Nick you seem to be downplaying what the Government is proposing by turning it into a "request". There is nothing wrong with a request for people to act sensibly; however the minister is talking about enforced house arrest for a prolonged period of four months.
I'm not sure what source you are using, but in the video attached to this BBC news story the words used are 'ask' and 'asking', and at no point is the word 'arrest' used.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51895873To me the word 'asking' is broadly equivalent to 'request'. In any event I would expect the initial steps to be in the form of a 'request', since anything more draconian would (I believe) require specific legislation giving the Government the power of 'house arrest' over a large section of the population. I'm not convinced this is likely to happen, or (hopefully) be necessary.
This, as recognised by the chief medical officer in Scotland, would not be acceptable and would in itself lead to health problems. Fresh air and exercise promote good health; enforced deprivation would be injurious to physical health and mental welfare.
Totally agree. Which is why I think it unlikely that we would progress from a 'asking' to 'arrest' unless the situation became very dire. It is also - as mentioned in the video - why the government are seeking to delay this step for as long as possible, in recognition of the difficulties and social/health issues it will involve.
You seem to want to take what you regard as a vulnerable group and make them even more vulnerable.
Me? It is the advice of the Government's Chief Scientific and Medical Officers we are discussing.
I'm just suggesting that it isn't as completely outrageous as some on this thread are asserting. You only need to look at what is happening right now in Italy, Spain and France to see that the proposal isn't totally outside what other countries are doing, or will be doing quite soon.