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Original poster

Shielding After The Lockdown

176 replies

Didkdt · 16/04/2020 15:19

As people go back to work and the children to school I suspect our shielding status will remain for quite some time.
I'm just not sure how it will work. I was feeling so twitchy with DH at work and the children at school whether they'd bring it home
Also at some point I want my life back. I want to go back to work.
I've always been careful to avoid people's germs before knowing a cold or chest infection could hospitalize me, it's just now hospital might not be able to fix me

I just wondered if people wanted to chat through how shielding will work when life starts it's new normal and we're stuck shielding.

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 16/04/2020 21:29

In theory I should have antibodies and I don’t want to see my livelihood destroyed completely.

SFCA · 16/04/2020 21:41

Our 2 children are both shielded. DH has been able to WFH during lockdown but I am really worried about him being put under pressure to go back when lockdown ends.

We need his income, he needs his job. I would say he has to move out but our son’s have 2 person medical interventions every day. That means not only does he need to be here but he needs to be very close to them.

The thought of it continuing past June is dreadful! My DC are very vulnerable but they are not ‘sick’ and are toddlers first! No nursery, no day nurses, no family support we are going to be on our knees by June anyway!

Original poster
Didkdt · 16/04/2020 23:58

My getting to know you answers
Age: late 30's
Location: In the home counties very home counties
Reason for shielding: I qualify under asthma and immuno surpressed

Username: as I was
Main worries- Job, I love mine it's ideal for my needs and wants and I enjoy it
Grateful for: dh and dc's and my garden
Worries catchine Covid 19
Not being able to do my job
DH not being able to do his job
How do we stay safe and remain well
Income
And what will happen when shielders are left without the protection of the lockdown

OP posts:
Tonemeth · 17/04/2020 00:17

I'm early 30s and shielding and worried about what it means for my job. I'm hopeful my employer would find a way to make things work, but ultimately if I cant do the job how can they keep me.

On a separate note, I do wonder if we will see millions of disability employment claims off the back of this and the government having to make some kind of ruling from a tribunal point of view.

I dont have kids and my boyfriend doesnt live with me - I've moved in with my parents for now. But once lockdown is over I'll go home as its safer.

I had cancer in my 20s and what hits me is that I really fought to have a life, a job and a mortgage. It just feels like the harder I fight for things the more I have to lose. I'm disabled and live with the after effects of chemo and really struggle to work but I manage. It makes me so angry that it could all be taken away so easily.

Ledkr · 17/04/2020 08:43

On a separate note, I do wonder if we will see millions of disability employment claims off the back of this and the government having to make some kind of ruling from a tribunal point of view

Yes i think they will have to. My boy will have a mortgage and a new baby to support so i can see him going to work if not.
He is currently furloughed but i dont know where this leaves him if they reopen the business.

Tonemeth · 17/04/2020 09:06

I cant see furloughing lasting as long as shielding unless they somehow come up with the money to furlough all those shielding (unlikely).

I've worked out between my PIP and if I got SSP I'd be able to pay my bills (Scotland - mortgage is £240) but I wouldnt be able to eat or have any money to buy anything like clothes etc.

I'm hoping that because theres nothing concrete yet that the government might pull something out the bag (or even the Scottish government) but I'm not holding my breath.

Ledkr · 17/04/2020 09:17

Shielders only make up a small part of the population so they need to support somehow.
I am going to email my mp today to ask him to raise this at a suitable time.
My ds doesnt get pip so would be f**

BeyondMymymymyCorona · 17/04/2020 09:56

I'm one of the incredibly lucky shielders, in that I'm already on UC (formerly support group ESA) and PIP. So money and rent are no more of a worry than normal. Then I already have an ongoing food delivery slot cause of my disability, so I've just been able to continue with that. Along with my prepper-tendencies that's meant we're good for food. DP is my carer so we've only have to worry about extending the shielding to include her as it's impossible for her to keep a 2m distance from me.

I'm early thirties, and have a great combo of immunosuppression, rare disease that affects many systems, meds that depress respiratory function, asthma, and (thanks to all of those) a high BMI.

ofwarren · 17/04/2020 10:05

We have a shielded 5 year old but the whole family (2 adults 3 kids) have been shielded as we couldn't possibly isolate a 5 year old.
I'm the main carer so that's fine and my husband works from home which is also good but my 17 year old has just finished the first year of his college course and is due to go back in September.

AuntieSocia1 · 17/04/2020 10:14

Have any of you signed up for the shielding priority delivery slots?

I had a text to say if I've online shopped before that supermarket would be in touch if not one of the major supermarkets but not had anything yet?

Just wondering how long others waited?

Tonemeth · 17/04/2020 10:17

It took over a week for me to get an email auntie but its setup now. If you can get through to Tesco and plead your case they can also do it manually.

I am going to email my mp today to ask him to raise this at a suitable time.

I'm tempted to do this, do you think it's worthwhile?

Pinkfizzy · 17/04/2020 10:19

As you haven't online shopped with any of them, I would check your spam first. If no joy, start trying to make contact with them, nearest one first.
Don't bother with Ocado!

AuntieSocia1 · 17/04/2020 10:21

@ofwarren that is really hard, I'm trying not to think too far ahead but it's difficult not to. Also as an aside, I really appreciated your updates when all of this was in very early stages it was so helpful and I was very prepared especially mentally for what was coming

Original poster
Didkdt · 17/04/2020 10:22

My regular deliveries came from Ocado I haven't been able to get a slot for anything
and I haven't heard from them
Tesco and Amazon Fresh have delivered my groceries without being on a special list but I've had to hunt down those slots

OP posts:
AuntieSocia1 · 17/04/2020 10:24

Thanks @Tonemeth that's good to know. We have shopped with Tesco before, dh setup the account but hopefully they are going by address.

It's only been a few days so will give it a few more and try and contact them.

ofwarren · 17/04/2020 10:29

@AuntieSocia1 thanks
It got too much, even for me. I ended up ill with possible covid and couldn't face the news for weeks.
I'm slowly posting again.

AuntieSocia1 · 17/04/2020 10:29

@BeyondMymymymyCorona welcome to the little gang. Your situation sounds tough as well

Speaking of PIP I put in a claim this January- I should have done it a while ago but lots of reasons I didn't including denial that things were really hard anyway... I still haven't heard back from that either. Not too surprising but I did call them and they said things were taking longer but that they'd be in touch to organise telephone interviews.

I'd feel so much better if I knew I had that as a backup because that combined with no astronomical childcare costs would mean we could scrape by if I did lose my job

AuntieSocia1 · 17/04/2020 10:32

@ofwarren I'm so sorry to hear that. I had to take a big break too. Was all very overwhelming, trying to get the balance right now between to stay informed but not sink!

AuntieSocia1 · 17/04/2020 10:34

@Didkdt yes amazon have been a life saver for me but slots are so scarce, I feel like a lottery winner anytime I book a slot!

FourTeaFallOut · 17/04/2020 10:39

I'm 40 and fell under the shielding criteria as a severe asthmatic. I'm not really sure how we will make things work. Sometimes I think I'll have to move out of my house to let DH and the kids get back in to the world and then that seems so painful I think I'll just have to risk it.

What I really want is access to antibody testing after those at the frontline have been tested and preferably before the kids go back to school. There's a good chance I may have had this virus and others in the shielding group will have too and remaining three paces away from everyone we love won't be necessary.

Tonemeth · 17/04/2020 10:40

Is it Amazon prime now you're talking about? It doesnt deliver here. I've been staying up till midnight to get "normal" slots and managing to get them 3 weeks in advance now. Nothing for next week but hoping theyll release a few more over the weekend again.

30ishiwish · 17/04/2020 10:47

I’m immunosuppressed for a rare autoimmune disease and a primary school teacher.

What will happen when schools go back?
How will social distancing work?

I’m worried that ultimately, I’ll have to go back before there is a vaccine.

Original poster
Didkdt · 17/04/2020 11:25

@Tonemeth it's Amazon Fresh which isn't the same as Prime Now.
It does feel like a lottery win to get a delivery slot. I used to love food shopping now I don't know when I'll feel safe enough to go to the supermarket again.

OP posts:
Tonemeth · 17/04/2020 11:30

Ooh I'll check it out. I just got another tesco slot for next week - there seem to be a few going right now so worth a look. I'm taking normal slots where I can not the vulnerable ones.

Original poster
Didkdt · 17/04/2020 11:34

@30ishiwish that sounds tough.
I was quite twitchy by the start of May and DS got a throat infection whilst still at school high fever the works it was so hard to stay away from hom and he kind of understands but was still very hurt you could see it in his eyes

OP posts: