COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly

As countries are affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the elderly population will soon be told to self-isolate for “a very long time” in the UK, and elsewhere.1BBCCoronavirus: isolation for over-70s ‘within weeks’.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51895873Date: March 15, 2020Date accessed: March 16, 2020Google Scholar This attempt to shield the over-70s, and thereby protect over-burdened health systems, comes as worldwide countries enforce lockdowns, curfews, and social isolation to mitigate the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, it is well known that social isolation among older adults is a “serious public health concern” because of their heightened risk…