What next for all us over-70s . . . euthanasia?

So, all over-70s could soon be told to self-isolate because of the coronavirus. Once again, older people are being treated as if they are not capable of taking care of themselves. As one of them, I am responsible enough to look out for myself. May I ask how selfisolation will be enforced? And will the next step be euthanasia? Robert Barnes,

Accrington, Lancashire

Have the powers that be really thought through the proposal to make all over-70s self-isolate? Both myself and my husband fall into this category, so would the Government please tell us how we can walk our two dogs, twice every day?

And how are we supposed to keep ourselves occupied all day if we can’t even go to the shop to buy our daily newspaper?

It’s no good saying family or friends can help, as family will be either working or self-isolating and our friends are all the same age as us. Ros Stacey,

Oakridge Park, Milton Keynes

The Government has no option but to adopt draconian tactics to slow the spread of the virus and minimise loss of life. If we all act responsibly, then the impact on the NHS will be more manageable. It’s imperative that the elderly and vulnerable are protected from this appalling illness. Nick Fletcher,

Malton, North Yorkshire

If over-70s have to stay at home, some will die of starvation. Many live hand-to-mouth off their weekly pensions. Some have no relatives at all, or none close by, and, unsurprisingly, no visitors from social services. Martin Fletcher, Rotherham

Peter Hitchens last week wondered if some kind of national emergency, ‘perhaps even a devastating epidemic’, would signal Britain’s descent into totalitarianism. We’ve already started with the restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus, and the likelihood that all those aged 70-plus will be ask to self-isolate. Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby

We are advised to deposit tissues in bins. I can’t think of anything more dangerous or unhygienic. They will stay there until the bin is emptied. The only place for used tissues is down a flushed toilet.

J. Bower, Sheffield

The over-70s – and even over-80s, like me – might be able to add a bit of humour to this current gloom by remembering how we used to cope toilet-wise in the past.

During the war, my brother and I were given the task of cutting the News Chronicle into ‘sensiblesize’ squares, piercing one corner with a meat skewer and threading string through to make a pad.

Our mum then banged a nail in the toilet door and hung the pad on it. Quite often we would do this job in the air-raid shelter during raids.

The system worked, which was just as well, as there were six of us to cater for. Bill Parish, Cubert, Cornwall

With this crisis, the Prime Minister needs to consider some drastic action – the nationalisation of large companies that are in serious danger of collapsing, and which are vital to the UK’s economy, such as airlines and railways, and public utility companies. Oliver B. Steward, Norwich

How about this as an idea for a new TV series? Three over-70s refuse to be isolated and go on the run from the authorities.

I’d like to see Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and David Jason in it. It could be called The Three Fugitives – it would be a big hit. I’d love to be an extra in it!

Philip Brannon, London