Husband shielding, do I have to go to work?

[hels71]

Hi
Just a quick question. my husband is shielding due to age/asthma and diabetes. If schools go back on the 1st do I have to go back? I will need to get a bus in and out of school? We currently have no key workers children in ( small village school) so has not stopped up.yet.

[KaleJuicer]

Have you read the guidance? It Is very detailed and essentially says no. Assuming that he has a shielding letter.

[Helspopje]

Surely yes you do
Shielding is for the individual, not the whole household
What does his letter say? Full shielding or increased risk?

[ScorpionQueen]

I'm sure the guidance says not. Talk to your union.

[KaleJuicer]

“Surely yes you do” - no the guidance for schools is quite clear that you don’t.

That’s why I wish people would actually read the guidance rather than just bin the government, PHE etc and all the effort that has actually gone into trying to reopen schools.

[KaleJuicer]

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings

[KaleJuicer]

If you are living with a shielded or clinically vulnerable person ; “ If stringent social distancing cannot be adhered to, we do not expect those individuals to attend. They should be supported to learn or work at home.”

[MrsZola]

OP I'm really interested to hear your DP is shielding due to age/asthma/diabetes. Did theu receive a shielding letter? I ask because my DH falls into the same categories plus he has primary progressive MS. He has had no shielding letter and isn't considered to be in the extremely vunerable group. After speaking to his MS team nurse we're trying to get a letter to say that all his conditions combined put him firmly in the extremely vunerable group. We've been strictly isolating, almost to the point of shielding and I'm so terrified of having nothing in black and white that would enable me to continue working from home.
My school have been great so far, but are now asking for written evidence from a medical practioner as we move towards 1st June.

[avroroad]

my husband is shielding due to age/asthma and diabetes

Officially or through choice? None of those mean he needs to shield

[SauvignonBlanche]

The guidance here states that:

Living with other people
The rest of your household do not need to start shielding themselves, but they should do what they can to support you in shielding and to carefully follow guidance on social distancing.

At home you should:
Minimise the time other people living with you spend in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas, and keep shared spaces well ventilated.
Keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from people you live with and encourage them to sleep in a different bed where possible. If you can, use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. Use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying themselves after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.
[If you share a toilet and bathroom with others, it’s important that they are cleaned every time after use (for example, wiping surfaces you have come into contact with). Consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities first.[
If you share a kitchen with others, avoid using it while they’re present. If you can, take your meals back to your room to eat. If you have one, use a dishwasher to clean and dry the family’s used crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them using your usual washing-up liquid and warm water and dry them thoroughly. If you are using your own utensils, remember to use a separate tea towel for drying these
Everyone in your household should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching their face and clean frequently touched surfaces
If the rest of your household follows this guidance, there is no need for them to take the full protective measures to keep you safe

[Coffeethrowtrampbitch]

I have a shielding letter, I'm in Scotland and have it due to sarcoidosis (rare inflammatory auto immune disease).

In it it tells you not to leave your home and to self isolate from others in your home if they are not shielding, so don't share a bed, stay 2 meters away, wash bathroom and kitchen before and after using and use these rooms apart.

This isn't really possible for me as i need care so dh has been WFH and the children and I staying inside with him going to the shops and disinfecting afterwards.

So the shielding letter I have does not stipulate my dh can stay off work, only me, but I would contact your employers asap with a copy of the letter and ask if you can WFH for the shielded period of 12 weeks (currently). They need to know your situation so if there is any furlough/wfh/No contact roles available they can be offered to you as a priority.

[dicksplash]

Yes you do. Your husband has to social distance with in the home. There is guidance online on what to do if you live with someone shielding.

It's not ideal hut unfortunately we can't all shield.

[MovingTowardsANewPositivity]

Except OP said that she lives with a shielding person and works in a school and in the specific guidance for schools recently released she should be 'supported to work from home if social distancing cannot be stringently followed in school' (her work).

I do wish people would read the actual guidelines before stating their opinions as facts...

[ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords]

To those saying read the guidance, unless her husband is in the clinically EXTREMELY vulnerable group, which it doesn't sound like he is, the guidance says she should go to work.

[avroroad]

OP really needs to clarify the shielding situation.

[Helspopje]

Agree
Loads of vulnerable nhs ripple still at work themselves as are the family members of patients formally shielding
Is not a barrier to them working so unclear why it is felt to be a barrier in schools

I look after a cohort of formal/tip category shielding adults and children. Their family members are not also shielding although we have said that direct careers of shielding children should be facilitated not to work in excess risk environment and as a result some mum-nurses have been deployed to green areas rather than red. They’re still working at work though.

[Helspopje]

Autocorrect fail
Apologies

[SansaSnark]

To those saying read the guidance, unless her husband is in the clinically EXTREMELY vulnerable group, which it doesn't sound like he is, the guidance says she should go to work.

The clinically extremely vulnerable group is the same as the shielding group. The vulnerable group (who shouldn't go back into school themselves but their family members are told to) is a different, much wider group.

Some people with asthma are in the extremely vulnerable group, so there is no reason to believe OP's husband isn't officially shielding.

[SansaSnark]

Is not a barrier to them working so unclear why it is felt to be a barrier in schools

Because, if it's not essential for these people to be in schools, why should they be forced to put their family members at risk?

Can you give a reason why people should have to go to work in a school in these circumstances that isn't "other people are having to do it"?

A race to the bottom is not ok.