Over 70's to be asked to self-isolate - how will you pursue your hobby?

swanseamale47 said:
Keep in mind it's not just an explosion of cases, it's the fact a LOT more people are being tested and showing up more of those infected. That makes it look like a big jump in numbers.
Click to expand...

Are. lot more people being tested? I thought it was relatively fewer?
 
Mr Badger said:
Newspaper is too rough? You sound like someone who doesn't remember Izal! :LOL:
Click to expand...

Izal ~ talk about a blast from the past!

In the early 70's when soft paper was (had become?) becoming mainstream.......it was Izal paper in the staff loos at the hospital I was working at :(

No idea if the patients had to suffer it :LOL:
 
I spent 3 weeks in Warwick hospital in 1971. My first thought on admission was, I hope it's not skid.



It was.
 
simon ess said:
I think you need a pencil as well. Is that right?
Click to expand...
Wasn't it a match stick? Used, of course!

Hey, perhaps we could make up a 'self isolation survival kit' for the over 70s, with a comb and some greaseproof paper, cotton reels, elastic bands, some buttons, a couple of hair grips and a packet of pipe cleaners. That should keep them amused for ages!
 
Last edited:
Mr Badger said:
Wasn't it a match stick? Used, of course!

Hey, perhaps we could make up a 'self isolation survival kit' for the over 70s, with a comb and some greaseproof paper, cotton reels, elastic bands, some buttons and a packet of pipe cleaners. That should keep them amused for ages!
Click to expand...

Brilliant idea. I'm sure we haven't remembered all the possibilities yet though.

I think paper plane designs have come on a long way.
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Yes, I remember using a toothpick or used match on one side and the pencil on the other....I think.
Click to expand...
I remember using a similar principle with a button threaded onto the middle of an elastic band, then making a hair grip into an elongated U-shape, putting the elastic band between the arms and turning the button over and over to wind the band up until fully tensioned.

You'd then wedge the button on a hair trigger against the bottom edge of the hair grip U frame and place the contraption between the lift-up lid and the frame of someone's wooden school desk. If you'd set it right, when they lifted the lid the button would revolve at a rate of knots, clicking against the metal grip frame with every rotation and the thing leaping uncontrollably around all over the place and frightening the heck out of the victim! Not the sort of thing you want landing in your lap when you're not expecting it! I think we called them 'Grasshoppers'. Happy days! :D
 
What self-isolation means in New Zealand, must admit its along the lines of what it means to me, I repeat not the UK

How is self-isolation defined?

The Ministry of Health defines self-isolation as “staying away from situations where you could infect other people”. Specifically, it means any situation where you may come in close contact with others.

And how is “close contact” defined?

That’s face-to-face contact with another person who is within two metres for more than 15 minutes. The ministry offers the following scenarios to avoid: “social gatherings, work, school, childcare/pre-school centres, university, polytechnic and other education providers, faith-based gatherings, aged care and health care facilities, prisons, sports gatherings, restaurants and all public gatherings.”

Don’t share beds, linen or food

Can I open the window?

Yes of course you can open the window. “Aim to stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened. Try to keep the window open as much as possible to enable ventilation and airflow as this will help to keep clean air moving through your room.”

What about going outside and exercise?

You can go outside. You can even go for a walk. Just avoid public spaces, and people generally. Don’t join a mosh pit or parade.
 
JohnC6 said:
Russ said he wouldn't go in a hide but unless there are quite a few in there I'd have thought it was low risk . I don't know, they can get busy can't they. Any thoughts ?
Click to expand...

Estuary Tower was packed on Friday, inc one person who had cardiac op 3 weeks ago ... I opened the door, looked in and left.
I think some people forget that person-to-person contact extends to touching what other people have touched and therein lies a very real problem.
 
I'm a 62 year old diabetic and if the medical advice is to self isolate then I will. I know that I'm at risk of complications from flu, which is why I get a flu shot every year, so I imagine this is pretty much the same. I'm already self isolating now to some extent. We've just started home deliveries for shopping, something I'd never contemplated before and I'm restricting close contact with people. I walk the dog early and for the afternoon walk go somewhere where there are few people. To be fair it's relatively easy for me, semi retired and working from home, no family close by, but I do have a weekend job at a local community centre, which I'm still doing. There are very few confirmed cases where I live, East Yorks, but I don't feel I'm over reacting, Although I'm in reasonable health overall, I don't want this virus, I think it will make me very ill, maybe even fatally, and I'm going to do what ever I can to avoid it.
 
Dryce said:
Are a lot more people being tested?

The advice to self isolate and not call 111 if you have symptoms would suggest that testing is being restricted only to those who get worse and call for help or those turning up at hospital for other reasons?
Click to expand...
Yes testing centres have been set up in many areas, people off the street are going in for tests, so much so the testing kits are running out. Obviously the more you test the more you find. Clearly numbers are going up, thats how it works, but the media are in full frenzy mode with fiigure plucked from thin air to make it more dramatic and get you to read their paper/watch their channel.
The hard part is finding the truth rather than the fiction.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Yes testing centres have been set up in many areas, people off the street are going in for tests, so much so the testing kits are running out. Obviously the more you test the more you find. Clearly numbers are going up, thats how it works, but the media are in full frenzy mode with fiigure plucked from thin air to make it more dramatic and get you to read their paper/watch their channel.
The hard part is finding the truth rather than the fiction.
Click to expand...
Where we are, they have a drive in test centre, but you can't just turn up
They will only test you if 111 have booked a test for you.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Yes testing centres have been set up in many areas, people off the street are going in for tests, so much so the testing kits are running out. Obviously the more you test the more you find. Clearly numbers are going up, thats how it works, but the media are in full frenzy mode with fiigure plucked from thin air to make it more dramatic and get you to read their paper/watch their channel.
The hard part is finding the truth rather than the fiction.
Click to expand...
Which figures are being 'plucked from thin air'? I'm genuinely interested btw.
 
Why don't we just move all the over 70's to the Isle of Wight, they'll fit right in.
 
At the moment, HMG are saying that people over 70 "may" be "asked" to stay indoors "soon".
The passed emergency legislation a couple of weeks or so again that will allow them to enforce that "request" when they decide that the time is right.
 
In regard to the total numbers of infection surely the only 'true' figure is that of those 'confirmed' by testing.......any other figure without such explicit corroberation is guesswork and speculative!

Yes, modelling based on data can forecast possible numbers........but a forecast is just that a forecast and the cynic in me says that the media will take a forecast figure and publish it like it is the true figure:(
 
Last edited:
swanseamale47 said:
Keep in mind it's not just an explosion of cases, it's the fact a LOT more people are being tested and showing up more of those infected. That makes it look like a big jump in numbers.
Click to expand...

swanseamale47 said:
Yes testing centres have been set up in many areas, people off the street are going in for tests, so much so the testing kits are running out. Obviously the more you test the more you find. Clearly numbers are going up, thats how it works, but the media are in full frenzy mode with fiigure plucked from thin air to make it more dramatic and get you to read their paper/watch their channel.
The hard part is finding the truth rather than the fiction.
Click to expand...

The truth rather than the fiction is that, although we now have more capacity for testing to prepare for the deluge of serious cases, we have narrowed the criteria for testing. Now it's just hospitalised patients. Patients who can manage at home are not tested, and neither are their contacts. There is no walk-in testing of the kind you suggest. Here is the official advice for the public, which simply says to self-isolate if you have mild symptoms, and claims 'testing for coronavirus is not needed if you're staying at home':

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Here is the official advice to clinicians, which only allows for testing of 'individuals meeting the inpatient definiton':

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...v-infection#interim-definition-possible-cases

Often the total number of people tested this month has fallen from day to day:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...pandemic-outbreak-new-cases-nhs-a9396406.html

This means that we have no way of knowing how many cases there are in the community, which is certainly considerably higher than the number of confirmed cases.
 
Mr Badger said:
Newspaper is too rough? You sound like someone who doesn't remember Izal! :LOL:
Click to expand...

Oh but I do remember Izal and going halfway down the garden to the miden, The tin bath in front of the fire and the 100yrd walk to get water from the outdoor tap.
 
gramps said:
Estuary Tower was packed on Friday, inc one person who had cardiac op 3 weeks ago ... I opened the door, looked in and left.
I think some people forget that person-to-person contact extends to touching what other people have touched and therein lies a very real problem.
Click to expand...

Not good,Roger. Re the person who'd had cardiac surgery, sounds a bit reckless to me ,if you can be 'a bit' reckless. Sounds reckless to me..lol. It just emphasises that people still don't get it, as you say yourself re surfaces.

I'll hunker down then. Pity, I was hoping for a meet. Could be as long as a few months I suppose. No good renewing membership to immediately have 4 months lost. I don't expect any closing down as most of the site is for penned international wildfowl/birds..they call them 'exhibits'..ie 'Don't miss our South American exhibit'. I can't say I like that turn of phrase although that's what they are.
 
jakeblu said:
I'm a 62 year old diabetic and if the medical advice is to self isolate then I will. I know that I'm at risk of complications from flu, which is why I get a flu shot every year, so I imagine this is pretty much the same. I'm already self isolating now to some extent. We've just started home deliveries for shopping, something I'd never contemplated before and I'm restricting close contact with people. I walk the dog early and for the afternoon walk go somewhere where there are few people. To be fair it's relatively easy for me, semi retired and working from home, no family close by, but I do have a weekend job at a local community centre, which I'm still doing. There are very few confirmed cases where I live, East Yorks, but I don't feel I'm over reacting, Although I'm in reasonable health overall, I don't want this virus, I think it will make me very ill, maybe even fatally, and I'm going to do what ever I can to avoid it.
Click to expand...

I think that is very wise ... I have been listening to a number of 'experts' and although information (as always with experts) is mixed, the experience of other countries does seem to indicate that they would have been wiser to act sooner.
It's fine for younger ones to be casual about the situation but for the elderly and especially those with pre-existing medical conditions my view is 'better safe than sorry'.
 
Last edited:
Garry Edwards said:
At the moment, HMG are saying that people over 70 "may" be "asked" to stay indoors "soon".
The passed emergency legislation a couple of weeks or so again that will allow them to enforce that "request" when they decide that the time is right.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that legislation can be used to keep people at home, who haven't got the virus, time will tell I suppose
 
Think I will make the most of all the oldies being banged up.
Going to very empty and quiet without all the organised walking groups and MAMILS all over the place
Tea shops, library, public transport, shops and the Post Office too

Reckon this post needs a few :):):):)
 
tijuana taxi said:
Think I will make the most of all the oldies being banged up.
Going to very empty and quiet without all the organised walking groups and MAMILS all over the place
Tea shops, library, public transport, shops and the Post Office too

Reckon this post needs a few :):):):)
Click to expand...

So I guess that any 'help the elderly housebound in this crisis' groups in your area won't be getting any help from you?
 
jakeblu said:
I'm not sure that legislation can be used to keep people at home, who haven't got the virus, time will tell I suppose
Click to expand...

if you look at the civil contingencies act of 2004 they already could, but with a 30 day limit.
 
Re self-isolation,we have a summer house facing ESE and at 1015 this morning it was 27C in there. I had to open one of the double doors and one long window. Friends refer to it as my 'Hidey-hole' and seek permission to enter..lol. The only risk is getting the newspaper..lol. I have a radio in there so I listen to the Radio Five Live discussion/phone-ins a lot so I've heard many of the corona-related problems people are facing. Members on here have also spoken about their healh issues. The Five-Live callers are asking a studio doctor or specialist (or rather one on the end of a linked phone) for advice and yesterday one man asking about what to do re keeping his 9 year old daughter off school as she has serious multi-faceted heart problems (almost brought me to tears thinking about that..9 years old ??) ..and her three young brothers go to the school so should he take them out too. ? The Head said he couldn't authorise it (Govnt policy) but it could help to get a note from the doctor. As an aside the caller said that he suffers from cancer. Just a straightforward question, no hint of self-pity. I'm sitting there thinking how fortunate those of us are who have no such serious health problems nor such dilemas. Another caller was asking about diabetes. Of the three main 'at risk' conditions..COPD, heart- related issues and diabetes, I was surprised to hear that the latter was the most at-risk category and by 1.59 X...(assuming no other issues) .I didn't find (via Google) any risk differential between Type 1 and 2 . I appreciate it's a case of self-selecting callers..ie those with problems but it gives an insight into the day to day problems, often severe problems, that so many have to cope with. It's really given me pause for thought. I experienced a recent hospital visit as an in-patient ( I was told on morning two I shouldn't have been admitted so I was out of there in a flash Ugh..that's another story) and that experience also brought home to me that 'other world' . I had time to watch the staff run off their feet, working long hours,demands from some patients..who am I to say 'inconsiderate ?..but one was very rude because they didn't have time to immediately get him the cuppa he'd asked for. He was read the riot act for that. Now they have the added stress of possible contagion with this virus.

Over the weekend, each evening Stephen Nolan (Radio Five as most will know) has a late evening phone-in and many of those virus-related calls are similarly moving.
 
jakeblu said:
I'm not sure that legislation can be used to keep people at home, who haven't got the virus, time will tell I suppose
Click to expand...

Just seen this response. I've just mentioned the Nolan phone-in. last night a man phoned in and was allowed to stay on for quite a while and he related how most of his family were victims of Nazi death camps (I think it was his father who was face to face with Joseph Mengeles..the notorious doctor) and he likened this missive re the over 70's to being ordered to stay at home. I'd actually thought about this. last week..ie .what he went on to say..myself. That is was stigmatising this group ..ie the over 70's and the point he made was the same except he likened it to his family having to wear the yellow Star of David so others could identify them as Jews. I heard talk of the army being brought in to help police the ban and he said he would deliberately go out and await arrest. Nolan said he thought it was the most emotive call he'd ever taken.The man also emphasised how he'd completely lost any trust in humanity.

This morning Grant Shapps was stating that it's advice, a strong recommendation, there'll be no law-enforcement involved. I think he may hase added that it was not directed at haelthy over 70's but those with underlying health issues. I do wonder if that call had influenced that response.
 
Last edited:
gramps said:
I think that is very wise ... I have been listening to a number of 'experts' and although information (as always with experts) is mixed, the experience of other countries does seem to indicate that they would have been wiser to act sooner.
It's fine for younger ones to be casual about the situation but for the elderly and especially those with pre-existing medical conditions my view is 'better safe than sorry'.
Click to expand...

I'm (only?) in my 40's and I'm not particularly worried about it. I haven't suffered with asthma for years and am pretty fit and healthy. I work in a workshop with about 6 other people and the only other place I really go 'socially' is the gym. I think I'm going to stop that because my other half is in her 50's with a heart condition and she has an 85 year old mother. All my parents and step-parents are also well into their 70's with previous health issues.
 
JohnC6 said:
I heard talk of the army being brought in to help police the ban and he said he would deliberately go out and await arrest. Nolan said he thought it was the most emotive call he'd ever taken.
Click to expand...

What exactly could they do, shoot people, I don't think so, put them in already overcrowded prisons ?
They have spent years telling older people to get out and walk to keep healthy, now they are telling
them to stay at home
 
Have I lost the plot................................it was my understanding that:-

The over 70's stay at home advice was just that, Advice and purely a voluntary action to lower possible demand on the NHS acute services i.e. flatten the curve and push demand back until the improved weather months!

If such an action, whether voluntary or compulsory kicks in in high numbers......................what have the government said about the contingencies being put in place to aid those opting to become 'anchorite' like, because sure as eggs are eggs, the local authority services are ill funded & ill equipped to support the many 1000's of possible isolators.


The way the government appear to be handling the truth campaign leaves a lot to be desired and IMO so far have failed in regard to full transparency and clarity of thought & action :(
 
Gremlin said:
What exactly could they do, shoot people, I don't think so, put them in already overcrowded prisons ?
They have spent years telling older people to get out and walk to keep healthy, now they are telling
them to stay at home
Click to expand...

Exactly. Beyond that, what has occurred to me is that the handling of this situation has been very poor,especially communications. Maybe it's Dom Cummings. I don't know. Boris J was rightly criticised by a doctor for telling the nation, just a day or so ago, that the virus was nasty and that families had better prepare to lose relatives sooner than they envisaged. The mind boggles at the crassness of it.
 
Box Brownie said:
Have I lost the plot................................it was my understanding that:-

The way the government appear to be handling the truth campaign leaves a lot to be desired and IMO so far have failed in regard to full transparency and clarity of thought & action :(
Click to expand...


Our posts crossed but it's good to see I'm not alone in thinking HMG are falling well short of what could reasonably be expected from those in charge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top