Special time to go out for shielding

[Orangeblossom78]

Thought you might like this film, petition too. For the other scary people to stay in so the others can go out without having to see any of them

I'd tell DH as he is on the same meds but he is out at work today sadly

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-53083614/coronavirus-we-need-a-designated-shielding-hour

It looked to me like they might be getting some kind of OCD.

The obsessive cleaning (much more than needed), the watching others out the window, the need for control of others behaviour.

The do this in public parks in Dublin and in Spain. It’s perfectly possible to have designated areas if people were not selfish. Many shielding people cannot go for a walk at all! Their doctors have told them not to as you cannot rely on others to socially distance.

I live the concept, but don’t think it’s remotely workable

What I would rather see if the maintaining of the 2m rule for pavements and public open spaces. So that it’s no more unsafe than currently, regardless of time or place we want to use our new concession of outdoors exercise.

Business premises could of course be freed to set their own distances, as we wouldn’t be going Inside anywhere anyhow, so it needn’t be a drag on other people.

As you cannot tell who needs to shield by looking (no age categories, and only some of us have visible disabilities), then keeping 2m from strangers outdoors is safest and we’re accustomed to it.

I'd happily stay in to let the shielding out at a safe time

Wouldn’t work.

Are you shielding @Orangeblossom78?

I go for walks: socially distancing of course. I think some people have gone ott with this. The original govt txt was to stay in and open a window. Now, anyone with half a brain cell would realise that if you had a decent-sized garden then of course you could sit in it. Th txt necessarily had to be a) generic because someone might be on the 14th floor of a tower block and b) not rub people’s noses in it by stating that you with gardens, fill your boots; you without, stay indoors, losers. But there are those people who seem to wilfully fail to grasp any instruction or adapt it to their circumstances.

The most militant shielders I have seen are demanding that we all lockdown until a vaccine is found. They are selfish and invariably those who have a secure income.

As I already mentioned, DH is, and on same meds as these people.

I don't think it's fair to just say the militant sheilders are selfish. Of course we can't lockdown until a vaccine, they know this too. But they are scared, really scared. And I don't bloody blame them.
I think we need to cut each other some slack here.

So he’s moderate risk, which doesn’t put him in the shielding category?

It’s fine to be scared. I had to go to the hospital and believe me I was practically wearing a hazmat suit.

But I don’t want to be associated with unreasonable people. I just watched the video and they lost my support at the “we are one person” bit. Dh and the dcs are shielding with me but dh and I one person?! Washing shopping (I do wipe the shopping) together? Vacuuming together? Just shoot me if I ever said that!

I am on the same meds for Crohn’s disease. She doesn’t actually need to be shielding to start with. She’s at moderate risk and cautious social distancing is fine. I’ve been going for walks from the start, I have a 2 and 5 year old and can’t keep them indoors for 3 months! 5 year old has now gone back to school 2 days per week too!

He is in the shielding group by letter, anyway not sure why you are focusing on DH- this is about this shielding hour.

and this woman would also be moderate then and not shielding either

Reminds me of the scene in one flew over the cuckoo's nest where they escape...

This is bizarre.

Also what exactly are you going to do in an hour?
Go for a walk?
If so then...well...what's the problem going for a walk the rest of the time.

What’s your angle Op?

You’re posting about scary people, him being overweight, washing obsessively, OCD, watching through windows, control.

Does that mean you are against what they propose, I’m confused!

I thought it was a bit OTT

I guess I am also dealing with my DH, on the same meds, but actually being male and over 50, going back to work and DC back to school.

Deep down maybe I would feel he was 'safe' stuck at home, so maybe this challenged me a little watching it. Maybe I am seeking reassurance that this behaviour is actually not normal.

I'm not sure really do we always have to explain the reason for everything? What about you WW why are you interested, are you shielding?

And no I am not in favour of what they propose. Maybe for the ones really shielding, certain times for museums or shops could be good though, as the time for the scheme comes to an end perhaps, some ongoing support, but not this in particular.

I can see it would be good for maybe a park or an attraction type place
I'm shielding but not going for walks regularly as people aren't distancing or come up to chat and I don't feel happy doing it

@Orangeblossom78 I'm not sure who you mean by 'the ones really shielding' - you either are or you aren't, and if you aren't, then you are joining the world to a greater or lesser degree. Your DH has had a shielding letter, but is no longer shielding as he has gone back to work.
My dad is shielding and very concerned (as are we) by the suggestion that if/ when shielding ends at the end of July, so will provision for previously shielding people. Currently, his medication and shopping is delivered, meaning all he has to plan for is going out at a quiet time for exercise and a change of scene, which is thankfully doable where he lives. I would sign a petition for deliveries to continue for a while into August for those on the shielding list so that they did not have to go straight from no close contact with anyone to possibly having to shop very regularly with 1m distancing. Such a scary and surely risky shift overnight.

The problem is that the government and media and medical professions have told people that if they were to leave the house and converse with others they would face certain death due to their pre existing conditions.
The reality was that most would not die but they would take up the majority of nhs resources and we couldn’t risk overwhelming the nhs so vulnerable people were told to shield.
The problem is now convincing shielding people it is actually safe to go out and that even if you did get the virus there would be a bed and sufficient resources for you to save your life.
Attitudes on here are disgusting labelling someone a freak for taking what may seem as extreme precaution during a global pandemic just shows the level of humanity and empathy some people have towards others.
If you had the fear of imminent death hanging over your head every day you may feel different.
Feeling like you could have a safe hour of fresh air a day seeing the rest of world going about their business could be the difference between good and bad mental health.
Discriminative attitudes towards the disabled are rife and the reaction of others on MN threads towards those shielding just highlights this.

@79Fluer I totally agree with this.
Like I said I’m in her exact position same condition same medication. The fact that I’ve been bombarded with government letters and texts telling me to isolate from my husband and children and to only open windows and not leave the house, even though IBD teams have said this was wrong from the start and we were only at moderate risk.
The thing is, once this info gets into your head, along with all the bullshit media that’s thrown at you everyday it makes you unable to judge your risk logically.
For me I’m moderate risk, young and healthy so I try and live as normally as I can (and not shield) but it’s definitely not easy for me as my mind constantly battles between I will most likely be fine/ I will likely die.
It’s mentally draining being in a risk group whether low or high

I'm meaning the ones who have had the shielding letters and are really meant to be in the group (as opposed to ones sent letters who seem to be 'moderate')

So for example relative with sarcoidosis and elderly, other with end stage lung cancer and on immunotherapy. Also friend with severe MS

Also I also think it is difficult as still as risk on those meds- immunosuppressants are on the list- it is still a stressful thing to deal with.

Scarby I think they still get priority shopping online with the supermarkets, just not the delivery boxes, if that helps any. I know what you mean we have several people in the family with various degrees of risk

There are always cries of “you’re lying about being shielded” or “disablist” on shielding threads.

I repeat I am shielding and do not fancy my chances should I contract coronavirus. BUT the world is not all about meeeeeeee. The pair in the video clearly have no dependents or income worries, and for them to demand that people stop what they’re doing for an hour a day so they can go for a walk is selfish.

People undergoing chemotherapy are told to take care and avoid risky situations such as public transport, cinemas, crowded shops etc. It’s the same thing for the shielded: just conduct your own risk assessment.