Looks like shielding might be returning

[2X4B523P]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8727553/Up-4-5million-risk-Covid-told-stay-home-new-shielding-plan.html

Couldn’t see another thread but excuse me if I’ve missed it.

So shielding is currently paused and it looks like there’s a plan to restart it and with extended to more people.

It's not just those shielding, it's their household members too, i.e. spouses, children, etc - they wouldn't be able to go to work/school either.

Does shielding just mean working from home in relation to work?

@Ginogineli

Pink I expect same as what happens when people medically retire?

Another poster mentioned the families of shielding people having their salaries paid - please don't tell me that you think I should be pensioned off at 45 if my DH had to shield for any reason!

In which case you need to accept that you May get very very ill and die... or stay home for six months and live.

A woman under 50, even an obese one, is highly, highly unlikely to die of covid.

I didn’t shield previously left so I won’t be doing it now. It’s my life and it’s an increase on what’s already a small risk. It’s hardly like the risk of death goes from 0.4% to 95%. I have looked into it all and don’t need anyone on here lecturing me on it.

@MaxNormal

In which case you need to accept that you May get very very ill and die... or stay home for six months and live.

A woman under 50, even an obese one, is highly, highly unlikely to die of covid.

Yep. That’s my thinking.

I can see the point of reintroducing shielding in badly affected areas, so if a town/postcode is in lockdown, the it’s sensible for the very vulnerable to hunker down.

However, you can’t extend the category to include everything! As it is I’ve seen people on MN declaring themselves highly vulnerable, and indignant they received no shielding letter.

I think that the Deleted Thread was inflammatory. I for one was very alarmed until the big reveal that it was fake news. I’m glad that MNHQ acted swiftly to remove it as at a time like this it’s not pleasant to acre people needlessly. The press/BBC are bad enough!

Familiy members wouldn’t have to shield as that’s not happening now - or isn’t with my colleagues

@user1497207191

It's not just those shielding, it's their household members too, i.e. spouses, children, etc - they wouldn't be able to go to work/school either.

Exactly! People seem to be forgetting that. I'm not prepared to lose my job but that's probably what would happen. I may well be allowed to work from home but the company is keen for us to be back in the office and I want to go back

But shielding was only ever guidance- not mandatory.

My mother is in her 90s and never shielded officially as she doesn't fit the criteria but she DID shield in effect as she knew her age put her at risk. She has had no social contact with her friends in her house since March.

If shielding does come back it will be optional as it always was.

If people would keep 2 meters apart and not go outside when ill, then the rules about shielding could at least allow sheilders outside exercise which is vital for mental health ( especially for those in flats ) and in many cases actually managing their illnesses ( especially overweight type 2 diabetics )

But I guess even those courtesies are too much trouble for some

I'm going on a bloody crash diet so I can get below 30 bmi in case I have to shield. And I suspect I won't be the only one.
Unfortunately both my parents and dsis and dsil are not so lucky and can't do anything about the conditions they have that put them on the shielding list.

It's not just those shielding, it's their household members too, i.e. spouses, children, etc - they wouldn't be able to go to work/school either

It never meant any of that!

It meant that the advice was you reduced contact with anyone out of your home and stayed away from shops, public transport etc but no one could make you do that.

Don’t forget some on the government Shielded list such as my self have been working from home throughout lockdown and will continue to do so for as long as possible.

Similarly DH isn’t in the vulnerable but he is also working from home. Unfortunately we have teen DC in the exam years and for the sake of their education, mental health and futures I will stay in and be as careful as I can but the teens will still continue going to school.

@Ginogineli

When thinking about cost I don’t think people realise how many jobs will go

All shops need less staff

All health and gym less staff

All offices less staff if they’re based around profit

All travel

Pubs and bars - many still on furlough

Travel - many still furlough with reduced timetables etc

Next month they’ll all be gone!

We need other, different jobs though. More food delivery. We need masks and other PPE. We need tech, laptops, phones, broadband services. More health staff. More teachers and tutors. Maybe more carers to support people in their homes, if older people now do not want to go into care homes.

Changes in work patterns have been discussed for years. We have had years of retail redundancies and in the past we have struggled to get health staff. I was at a health conference where a head exec from an NHS Trust said that we should be actively recruiting from retail, as these people have transferable skills in terms of how to deal with people, persuade people into a course of action, give a good experience of a service etc.

If there’s someone in your house that is shielding, do all other household members have to shield too?

We live with my elderly DM who I assume would have to shield again but the thought of having to keep my DC away from school indefinitely is a huge worry. I’m already highly anxious of them bringing the virus home and really torn as to what to do. As it is we just do school and the odd outdoor day out (large parks etc where it’s easy to keep a distance) - no play dates, meeting with friends etc. Also very careful to wash hands, change clothes. Can’t see an end to this.

I already wfh and I don’t socialise much but I do occasionally have to travel for work, I go to shops etc and I have throughout, including over the peak. As I hadn’t received information to shield as obesity wasn’t on the shielding list. I think it’s just vulnerable as opposed to ECV.

In which case you need to accept that you May get very very ill and die... or stay home for six months and live.

Highly unlikely. Who's to say it's just 6 months? What happens when it drags on as some people keep predicting?

What happens if those asked to shield, refuse? Maybe we can't afford to live off of SSP or reduced wages, lose pension contributions, possibly our jobs or isolate ourselves again from the world, just so that others can socialise to their hearts content.

@PeskyRooks

I'm going on a bloody crash diet so I can get below 30 bmi in case I have to shield. And I suspect I won't be the only one. Unfortunately both my parents and dsis and dsil are not so lucky and can't do anything about the conditions they have that put them on the shielding list.

Yes this is how I am thinking of it. My BMI is over 40 so a long way to go for me but at least there’s something I can do.

@EDSGFC nothing I don't think? It's advisory.

[quote Azerothi]@Windyone If anyone is weighed at their GPs, the government will then have those statistics.[/quote]
They don't even need to have been weighed, if the GP knows somebody is obese and on the list for a flu vaccine then they can send out the shielding letter as appropriate.

Shielding was never stopped, it was paused - everyone was very aware that it would be coming back.

The additional 2 million people will be from the vulnerable group, not the clinically vulnerable group - probably those with diabetes and those who are pregnant due to the high risk of it being flu season as well.

This is the current status:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/

It's due to be reviewed on 18 September.