To think it is utterly crazy that shielders can now meet up with people?

[Biglittlethings]

At midnight last night the Government slipped out a frankly bizarre new alteration to the rules in that shielders, who have been told on the one hand to expect that they will need to shield beyond 30 June, will from tomorrow be able to not only leave the house, but meet up with others from different households.

"From Monday, the 2.2 million people who’ve been shielding can go outside for first time. This will be with either members of their household, or, if they live alone, to meet one other person."

Further information will follow in today's press conference.

Am I the only one to think this is absolutely ridiculous, and not at all in the interests of "the science?"

Surely people who are shielding are entirely capable of making up their own minds!

This is a realisation that many of the shielded cannot stay in one room with no human interaction indefinitely and acknowledges the level of spare capacity currently within the NHS. For those whose condition is not aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle with no access to sunlight and who are either living with others or can cope without human interaction going out of the house continues to make no sense. However many conditions will be aggravated by continued shielding and in these cases the chance of catching the virus has to be balanced against the negative effects of remaining indoors on the condition (and wider health of the individual). It is also unrealistic to expect those living alone to continue to see nobody for many months so allowing one on one meetups, with people that the shielded person can trust to minimise risk, at a social distance and outdoors may well beneficial enough to a persons mental health that it outweighs the risk of such contact.

It might not be in the interests of "the science" but it's certainly in the interests of the people who are going stir-crazy.
@MilkTwoSugarsThanks not for me! I would rather be going stir crazy than slowing dying in ICU.
A month ago I would have been safer going for walks as the streets/parks were quieter.

I think it makes perfect sense for people to go out for a walk and social distance - the virus does not lurk around outside waiting for you to walk past and jump on you.

As a doctor said on a news programme earlier - it's awful for people that have been locked away, detrimental to mental health and if they are careful absolutely no need to lock away.

Obviously it is personal choice if people chose to stay locked away.

There will of course be the over dramatic suggesting that the government are murdering people/they are being betrayed and other ridiculous comments - is just a socially distanced walk that's all and don't have to if you don't want to.

I think a lot of people are now making their own risk assessments based on their own specific circumstances.

I know I am. I'm on the shielded list because I'm undergoing treatment for cancer, which finishes next month. I was shielding prior to lockdown as I was on chemotherapy (I'm now waiting for radiotherapy). My partner wasn't working so he isolated with me. The thing is, since this all started I've had numerous hospital appointments and stays. I had surgery in a hospital which was also treating COVID19 patients. I've had far more contact with the outside world than my partner so I'm weighing up the risks and decided walking a few minutes outside my house is probably less risk than going to hospital.

It should be distanced. Most importantly, they don't have to and food deliveries will still be supported! People should be able to make their own decisions based on the varying risks to their mental and physical health, in the same way anyone normally would because they have vulnerability when they are undergoing cancer treatment, organ replacement etc. This situation is not uncommon in normal life, the government deciding how people should protect themselves is actually the unusual bit.

But if they take the decision to start going out again, why should they get their food govt food parcels delivered for free? We both just missed out on the 'shielded' group in the first place and have had to go to the supermarket. If shielded groups want to go out, they should be in the same position as anyone else.

Us shielded people have always been “allowed” to go for walks. We are also “allowed” to meet in groups of six on Monday - in England. All this has done is started the process of eroding any legal protection/support we have.

I think they said that there is virtually no evidence of the virus bring transmitted outside, in which case shielders should be safe to go outside.

@scarbados by “missed out” do you mean thankfully although vulnerable we are not extremely clinically vulnerable! You sound jealous of others health issues.
Walking outside is in no way the sane as going to a supermarket!

*same

I think they are acknowledging that if you are shielding and live on your own then you are probably going crazy as you haven’t seen any other people for months!

I am shielding, but have to admit I have already gone outside my flat once or twice for a short walk. It is so hard staying inside all the time for months. I think I could have managed it if I had a garden, but for those without being able to go outside occasionally makes a huge difference.

I think some people might be misinterpreting the guidance. They haven’t suggested anyone should stop shielding, but going outside your home for a bit of fresh air, staying well away from anyone, is very low risk. Likewise, even for the minority who live on their own, meeting one other person outside is low risk and needs to be balanced against how difficult it must be to have no human contact at all for so long.

Absolutely incoherent guidance. I think advice like that, along with the whole Cummings’ fiasco, means that most people have given up, or are twisting the rules to suit themselves - which is probably what the government wanted all along.

You do understand the difference between 'can' and 'must' don't you? My parents are shielding. They are not suddenly going to rush around to my house because the Gov has said they CAN, because they aren't stupid.

They don't have to go out and meet people if they don't want to. They can be conscience and look after themselves avoid high risk places. At least they have a choice.

My dad is shielding and my mum vulnerable. They will be coming to sit in my garden through a side entrance. Its been awful for them and all others confined to their home. They won't be strolling along a busy promenade or catching a bus any time soon...

It's they can not they must.

Let them make their own decisions. Maybe their mental health comes first.

@Michaelbaubles

I think it’s to mitigate some of the objections about forced return to the workplace (instead of WFH) from those who live with shielded people. After all, if they can go outside and meet up with people, what’s the harm in people from their home going to work? A massively cynical move, IMO, designed to deliberately weaken quite reasonably-held objections to returning to the workplace before it is shown to be safe.

But they haven’t said that shielding people who live with others can meet up with people. They have said that shielding people who live alone can meet up with one other person.

You don’t have to see anybody if you don’t want,the virus is still out there

Is this the first move towards making it impossible for shielding workers to protest that they can’t return to the workplace?

Or shielding teachers refuse to return to the classroom?

I fucking despair that they ARE trying to kill off those that are weaker in body but able to see them for their lies.

In a matter of 48 hrs the government issued a "stay home until end of june" then "hey totes safe go out when you want btw".

What changed? Any medical breakthrough?

Nope.

Shielding advice has always been that, advice not the law, we haven't been locked in our houses by armed guards.

We could always go out whenever we wanted and being recognised as shielding by necessity gave access to a little support and some employment leeway and understanding. We were advised not to go out because of medical circumstances, those haven't changed. Lifting the shield for the group does effectively mean the end of employment leeway and support though.

I am so sick of debates about the rules.

I wish we'd move to some general principles for everyone:

E.g. We know:

There is a virus transmitted through touch and close contact.

The virus is potentially life threatening to those over 60, with obesity, diabetes etc etc.

So:

Everyone minimise contact with other people as much as you can please.

Everyone maintain social distancing.

Take particular care in your decisions if you are in a vulnerable group. As you are more vulnerable.

Make decisions which are best for you but which also consider the needs of the wider community in protecting everyone.

Don't be a Dick.

It amazes me how many people want the government to micromanage every decision with every possible permutation.

We are rushing ahead, and considering we had so many deaths, it is worrying.

Don't be a Dick would have been a much better strap line than Be Alert.

YANBU, I’m shielding and won’t be going anywhere. My consultant has said absolutely not anytime sooner than the end of summer
but possibly not before the end of the year.

I understand why people might want to though.

I’m also sick to my back teeth of the Mumsnet “it’s a chooooooice brigade”.

I'm glad I'm in Wales. Boris has gone crazy!!! It's like lockdownnhas never happened and all the things he said would only happen if a vaccine has been produced are happening!! Crazy times