NOT CURRENT ADVICE simply an Explanation of UK government strategy re coronavirus covid19 at date of original post

PLEASE NOTE this post is not intended to provide current government advice. For that go to government/nhs websites.

This is just an easy explanation of the underlying rationale for the (current at time of original post) govt approach. Their strategy might change, I just thought it was interesting to see it set out now in broad terms.

Of course it does not mention social distancing, closing schools etc etc as these are fine detail and the "ABC" example given is simply a top level explanation.

TV briefings by govt health advisors have clearly said the focus is to smooth the infection curve, thereby reducing the strain on medical services for all folk who need them ( ie not just those who get covid19).

Apologies for any confusion or misleading wording, absolutely not my intention! I hope this addendum clarifies things?

Mac Soc, if you prefer, please delete my post.

COPIED***

Government plan is to segregate all vulnerable people (older, ill and at risk) - let’s call this group A.

Anyone looking after the older,ill and at risk can be group B.

The general population generally healthy can be group C.

Group C needs to go about it’s business keeping the country moving, kids at school, us at work.

Group B looks after group A and avoids contact with C.

Group C is allowed to contract the virus and because it’s generally healthy it can cope with it better than group A (and starts to create herd immunity).

Group A and B are almost self isolating without the virus to avoid putting strain on the NHS and reducing the risk of getting the virus and then needing the NHS.

Group C (the generally healthy) go through the cycle of contracting the virus, self isolating and being looked after by healthy family members, friends and the local community.

Anyone who has complications gets looked after by the NHS while groups A and B are kept away. The NHS are not strained by A and B while its looking after complicated cases in C, those who really need their help.

As group C comes full circle and recovers it divides into groups that take group B’s position looking after group A therefore then allowing group B to go though the cycle.

With B and C through the cycle,

A is free to have NHS to itself because B and C are now clear from illness and infection and hopefully have a degree of immunity from getting it again this season.....

Hope this helps.

Everyone has a job to do for the above to work.

Stay safe and keep washing those hands and let’s pull together and help each other through this, we are resilient brits after all!!

[Caradog29]

Don’t think that’s anything like the government plan. Sounds more like a dream to me!

[Hidden in reply to Caradog29]

Hi Caradog29,

It sounds more like a panic plan to me, plus, there is an end to resilience, and the government know this. This is why they are now bringing in the troops, rioting and looting will be next on the agenda. As for our health problems, they are locking us away so as not to cause a problem to the their already run down NHS.

[Caradog29 in reply to Hidden]

Sensible measures being taken I think. It’s not just the health service in this country that will struggle- have you seen Italy. Let’s be guided by the scientist not the Facebook and pub “experts”.

[Nobe]

We (group A-80+) have to eat, thereby visits to the supermarket are inevitable as ordering online is not straightforward, now.

We queued for half-an-hour this morning at Tesco to pay our bill. As Tesco is short-staffed, we weren't advised where the queues started, so we chose the shortest but this upset

[Dipper2]

This may be one sensible plan but it isn’t actually what we are being told to do so not helpful to promote it. In current govt advice (right or wrong) ‘group C’ are NOT being advised to carry on as normal and get virus. That is old (well last week’s!) advice relating to herd immunity idea which has since been updated. The current clear advice from No 10 is unless in a vulnerable group (separate advice given) or unwell with high temp and new continuous cough (in which case self isolate for 7 days if live alone/whole household 14 days) EVERYONE else is meant to be actively social distancing as much as practical and possible ie reducing all non essential interaction with other people hence advice to work from home if you can, avoid non-essential travel and avoid crowds, pubs, events, theatre etc. This is apparently to limit the spread of the virus which will help to protect those in A &. B groups ultimately easing pressure on NHS. For the sake of the NHS and the vulnerable groups please only follow up to date advice from credible sources.

[Hidden in reply to Dipper2]

Yes you're absolutely right on current advice. Of course everything changes as things progress and we should all follow latest advice from govt & NHS.

The thing I copied doesn't mention social distancing - as the title says its just an explanation of the broad strategy not current advice. Sorry I should have made that clearer. But it is expected that group C will get the virus over time (just listened to BBC health spokesman say so, and he said many will not even realize as they will get only mild symptoms).

Thanks for flagging the confusion though, I'll see if I can amend.

[Dipper2 in reply to Hidden]

Well it is a very nice & clear explanation unlike much of what we hear and does make sense overall. Just think the bit about group c getting on with life as normal and letting virus move through is possibly misleading given current advice, though think that WAS the idea until Monday so possible this was written before that! As you say it changes so fast. I’m sure ultimately that is still aim as you say but seems like they want to slow it somewhat with social distancing even in group c folk. Wasn’t having a go at you by the way so please don’t think that!! X

[JimGlanDwr]

We didn't panic buy or hoard, live in a rural area and only do a weekly shop, The last shop we couldn't get several items, this included flour of any kind which we need, toilet rolls and soap which we are low on, tissues and baked beans which we are nearly out of. We are in our mid 70s and have health problems. Philanderer Johnson has said we are at war, how about rationing then, so that vulnerable people like us can get essentials instead of the greedy hoarders. We have ordered online from our usual supermarket but the earliest they can deliver is 29th March and have no flour, This government hasn't got a clue. One statement yesterday was that shoppers would be reasonable and not hoard. That might be the case on Mars where he obviously lives but here on Earth, us and many others know it's rubbish.

[JimGlanDwr]

I've just seen a synopsis of two leaked reports one from US and one from UK from medical experts, what we are being told by government and what medical experts are saying are two different things, a vaccine is a long way off, months or even years not days or weeks, there will be shortages of some goods, the death toll will be high and this will not end until a vaccine is developed.

Hacked Off have a site that is trying to sort out the truth try them

[Hidden in reply to JimGlanDwr]

The problem is the scientists dont even agree on stuff never mind governments lol. Numbers alone dont mean much and statistics evolve as data increases. What's "high"? In UK about 8K a year die from the flu (I work in a lab that has access to figs), this virus will be higher on current trend but too early to say definitely how bad it's not looking terrifying. Though perspective might change how different folk feel of course and I'm not trivialising it at all.

Yes, I thought claims of a quick vaccine were rather optimistic to say the least!

It's so awful the panic buying and hoarding - I shop, usually monthly, for a mentally & physically disabled relative who due to his condition can only have certain things, it's a 100 mile round trip Saturday to fill his freezer and cupboards and as of tonight all I've got him is 3 tins of soup, 3 tins of ravioli, 3 boxes of cereal, milk and some cheese! Plus his care assistant's just gone into self isolation for 14days. I'll be rummaging in my cupboards for him tomorrow if the shops are still empty. Its ridiculous. Hopefully his local SSAFA caseworker might be able to help if necessary. They are brilliant and have delivered food parcels to him in the past.

Might I suggest you try your local aid organisations? You've definitely paid into "the system" long enough to be given practical help when you need it x

Sending very best wishes to you for the coming weeks.

[JimGlanDwr in reply to Hidden]

By the way went to the chemist to-day for my monthly prescription which I ordered a week ago, not ready yet, I run of one lot of tablets Monday and another lot on Wednesday next. I re-order in plenty of time and this has never happened before, a taste of things to come, how can I socially isolate, when I have to make a second trip to town and que in a chemists.

[Hidden in reply to JimGlanDwr]

Yes,, me too. Eye doc changed my glaucoma drops, i checked gp had letter etc Monday, I go today to collect but no joy - spent 15 min waiting for surgery to find letter, I point out bit where it says gp to change script, finally get it, only to wait 45 mins outside chemist ( only 1 at a time allowed inside) then told used to be able to get same day but now no idea when it will come in and they'll call me.

Thank goodness I have the ozurdex implant so at least my central vision is covered even if the peripheral gets worse.

Suggest you ask your gp for a double quantity on repeat next time to give you a buffer if they're vital meds.

Hope you get sorted x

[JimGlanDwr in reply to Hidden]

GP surgery closed until further notice, the staff in the chemist told me that yesterday, apparently they are making scripts three months in advance so not to order monthly, again from the chemist. I'll go in on Monday and see, as said before we live in a rural area so another 14 mile round trip, a walk in a busy street and queuing at the chemist.

We have both had hospital appointments cancelled by letter and phone, yet they rang up yesterday and gave my wife an appointment for Tuesday which should have been on Monday, which we didn't expect.

[Hidden in reply to JimGlanDwr]

You couldnt make it up could you? Like an old Ealing farce....

[JimGlanDwr]

Lots of people are in the same boat, one lady of 82 I know went to get a packet each of frozen peas and carrots and found the freezer department empty, we make our own bread and now desperately need bread flour the same applies to someone else I know, we can't get any, another persons mother can't afford to buy lots of food in one go she lives almost day to day she can't get the food she wants. The government will have to sort this out Johnsons prevaricating got us into this mess he should have stopped foreign travel months ago. Our daughter worked for BMRC, some years ago when talking about HIV she said viruses mutate.

[Hidden]

Im so sorry for everyone suffering. Some of the older folk I saw today with a small empty basket looked shell shocked. It's awful.

Hopefully the panic buying will be over soon - they can't have room for much more stuff!

[Jbenson]

I would just like to say THANKYOU to eyesright for all your posts. Some people may or may not agree with them but i appreciate the knowledgeable advice and the time you take to help people you don’t know and are unlikely to ever meet. More people like you in the world please.

[Hidden in reply to Jbenson]

Awww, blushing now x

Im just an opinionated Yorkshirewoman lol

Keep smiling everyone, laughter is good for the soul x