Elderly people living in Wales and the rest of the UK could face being quarantined for four months even if they’re not ill.
The UK Government is considering enforcing a “wartime-style” mobilisation aimed at keeping the spread of coronavirus from reaching the most vulnerable.
Those affected would be above – years-old as they would be most at risk if they were to contract the virus.
A UK Government source told ITV News’ political editor Robert Peston that the cabinet was willing to make “difficult and costly” decisions to combat the virus.
Measures could include the forced requisitioning of buildings as temporary hospitals, including private hospitals and hotels.
It could also mean the temporary closure of pubs, bars and restaurants, the emergency manufacture of respirators and the closure of schools for a few weeks with a skeleton staff in place to take care of children of NHS and police staff.
The source said: “Everything is aimed at making sure the NHS is not overwhelmed, to save lives and to prevent hideous choices having to be made.”
They added that the government is concerned that some older people could die at home from neglect, after they are quarantined, so want to start the self-isolation as late as possible, with the measures set to be announced in the next days.
The source said chief medical Officer Chris Whitty and the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance are waiting for the best time to roll out measures that will obstruct people lives.
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Prime Minister Boris Jonhson and health Secretary Matt Hancock are relying on neighbors and friends to rally round to make sure no one is neglected.
Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister’s adviser, Dominic Cummings, is also in talks with Uber and Deliveroo about taking food to the old and vulnerable when they are put into forced isolation.
The news comes as there have been (new cases of coronavirus diagnosed in Wales , bringing the total number with Covid – 21 to 342
Across the UK, the death toll has doubled with ten more deaths reported on Saturday taking the total number who have lost their lives because of Covid – 21 here to 60
The number of cases across the UK has also risen massively – up from 36754 yesterday to 1, today – a rise of 418 in just a day. One of the cases is a newborn baby .
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