand?
It isn’t the governments fault it’s ours. Start taking some responsibility.

Before anyone jumps on me , I know that some people have no choice but to go out and I’m sure that they are taking PPS
But to all others tell your adult children to stay at home.
I also notice that many pubs are doing take aways , and while the customers are waiting they are serving them with drinks, at the tables, so almost full pubs.
Well done idiots.

Forgot to say though, that to allow our borders to remain open is madness.
Stop the flights and ships/ ferries arriving.

There is no such dichotomy in the present circumstances. Rome might have burned while Nero fiddled, but nowadays the nation might follow Rome into disaster while some philosophise.

Where there is a true dichotomy is being told that over 70s should stay at home while there is no way to access food shopping without breaking that rule.

Aren’t people allowed to go to supermarkets in countries that are locked down? I was assuming that we would be able to go out, probably alone, to get food , assuming we can find any.

When you get home from shopping and have removed your gloves before you get into the car, shower, wash hair, change all clothes and put clothes you wore in the washing machine and wash straight away.

Yes, in lockdown countries you are still able to shop for food and medication I think.

If we end up in lockdown will I still be able to shop for my dad and probably my DD too?

I'm not quite 70, live alone and not in any health risk catagory. I have no family near enough to shop for me and I do not want to put anyone else to put themselves at risk for me so I shall do it myself, following all distancing measures. I will be wondering how many passers by will be criticising me!