Why are the over-70s in the UK still going out?

[groom]

They are equally as irresponsible but as yet I don't think they are in a category advised to stay indoors for 12 weeks, just socially distance.

Yes but it is those people who are spreading the virus, if they are not socially distancing. If you look at the Government's website I don't think it mentions that over 70s must stay indoors for 12 weeks.Today's announcement has identified 1.5. million who will be getting letters, but they are vulnerable people through illnesses and not necessarily those over 70.

[heywood]

Those who are younger though are having to work.
They are keeping schools open, stacking shelves, serving in the supermarkets, delivering food, delivering post, emptying bins and many more I would think.

Omitted of course the NHS workers - apologies.

[familydar]

Has anyone else seen the fb idea about a green or red card in the window (apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, tried searching and didn't find anything obvious)?

https://www.facebook.com/DailyMail/posts/5463786257014411

There are differing views and the negative one is that it's an easy way to identify targets to take advantage of, but in need of help doesn't necessarily mean old and doddery.  It could mean highly infectious!

I'm unexpectedly in lockdown for 3 months (I planned and stocked up for a week max, never imagined my GP would tell me I'm in a vulnerable group).  Thankfully I have contact details for three neighbours and milk is the only thing I'm likely to run out of before I can get a supermarket delivery slot, so as long as they don't all get ill at the same time I should be OK.  But I feel for people who don't have a support network around them, don't have access to the internet, and may be forced to choose between placing themselves in harm's way or else going hungry.

[jc26red]

Please read this message from someone on the frontline of this fight against covid-19, posted 10 hours ago. Please keep to the government guidelines to help the NHS do their job.


I’m a consultant anaesthetist working in Frimley Park Hospital and this week all anaesthetists are being re-roled as intensive care doctors. We will be tasked with putting the sickest patients under anaesthetic and onto ventilators/life support machines. Each patient will require 10 days+ on a ventilator then may need a temporary tracheostomy to get them off the ventilator.

The intensive care unit is already full of COVID-19 patients on ventilators (12) with more requiring ventilation every day. My hospital usually has 4-10 patients on ventilators and is planning and EXPECTING 80 patients to require ventilation.

It seems the public health message is not getting through. Let me be clear. A lot of people are going to die. They will mainly be 70 years plus but be in no doubt, 30-40 year olds will die too.

Pubs have been busy, offices open, social events happening, kids parties etc. It all needs to stop. Infected people shed virus and it must be everywhere by now. It is your social responsibility to engage in social distancing. Actions NOW can prevent further disease transmission, ICU admissions and deaths in 10-20 days.

Two of my anaesthetic/ICU colleagues in other hospitals are off work due to being infected (doing ok). As health care workers, we are now EXPECTING to catch it despite PPE. This virus has been transmitted around the globe unchecked and will not stop until it has no where to go - social distancing/isolation Or patient death.

Here ends my public health message.

On a more personal level, my son turned three years old last week and is six weeks into a three year chemotherapy program for lymphoma. This virus is a big threat to his life and as I am going to be exposed this week doing my job, I can no longer live at home.

I have had to make the difficult choice: to do my job and save lives of people I don’t know, or to be with my son whilst he battles cancer. Alfie hopefully will survive his cancer and chemo, but many people will die from flu. My heart is broken making this decision, but I choose to save the lives of strangers and leave him in the care of my beautiful wife and family.

Later this week I’ll be moving into a motor home and will not be able to take any further part in his care for the next 6 months.

Bottom line. SOCIALLY ISOLATE or people die in two weeks.

Also noticed in the press an ears, nose and throat consultant in the Midlands, aged 52,died yesterday doing his duty.

Take care everybody, please don’t take unnecessary risks.

[jc26red]

I have to add to the previous message.

My husband had his operation to remove liver tumours cancelled this week. His specialist told him to stay at home... (no need he hasn’t gone far since the beginning of December). We now have an anxious 4-5 months wait hoping he remains stable when the current situation is reviewed.  In the meantime his specialist is also going to work in ICU at Basingstoke hospital.

The least we can do to repay the NHS staff who performed lifesaving surgery in December, the ICU staff the ward nurses who looked after him, the specialist nurses who now loom after him, radiologists and endocrinologists, gps who have already sent through 3 months of medication... is to stay home. I am also social distancing, even at home.

My husband isn’t 70 yet and technically will not be in the 1.5m vulnerable people even though his life is at a greater risk now.

We all need to think of others, our neighbours etc., at this time.

[louisa maud]

jc26red
I wish you and your husband all the best

Louisa Maud

[IgorStrav]

May I recommend to everyone the Podcast of

THE SCIENCE HOUR from the BBC World Service, latest edition released 21/3/20202

You can get this from your usual podcast supplier, and I expect it is also available on BBC SOUNDS

https://podcruncher.co/play/4rlJ

This episode - 2 parts, Science for half an hour, and then Crowd Science, an investigation following a listener question - is particularly helpful.

The first part is about Covid-19 and features an interview with an Italian doctor regarding their investigations which demonstrated that MANY people have Covid-19 but are SYMPTOM FREE but can pass on the virus to other people. 

This emphasises our need to stay at home and keep at least 6 feet away from everyone as well as hand washing etc.  There are obviously other concerns from this information, too, but I won't go into this.

And the second part from Crowd Science is about DNA testing and family history research, which I think we will all find very interesting too - although probably many of us know a bit about it

[Guy Etchells]

More and more experts are stressing it is essential that people including over 70 year olds get out and exercise during this pandemic otherwise they open themselves to health problems.
Having said that any exercise has to be done whist keeping safe by observing social distancing.
Here are just to links that explain why.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p7x/

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p7y/

Cheers
Guy

[guest189040]

The fact that the person who started this thread frightens me.

IT IS NOT JUST THE OVER 70’s IT APPLIES TO EVERYONE.

Watch

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KwR27iYw-qM

Drs and Nurses are dying because you the general public are NOT following the advice.

STAY AT HOME