OAPs to suffer as care system buckles

BORIS Johnson last night unveiled dramatic measures intended to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

More details are likely to emerge in the coming days as the country gets to grips with the tough new guidance.

But at this early stage, the Mirror has pulled together some answers to your key questions...

AM I IN AN AT-RISK GROUP? Some over-70s and people with significant pre-existing conditions will be asked within days to be “largely shielded from social contact” for 12 weeks.

According to Public Health England, Covid-19 poses the biggest threat to those who have weaker immune systems and longterm or chronic illnesses.

These are likely to include heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer – but a definitive list has not been published yet.

Those who need to be shielded will be contacted by the NHS, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

WHAT DOES ‘SHIELDED FROM SOCIAL CONTACT’ MEAN?

It is not yet clear if these shielding measures will be as tough as those for people with symptoms, who are self-isolating.

But it is likely they will involve staying indoors and avoiding school, work and public transport.

You may also need to ask for help getting groceries, shopping and medication.

Try to plan ahead with friends, family and neighbours to make sure you have everything you need.

Those with symptoms or members of their household should avoid contact with you as much as possible.

WHAT IF I AM IN MY 70s BUT IN GOOD HEALTH?

If you are over 70 but in good health with no significant underlying conditions, you should follow the same precautions as those of working age. But you are strongly advised to carefully follow social distancing measures.

This means you should avoid gatherings and crowded places,

ELDERLY people who rely on home care visits could be left unable to feed and wash themselves, ministers were warned yesterday.

Over-70s will be ordered to selfisolate soon but unions say services crippled by Tory cuts will be unable to cope.

And carers doing home visits could become the most deadly super-spreaders of Covid-19 with many on zero-hours contracts

WHAT IF I AM PREGNANT?

The same measures about social distancing apply to pregnant women, who have been told it is “particularly important” for them to avoid unnecessary social unable to afford to take time off. The sector already has 122,000 unfilled posts and Age UK estimates 1.4 million are not getting help. Shadow Health Minister Barbara Keeley said: “It’s clear care staff self-isolating or becoming unwell will put significant pressure on an already fragile social care system.”

The Government said it was unable to answer a Parliamentary question on whether it had assessed FEAR Christine Warren contact. They are strongly advised against these activities and to significantly limit face-to-face capacity to provide home care and meals for the elderly. Its plan to isolate over-70s was leaked at the weekend and there are reports Whitehall is in talks with Uber and Deliveroo to cover food runs.

The GMB’s Rehana Azam said: “The Government says we need a ‘wartime-style’ response but they will be setting their troops up to fail if they haven’t done due diligence.

“The suggestion companies like Deliveroo and Uber can take the vital task of keeping nearly nine million older people properly fed is

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE THE SYMPTOMS?

If you have a high temperature or a new continuous cough, you and frankly not a serious one.” The written Parliamentary question was submitted by Labour’s Sarah Owen, who said: “The Minister’s inability to answer this simple question will be concerning to carers and patients. This Government needs to act now.”

There are 9.2 million over-70s in the UK and almost half live alone.

Christine Warren, whose mum Kathleen, 98, relies on home care, said agency staff have been told they cannot get hold of protective masks due to shortages. Christine, of Islington, North London, said: