"Shielding"

[TryingToBeBold]

Can someone explain to me the requirements to this in layman's terms?
I'm not being naive.. but all I keep seeing on here and on facebook is
"Oh no I couldn't possibly go anywhere as I'm shielding for 3 months"
"So frustrated after shielding since March"
"Stuck in these 4 walls #day120303ofisolation"

No disrespect and I'm sure people are fearful for their health.. but is there any reason why they can't go for a walk?
Round a field? Without a gate?
Sidestep 3 metres away should they see anyone?
Exercise gently outside?
Social distance meet friends and family (3 metres to be even more careful)?

Just because you're shielding do you really have to be confined to 4 walls and (maybe) a garden?

Just to add.. my mum should be shielding but is going about her normal business with social distancing just like most of us (yes I've spoken to her, yes she knows the risks, no she isnt stopping)

Just because you're shielding do you really have to be confined to 4 walls and (maybe) a garden?

Yep.

Should have said yes to the garden as well. I could photograph the page of the letter that tells you what to do and post if you want to see it.

@PhilCornwall1

But why. Genuinely why can't you go for a walk? With noone around. Wear a mask and gloves out?

@PhilCornwall1 my mum has one. But given that she is ignoring it for her own sanity (her words)..
I'm not asking why people arent spending every Saturday at Coop.. but why is a short walk ruled out?

Stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact with others until the end of June.
Get food, medicines and other essential items delivered, and ask the person delivering them to leave them at the door.
Inside your home, minimise all non-essential contact with other people you live with.

So yes, pretty awful. Unless you actually live on a farm Or acres of land I guess.

@museumum

I live on neither. But I've often gone for a walk and not seen anyone (especially 9-5 when a lot of people are now still working).

I wonder what the end of June will bring..

No disrespect and I'm sure people are fearful for their health.. but is there any reason why they can't go for a walk?

Because they have been told not to. It's to prevent them from dying.

You can now travel for exercise too?
So even to a more isolated place? In your own car you would have been using day to day before lockdown.

It refers to the exceptionally clinically vulnerable (some but not all cancers, severe heart, lung, kidney issues)

And yes!0, the advice is not to leave your own premises, and to isolate yourself even from your own cohabitants.

The Government will provide free food parcels if you cannot get supplies, and there is free couriering from pharmacies. The council's adult or child social care services (depending on age of the shielded person) and/or GP will,check in from time to time to ensure they are not inadvertently left in difficulty.

They are told never to go out except for vital medical appointments which have to be face to face.

It's a tough - though not mandatory - regime to follow.

Some consultants, in light of their knowledge of the patient, and in light of specific circumstances, might provide supplementary advice about the riskiness of departing from the letter of the shield guidance

@masonmason

You go out for a walk.
You wear a mask and gloves
You do not touch anything.
You do not see anyone.

How will that kill you?

But why. Genuinely why can't you go for a walk?

I do go for a walk, we go later in the evenings when next to nobody is about and always move to the other side of the road. I won't go to supermarkets or anything like that.

The only other people I've spoken to are neighbours over the wall and I was many feet from them.

I didn't set the advice. You asked why they are not going out. It's because they have been told not to.

@PhilCornwall1

Thank you. Thats what I was asking.
A number of shielded people have come across like this is absolutely forbidden for them.

My mum is attending hospital appointments twice a week and seeing nurses and other patients during that time so maybe that's why she's not as stringent as she should be.

And yes!0, the advice is not to leave your own premises, and to isolate yourself even from your own cohabitants.

And if you live in a normal house, it's impossible.

"I wonder what the end of June will bring."

The shielded are widely expecting an extension. Not least because of the start of the trailing that the group vernment is looking at enhancing support.

The most depressing scenario is staying banged up until the country is right down on level 1 of the chart.

You shouldn’t go out at all if you are shielding because it’s likely you’ll be very very ill, need to be in hospital, need intensive care, and could die if you catch coronavirus. It’s that simple. Not to the shops, not for a walk, nothing. That’s why it’s so difficult. Of course if you live in a rural area you might make the personal decision that you’re going to go on a walk because you rarely see another person.

You can read the full guidance here www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

You sound very dismissive of this.

My dh letter said 13 weeks from receipt of letter which takes him to mid July.
It says to not go out at all. Open a window for fresh air. He is also receiving texts, the last one said ask your neighbours to put your bin out .
If anyone received this letter it means stay in for 12 weeks.

The letter is only advisory, it's up to the individual what they actually do depending on their reason for getting the letter in the first place. Loads of shielded people are (or were) working full time before the letter dropped, they might be reconsidering if another letter arrives to extend the period.
I expect many are doing their own version of it.

@masonmason

But surely they're all (okay not all but you get my point) adults and can think for themselves. A lone walk is okay?
The rest of us are?

Of course people can choose to go out for a walk, but because the research into social distancing for this particular virus isn't anywhere near conclusive, the safest thing for someone who would have a much higher risk of dying if they caught it is to stay at home. There are provisions for prescriptions, food etc to be delivered negating the need to leave the house unless you want to, which is a choice. Not one I would take personally for the sake of a few months, I would stay home.

@Sparklingbrook
Far from dismissive.

@Sparklingbrook. Far from dismissive

Tag fail
@Splitsunrise

Re hospital appointments - obviously medical professional will weigh up the risks of getting ongoing treatment vs risk of catching virus, and in specific cases it’s deemed more important that they get treatment. But that doesn’t mean shielding is any less important.

I didn't say you were dismissive OP.