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.

Can anyone think of a better way to handle it?

I suppose we can hope that when it's announced the shielded part is just guidance that you can ignore. Yes you might end up taking up a bed, but we have the nightingale hospitals now so we'll probably manage ok.

Moondust001 I really don’t have the slightest idea why you’ve decided to take such offence at me just because I decided to stand up to ableism, or why you enjoy being so extremely abusive to disabled people. Please stop.

All this just because I left one single word out of the legal definition! Christ!

(And I am “actually disabled in the legal sense of the word” too. I also used to work for a national disabled organisation, am a longtime disability rights campaigner, and regularly write articles for national publications like the Guardian on disability.)

Is this fact or just more speculation. My husband is shielding and has heard nothing.

What about the families of those shielding? Are we all supposed to stay home as well?

Lots of selfish people who believe if they're not vulnerable they should be allowed to carry on as normal and sod everyone else.

It still says end of June on .Gov
The letters have been going out late to some people. It hasn't been extended.
I'm expecting it to be though, once this period ends.

People who live with those shielding are allowed to go out, but still practice social distancing.

This is part of why so many of my friends are upset, they live in shared accommodation and can’t avoid close contact with flat mates who are still going to work, on the tube, etc.

The government may have not said anything officially about extending the 12 weeks, but there's been some pretty big hints they're going to.

Matt Hancock says those being "shielded" from COVID-19 could be asked to avoid all face-to-face contact for a longer period.

Coronavirus: 'Shielded' Britons could be told to stay at home for longer than 12 weeks, says health secretary.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-shielded-britons-could-be-told-to-stay-at-home-for-longer-than-12-weeks-says-health-secretary-11983962

I think the cost of asking 'vulnerable people' to shield will be worse than the cost of them not shielding.
The cost will be a MH costs, suicide, not getting the healthcare they need for fear of getting ill etc etc...
It doesnt matter if t's only 1.5 millions people etc.... It will be devastating for those 1.5 millions.

My dh is shielding ( severe asthma on immunosuppressant drugs). This is going to be disastrous for us. He has been able to work from home currently but I don't see how it will work in the long term, he needs to be on site and no-one else can do his job. He is the main breadwinner, we have 4 teenage Dc. My job will also be at risk in December.

As for people saying 'well it will be tough but no other choice'
I suspect these are not the people who will have been in lockdown for 24 weeks. Not the ones who will have seen the world starting again, people able to meet up whilst they are stuck at home. The people who will still have teir life on hold whilst everyine else carries on.

That sprt of thing comes at a cost. A cost that I, personally, know well. Having ME, I am stuck at home most of the time. The lockdown has hardly change my life at all. So I can tell you. It's fucking hard and imposing that on people wo any support is crazy. I wouldn't wish it on my worst ennemy.

This also means that I think we might want to advise people to stay shielded. But I don't think we shoud impose it. This should be a personal decision made on an individula basis depending on what people have to cope with.Being 'shielded' alone at home isnt the same as being shielded with a partner or a family member.
Being shielded when family is nearby and can still pop round and talk to you through the window is one thing. Being shielded when you are on your own and already isoloated is another.
This should be an individual decision, just like we leave deciding what they eat, if they smoke etc....

And YY it will also affect people who work and will suddenky find themsleves wo a job....
What will the effect of poverty have on those vulnerable people that are now also unemeployed?

Shielding here and work FT. Work are aware of my blood condition as I declared it at interview - I have to take a day off every 10 weeks for my hospital clinic. They've reassured me they have my back, and I'm currently furloughed as work is shut
I suspect it will be extended

I think you’re right @QuestionMarkNow, it’s easy to say tough, get on with it when it’s not you.

@AmelieTaylor I think people are scared about their jobs vs the virus

I’m actually pretty certain I’ve already had it early March but employers have already said even with an immunity test I will not be allowed back into the office if it’s extended - too much uncertainty about reinfection etc. Fortunately I can work from home but others not so lucky

The government will probably just offer SSP, which won't do. So while they'll say stay shielded, they won't actually make it a financial viable option for many.

Our GP rang us and explained that there are tiers of vulnerability:
Extremely high risk and fully shielded people on chemotherapy, with acute or chronic lung disease or using immuno-suppressant drugs.
High risk patients including diabetics, asthmatics, over 80s etc
Healthy over 70s
Healthy adults and babies under 1 year
Other children
We are in the second tier and she said that when lockdown was relaxed we must continue social distancing, avoid crowds minimise our time away from home.

@AlternativePerspective What kind of work are you looking for?
Unless you are looking to work in a very customer-facing job, you should be able to work remotely.

If you do have health issues, then my advice is you only look for work that would allow you to keep social distancing in the workplace until a vaccine is found.

Clearly, work that is in shops or cafes or in care homes, is not going to suit you.

I think perhaps you underestimate the changes that will occur right across the workplace as a result of the virus.

More and more people will work from home.

There will be social distancing in offices - no hot desking for example, no sharing of pens and equipment.....

this is for everyone, shielding or not.

I know of 4 people in my own small circle of family and friends who have had interviews in the past month for new jobs. All were video calls and they are working remotely as much as possible.

I really do not understand your point about disabled people wanting to be classed as 'shielding'. It doesn't afford them any privileges.
Many disabled people are not going to be at a higher risk of getting Covid, but equally many relatively healthy people who have 1 health condition that increases their risk are shielding ( and it's a choice it's not mandatory.)

I have friends with auto immune conditions which are normally manageable with drugs, but the drugs make their immune systems less able to cope with Covid, but they are still able to work and live normally. They are not disabled.

One of those people has to go out at work and visit sites, but they observe social distancing and are avoiding meetings at work in their office.

This might be the right time for you to re-think the type of work you do, and choose something - even with new training - that would enable you to work in an environment where you are not in close physical contact with other people.

@AmelieTaylor yes they have advised but I have 5 siblings and they all have a say as well and want to shield him - I think its extreme what they are doing BUT also my sister needs to shield as well, so thankfully they are shielding together. I am also 120 miles away so unecessaary travel comes into it.. Its never as simple as saying its advisory. Covid is a dreadful death and a lonely one - who would wish that on anyone or wish being the cause of that kind of death on anyone. It might be a choice but frankly its Hobsons choice in my book

I can't see anything wrong with it and yes it is shit but if your vulnerable you are vulnerable theres nothing you can do no treatment or cure .

the comment it a grand plan by Boris ffs people really have anti tory tunnel vision . They have medical condition stay in .

I think the nhs ( not blaming anyone in particular) need to make things clear doing forward because of the two groups . The highly vulnerable , who can be any age now. And the vulnerable .

My OH was told by his doctor to shield for 12 weeks but never received a letter . But he has been working from home and obeying all the rules . I have been working from home and avoiding supermarkets as much as possible .

If the nhs can go back to treating all other illnesses now and be ready for another peak then yes some in the vunerable group may take their chances but if we have another massive peak then they must also expect that there may not be help for them and that is a hard choice to make . Ultimately we are going to be dependant on employers providing as safe an environment as possible and still minimising the risk which is not going away any time soon .

This might be the right time for you to re-think the type of work you do, and choose something - even with new training - that would enable you to work in an environment where you are not in close physical contact with other people.

Where will we find all the replacement teachers, nurses, GP, hospital consultants, etc???

@QuestionMarkNow

So what is the answer ?

I don’t think it can be compulsory so some may chose to ignore the advice if they think the work environment is safe , but what else do you think would work ?

In absence of actually seeing a screenshot of any letters or text people have supposedly received saying another 12 weeks I think it is probably a case of people receiving the original letter/blanket email. DH has had 3 now. All exactly the same, original from NHS, 1 from hospital, and last one was end of April from GP. All dates from when they were sent out. It says for at least 12 weeks from today in it, but not extended for another 12.
The link BlueBrian posted - towards the end says about the impact on the shielded persons physical and mental health needs to be taken into account. I don’t think anyone seriously thought after the 12 weeks were over things would return to normal, but am wondering whether they will advise people to make their own decisions regarding going for exercise, and maybe a bit of social distancing in the garden for instance. DH has actually been told by his consultant to go out walking which we do at silly o’clock in the morning.

11:19 NettleTea your comments about cystic fibrosis are interesting. I have bronchiectasis which used to be called non- cystic fibrosis. I have read that some lung conditions such as asthma which were added to the shielding list actually don't seem to be as high risk as first thought.
Jenny Harris suggested there was some review of who needed to be on the shielding list.

You have to feel for the families of the extremely vunerable groups as well , scared to bring the virus back home , scared to let their children go to school in case they bring it home ?

Should they all act like medical people ? Strip off bag up clothes and shower before they come in ? I don’t know what is the answer ?

Firstly I don't think it's true.

However, the government should be making it mandatory for shielded workers to be furloughed. I have spoken to several people who are in the shielded category but are working because their employer won't furlough them and they cannot afford to live on SSP.