I am reading all kinds of ambiguous information from multiple media outlets and platforms on the globe. Clearly different countries are at different points with regard to the pandemic. Here in Australia the government and public health authorities are dragging their feet saying it's 'OK to go tho the footie in the weekend' (I've never done that anyway) but also 'to avoid crowds over 500 people' !
We are not of course as 'advanced' in transmission of the virus here as many other places but we have the opportunity to learn from their experience and yet are STILL on the 'reactive' backfoot- not the proactive 'forefoot'. In our small regional town in the SW of Western Australia we really have had a perfect opportunity for containment and keeping that upward curve as 'flat' as possible but until yesterday cruise ships from all around OZ allowed tourists to still disembark here even though they had a case of a man with a high temp they stopped from boarding the ship on its way here. Just what level of testing they actually did on passengers probably amounted only to such temperature checks anyway - and we all know that is not at an early point an indicator of possible infection. Anyway others are now warning Australia has a few days (if that) to really take dramatic measures for serious 'containment' but like everywhere $$$$ rule the roost and they are constantly speaking in economic terms. People are fearful of losing jobs, having no income - despite small cash handouts the government has promised - which will probably anyway not be enough for many who will continue to go to work - sick or not.
So I have wondered the best course of action like most of us here - and the answer now is glaringly obvious - just stay home - don't wait to be told to do so - stay away from public settings, doctors, chemists, supermarkets, events - everything. Main thing is you have food and necessary meds. Myself and my partner - and we are fortunate to be able to do so - are self isolating - but I suspect it will be a long experience even if I will get lots done around the house including numerous unfinished art and sewing projects (UFOs).
The sad thing is such 'reactivity' will mean the world will lose so many (probably millions) of people from 'older' generations with all the irreplaceable knowledge and uniqueness the world really could have done with for multifarious other (scientific, artistic, literary, humane etc etc etc) reasons and THIS makes me ineffably sad ...
Best wishes to you all
Rimmy
PS This pic: I am lucky enough to live here !
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Rimmy
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I agree with your comments re inactivity of state apparatus in 80%of places. But listen to the griping when these things are discussed!!
But millions of elderly people die in social isolation round the world each year anyway without flu or some other illness dominating the news. They just die alone. I live in a city and whilst out usually spend 80% of my times, as a 50 odd year old, with people in their 70s and 80s chatting, running errands and listening to stories about their lives and activities. Last week sitting in a and e with a very youthful looking 90year old who had fallen and smashed her glasses into her face, I was chatting and knew her life story after 90mins. She plays walking netball once a week. I had heard of walking football but not netball. I shall investigate once the crisis is over.
Perhaps a virus poking us to talk to neighbours and strangers is good in the long run. Once its over of course!
But apart from that 2 pennethh.... Yep I agree. Stay home unless you have to goo out. Sadly all the older people that lived in my street have passed so it is duller for it age wise, but now I have a street filled with people from all over the world. 🌍🌻
Who needs to be near people with a view like that? Lovely!
Thanks for thinking of us "oldies" (I'm 80)! Most look upon us as throw away commodities. Some homes/hospitals are already saying "let them die - look after those who are likely to survive". What a 'caring' world we live in?
Age is of course always only 'relative' and as I have raised here before I was unsure what implications it had for those contracting the virus. PMRpro offered a reply to that and unfortunately every 5 years seems important in terms of complications and survival rates - so important not to get it at all of course. But this is about epidemiology, medicine and health outcomes and quite a different matter than the notions of 'dispensability' which have cropped up here and there - I wont look for it again - too nasty - but some 'nice' economist went as far as to say the 'culling' effect of older and dependent people would be 'good' for economies - 'Social Darwinism'- even eugenics at its ugliest !!
These things are all true , both you and Poops have made some interesting and thought provoking comments , and I've appreciated and admired your discussion.
I do wonder though , wether we may also help ourselves ( and our HU friends) in this time of social exclusion and anxiety about the spread of Covid 19 , and in events beyond , by not concentrating on the negative aspects of what is happening around us but by trying to maintain our positivity and by helping other stay positive instead.
Now more than ever, finding ways to keep ourselves relaxed and cheerful with whatever activity is open to us is vital for our General Health and sharing good ideas with others on the forum on how to do this may just help us all feel calmer and more able to cope in the days ahead.
We are lucky these days , really.
This forum proves it .
We don't have to feel socially isolated or out of touch with the World , no matter how old we are , or how far away we live from another living soul when we can interact with each other globally via the internet. Being stuck at home really doesn't have to feel like being alone , and access to food stuffs and medicines is a few clicks away.
My experience over the last five , virtually housebound , self isolated months has taught me that, years ago , before meeting this gang on HU, I felt far more isolated even though there was no virus or current personal immunity issue keeping me indoors.
Many of us may have experienced difficulties in getting a diagnosis , some of Us don't get the best type of Care for our specific illnesses , but in comparison to days gone by Emergency Care in Disease Outbreaks such as these has advanced rapidly and far more people have access to life saving care than before.
Some of our Faraway Friends prove to us on a monthly basis just how much better off we are with their stories of the fantastic treatment they receive at A and E for sudden heart and lung issues , strokes and infections.
Governments and Organisations may not have reacted as quickly as they should have done , but we certainly have . No matter what is happening in the wider world I've seen how proactive the folks on here have been in protecting themselves as much as they can , long before the World at large started to battle over toilet rolls.
This situation is going to be around for some time , it's going to feel like a very long and bumpy ride if we concentrate too much on the news and not enough on our own General Physical and Mental Well-being.
I know some people might be reading my reply and thinking , " Oh here we go again , little miss silver flipping linings!!" but I know that for Me personally I need to concentrate on the things that help me to 'Keep Calm and Carry On'.
Yes a positive outlook is an invaluable thing for ourselves and those who we have any form of contact with - and as you say many people here are very practised great demonstrators of the benefits of that !!
I actually just made MYSELF a coffee and walnut cake (I say myself as my partner eats only a plant based diet and I love dairy) and it is sublime - WHY NOT I have been thinking - I often dream of a slice of this ....
The support we can give each other here will get us through this. We are luckier than a lot of others, we are in many cases already used to having our activities restricted and will have to adjust less than most. We also have a well established group of supportive friends to call on.👩🏼🤝🧑🏻👩🏼🤝🧑🏿👩🏽🤝🧑🏻👩🏽🤝🧑🏼👩🏼🤝🧑🏾👩🏼🤝🧑🏽👩🏾🤝🧑🏻👨🏼🤝👨🏻👨🏽🤝👨🏼👨🏽🤝👨🏻
I thought it was dancing girls.... Just made me feel happy... But my sight on the phone is indicating I may ned stronger reading glasses. The last time I needed them I thought I sent 2 thumbs up to my neighbour in thanks for a bit of birthday cake... I had sent two middle fingers.
How true, that last sentence is. Joan 91 and me 82 and that means I am 11 years into overdraft time and Joan is 21 years into overdraft time.
We are muddling along as Joan's dementia means notices in bathrooms and over the sink. Saying, wash your hands and sing Happy Birthday twice. It is so funny as she just says "why I am singing Happy Birthday, it is not your birthday today is it".
Nothing in life is a given, so we just KCACO and I sing (well sort of) ALOTBSOL ta da tee dum.
Well "little miss silver lining" I for one, and I'm sure lots agree, have loved the positivity in your post. It's so true that the internet give us a link to the outside world and of course this forum is always here for us. I will also try to Keep Calm and Carry On Thanks for your post 💪
Yes we need all the positivity we can get right now. Everywhere we turn there is covid19 stuff. 😕 Even healthy people are worrying about all the media stuff, keep on being a wee shining light while we all need it.
One of the positives about living in the country with the worse status re Covid is the restrained and factual reporting by our regional paper and government. The result, here at least, is there are no food shortages and people are consistently sticking to the lock down. For which I, at least, am very grateful.
I have read your well thought out piece and agree with you. Our government is behaving in the same sort of “wait and see” way. I have come to the same conclusion as you about self isolation.
I have been having unthinkable thoughts about the planet fighting back too. Apparently the great yellow cloud of polluted air above China has almost gone. You do live in a beautiful place. Your UFO’s sound absorbing. I wish our leaders had the wisdom to use this time to plan a different way of doing things to preserve both the planet and its inhabitants.
Keep in touch, we mustn’t get sad. Maybe there is a wisdom at work much larger than us. ✨🌈
Thanks for your insights SJ and I also agree with you about 'MotherEarth' somehow trying to get her voice heard in the chaos of this world - how wonderful that the pollution has cleared over China - THAT really says something !
While some of our friends have had quite dark thoughts about the 'downfall of civilisation' I'm afraid elements of THAT were already happening regarding our environmental destruction - so like you I am instead hoping this situation turns out to be a kind of 'wake up call' of some kind about how we all live and our ridiculous demands and expectations of and on this small precious blue planet.
I am not a pessimist by nature - au contrare and I will never give up hope for the a more positive future for the world - and people like you SJ and many others here reinforce those somewhat brighter perceptions. XX
Yes there are things we can all learn from this awful pandemic, amazing to think that pollution in China is improved. Closer to home, primary care is having to work smarter using video and phone calls and the internet a lot more. Thank goodness, let’s hope it’s a new dawn for different ways of working. You never know but politicians might even have to acknowledge that the nursing and medical, workforce does need to be strengthened and respected a bit more.
Sound like you are making intelligent 'decisions' to me - after all we should extract the best we can from this situation and getting some stuff done might actually be 'fun' !
Jon Ashton is saying much the same on Sky News as I write. A GP yesterday on a Q&A session said things I haven't heard anyone else voice in the UK.
At least they are now realising that big gatherings of people may not be a good idea. We aren't even allowed small ones - stay at home and don't invite guests ...
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