If studies are correct herd immunity(combined with social distancing and mask wearing) might be the best plan we can put into effect(quicker or more feasible).

Hell, even the flattening the curve plan was mainly put in effect to allow people to get sick less and spread the hospital burden out over time rather than quickly and nearly all at once, not to keep everyone from ever getting sick until a vaccine is made(which could take years).

And then there are the elderly who want to meet family and friends who cannot due to this, who would gladly risk their health to be able to spend more time during their twilight years with loved ones.

That's right, flatten the curve by taking protective measures. When hospitals get overburdened who do you think will get ventilators and who will be left to die because they don't have many years left anyway? (BTW I'm 28 so no, I'm not THAT old yet).

Sure there are elderly who would gladly risk it to meet with their loved ones. And then there are those who wouldn't. Who are we to judge them?

While the coronavirus COVID-19 causes serious illness and precautions should be taken by everyone, those at highest risk are the elderly >60 and those with pre-existing conditions. From the data currently available, while young people can in fact die from the disease -- and symptoms can still sometimes be severe in younger patients -- it is rare that a healthy person (lacking pre-existing conditions) under 60 will die from COVID-19. With that said...

... COVID-19 is easily spread and difficult to "see" because people can be contagious carriers while exhibiting no symptoms. So while younger people may have lower morbidity rates and tend toward lesser symptoms, they can easily carry COVID-19 to high risk groups.

As to the first part-That is literally the best plan we have now(while we wait for a possible vaccine). It's much better than doing nothing anyways.

As to the overburdening issues, it is a bad thing but that's sadly how hospitals functioned even before this virus started spreading.

By that I mean some(usually rich people or those who more urgently needed care) got preferential treatment. This was usually due to lack of supplies or space, or a combination of the two.

If you need or want to blame someone for that, maybe blame the medical facilities for not stocking up in advance of all this.

As to the second part-Then quarantine the ones who are elderly and vulnerable(who don't want to risk their lives) like user Kai2 said a few posts back. If their countries won't pay for it I would be willing to pay a bit to make sure their needs are met during all this, and i'm sure others would contribute to such a thing as well.

Then we can work to support the ones who need it the most at this critical time.

I've read my previous post again and noticed it looked like I was being aggressive - which was unintended.

I agree completely, and this is exactly what I meant: young people not taking necessary precautions (face masks, distancing from other people, not meeting in large groups etc.), the effect of which is the "curve" isn't being flattened as much as it could be which translates directly into more deaths, mainly among elderly, when hospitals get overburdened.

I only talk about young people because they (we?) are the ones with lowest risk of severe complications, at the same time having the highest chances of getting a ventilator if sh*t hits the fan.

I completely agree with the need of some form of quarantine for elderly and vulnerable, once we start loosening the restrictions. Unfortunately I have no idea how this could/would work.

Some God-Damn Self-Discipline is what we are in dire need of in these difficult time and age.

What would that be? Imho masks hand washing and some other precautions should be enough. Locking everybody into their homes is not acceptable.

I'm not a fan of hyperboles when it comes to social/political matters.

I'm not talking about "Locking people in their homes" and welding their doors shut like some authorities deemed necessary. I'm talking about basic hygiene, wearing masks AT ALL TIMES if there's slightest chance of meeting other people, distancing.

Not going on a walk, to a park etc unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary for our mental health. Shopping only for necessities in bulk - not going to shop to buy soda and chips for a movie (and I saw more than my share of people doing EXACTLY that).

Having some COMMON SENSE and thinking about others once in a while could go a long ways too.

Arent masks good enough to prevent spreading?

Why shouldn't they buy soda and chips? Those are food and drink just like any other , they even dont spoil quickly.
Everybody should just buy water and bread?

Meeting others is necessary for mental health there are plenty of tests proving this. So is not sitting at home all day.

But is this really any different from last year, or the year before that? Has there been an actual net increase in overall mortality? How is it possible to know, when the only way hospitals can survive the economic lockdown is to bill for COVID-19 treatment, which is then used to justify it's continuation?

Not to worry. Sometimes such mistakes in reading text can happen.

As to the first part-Agreed, the young people should try to distance more & practice other measures, but that might not be needed as much of them if we somehow quarantined the elderly and vulnerable.

As to the second part-I think that we should give ventilators to whoever needs one, but due to the shortages I talked about before, we cannot do that. Still, many of the ones who need them are elderly so it is probably more likely they will get one(due to them getting sick more due to corona).

As to the last part-I have been thinking of this. As other users said, we could possibly put them up in the empty hotels around the countries(and have the countries or people pay the hotels, naturally), or set up makeshift places for them to stay, or even let them stay in separate areas of homes(if a family has a big enough house or spare rooms to do so).

That is needed in any age I think.

Also another thing we also need, I think, is self sacrifice.

By that I mean that if some people(even elderly) want to chance their health and lives(through things like going outside and even non-essential places, albeit while wearing masks and gloves and also social distancing) they should be able to do so.

To the first part-I think all of those things should also be allowed after a decent lockdown period, albeit with social distancing and other measures.

And also what is wrong(if you are inferring such) with going to a park for the hell of it as long as you distance and wear a mask? Most parks are empty so it shouldn't be a high risk or even a moderate risk, and walking outside in the day time is a good way to get some vitamins and exercise as well.

To the second part-We should all think of others, but not just the elderly and those treating the disease. I think we should think of all those others being asked(or forced) to do such things(lockdowns), and be mindful of their needs and well being as well.

I'd rather not...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R54b0pq56A (Public Health Responds after Dr. Erickson's Statement)
https://theprepared.com/blog/dr-ericksons-viral-covid-19-briefing-video-is-dangerously-wrong/
Quote: "If someone on your social media feed shares this video, please pass this article along. Everyone should have a chance to understand what’s wrong with its claims and conclusions."

whom to believe? take your bets kids
it is like religion now , every one them says the other is wrong and you should believe them

Reasons for doing so?

Is it because they aren't saying what the mainstream media and the touted experts are saying that makes them wrong full stop?

I thought logic and common sense ruled the day with such matters, no matter who says such, and not picking the word of one's favorite medical experts over others.

And it's not like these guys are some random nutters on some backwoods website. They are doctors with experience(and not the natural healing peddling ones either).

"That doctor seems like a nice type, but he went against the WHO and other experts that the news says are right, so they must be wrong"

That is the general vibe I get when I read such comments by others across the interweb.

That and people who seem to like and support bad news but not good news on the subject(because that's what the news seems to be pumping out for the most part as of late, bad news).