COVID-19 — Coronavirus

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Ric said:
Yeah, it’s hard to get my head round at times. As you know, my Dad has Alzheimer’s and as such always seemed the more vulnerable one, but this has turned the tables a bit. As with you, not sure what we’d do if Mum went first. Even typing this is bringing tears to my eyes. Christ.
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it’s very scary for those who have health issues and are elderly. I had a chat with my mum today and asked if she wanted to completely self isolate with food dropped at the door etc. She said she would rather spend whatever time she has left seeing her family and if she goes then she will go with these memories. The fear of dying alone is too much for her to bear. She has COPD and wouldn’t survive this I don’t think. She made me sit with her today and listen to her instructions on where to find things if she becomes ill and dies. It’s a very hard conversation to have. We cracked open the whisky after and had a nice little chat. Sometimes it takes events like this to make you realise how important family is and how unimportant some other things are.
 
Ric said:
Stay safe mate. Don’t really have any qualified advice to give, but self-quarantining for a while if possible might not be a bad idea.
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Yep this is what the Mrs keeps telling me. Well self isolation as much as three kids allows anyway! She's telling me to stay off work for the next few weeks, but I have my own caseload of people who also have needs that need meeting (mental health), so am reluctant, but it is perhaps the sensible option.
 
kippaxkid74 said:
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-14...ime-style-mobilisation-to-combat-coronavirus/

The most depressing and scary artivle i've read, ITV shouldn't have let Peston put it out, cos i have been in pieces of worry as it is, but now i've actually been crying. Some may laugh at me for that if you want... but my mum is 77, with COPD (ie lung problems) with inhalers, high blood pressure, unstable angina, spinal nerve problem, broken knee that cannot be fixed due to weak bone so permanantly on crutches, and had a bowel scan test looking for the C word a few weeks ago. And she lives on her own, as i'm stuck in a flat with my 3 year old son and my partner - me and my son are in all day but my partner is still being made to travel 12 miles to work every dy as so far they refuse to let him homework. I am scared for my mum, so so so scared, my dad died last year, i wanted to be spending good times with my mum, giving my son memories with her, letting us all be family, and now, now it's practically impossible as it is for me to even get round there to see her, and soon from teh sound of it i simply wont be able to. And to top it all, my sister is one of these who was saying "it's just like flu it's fine" and no doubt still going round the last week, even though my mum has been staying in.
So yes, i can't help it, i'm scared to death of losing my mum, my mum is my world, she wont cope living alone not going out and no one going in for months. And the bit about not treating anyone over 65?

I just need my mum.
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We all understand that friend and if these measures come to pass they may be the best way to protect her. I find it mostly reassuring tbh but I agree there will be tragic casualties of the quarantine.
"According to a senior government source, the perception that ministers are reluctant to make difficult and costly decisions to battle the virus is wrong. It is simply that the chief medical officer Chris Whitty and the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance are waiting for the optimal time to force restrictions on our way of life that will be very painful.
They are deeply worried that some older people will simply die at home from neglect, after they are quarantined, so want to start the quarantine as late as possible - some time within the next five to 20 days.The prime minister Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock are counting on neighbours and friends to rally round to make sure no one is neglected. "We are looking for a huge community effort," said a source."
 
kippaxkid74 said:
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-14...ime-style-mobilisation-to-combat-coronavirus/

The most depressing and scary artivle i've read, ITV shouldn't have let Peston put it out, cos i have been in pieces of worry as it is, but now i've actually been crying. Some may laugh at me for that if you want... but my mum is 77, with COPD (ie lung problems) with inhalers, high blood pressure, unstable angina, spinal nerve problem, broken knee that cannot be fixed due to weak bone so permanantly on crutches, and had a bowel scan test looking for the C word a few weeks ago. And she lives on her own, as i'm stuck in a flat with my 3 year old son and my partner - me and my son are in all day but my partner is still being made to travel 12 miles to work every dy as so far they refuse to let him homework. I am scared for my mum, so so so scared, my dad died last year, i wanted to be spending good times with my mum, giving my son memories with her, letting us all be family, and now, now it's practically impossible as it is for me to even get round there to see her, and soon from teh sound of it i simply wont be able to. And to top it all, my sister is one of these who was saying "it's just like flu it's fine" and no doubt still going round the last week, even though my mum has been staying in.
So yes, i can't help it, i'm scared to death of losing my mum, my mum is my world, she wont cope living alone not going out and no one going in for months. And the bit about not treating anyone over 65?

I just need my mum.
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I doubt anyone on here will laugh at you, stay strong
 
BlueHammer85 said:
It’s a really tough and scary read on the main thread and going from a lighted hearted post to an apocalyptic one is hard to compute - was hoping if any positive news out of all this could be posted on here, ie: vaccinations, numbers dropping in places or anything else ?

mods. If not appropriate feel free to delete.
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flook said:
My old mum died 6 months back, she had "underlying health issues" (obviously) and perversely i find myself being quite glad she's not here to go through this
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Lost both mine in the last 9 months both with underlying health problems feel exactly the same mate
 
domalino said:
Not surprised at all because if public transport was that bad we'd have shut it down, and they didn't do that even in Italy when people's movement was limited.

He did also specifically mention pubs and confined spaces being bad.

I'm pretty prepared to believe them on this because even when countries were in their most high alert, "stop it before it gets in" phase, they were only testing people with direct physical contact or who'd been within 2m for over 15 mins.
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That seems to concentrate on airborne contamination and not contact, if that was the only way of transmission why keep washing your hands ?
 
SouthStandStander said:
I went to my mum and dads today. Both in early 60s. Got my brothers round too. Basically told them they ain't allowed out unless absolutely necessary. We are doing all shopping for them. We ain't taking the risk. Both my parents have had health problems recently so we are going to try our best to keep them safe. That's what everyone needs to do. And I'd say from now. Not when the government tell people to isolate.
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Me and the Mrs are early 60’s and we are the opposite.
We’ve been prudent and stocked up and tried to help the kids by asking if they need anything and donating a spare freezer we have, plus they are always welcome to get what they need off us.
Meanwhile my son in law came round tonight without a care in the world, no washing of hands or changing what he normally does. Suffice to say tonight may be the last time we ever see him.
 
I can't help but feel that stuff like this is what's really damaging us. Consensus within the scientific community is notoriously difficult to achieve but there seems to be no ranking by the BBC or other news agencies by who is saying what.

 
Ric said:
Was round at my parents’ earlier and my mum, who is quite a hardy and pragmatic soul usually, does seem genuinely worried by this. She’s 73 and asthmatic, but otherwise relatively youthful for her age. I’d assumed she’d just take this in her stride but she looked scared and vulnerable in a way I’ve never seen before. Not really sure why I’m sharing this, but it’s kind of brought the grim reality of the situation crashing home tonight.
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It's a new and unknown situation for all of us, it's common to see older people who wouldn't normally react like this getting very stressed and worried about it, being sucked into it through the fact that it's a global emergency and treated as such. That means extraordinary political measures that break through our spoiled democratic routine, all-day long media coverage and so on. It's understandable this causes constant worry, especially if you feel you're personally at risk.
As I said a few posts ago though, you have to make crystal clear in your head and in those of your loved ones that once you've done your part responsibly, you have to think about your usual self and actually enjoy the other parts of your life. Watching the news 24/7 isn't going to influence the outside world, while stressing out is only going to worsen your quality of life. Try to ease your mum's mind off this while making sure she follows all the right precautions. For example, when my mum phones my grandma (who lives in a different region) every day she always tries to tell her of funny facts that have happened recently, even linked to this pandemic situation. It isn't easy to do but it really matters a lot.
 
Ric said:
Yeah, it’s hard to get my head round at times. As you know, my Dad has Alzheimer’s and as such always seemed the more vulnerable one, but this has turned the tables a bit. As with you, not sure what we’d do if Mum went first. Even typing this is bringing tears to my eyes. Christ.
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All you can do is all you can do mate, I’ve been there, hope all goes well.
 
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