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I think the assumption is that we are all surrounded by an extensive network of friends, have carers at our beck and call and are able to 'just ask for help' by using the phone or computer.

This is the time the government is telling the most vulnerable group to shield to (i.e. for 12 weeks). So it is easy to see how the public think this means everything will be getting back to normal by then.

I am hoping that pandemic control will become part of the national science curriculum in our schools in the future (both primary and secondary at the appropriate level).

You seem to have an exceptional local authority - mine doesn't give two hoots about disabled people and getting help is like getting blood out of a stone (but more stressful...).

I've been meaning to create a thread on this in the money and benefits section of the forum but haven't got around to it. Your post prompted me that this information may help people reduce their outgoings.

Here is a useful link to understanding the bedroom tax and judging whether you can appeal: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/bedroom-tax Edit: You can appeal the bedroom tax at any time, not just within a month of getting the council's decision...

I posted this link in the Living with autism and M.E. thread, but it also has advice that non-autistic people may find helps reduce their council tax bill...

You are entitled to a room for an overnight carer if you get the care element of PIP and need 'regular' overnight care. Regular does not mean every night, it has a very flexible interpretation. So you can appeal the additional bedroom tax charge if you fit in this category. The council is...

Obviously I am just guessing, but in the UK the population age demographics vary according to geographical location. There is a higher percentage of elderly (at higher risk of dying) in rural areas, whereas London (seen at the epicentre at the moment) has a relatively younger, less at risk of...

Listening to Talk Radio this morning, the presenter and some of her guests are saying that the government plan is still aiming to develop herd immunity, but just slowly to protect the most vulnerable. The presenter said that this is what all other countries are doing, but just not admitting to...

Anyone can do these top ups, but you have to physically take the key to the shop. That's no improvement if you don't have a friend or carer who can go out to do it for you. I still have key meter as before I got ESA and PIP I was living on only £70 a week. Having a key meter helped me manage my...

Amazon said a week ago they were going to clear their warehouses to make room for more stock of the essential, popular items. Hopefully increased availability of food, toiletry and cleaning items for home delivery from Amazon will start appearing over the coming weeks.

I think the supermarkets are behind the game in the UK. Sainsburys is opening its store to NHS personal for the first hour before normal opening, but for 3 days of the week they will be giving the next hour to the elderly and vulnerable. I thought the idea of giving the first hour of store...

Neither do teachers. My daughter works most evenings and half of the weekend, plus much of the school holidays. A couple of years ago she had to stop teaching for 2 terms and take a normal job, just to recover her mental and physical health before returning to teach in another school. Teachers...

Another story about people 'escaping to the countryside' and causing problems for the local residents from the Guardian daily updates:

I absolutely agree on that - if my teacher daughter was still living with me she would have had to stop going into school in order to protect me (I have asthma and suffer from repeated infections as well as the severe M.E.)

Of course what you have written is true and needs to be understood by governments, my comment that people moving from urban areas to rural areas might be driven by either fear or wanting more freedom, was made in response to a specific post about people behaving like this being the natural human...

It is better to provide good clear explanations to the public as part of the enforcement procedures, so people understand both what is being asked of them and why. Conversing with staff and some customers in my local supermarket earlier this week, it was clear that many average, decent people...

Quote from a Guardian piece: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/21/doctors-warn-coronavirus-could-overwhelm-nhs-intensive-care This message really needs to get out to those people leaving urban cities for the rural areas of the country.

Regarding school closures and childcare for key workers, I found this guidance on the Scottish government site, which makes very good sense (it allows the number of places to be restricted as needed). There doesn't seem to be anything comparable for England...