Thread 3 shielding chat

[AuntieSocia1]

I hope this unimaginative thread title doesn't put off all the amazing posters from this group!

As we transition into this new phase things could get interesting....

Waves to lurkers

3 in 1000 is 1:333 so once you have met 167 people you are more likely than not to meet someone with Covid. That doesn’t feel me with confidence at all.

Yes, I'm aware but I'm very anti-social at the best of times. I won't be passing the time of day with 167 people.

Egghead It was on a Twitter feed by Susan Michie who is part of the SAGE group of scientists.

Just read this article about the R and daily infection rates which is concerning if correct.
m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/uk-coronavirus-r-rate_uk_5ef1f629c5b645f5d4871f61/?__twitter_impression=true

That is very worrying ToothFairy if, as you say, it is correct. Why are these type of documents not being made public? It’s appalling when it’s about our health and that of our loved ones.

Wise fellow shielders !
Any ideas how to boost morale of a teenage boy ! I am all out of ideas, my children have been amazing they get it we are keeping Dad safe and alive ! But today he seems so down and sad which is impacting on us all, he is grumpy and argumentative I get it I really do but a treat for him might help ! Any ideas ! Obviously shielding friendly !

Can anyone who's had to have a blood test help? I have to have one, and my local gp surgery is closed - all staff have relocated to the "main" branch for now. I don't drive, and can't get to the main surgery without either a taxi (risk 1) or bus (risk 2). Will I have to get there somehow, or will a nurse come here to do it?

@FourTeaFallOut oops yes thanks for correcting my maths!

Thanks very much @Goldistheanswer. This needs publicising!

Shieders2020 - quick fix = Domino's & film night? They are good at contactless delivery & we pop the boxes straight into the oven on arrival

Egghead I agree, the information should be publicised but I’m not on social media like Facebook or anything so I’m not sure how.

A very happy birthday Redcherries

So I have read my letter. Quite useful for when I have a risk assessment for work, as it says strict social distancing. Also it seems can only go out to buy food - so not a total “end of shielding, go to pubs, non-essential shops” vibe that I was worried it might have in it.

Not sure how work can be Covid-Sade, but hopefully before Sep 1st schools will have more guidelines as to how to keep 1m plus and manage narrow corridors for over 1,000 people. At least I don’t need to use public transport to get to work and seems my DH whole office will be working from home for longer than I will be! Wondered if I could reduce my days to help, but that is not an option apparently looking at numbers of staff needed.

Covid-safe even!

No letter here yet!

Lucky that my boss hasn’t asked for a copy...yet!

@BeyondDreamsOfBeyondFourWalls if you are shielded our surgery sends someone out to do a blood test if you can't get to the hospital drive through for a blood test.
Phone and ask or phone the shielding helpline?

Im struggling with how its all suddenly safe. And if I need to keep washing groceries...

Happy birthday redcherries.
We have been to the beach and in the sea two days running! Not because we have abandoned lockdown, but we feel that outside is safer than inside and our mental health needed it. We went early on and came away when it began to get too busy for comfort (about an hour later).
We will not be going anywhere indoor - shops, church, pubs etc and are nit seeing friends or family yet either.

I'll be waiting to see how the new world pans out before opening up many of my boundaries.

Pineapple I'm going to continue washing groceries for a bit. It seems a simple thing to do for a bit more peace of mind.

Evening all.

Have any parents received shielding letters for their children this time round?

I got mine yesterday but nothing's arrived for my son, although he got one back in April/May. Just curious.

A somewhat belated happy birthday @Redcherries. I hope you’re having a good evening and had a good day. It’s sad about your holiday but I’m glad you’ve been able to rebook. I have a big birthday in April next year and it’s occurred to me maybe the youngest son and I (and anyone else of the close family who wants to tag along) might be able to get away to mainland Europe (history is his thing) do the stuff we wanted to be doing around now. It’s given me something to aim for.

Sorry I failed so miserably on the name of the absent @Marie. I’m hopeless at remembering names these days. I hope she’s okay.

@FuzzyPuffling, I’m quite envious of your seaside trips. It’s great to do something that rings the changes for you all, especially after the recent long weeks of being inside so much.

Something else occurred to me on the CallMeMatt letters (there’s another word that rhymes with Matt - I thought of it when I saw the first letter) and that’s that the England letters are from politicians. My letter (Scotland) is from the Scottish Interim CMO. What about Wales and NI? Were the first English shielding letters from the English CMO? I wonder if Chris Whitty wasn’t totally supportive of this ‘pausing’ of shielding just now? Just a thought.

I had a session in the garden today. I even let DH close enough to put sun screen on my back. I did my face and neck so he wasn’t actually breathing on me! And I knitted a sock or part of one, a big part of one. I think I need an early night as I’m still not sleeping well and having weird dreams. Tomorrow I plan to walk outside for a bit.

Take care, everyone. I hope you’re all feeling a bit more sanguine about the uncertainties and having some fun in amongst the rubbish.

@UnholyStramash I'm pretty sure the first ones in England were from Boris himself, so we've gone down in the world now we are only getting our comms from Matt. And some other secretary of state, communities I think. He signed his full name, which made the whole Matt thing stand out even more.

@BeyondDreamsOfBeyondFourWalls - Might be worth phoning your surgery to ask what their arrangements are?

I'm in a similar position, but it's my child that's shielding and I'm a disabled lone parent that doesn't drive, and can only get to the surgery via taxi. They declared that the phlebotomist will only go out to patients that aren't shielding and so I've had to refuse to have it done. Have deferred back to my Consultant and am hoping he might be of some help as it is already 3mths late, and vitally important.

@Anewuser - my dc's letter came yesterday. Am sure it'll turn up.

@FuzzyPuffling - A seaside trip (or two) sounds delightful right now, it really does.

@PineappleUpsideDownCake - I was really excited at the prospect at just being able to put groceries away sans washing, but then decided that as they were coming from a warehouse environment (Ocado) they were possibly still high risk so it was better to be safe than sorry. At least my routine is much faster these days than when I started!

Dragged ourselves out of bed this morning for our second walk since early March. It was nice and cool at 5am, and the streets were filled with birds, which I have really missed. Think it might have to become a regular thing, and need to charge my fitbit to spur me on!

Hope everyone is having a good week, and manages to keep cool today.

@BeyondDreamsOfBeyondFourWalls

Can anyone who's had to have a blood test help? I have to have one, and my local gp surgery is closed - all staff have relocated to the "main" branch for now. I don't drive, and can't get to the main surgery without either a taxi (risk 1) or bus (risk 2). Will I have to get there somehow, or will a nurse come here to do it?

My dad has just had a phlebotomist come to his house to do a blood test. He isn't shielding but is over 80 so deemed high risk.

He did have to specifically request this from his gp though it wasn't offered to him at the outset.

I got my letter yesterday about pausing shielding. It doesn't sound quite as positive as they made it sound in the briefing the other day I have to say.

Anyway, the letter says that we can go back to work after 1st August as long as work is Covid secure - does anyone know what this means? I work in a supermarket so will be mixing with a lot of people daily. I'm just wondering what precautions they will need to put in place.