Should we ask over 60s to stay in?

No. The age group that need to stay at home are 4-18. Sending kids back to education was bonkers. I’m convinced this caused the second wave, and no matter what other measures are taken, kids will spread it. What we need is a circuit break for two to three weeks around half term.

Certainly not people in their 60s. Most of them are working, I certainly was until 66.
I think those who are 70+ are using common sense, being careful.

I think those who are medically vulnerable will probably decide to stay home and avoid the risk of infection. It’s not really just about age is it?

How about we are all credited with enough common sense and experience to make our own minds up and risk assess our own unique life situations.

GD 18 second year A levels called us Friday and told us that 6 people in opposite bubble had positive test. So we would not be seeing her for a while . My DH is vulnerable . So is her mum my DD so this GD is stripping in garage , bathroom next stop, cleaning any thing she touches so it's safe for mum coming home from work . Her brother and dad do same routine, DD has own office no one enters without mask or knocking her company put all these safeguards in place before lockdown . Think that talking to others the majority of families are trying there best to protect others

I think any such suggestion is totally inappropriate’ unacceptable and bordering on insane.

I would like to see them try. Nonsense. It should be down to the individual whatever their age. If they are vulnerable or feel they do not want to leave the house so be it but to force all 60s and over to stay home - NO. I am fit, slim and consider myself healthy. I see some people decades younger than me that are not in the same boat perhaps they should be made to stay home as well.

I'm 64 and working full time (as I have been all year) - no self imposed or other isolation for me. If somebody offered me 80% of my salary to sit at home and crochet, I'd take it like a shot (though I do suffer from SXLX - Stash Exceeding Life Expectancy...)

EmilyHarburn, it's not safe to wear your mask hanging round your neck. Any virus that settles on it will be brought up to your nose and mouth when you use it.

Lots of people are still saying that they have to go out to get shopping. I find that hard to believe.

Many of us have it all delivered and local voluntary groups are well organised to assist.

Surely, the majority also have relatives that can drop it at the door?

Go for a good walk in the fresh air - but avoid being near people or inside shops as it's just too risky.

Some if us are, as much as is practical. But we have to be realistic, some can try to defend themselves as best they can, others have less opportunity to do so. I think we just need to be open minded but cautious

Rather than impose shielding on the older generation again (most over 60s have the sense to abide by lesser lockdown rules), it would be better, surely, to enforce the lockdown rules on those who flout them.

No. I agree with all those who have also felt this to be unacceptable, unnecessary, unworkable. It is up to each person regardless of their age, to assess what reduction in their activities and going out, will fit their needs. My husband and I are fast approaching mid 60's. He is terrified that going out will bring the virus into the house and resulting death. Neither of us has underlying health issues. On the other hand, I am climbing the walls in trying to respect his fears. I am feeling more and more claustrophic in being indoors, piling on weight, feel my already low fitness level has become non existent, and I believe staying isolated results in the immune system becoming less efficient - so that's self defeating, isn't it? My only time out of these 4 walls is the thoroughly unpleasant supermarket chore, or escaping to our caravan and the freedom of forest walks from there. However, the infection rate is now climbing fast here in Bristol, especially since the universities started the Autumn term so I foresee our freedom here being reduced further because of the selfish and irresponsible minority, who sadly seem to be the younger age groups. Now I read in the local news that the school at the bottom of the road has been closed with immediate effect and all the children told to stay home and self isolate. I'm willing to bet that won't happen and they'll be out and about in the shops and locality.

Definitely no. As others have posted, it depends on people's health and it does appear to be those in the 18 to 24 age range who are spreading the virus.

No.

Not a chance I'm 65 healthy, love walking, if I had to stay indoors I think my mental health would suffer.

I agree!!!
Many people over 60 are physically and mentally younger than people 10/20 years younger than them!
We are not a number! We are individuals and should be treated as such!
Many over 60s need other people in their lives just to survive!
Also exercise to keep well!
People can’t be singled out and locked away, they should be given the facts and the freedom to choose, or more harm than good will be done.

It would be essential to bring payment of state pension forward to age 60.

When you say stay in, do you mean it literally, or would we be able to go out for fresh air, shops etc, like before. I think it’s about individual people knowing what is best for them. Many older people are fitter and have less health problems than younger ones. I would say...if you know you’re more at risk, then of course limit what you do, whatever age. The government could certainly suggest this, not sure it should be law though.

No, it's simply not practical to lump all over 60s together, especially as the state retirement age is now 66, so many will need to earn an income. Only over 60s ( or indeed anyone younger) who need to shield for existing health condition should be asked to stay indoors, and with compensation for lost income if not able to work from home. There is no entitlement to universal credit if you have saving over 16k, but many of us have still mortgages or rent to pay and our savings are for retirement.

I feel less anxious by staying in. I am getting really good at ordering food and other essentials on line.
My husband does the in-between bits of shopping.
We feel lucky to have a comfortable place to live with a decent garden. We live reasonably simply. I have been going to have my haircut once a month and my toe-nails attended to, but I have decided to stay at home now as much as is physically possible,

Brilliant idea, that would mean that most of parliament would be locked up! Let's just apply it to them, then maybe, just maybe there will not be so much depression in this country. .

I am staying in as much as I can but we have to get food, prescriotions etc. We noticed during lockdown that with the exceotion kf our son who is disabked, has learning disabilities and needs round the clock care (from us) everyone we know is our age or older, so who would do our shopping and errands???

I am in my 70sand my husband just over 80. We have already lost 6 months of our lives this year. Is anyone expecting over 60s to spend the rest of their lives virtually imprisoned? My husband and I go out but we are very careful. All the restaurants and cafes we go to are local and are sticking carefully to the rules. We would not be organising parties for 100 people as 3 university students did round here. Two of the organisers had been tested positive for COVID and went on to infect many others. I’m sorry but we have no idea how many years we have left in normal circumstances and unless the Government say no going out we will continue to do so whilst taking care

Also PS I am glad I have a sat nave in the car. I have marked in my address book every location for each shop I use because otherwise doing them all on one day and not regularly visiting town any more, I do not know the shortest way between each of them

I think that each person has to decide for themselves how vulnerable they are, how they are going to limit their chances of catching it when they do go out, and how they are going to limit their interactions with other people etc.

I go out once a week by car. I keep all my errands for one day. I have a mask from Etsy that has an elastic toggle to tighten it up and when not in use hangs round my neck. I have hand sanitizer by the front door, in my car and attached to my hand bag. Every time I leave and enter the car I use it, every shop door I go though I use it. If I fill up at the petrol pump I put on white cotton gloves that I keep in the car and then take them off, sanitize my hands and pay in the shop.

I could probably go out once a month but I think I would become agoraphobic and also the car battery might run down.

I think we all have to look at the regulations for our area, follow them and make our own decisions how to live a life that maintains our mental health.