State of Emergency, Coronavirus (part 2)

[Gadget]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/pm-tells-britons-to-avoid-non-essential-contact-with-others

Add

Johnson raised the likelihood of those over 70 and more vulnerable people, such as those with prior health conditions, soon needing to be “largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks”.

[trystan]

The guidance applies as soon as they announced it.

Here is a summary from BBC news:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51917562

[Gadget]

This is the relevant piece in Trystan's link

By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"

[trystan]

That is the only part of the guidance that does not apply immediately though.

[Gadget]

That is the only part of the guidance that does not apply immediately though.

Yes - but when I listened to the press conference they emphasized those with serious health conditions and 70+ as the ones that should be 'shielded' after this weekend.

I wondered if they were leaving it until after Mother's Day

[trystan]

Quite possibly. Thankfully, I saw my mother this last weekend and left the present and card (and flowers) for her then.

Here is the official guidance:

Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults
Published 16 March 2020

[Gadget]

My relatives are scattered around UK and Eire and friends are mainly over 70 but we have some good neighbours who have offered to help if we need it.

We've decided to drive out to the coast or moors and go for walks - it's a wonderful wild and empty countryside up here 

Very worried about those living alone or poor.

[Pennines]

Thank you so much for the link -- so the over 70s are NOT being forbidden to leave their homes. It is literally 'social distancing' and avoiding the use of public transport.

Can I also say an enormous thank you to Trystan -- and to all my fellow members --what would we do without Rootschat!! It's an absolute boon. I so appreciate the inter-action.

[Erato]

"drive out to the coast or moors and go for walks"

I wish I had that option.