Coronavirus: It’s nonsense to tell elderly to stay isolated without support

Loneliness and social isolation is being compounded by the coronavirus crisis.

Coronavirus isolation for elderly is far too long

WHEN it comes to addressing those who are classed as elderly and/or vulnerable, the advice can be summed up as ‘isolate fully and you will be safe’ – a nonsensical statement if ever there was one.

It is not backed up or supported by measures which provide for the supply and timely delivery of essentials.

Do you back Boris Johnson over coronavirus?

To which the immediate condescending – and frequently patronising – response is “supermarkets operate home-delivery facilities”.

Wonderful – there are now reports from supermarkets that they may be unable to provide a reliable service because so many requests are being made.

Would it not be practical for an order to be made which will require supermarkets to give people in the vulnerable and/or aged group priority over all others?

This, of course, will create a large rise in the numbers of people who are over 70 and/or have ‘underlying health issues’ who wish to hoard supplies and cash-in on any freebies which may be available for the asking.

This is just a thought from a person over 80, with health problems. I am left with the problem of how do I collect my necessities? My nearest neighbours are older than me. We live in an area renowned for its rural remoteness.

If the attitude is that because such communities are remote and are, accordingly, living in quarantine. I say living; that is until our food runs out!

Such a thought puts an ugly edge on this already horrendous state of affairs.

From: Brian H Sheridan, Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

IT’S a fair bet that the subject of lavatory paper has never been so prominent in our media.

During the war, like Keith Jowett (The Yorkshire Post, March 17), my family used reading matter nailed to the outside toilet door.

My father, a train driver, had found a convenient way of disposing of old railway guides. Needless to say, they didn’t make interesting reading.

We had always used the term “lavatory” until my mother – a Hyacinth Bucket but nice with it – decided that “lavatory” was rather coarse.

How ironic that “toilet” is now working class and “lavatory” is awfully posh.

From: Jarvis Browning, Fadmoor, York.

COULD we not use the cruise liners that are now vacant as emergency floating hospitals?