People Who Are Shielding

[Barsel]

As one of those who comes under this category, I'm not sure what the rules are. Originally I thought I could go out as from June 25th, this would have been 12 weeks since I received the letter,and now Boris has been talking about the 'bubble' as from this weekend but then it says, 'This does not apply to people who are shielding' but it doesn't say when this will apply. I am desperate to go and see my new baby granddaughter but I have no idea when that will be.Would my GP know?

[Neveracrossword]

Earlier in the week, Scottish shielders were told to continue until the end of July. I'd expected a similar announcement to be made for other parts of the UK, but didn't see anything.

[Eve]

When they did the press conference after it was announced that us shielded people could go outside for some exercise, I'm sure I remember them saying that they would next review shielding arrangements on 15 June so there may well be more information on Monday.

I was waiting to see if we would get a similar announcement after Scotland extended their's to the end of July but I haven't seen anything else yet.

[Barsel]

Let's hope so Eve.

[woofgang]

When the support bubble thing was announced, Boris said that they couldn't advise shielders to form a support bubble yet but there would be more advice announcements this week on how they could do more. By all means talk to your GP but I honestly don't think that they will say anything other than that they can't advise you to go against the advice...that has to be your decision.

More generally can I politely suggest that people who post reports of what the official advice on Covid is, check very carefully before they post in order to get their facts right? Its not like posting the wrong answer on a crossword thread....we are straying into the realms of medical advice here.

[uwist77]

I am going to use my common sense. I am clear and so is my husband. My daughter's family have kept indoors so I am hoping to see her this week. Boris knows nothing.

[dannyk13]

Woofgang, I did apologise.

[Buenchico]

I can think of only three reasons why the advice on shielding should ever change:
1. Someone no longer needs to shield (e.g. because their course of chemotherapy has come to an end ) ;
2. The incidence of Covid-19 in the general population becomes so low that the chances of contracting it become negligible ; or
3. A vaccine has become available.

Unless my first reason above might apply to you at some time in the future, you'll probably have to wait until one of the other two reasons comes into play. In practice that could mean waiting until a vaccine becomes widely available, which (based on some of the current estimates) might be around Easter of next year.

So, if you're determined to wait until there's some official advice that scraps shielding, Barsel, I suspect that you're going to have a VERY long wait.

In the meantime all you can do is to think about a bit of 'risk management' and decide what it is that you're prepared to do (even if it goes against the official guidance).

I'm officially 'shielding' but, through exercising extreme caution about how I go about things, I'm still doing my own shopping and I've even visited the seaside twice (just to stop me from cracking up).

You might just have to accept a bit of (low-level) risk-taking in your life!

[woofgang]

danny, it was a general comment.

[dannyk13]

:-)

[Apc2604]

//Those who are shielding are still advised to maintain strict social distancing and stay 2 metres apart from others – including those they live with.//


Surely if a shielder who lives with someone who is taking the same precautions as themselves need not stay 2m apart from them?

[woofgang]

no APC two shielders together don't have to follow the advice to social distance and never have done. If a shielder is living with someone who is not shielding, they need to be more careful.

[Apc2604]

Woofie, I didn't mean two shielders living together. I meant a shielder living with non shielder/s. I would expect the non shielders/s to take the same precautions.

[Vagus]

I’m living with a non shielder.
We haven’t kept two metres apart for goodness sake. We live in the same house, sleep in the same bed and the only difference is my OH goes to pick up click and collect, and an occasional visit to M&S food or the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions for both of us.
Common sense must prevail.
Deary me.

[Buenchico]

^^^ I think that it's a 'matter of degree', Vagus.

80-year-old Fred Bloggs, who has COPD and who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, might live with his 55-year-old daughter, who's an ICU nurse in a major NHS hospital. So one of them will be shielding, while the other is not. Under those type of circumstances it would definitely seem to make sense for the two of them to try to keep 2 metres apart but, obviously, rather less so in your own circumstances.

[Apc2604]

Exactlly the same for us Vagus! Apart from M&S (animal Feeds and click and collect at Tool Station in our case)

[Apc2604]

You are right Chris. I was just thinking partners.

[Vagus]

As I said, Chris, common sense must prevail, and of course it’s very different for the people in the example you suggest.
We do what’s right for us and I’d hope others do what’s right for them...no way am I sleeping in the spare bedroom ;)

[woofgang]

The advice is always advice. If it isn't going to make a difference nationally, when it ceases to be advice, then its up to all of us to make our own decisions.