Did anyone else see the DM’s headline “Vulnerable could be told to isolate themselves at home from next week”

It's still in the body of the article about the elderly man who died yesterday. According to the article government sources have said that social distancing for the elderly will start next week. Guess that's because of the Cobra meeting on Monday. This must be visit your granny weekend.

Headlines and articles in DM are the biggest amount of * that I have ever seen about anything. Journalists seem to make things up with no foundation or truth and also do not appear to use a spellchecker!

Maybe, but there's a whole section on social isolation on the government website and its part of the next phase of containment measures.

We have a weekend of socialising with the family planned for next weekend. Will they ban us? One of the oldies is birthday girl.

I fly frequently abroad to Italy and wonder if I should not be visiting my MIL in her 90’s with asthma if I could be carrying the virus unwittingly?
I’m flying to Thailand next week for a 3 week holiday so this is all a bit of a worry as the advice constantly changing.

There’s nothing in official guidelines to support the Daily Mail’s headline:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869827/Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK.pdf

I see they were also suggesting the young visit their elderly relatives this weekend in case they are then isolated, won't this just spread the virus. What happened to keep calm and carry on?

The headlines in the D.M. and the D.T. this morning were well over the top, and could be said to be quite unnecessary. I came home after picking up my paper to listen to Today and heard no confirmation of what they were suggesting, especially about visiting elderly relatives. In fact what I dd hear was much more useful, to carry on sensibly . But these papers have often used sensationalism to sell their rags.

Talking about banning over 70s from various games and big meetings,

blondenana who is? Link, please.

This is the advice on the NHS website a few moments ago.

Do I need to avoid public places?
Most people can continue to go to work, school and other public places.

You only need to stay away from public places (self-isolate) if advised to by the 111 online coronavirus service or a medical professional.

My daughter is getting married in three weeks, so we are having to think what measures we will put in place at the wedding, as I have a compromised immune system.

There will wipes, sanitizers if we can source some, no shaking of hands, kissing etc.
There are people coming (or not) from the USA.
It's a bit of a worry.

I bumped into an old friend the other day, literally.

We did the elbow bump rather than a hug.

Scottish Daily Mail's headline is "GP shuts doors over virus fear" and cites one of the reasons as the surgery covers an area which is home to a lot of elderly people - those most at risk. His practice is in Arygll which could affect "Soop" I would think. Phone consultations only and medicine can be collected from dispensary window but needs to be left in boot of car for several area before opening.

Dora I did see this yesterday, we have been discussing it this morning. I cannot remember where, I will have a search. Was it the FA, I'm not sure.

The Premier League announced it yesterday, it will be in the sports section of the papers today apparently - Sun, Mirror etc quoting it.

do we need to touch people at all in greeting.
better to stand back a bit and wave.
how does elbow bumping figure with advice to sneeze/cough into elbows, rather than potentially over other people.
guess its less likely to survive on fabric than hard surfaces, but still, why touch at all, in any way, why come that close.
can greet, wave, talk from 6 feet distance.
re going to thailand, there is a lot of risk in doing that.
and moreso for relatives in italy.
what about if you get caught up in quarantine situation while abroad, may not be able to return as/ when planned.
and thats just logistics, not medical risk.
the more travel, the more risk i think, esp if airports are involved. i certainly would not go abroad to see any vulnerable people.
everyone has to made their own best informed decision, as with any moral question.

Marydoll - we had a similar wedding situation with DD's wedding which was 2 weeks after 9/11. There was meant to be a party of 16 American relatives heading over and most did not feel confident about flying. We were very lucky that one of the cousins and his wife still came as their two daughters were bridesmaids. They flew into Manchester on the Friday, travelled up to Glasgow in a hire car and flew back early morning Sunday. They thought the wedding would finish late afternoon - not realising that the dancing wouldn't even have started then and he had hired a full kilt outfit. They left the reception at 11.00pm and drove through the night so it ended well but I do understand how you must be feeling just now.

publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/03/04/coronavirus-covid-19-what-is-social-distancing/

But who are “the elderly” who will self isolate? Are they people of retirement age?
Are they 70 plus ?
Are they 80 plus ?
What if you are as fit as a flea at 90 but your child is 65 and a frail, unwell individual. Who avoids who?
I also read, with some horror, that some academic has suggested that we let the virus rip through the population and that it would kill off the sick and vulnerable releasing hospital beds. Wow. And just think how much money would be saved on pensions and bus passes as well as disposing of these pesky old people. Maybe she has shares in an undertaking business.
Are we loosing our minds over this virus. Panic buying and killing off the oldies! Pass the wine, I think I'll need it.

Gosh if the headlines are true then now I know why my DS & DIL have invited me to tea this afternoon as I never usually get an invitation from them without there being an ulterior motive.

The academic who made the statement was Professor June Andrews, a former nurse and NHS manager in Scotland, who is the Director of the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University.

Speaking to the Scottish Parliament, she is quoted as saying:

As a nurse my job is to be kind, but I also rip off sticking plasters, so sometimes it seems unkind what you have to say.

Curiously, ripping off the sticking plaster, in that hospital I’m thinking about that has 92 delayed discharges, a pandemic would be quite useful because then your hospital would work because these people would be taken out of the system.

Now that sounds like a horrific thing to say, but it is the case that somehow or other we have put people in the wrong places by not having the kind of strategic views we should have.

I think there is a discussion about this somewhere else on GN.

It's not just the elderly, its the vulnerable.. I believe the elderly in this case are 60+

As I left my hairdressers yesterday a client was expounding the view that Boris started it all deliberately! Not sure how he thought Boris spread it internationally!

We went to Sainsbury’s yesterday and the down escalator had about a dozen men most just carrying toilet rolls! There were loads in the shop and staff were filling the one empty space with new stock. Perhaps the word had gone out on social media.

Actually Marydoll, I think you are right. Is it kind to move heaven and earth to prolong the life of someone who has given up, is ready to die but is surrounded by people who don't want to let go. Or is it kinder to not treat the chest infection or whatever, but make that person comfortable and well cared for as they drift away. It is a discussion we need to have as a society but we avoid it until it affects us personally. Waiting until this scenario happens in the family is too late.