Asthmatics - are you still WFH?

[FluffyKittensinabasket]

My organisation classes me as vulnerable so WFH...along with almost everybody else!

Everyone at my company has been told not to expect to be back in the office until next year.

We've been told those in the vulnerable and extremely vulnerable categories can WFH for longer if necessary.

Yes. Nobody is back in the office though.

DH is asthmatic and yes.

No been working on a ward from day one

Nope, unfortunately I’ve been in work every day.

Only severe asthmatics are considered vulnerable? Some asthmatics got taken off the shielding list as well.. strangely asthmatics are fairing largely similar to those without it across the world. One assumes due to the life threatening bit seemingly being an inflammatory/blood clotting issue ..

Yes I am working from home at the moment but if schools go back full time in September then I’ll be back teaching in the classroom with 30 other people with no social distancing. I keep swinging between being excited getting my life back to being utterly terrified I might catch it. My husband’s type 1 diabetic and my Mum’s eighty next year and shielding so I’m also worried about passing it onto them. If this goes on for much longer then I’m starting to think I might need to reconsider my career!

@Bol87

Only severe asthmatics are considered vulnerable? Some asthmatics got taken off the shielding list as well.. strangely asthmatics are fairing largely similar to those without it across the world. One assumes due to the life threatening bit seemingly being an inflammatory/blood clotting issue ..

No. All asthmatics were put on the “clinically vulnerable” list. The more severe ones, e.g. those taking steroid tablets or recently hospitalised, were put on the “clinically extremely vulnerable” list, and had to shield.

@Bol87

Only severe asthmatics are considered vulnerable? Some asthmatics got taken off the shielding list as well.. strangely asthmatics are fairing largely similar to those without it across the world. One assumes due to the life threatening bit seemingly being an inflammatory/blood clotting issue ..

You’re confusing vulnerable and shielding.

I've been working in covid ICU since day 1.

I was advised to shield (wasn’t on official list when it started but my Asthma has become some unstable I would be now!). Looking at setting me up working from home, if not I’ll be on a site where everyone is screened for Covid to reduce my risk.

Been working in a hospital role everyday as usual, no option to work from home.

No, was furloughed, back to work in retail now, no option to work from home.

I've been working from home but am going back to work this week as it is difficult maintaining communications. My colleagues who are in work tell me that they feel very safe though with the procedures that have been brought in.

Worked all through. No letter saying anything about it at all. Can’t figure out how colleagues got a letter to shield and I never.

Asthma is still on the vulnerable list.

Strange how some work places like mine are saying we still need to stay at home.

Yes, but not because I'm asthmatic. It's because only key workers are allowed back. We literally aren't allowed back in the buildings (some people are there, but because they have to be). If we need to pick anything up, we have to apply for a slot with security and be escorted in and out.

We've been told not to expect to be allowed back (anyone) until September at the earliest or possibly January. I personally do not plan to go back until October/November at the earliest because I can do everything remotely. My last day at work the week before lockdown, I brought home absolutely everything I might need to work from home for the foreseeable future.

*Asthma is still on the vulnerable list.

Strange how some work places like mine are saying we still need to stay at home.*

Think the thing is not all jobs can have people working from home, the clinically vulnerable should WFH where possible.. I guess workplaces can't have every clinically vulnerable staff member off work if that's not possible?

I am an asthmatic teacher. Medically vulnerable but not shielding.

I should be either wfh or be given a role in school that allows me to be 2m (as far as possible) from other people - ie not work with children in a classroom.

If I did this, then there wouldn't be enough staff to run enough bubbles for all the priority children to return.

So waived my right to these safer jobs (local infections are low) and am in teaching 4 days a week in a 15 child primary bubble. So far, so ok.

The official guidance says you should work from home if possible but, if it is not possible, your employer should make the environment as Covid-safe as possible.
In my workplace there are now very few visitors coming in (all asked to confirm absence of symptoms before visiting), staff and visitors must wear masks in all communal areas and social distancing is strictly adhered to. Most of the staff have worked right through, none have been unwell or tested as positive at any point although two have antibodies
I don't think it is practical to wait until it is totally safe so am happy to go back with the proviso that I may return to WFH if things get worse again