over 70 quarantine?
- Thread starter didier
- Start date
Didier—Interesting discussion, mon ami. So based on your logic regarding age discrimination, government should allow 8 year olds to drive cars and 90 year olds to pilot commercial aircraft. I suspect that even the most ardent libertarian would balk at those prospects. Truth is, US local and Federal law frequently impose age limits or stipulations for the safety of the individual and the rest of us. Do such age-based statutes impinge on personal freedoms? Yep, they do. But just as your right to free speech doesn’t allow you to jokingly shout “fire!” in a crowded theater (famous US Supreme Court ruling), a 70 year old’s right to unrestricted movement may need to be limited during a pandemic, particularly if that individual is at relatively higher risks for contracting severe forms of the disease, ending up on a vent in an ICU, and potentially infecting the caregivers trying to save their lives. Like it or not, those over the age of 70 make up disproportionately higher percentages of COVID patients with life-threatening complications and those dying from the disease.
And finally, please don’t equate this with racial discrimination—Although still regrettably common in the US, it is not legally condoned—Quite the opposite, actually.
OK...much to everyone’s relief, I’m sure, I’m climbing down off my soapbox and going to pour a glass of wine. These discussions were so much easier when Miker was around in the old days to do the heavy lifting...
And finally, please don’t equate this with racial discrimination—Although still regrettably common in the US, it is not legally condoned—Quite the opposite, actually.
OK...much to everyone’s relief, I’m sure, I’m climbing down off my soapbox and going to pour a glass of wine. These discussions were so much easier when Miker was around in the old days to do the heavy lifting...
didier
Senior Insider
egw, apples and oranges you seem to be comparing.
this is about freedom to be out when everyone else is out, not whether one gets a drivers license at a certain age, or if you need a blood test to get married.
you can be quite young to fly an airplane, there is a young man in the states now that is flying medical equipment to areas that need this. he is 16.
the other ages 8 years olds you mentioned, the parents should be in control of them and not the gov. not sure what your age is and I don't really care. seniors are a group of people that some people think should be discriminated against. I believe that seniors should make their own decisions whether to go out or not. Amy & Phil wish to stay in after the island opens, that is their choice as it should be.
I remember taking my aunt who was 74 to the emergency room, she had terrible stomach cramps, the nurse said do the paper work and she will be seen. we did the paperwork and I kept checking to see when my aunt could be seen, as they were taking others that came in after us. they kept saying just a little longer. we were there for over 2 hours, finally they came to get my aunt and as they were taking her back she collapsed and died. this is how seniors are treated at most hospitals in the usa.
so excuse me if I don't think your thoughts on seniors getting discriminated against for this covid-19 holds any water as health professionals discriminate against them everyday as a common rule.
this is about freedom to be out when everyone else is out, not whether one gets a drivers license at a certain age, or if you need a blood test to get married.
you can be quite young to fly an airplane, there is a young man in the states now that is flying medical equipment to areas that need this. he is 16.
the other ages 8 years olds you mentioned, the parents should be in control of them and not the gov. not sure what your age is and I don't really care. seniors are a group of people that some people think should be discriminated against. I believe that seniors should make their own decisions whether to go out or not. Amy & Phil wish to stay in after the island opens, that is their choice as it should be.
I remember taking my aunt who was 74 to the emergency room, she had terrible stomach cramps, the nurse said do the paper work and she will be seen. we did the paperwork and I kept checking to see when my aunt could be seen, as they were taking others that came in after us. they kept saying just a little longer. we were there for over 2 hours, finally they came to get my aunt and as they were taking her back she collapsed and died. this is how seniors are treated at most hospitals in the usa.
so excuse me if I don't think your thoughts on seniors getting discriminated against for this covid-19 holds any water as health professionals discriminate against them everyday as a common rule.
Izzy
Senior Insider
I too agree with John but felt it could be useful to include a graph that may come from the same source (or at least is a source that includes the graph that you posted). A similar presentation format is used to show per case death rates in age groups. Anyone interested can find and follow updates of more complete, including population-adjusted, stats at the CDC site and elsewhere.
Not that it's going to change the minds of the deniers, but here are some additional stats:
And unfortunately, the story is no different in my own home state of Michigan: Although they constitute less than a quarter of total cases, the 70+ demographic accounts for two thirds of the deaths. Currently, the ICUs at my institution are full of elderly patients on vents. (Yes, Didier, we do take care of them, too.)
OK--I'm done here.
Cases by Age
And unfortunately, the story is no different in my own home state of Michigan: Although they constitute less than a quarter of total cases, the 70+ demographic accounts for two thirds of the deaths. Currently, the ICUs at my institution are full of elderly patients on vents. (Yes, Didier, we do take care of them, too.)
OK--I'm done here.
| Age | Percentage of Overall Cases by Age | Percentage of Deceased Cases by Age |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 19 | 1% | 0% |
| 20 to 29 | 9% | <1% |
| 30 to 39 | 13% | 1% |
| 40 to 49 | 16% | 4% |
| 50 to 59 | 19% | 9% |
| 60 to 69 | 18% | 19% |
| 70 to 79 | 13% | 28% |
| 80+ | 11% | 38% |
| Unknown | <1% | 0% |
[FONT="]Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding
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elgreaux
Senior Insider
I am 70. My husband is handicapped and cannot drive or go shopping or to the bank or the drugstore or supermarket or the post office or anyplace else, even to the doctor, unless I take him.
I have no choice but to be out and about to get essential things done. I don't have a staff... so please don't tell me I have to stay home, because I can't.... And ageism is as bad as racism. Covid-19 has hit the black community especially hard in the US, are you going to suggest they stay at home as well ?
Your comment sums it all up. Thank you. And years ago when my sons and I went white water rafting in West Virginia we took a site seeing flight with a pilot who was 90 years old.
elgreaux
Senior Insider
:up:
A funny story goes with the flight. The pilot told us that one of the traditions for the WV pilots was to fly under the bridge in that area and that the authoities were cracking down and fining pilots. We tried to talk him into doing it and his reply was that he definitely wouldn't do it for any people that had Ted Kennedy for their Senator.
