Readers' letters: Wrong to keep older people in isolation for a long time period

I make very few demands on the NHS. I live alone and have a fairly simple life. Being able to be outdoors in fresh air and open space is absolutely crucial to my physical and mental health.

In pre-Covid times, I enjoyed some social contact with a small group of friends and ex-colleagues. Now, of course, this is not possible and I totally respect the guidelines on social distancing.

Is this to be snatched away – and my life effectively snuffed out – solely on the grounds of my date of birth?

The potential measure of using chronological age as the criterion of whether or not people will be allowed to leave their homes, fills me, and I am sure many other people, with terror.

I understand that this is not yet policy, but judging by the ‘noise’ in the media, the idea is clearly out there.

Three key points seem particularly pertinent:

The mark of authoritarian regimes – we live, or I thought we did, in a mature democracy. This has been hard fought for by previous generations, treasured and maintained through to present times.

The climate against discrimination of all sorts has been strengthened over the years, and especially in more recent times – are we suddenly to reverse that principle, and arbitrarily ‘punish’ those who have a birthday before a certain date?

The physical and mental health implications of such treatment of some individuals, while others are being treated differently, are huge.

I believe that during the past month, and that it will be the case going forward, the vast majority of ‘older people’ have shown themselves to fully understand the need to stick to the measures asked thus far, and can and should be trusted to continue to do so.

To arbitrarily ‘lump an age group together for collective punishment’, and this is what is being proposed, is too awful to contemplate.

Let us trust and pray that wiser and more humanitarian counsels prevail.

Bridget

Duncan

via email