The shielded are being told to stay home for another twelve weeks after the initial twelve weeks....AIBU to think this is going to increase the gap between disabled and non disabled?

[AlternativePerspective]

I know several on the shielded list who have now received additional letters from the government telling them that they are required to shield for an additional twelve weeks after the first twelve week shielding period expires.So that leaves the vulnerable shielding until September at the earliest,and I can only imagine this will increase as time goes on.

Now,in principle I can see why this is the advice,after all with no vaccine or proven treatment yet the vulnerable are still going to be at the greatest risk, but while when everyone was in lockdown everyone had to be taken into account re work etc,once lockdown starts to ease, employers are rightly going to be expecting people to go back to work,and realistically how is that going to affect someone who is shielded for the foreseeable future? Are employers, who are already looking at lost revenue, going to take that into account?

And people like me who are currently looking for work, does that mean I have to stay unemployed for the foreseeable as well?

I’ve seen a lot of posts on here from people saying that the shielded are selfish if they go out because they know they’re at greater risk so if they choose to go out then they’d be taking up a valuable bed if they get sick.

I can only foresee that this is going to make the divide between the disabled and the non disabled in this country bigger than it already is.

No, the rest of the household does not need to shield but steps need to be taken

I don't think that "taking steps" will guarnteee the shielded person's safety. In many cases it would be physically impossible and in the rest unbelievably difficult, bordering on impossible. Which is why our whole household is shielding with my husband, and why I will continue to do so to save his life.

I just don't understand when people say they are frightened by any extension. Would they be less frightened if there were no warning? So if the government says, "No Shielding. Everyone back to normal." Would that be good for you? In spite of knowing that the virus was still at large?

Absolutely no one has said the shielded can't be disabled or that disabled people don't work or have active lives.

Several posts (including deleted posts) have stated that they/other people cannot possibly be considered disabled just because they work.

That definitely carries the implication that disabled people can’t/don’t work, which is a known and damaging ableist trope/stereotype.

On another thread I was told disabled people had no reason to whinge about lockdown because we get so much money in benefits! I don’t receive any benefits!

I just don't understand when people say they are frightened by any extension.

Because. They. Could. Lose. Their. Homes.

The "othering" of people who are recommended to shield is pretty stark on here.
"'they 'can just stay in so I can go and get my essential bikini wax " or whatever . Ok, that's an extreme but the mental health of able bodied people is clearly rated as more important on here than that of pensioners or people who need to shield themselves.
It's pretty gross.

And I am a bit confused by the demand that the shielded should be supported come what may.

My teenage dcs would just lurrrrve to have to stay in... possibly forever. Not. Dh's firm would be simply busting to pay his salary until a vaccine is (never) found.

It's my bad luck that I have a health condition, but I am not so selfish that I want to fuck up everyone else's life.

@Methtones didn’t realise Scottish and English letters were different. I can’t wash , dress etc without my dh help. I also have dc with autism who would not understand that they need to keep two metres apart it would be impossible.
So we have to shield as a family despite dh being a key worker. I don’t know what will happen when his leave runs out if we still need to shield. It really worries me.

Threads like this are of no help to anyone and just ramp up the fear of those of us shielding and who want to return to some kind of normality.

I completely agree.

I'm neither disabled or obese but I'm still shielding. One thing I've picked up from this and some other threads is how many people are actually resentful of those who are shielding, which I find bizarre. Won't be long before we're viewed as collateral damage, if that's not the case already.

Again, HavartitoMeetYou, you can go back to work . It's not a decree, it's an advisory. You won't lose your home if you go back to work. You might get covid, but that's tough.

What do you want? The whole world to stay in and get paid in full for ever?

No, the rest of the household does not need to shield but steps need to be taken* how do you propose that works when the shielding person is 4?
... Or needs help sure to a physical disability, has a learning disability, has autism etc

If DH goes back to work, 4 buses a day, small compact office, what do we do when he comes home? To our small house where he shares a room with me and the babies. Should we split up and the kids not see him for 18 months?

For example if children can’t keep two metres away or the shielding person needs personal care from their partner.

Where does it say this in the letter please? Personal care from external carers can still be given.

@Methtones

Last line of the letter says if the rest of the household can follow the guidance there is no need for them to take full protective measures.

In those circumstances the guidance cannot be followed therefore the family needs to also take the full protective measures.

I don't think anyone is resentful of shielders (apart from those who are desperate to get some perceived "perks") but it's just a bummer of a situation and there is simply no solution at the moment.

My main service user is going to have a breakdown. They've been convinced they'll be able to see friends in June. Their support team has tried to gently suggest may be longer. This is a very sociable person who is shielded. Such a sad situation.

AldiAisleOfCrap scottish one refers to protective clothing if measures cant be followed.

Irma, I do work. I’ve said repeatedly that I am currently WFH and don’t receive any benefits.

I’ve also said repeatedly that the guidance is only advice (over other posters who want shielding guidance to be mandatory). Good to know you agree!

Thank you @IrmaFayLear, I assumed it was as I had used the term, but I had intended it as a comparison we are asked to do not that it’s an order.

I guess the gov advise to shield away from family who have to leave for work covers the finance side, my dr said my husband and son who work should get undressed, clothes straight in the wash and shower and hair wash before coming near the well ventilated closed door room I am meant to be in whilst they do this on return from work! We run a family business so there’s no way we can all stop working, we’d go under! On the other hand there’s no way I’m shielding away from my family in my home, I’d go down hill mentally really fast, so everyone is taking huge precautions if they go out. The government are not going to give me enough to cover our mortgage if they did introduce shielded family payments.

IrmaFayLear no, we want some sort of allowance for the shielded....ie extended furlough or something to help us live. And not have to take our chances.

What do you want? The whole world to stay in and get paid in full for ever

Personally, I want the government to provide a better safety net to people who can't work temporarily due to shielding.

It's my bad luck that I have a health condition, but I am not so selfish that I want to fuck up everyone else's life.
@IrmaFayLear neither am I but unlike you I don’t have the luxury of being able to dress and wash myself , and my dc are not teenagers who are able to understand social distancing within the home.
It is impossible for my dh and dc to leave our home without risking my life.
I hate that , but it doesn’t make me selfish!

@HavartitoMeetYou

You've taken a small bit if what I have said in this thread. That post was directly underneath another of my posts explaining my thoughts.

For clarity.

I think lockdown needs to be extended and made harder, not loosened up, to drive the R number down. (Just for a few weeks, not 'forever' as people are whinging) If the R number is very low it will be safer for everyone.

Then maybe a period of shielded staying home for a little while after non shielders and with TTI we can hopefully get to a point where shielding isn't necessary, but that means EVERYONE licking down hard to get the R down.

Inundersrand 'shielders' are worried about jobs etc That wasn't my point

Licking ?? Bloody phone

it's just a bummer of a situation and there is simply no solution at the moment.
True, but if the government reduced the financial worry for shielded people that would be a start.

[Shielders] can go back to work. You might get COVID but that’s tough.

IrmaFayLear, care to aim that comment at the people screeching that shielders shouldn’t even think about going outside till a vaccine is found, and if they do they’re being selfish and putting the NHS under strain?

This thread really shows how disabled and other vulnerable people are dammed if we do, damned if we don’t.

KillerofMen exactly

AmelieTaylor thanks for clarifying. I didn’t see your other post. I wasn’t “disagreeing” with you. You asked a question - why are some shielders worried about extension - and I answered that question in good faith using personal experience.

For what it’s worth I was sent a shielding letter and my medical team gave me permission to disregard the advice (still observing strict social distancing and government rules of course) because I have serious MH problems and they consider me at extremely high risk of suicide if confined entirely to a small flat with no garden or fresh air and no non-digital human contact.