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

@Is2020OverYet

I don't think it's clear what pausing shielding means. Does it mean that we don't have to behave any differently to anyone else - we can go shopping, eat out in restaurants, get on a plane? Or does it mean behaving how the over 70s were advised to during lockdown?

I'd need to get my letter out to read it again but it did re iterate that we remain at very high risk from suffering serious complications from Covid and should stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing of two metres when out. Also can go back to work if workplace is Covid secure. So from that I take it to mean we can go out and about if necessary but to take strict precautions and to avoid going out unnecessarily.

Of course, everyone will have different views on what's acceptable risk and what's unnecessary. I'll be going to work because I have to and I'll exercise outdoors. I won't be going anywhere else though. I want to keep my contact with other people as low as possible.

My understanding from the Scottish First Minister’s briefing today is that shielders will go on to follow the guidance that applies to, for example, over 70s with no health problems, pregnant women without significant heart disease and people on what I think of as on the moderate risk list). That still means being careful and taking various precautions to avoid catching covid19. Includes staying mostly near home and being 2 metres away (or at least 1 metre in England) from people from a different household. Able to use buses and trains but trying to be apart from others which will be very hard to achieve on busier services.

For me though it means I can see my eldest son in our living room (great for rainy days!) but maybe not sit right beside him. No need for a mask indoors if we stay 2 m apart. Maybe not eat opposite him? He’s supposed to be coming up next week. The other son has paid work again (yay!) so is talking of later in August so he can take leave around the time of his brother’s birthday and see us all then too. This means we can all be together for the birthday which will be a change after the last 2 family birthdays during lockdown. So that’s me got some things to look forward too and a bit more certainty.

Also in the FM briefing there was talk of more local info about covid for shielders. Acc to Twitter PHE already has maps showing English cases. I’ve not looked atScot Gov website today but I imagine the new details on shielding will be up there now.

Thanks. I guess we'll have letters closer to the end of shielding (we've still got over 3 weeks to go) and they'll give similar advice.

Still disinfecting all the shopping here

Still not answering door (I shout through it)

Still no visitors

Post / parcels go into quartine

Iv become a stressed angry wreck!

I'm still going to get shopping delivered/bribe a neighbour to pick up any extras in their weekly Aldi run. Not intending to go in any buildings if I can help it.

I bought an intercom doorbell the other week @FrustratedMess - it was well worth it (I'm in an upstairs flat).

I tried meeting my friend in my garden a few weeks ago, but she kept forgetting to socially distance her dog (and then apologising to her dog for being mean when she remembered to pull her away) and I was an anxious wreck.

It's my birthday today - we're going to try tea in the garden again later but I'm going to ask her not to bring her dog.
I am not sure my request will go down well...

@NervousInYorkshire

Thank you and Happy Birthday

Happy birthday @NervousInYorkshire, I hope your tea goes better today.

Happy birthday @NervousInYorkshire

I think getting back out there is going to be more difficult than I thought. My work colleagues have now packed up for the summer hols so suggested a picnic in one of their gardens so I could have a bit of company but it feels like I'm planning a military campaign! On the other hand I'm really feeling the loneliness kicking in, especially now my DH is back at work so I know I've got to get a grip and get out there.

Also if I don't, September back in class is going to feel even more overwhelming than it already does!

Hope you're all making progress towards the 'new normal' (hate that phrase) in your own ways.

Glad I found this thread.
I’m not shielding but DH is as he is extremely clinically vulnerable. He has been out once for a test at the doctors.
His consultant initially said that he should continue shielding but when he rang the hospital department for clarification they seemed to have back tracked and said no. I wonder if they are under pressure to get people to go back to work.

We’ve had an issue this week as we have refused to meet a friend of DH who was driving across the country, we would still have had to travel more than an hour to intercept him. He is a frontline worker and has 2 enthusiastic dogs. To me it seemed totally inappropriate to do this when he hasn’t left the house since March. It’s also been pouring down so we would have been forced indoors with them I’m sure. His friend basically said he thought he had a mental health issue from being so worried about catching it!

If I remember is2020, our letter (I'm in wales too) emphasised that though the risk of catching it has decreased, we should still be very careful as the risk of serious illness is no lower for us.

Happy birthday nervous! Celebrations here too - I'm getting married tomorrow!! 🥳

@NervousInYorkshire big Happy Birthday.

@KarenKuruma oh wow. Congratulations, have an amazing day.

Bloody hell, I finally get the Spoons thing! My pain from the stent is exhausting me. And it keeps bleeding. Ugh! Apparently that's normal, according to gp. She put me on new pain meds: Zapain and Naproxen. Plus doubled my omeprazole for the above. Lovely

Finished my last night shift yesterday (of a set of 6 ) and that wiped me out for the rest of the day. Then I got up and determined to do something. So I did the washing and put it out, pulled up some plants as I've got new ones to go in and then made some bread (lo-carb from fiberflour). And now I'm done. Had to get DH to bring shopping in then I stared at it for about 15 minutes before dragging together energy to put away.

And that's it. I have nothing left. I'll have to ask DH to do dinner later. I am dreading going back in. I'll be falling asleep at the desk. Wish I had more in my pension then I could do medical retirement but I have to keep going for 13 flipping years!

@KarenKuruma have a lovely day tomorrow. My neice is getting married in two weeks and wedding preparations in the current climate are certainly different! She is currently trying to set up a live feed so that we can all watch her leaving the house and I have a special 'skype with the bride' set up for when she's getting ready. My poor DSis can't even be in the registry office as they are only permitting bride, groom and two witnesses!

@NervousInYorkshire Hope you are having a wonderful birthday.

@KarenKuruma How wonderful! Congratulations!

It’s sunny here for a change, it does improve the mood.

@NervousInYorkshire, a belated Happy Birthday from me. I hope you’ve had a good day.

And @KarenKuruma, all the best for your wedding. I hope you have a great time.

@Babysharkdoodoodood, I’m sorry you’re having such pain. I hope your stent is out soon - they are little buggers even if they’re useful little buggers. I hope too you get a chance to rest up before you need to go back to work.

Waves and socially distanced cyber hugs to the rest of you. I am beyond tired tonight too.

I had to brave the supermarket- I ran out of a few things but not enough to do an online order
Ended up in morrisons about 7.30 last night and it was SO quiet. Maybe 25 people in the whole place. They cleaned my trolley, sanitiser everywhere. No one way system but every single person including children were wearing masks. Was nice to browse a little even if I was a bit panicky at first and it felt safe as everyone was so spread out

I broke shielding by going into work at 7am today (gloved and masked) to pick up some urgent paperwork. I walked there and it was deserted so I felt safe. Shocked to see there was no hand sanitiser or PPE anywhere (NHS).

Also booked myself an evening socially distanced outdoor swim in a lake this week. I’ll assess how safe it looks on the day and go home if it’s at all crowded.

I feel very daring!

Anybody in Wales working for NHS on here?...have you had risk assessment done yet....asked my manager for one ( I'm nurse - not ward based but do see patients in clinics) but not heard back yet...she's due to be on A/L for 2 weeks from 16th August when shield ends so need some plan!
I've been working from home doing admin based work ...just wondering if I'll continue with this ( if I'm expected to return to clinic duties I have been considering taking early retirement- I'm 56)

I do work for NHS but not in Wales. Had risk assessment last week. I think the plan is I (and in fact everyone where possible) will continue to work from home for now. The patients prefer to be seen remotely anyhow.

So here we are, the last day before we are ' paused ' Do you think it really is paused and we will be asked to shield again, and when / or what do you think the circumstances will be ? High new numbers, or the beginning of winter perhaps ?
Is everyone just going back to a near normal life as possible or still proceeding with caution ?
We have decided to still keep away from public places such as shops , cafes, restaurants , and indoor places.

I am going to continue staying at home as much as possible apart from exercising outside a couple of times a week. The prevalence is still very high in my area. If I lived somewhere with hardly any cases I’d go out more. I am lucky that I can work from home.

@VictoriaBun, it feels quite strange. We're not in any hurry to go back to 'normal'. We've had our carer back this week for our son, with full PPE though. Still haven't been out anywhere for over 100 days and don't intend to rush out tomorrow.

I know there are others on here who work in schools - have you had a risk assessment done? My headteacher rang to let me know which class I'm in from September but there was no mention of a risk assessment.

Hello all!

@KarenKuruma - belated congratulations! I hope your day was wonderful

Thank you all for the birthday wishes last week. The dog friend disaster never happened in the end - I got stood up. I've left the ball in her court to get in touch :shrug: it was a bit crap though. I bought myself some really nice flowers at the end of the day because nobody else was going to...

My GP surgery are keen to unshield me by the looks of things - they've just phoned tto book me in with the diabetes nurse tomorrow morning (no bloods or anything, just an appointment to talk about it) at the surgery. I panicked and then they said they had no appointments anyway, so it's next month instead.

In terms of restarting living in the outside world again, I went on a bus for five minutes to Aldi last week. It was ok but weird..

I also went to my local corner shop for milk yesterday and don't think I'll be doing that again - they weren't bothered how many people were in the shop, zero social distancing, and I was the only person wearing a mask...

I'm not working so no issues around going back to anywhere.

Not been tracking cases in my city, but 2 immediate towns/cities to me have just had lockdown tightened. Eep.

Boris has apparently said some measures in England use to be loosened tomorrow will not now be happening, the ones I’ve seen reported have been about types of venue

Shielding was due to pause tomorrow

Anyone seen if that’s changed?