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

It seems crazy that everyone of the 2.2 million can stop on the same day. I was at least expecting the group to be split with different guidelines.

Jennie Harries was at pains to say that this was not about the risk due to our medical conditions, but due to the epidemiology of Covid itself and it's presence in the community.

Sorry random apostrophe from autocarrot.

I'm really gutted that we've missed out on the chance to see my mum as our "bubble" due to my brother already "bubble-ing" with her.

I wasn't anticipating them to allow us to follow suit so soon, and dd and I are desperate for some company!

Are we allowed unlimited outdoor exercise yet? I think that came before bubbles and groups of 6 in the rules for the majority.

Jennie Harries just said they could have said ‘jump back into work tomorrow’ based on the science?? WTF?? People may be fearful but they need to push themselves a bit??? What’s she on??

Yes that was particularly irritating.

@Eggheads I'm going to say GLUE for all the contradictions that came out of her mouth.

I would feel so much better about this if it weren't coinciding with the likely drop of the 2m rule

I agree with this. It’s unnerving how little attention people are paying to the amount of space they take up and how close they are coming. And I suspect it will decline further.

The workplace example is inadequate. We need to know what will happen if it cannot be made Covid-secure.

For it looks as if shielding is paused, not abolished, we keep food/drug deliveries (so they don’t need to provide food parcels if there’s a further national/ regional lockdown). Because we could still overwhelm NHS if we were out and about during a rise, do we’ll get banged up again pretty early on.

We were meant to be let out at Nandos level 1. It’s clearly being entirely fudged, because I don’t see his one can predict the dates of two more steps down with accuracy

I'm wondering if it's Big Bad Dom's new scheme to get some of us high risk people through Covid whilst it's a bit quieter before Christmas.

The rest of the NHS will have less catching up to do if we kick the bucket.

For example, I have 3 postponed outpatient appointments and a surgery which would be available for someone else if I conveniently contract Covid in my public facing workplace.

I'm only half joking but my cynicism for this government has no bounds.

Love the Nando’s scale iVampire!
Equally annoyed by Jennie Harries patronising comment ...

Yes @finished31!!

I have so many questions about this.

I wonder what happens then to the categories? Do shielding stay as extremely vulnerable or do they get downgraded to clinically vulnerable? What thenhappens to the clinically vulnerable? Are they then magically not vulnerable anymore?
If social distancing reduces to 1m, is that for everyone or do the two vulnerable groups remain at 2m?
So so many questions!!!!

Evening again, all.

I got an unexpected practice run at being outside with six others earlier.
Was pootling around in the garden again, and realised two policemen were coming towards me.

They wanted to speak to my neighbour; the front door was open so two of them went inside, then another four (!) turned up. The other two came out again they all milled around for a bit deciding that my neighbour wasn't in and going on their way.

I felt slightly freaked out by being (albeit at a safe distance) almost surrounded - the whole thing was just surreal.

So shielded people re allowed a bubble, and to meet up to 6 people outside. It does not mention going into shops or anywhere indoors. Definitely not going into the houses of other people. Yet, it looks like shielding teachers are back in England 1st Sept!! There appears to be a big gap between meeting 5 others and teaching Up to 150 different children a day and being in narrow corridors with many others and using the toilets at work ( children and staff share - no separate ones!)

What is a “Covid secure” workplace and what happens if it cannot be made Covid secure? As no sick pay allowed. Does that mean that teachers risk their health or lose their job? Currently very few children are in school so I am able to work from home and do the work for children at home.

Sorry know this is about schools but surely the same must be for many patient facing medical and care roles and shops, factories etc?

Definitely not going into the houses of other people. the bubble is inside homes and can stay overnight.

They said people can go shopping from august 1st

@Cloudburstagain

So shielded people re allowed a bubble, and to meet up to 6 people outside. It does not mention going into shops or anywhere indoors. Definitely not going into the houses of other people. Yet, it looks like shielding teachers are back in England 1st Sept!! There appears to be a big gap between meeting 5 others and teaching Up to 150 different children a day and being in narrow corridors with many others and using the toilets at work ( children and staff share - no separate ones!)

What is a “Covid secure” workplace and what happens if it cannot be made Covid secure? As no sick pay allowed. Does that mean that teachers risk their health or lose their job? Currently very few children are in school so I am able to work from home and do the work for children at home.

Sorry know this is about schools but surely the same must be for many patient facing medical and care roles and shops, factories etc?

I know how you feel - I'm in the same position. There is no way my classroom is Covid secure. Do I just lose my job? Scary

I'm a teacher too. My husband is shielding.
(I've been on here occasionally in the past, but mainly lurk.)
I have just started on a high dose of steroids, so I think that I may now be a shielder myself now!
As far as schools are concerned, I think that we just have to wait to see what the unions say.
I don't trust the government one iota.
I read somewhere in the staffroom area that a poster is thinking of taking unpaid leave until January.

I am also considering unpaid leave as an option. When I last spoke to my consultant he said he wouldn't advise going back into school until there is a vaccine.
I would like to know when there is going to be an announcement about if schools are deemed as 'covid safe'. If they're declared safe but my consultant says it's not. Does anyone know where I would stand re not going in?

Morning all, how are we all feeling today? I’ve been awake since about 5am just running it all through my head and worrying. Which is really silly because it’ll make me flare again. So, I have just emailed my GP surgery asking for advice re return to the classroom (the rest frankly doesn’t bother me, I simply won’t be going shopping or to a pub or restaurant) and had an almost immediate reply saying GP will ring me either today or tomorrow. I’m very lucky. Our surgery are very on it. I need medical advice, and I need to be sure that advice is sound - not some politically spun mumbo jumbo.

If it helps anyone that hasn't been out yet I'm supposed to be shielding but chose to start going out a few weeks ago for walks and socially distance walks as well. I felt so good. It is difficult to explain but not going out and about dragged me down emotionally and made the world seem a scary place. It wasn't at all.

I see that shielding is ending for everyone on the 1st August anyway. I'm so pleased that the numbers of infections have dropped. Obviously everyone is different and I won't be going to the supermarket/shopping etc but some small changes are quite positive.

May I ask if I can stay overnight with a friend that lives alone now?

I didn't watch the briefing and not sure where to look for that particular question.

Many thanks

Morning everyone
I was so relieved to actually hear something last night but it all felt quite overwhelming as it seemed to be loads all at once after nothing at all for ages!
@rugbymummy you are lucky to have that GP support, I am hoping mine will help me out with some solid advice after the inevitable 'so you'll be back as normal in September' phonecall I'm expecting from my headteacher any day.

Morning all,

I hope everyone can find a path through this that works for them. Please don’t forget you can ask employers for their risk assessments and guidance, method of work they are putting in place. There is a lot of guidance for workplaces and the vulnerable (as I guess we will be come August 1st) and I would hope they work with you from now to find your way forward. I’ve just started going through the paperwork myself and it’s very comprehensive. I’ll be talking myself through two risk assessments, one for the office (in my house) and one for site (I’m a construction site manager and head up the H&S), I figure the company can supply cake for my one on one meeting 😈

Bad nights sleep here. Husbands phone pinged at 3, woke me. Finally managed to get back to sleep at 6 to be woken by dd 17 at 6.45 with a horrific migraine. Got her settled with water and sick bowl in front of Disney plus, she was very sick but felt a bit better after. She’s now fast asleep and I need to get showered and start my day 😩. Amazihow the nearly grown up ones can still be soothed by Disney and a snuggle with mum.

Busy day today, learning the new H&S for Covid, then getting the garden ready for our wild party tomorrow 😂 . The weather is looking great all week here.

What’s everyone up too?

Morning everybody!
As many are I am feeling very overwhelmed. It isn't me who is shielding but my partner. We have shielded as a family. I fear him getting poorly.

Am I ready to go out? I don't know. We discussed whether we are just anxious due to not leaving the house and maybe we just have to bite the bullet or is our anxiety justified as numbers are still bouncing around 900-1300 per day. We are worried that the numbers will start to go up soon, as this week they seem to have plateaued

We need to decide where we draw the line and when it is time for us to force ourselves to go out.