If you are over 70

I don`t think we will be allowed out Sharon, if we are then I will be out and about, cycling solo, not far just enough to stretch my legs and look at the spring scenery

I counted my compost bags today, need some more so am going to the farmers warehouse, they load the bags, I quick tap on my card and done. I am expecting a couple of hundred plug plants and have miscalculated compost requirements.

Sharon, I need to say this gently, the virus is transmitted via droplets of moisture through the air, when someone coughs or sneezes, hence the great need to keep a distance of around 9 feet

I am having cancer treatment - what will happen to that?

Arrangements will have to be made for urgent care but everything else will be postponed/cancelled.

sharon you need to remember that many people do not live in houses with gardens, they live in small flats and bedsits in urban areas, then imagine a heatwave.

Try limiting yourself to the two smallest rooms in your huse, say 2 bedrooms and the bathroom and then consider whether you would be happy to spend 4 months in them.

No supermarket delivery slots available for next 2 weeks from my local Sainsburys.
If we cant go out to shop we will starve, and no-one will know as they can't visit.
Hundreds of old folk lying dead in their beds.
Okay I am catastrophising but has this all been thought through?

annsixty absolutely agree. The last thing we need at the moment is the government acting like headless chickens. There are quite enough of them on Gransnet (not you!)

Just how exactly are they going to enforce this? Police on every street corner waiting to catch, arrest and fine us? My local Waitrose is heavily staffed by retirees, ditto B&Q. Volunteers? Carers? This hapless government seems to have forgotten that the 'expendable' over 70's do a great deal of work that they would otherwise have to pay for. I wish they would think this all out properly before coming up with these ridiculous measures.

Luckily for me, I'm not 70 until next year, because I would go absolutely mad having to self-isolate for 4 months!! I get cabin fever if I have to spend 1 day without going outside..

Four months cannot be maintained; there are simply too many needs that must be met and insufficient people to cover all of them. This will be almost a sort of Russian roulette.

Can we please begin to recognise the difference between self-quarantine and self-isolation. Self quarantining is recommended if you know someone with the virus. I believe this is what is being recommended for over 70s. You can still go for a walk or cycle, just not mix in confined places with other people. Self isolation is for those who have symptoms of the virus and all contact is banned, you have to stay indoors.
www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/self-isolation-and-limited-social-interaction.html

There are community groups springing up all over the country to help elderly people who feel the need to stay indoors. Made up of younger women who intend organising visits, do shopping, give advice. Hats off to them.

Just heard the BBC news which said that this will happen but not yet. It seems the reason is that we wouldn't cope if they brought it in too soon. However the risk seems to be here now so perhaps they are simply waiting to see what sort of burden on the NHS we become before they implement it.

I am 72 but still work two days a week. If the government advise all over 70s to stay at home will I still get paid ? And for how long - as they are talking about months. I've not been able to find any information on this, a nd I wonder if anyone else here is in the same situation?

Please dont read the Daily Express.

I do believe we should restrict our non essential contacts even if we are over 60. In my area we are arranging a small support group for neighbours who are forced to self isolate.

Unless we have symptoms there is no reason to self isolate, but to continue to go out for essential food shopping, the pharmacy etc.

As has been said self isolation isn't the same as restricting contacts.

I am listening to the very many scientist who do not agree with the Government's current policy based on herd immunity.

I intend to go out for walks, the spring flowers are emerging, and whilst I am well, help out with shopping those who can't.

It is an individual choice to restrict contacts but I don't believe it will be possible to force compliance if it becomes official policy.

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.

POGS. ?.
I agree, it may not be possible for some to self isolate. My mother for example has carers four times a day.

It would be good if we could amalgamate all similar posts to cut out repetition?

Another excellent post POGs. I have chosen to isolate myself, just because if I do get covid-19 one day, I want there to be available help if I should need it, if it goes beyond what I can cope with. So much undertainty from individual to individual

Exactly Willow10, how IS this going to be enforced? Demand proof of age from any perceived 'oldies' seen on the streets? Arrest them and send them to court (which they can only attend by leaving home)? Chuck them into prison (which is such a risk-free environment and, of course, not over-crowded at all) if they fail to appear?
I think this can only be advisory and applied to the very frail, vulnerable and those with other health conditions. We all have to decide what's right for us and use our common sense.
I've only just hit 70 and will need to go out for food shopping or I'll starve ... so I'll be interested to see how they plan to stop me! ???

Oh dear, we are 73&76 caring for our 5 adopted ?children with special needs age 14 to 39. Two youngest have complex needs. We are stuffed, hospital appointments are numerous how can we isolate?
Do we all isolate if not it is pointless!

I intend to obey the spirit of the law, if not the letter.

By that I mean, I live in a village and early every morning go for a walk. I intend to continue to do so. I rarely meet anyone and if I do can give them a very wide berth. This walk is part of my physical fitness routine and if self-isolating, it will be part of my mental health routine.

I live in a quiet rural area and will still go out for walks. During the week there are very few if any people about. I may be more careful at the weekend as more walkers around.

I met a man yesterday who told me had a fever so I passed by quickly. He has a dog so difficult to self isolate when the dog needs walks.

I know this is going to make me sound very shallow but what about hair. Four months without my four weekly visit to the hairdresser to have a colour and cut! My husband has Diabetes and has to have his feet done every five weeks - on medical advice. I get the sense behind this but the practicalities worry me. Also if they are going to do it I wish they would get on with it instead of saying 'in a few weeks time' we will do this. That just creates stress and panic.

I’m in the same situation Dotty.

i was about due for my 4-monthly haircut, but will probably resort to hacking at the front with large pair of household scissors if when it starts annoying me over eyebrows.
i think it is hard for people to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
desperate times=desperate measures.