Reading comments here and elsewhere gives the impression that some people believe that this virus is akin to the Black Death. It is not;most people who catch it will suffer a relatively minor infection.
Imposing social isolation on any group in society is likely to have a hugely negative impact on the physical and mental welfare of that group.
If the policies currently being pursued by the Government last for more than a few weeks the damage to the economy is likely to be profound and long lasting. This has massive implications for our ability as a nation to fund the lifestyles that we have all become accustomed to. In particular it would raise questions about our long term ability to pay for the National Health Service services that we have come to expect as a right. It would be deeply ironic if the action being taken against this virus resulted in diminished healthcare for all of us for many years to come.
The issue is that the NHS (and other health services) do not have the equipment/resources to deal with a volume of those who
do contract the virus.
Many people may indeed contract it and - we hope - have relatively minor effects. But if they pass it on so that other people are at risk of more major effects, then we
WILL 'crash' the health service.
Not only for Covid-19 sufferers but for those who have accidents/need urgent surgery/are sufferers from life-limiting diseases needing constant treatment etc etc etc.
It's not about how many people have 'not so serious' effects, as how we all potentially pass it round creating an unsustainable requirement for treatment.
If at all possible, we should STAY AT HOME/WORK AT HOME and ideally not put other people at risk.
You don't know what effect your 'not too bad an illness' which you were inadvertently sharing whilst symptom free might have on other people and society as a whole.
