What happens after 12 weeks?

[Bewareoftheblob]

If you're one of the 12-weekers - shielded or otherwise vulnerable - what happens when the time is up? Do you believe that it's then safe to rejoin society? Will you extend your own personal lockdown?

Triggered by the schools thing. Teachers who felt they had to self isolate meant that schools had no choice but to partially close even before they were ordered to. Time is up at the start of June. Will they feel safe to return considering social distancing? There must be other examples outside of schools.

[Didkdt]

I was wondering this. I think we won't know until we see the figures.
My letter was dated 24/03 and it was 12 weeks from the date of the letter but I'd already been shielding for 10 days by then and twitchy prior to that.
I suppose your GP might be able to advise at the time.

[DivGirl]

Both of the (relatively young) people I know who are shielding expect it to be extended.

[midgebabe]

No one knows yet. It depends on how well people follow instructions and the state of the NHS and how much testing and contact tracing they think will be possibl by then and probably lots of other things

[Bewareoftheblob]

It just seems such an arbitrary time frame.

[Bewareoftheblob]

@DivGirl That's interesting, what do they base that on?

[ClientQ]

I don't know. It depends on work for me as well, my work are great but I can't see them being happy to pay me for months and months whilst I'm not working

[Bewareoftheblob]

Do we think that in June all of the folks with COPD etc are going to be running around safe and happy, secure in the knowledge they're 'safe' having done their 12 weeks?

[Bewareoftheblob]

Or, with lack of government protection, will these people go back to work because money?

[wheresmymojo]

I would've thought there's a fairly decent proportion of those on the 12 week shielding list that don't work anyway due to ill health or retirement.

Obviously not all but maybe 50-60%? (Total guess based on people I know).

[Ylvamoon]

I hope that mid / end of June we will try to go back to some kind of (different) normal.
After all, furlong payment is for 12 weeks, travel company I booked a fancy holiday with has cancelled all holidays that depart before 1st July, and schools would only be open a few weeks until summer. Based on this, I assume the advice will be to stay home, only go out for work, avoid social gatherings. that's how the bigger picture looks to me at the moment