If you are clinically vulnerable

[babyguffingtonstrikesagain]

What are you going to do about work during this new 4-week lockdown?

The guidance says 'Clinically vulnerable advised not to go to work if they are unable to work from home'.

Based on this, I think I'm supposed to request home-working from my employer. I'm a teacher though so it's not straightforward.

What are other people's plans?

Are you in the shielding group?

No I was never shielding first time round but followed the WFH advice for the clinically vulnerable as I have asthma.

DH is ECV. He had the option to work at home the last few weeks but has been going in (I think he should have only done a few days in work and reduced exposure).
He thinks he might get told to work from home, but because of the nature of his work he could do with going in the odd day to use specialist software and equipment.

No one has mentioned anything. I was shielding. I don't think it will be an option as my class are still at school rather than distance learning. I've had Covid twice I think - definitely had it back in March and think I had it again 2nd week of September but no tests were available! Ridiculous.

I thought it was only ECV that we're told not to go to work if they couldn't WFH? Dp has asthma and has been out to work every single day even through the first lockdown.

I've been told that as schools are magically safe i'll be expected in to teach despite having to WFH in the first lockdown. I have steroid reliant asthma and 2 autoimmune conditions as well as being 50 and menopausal. So the advice seems to be WFH unless you are a teacher.

I read it as CEV clinically extremely vulnerable people being advised to WFH not CV. That’s was on the coronavirus page on the Gov.uk website. Sorry I’m not being pedantic but would like to know myself for sure as I am classed as CV not CEV.

Dp, extremely vulnerable group couldn’t give a shit and will be going to work if he can get any. He is done with staying in and won’t be shielding for anyone.

It’s only CEV people who are advised not to work if they can’t work from home.

I hope the school can work with you if you don’t feel safe going into work, though

It’s only people who are clinically extremely vulnerable not the wider group of vulnerable people.

I read it as CEV clinically extremely vulnerable people being advised to WFH not CV.

Yes, that's exactly what it says. 'CV' includes otherwise perfectly healthy 60 year olds.

“There is a further group of people who are defined, also on medical grounds, as clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus – that is, people with specific serious health conditions. Over this period, we are advising the CEV to work from home. If you cannot work from home, you are advised not to go to work and may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA). You are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, but are encouraged to go outside for exercise. The full new guidance will be published on Monday 2 November and the Government will write to everybody who is clinically extremely vulnerable to set out detailed advice while the new restrictions are in place. Current advice is in place at each local COVID alert level.” www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#protecting-people-more-at-risk-from-coronavirus

“People with the following conditions are automatically deemed clinically extremely vulnerable:

solid organ transplant recipients
people with specific cancers:
people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
people having other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
people with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
people with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease)
people on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
other people who have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions”.

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

In May, there were 2.2 million ECV people - this included children who have now been removed from the list.
There were 627,000 ECV who were in work prior to Covid.
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronavirusandshieldingofclinicallyextremelyvulnerablepeopleinengland/28mayto3june2020

The new guidance says that the ECV group ie those formerly shielding should work from home and can claim ssp if that isn't possible.

I'm CV on (at least) 3 counts, which I'm sure if you put together would make me ECV, but my job cannot be done from home, so someone has to do it 'in person'. If I can't, they'll get someone who can & I'll be 'made redundant'.

Last time I was furloughed as the schools were closed (to most anyway), but not this time/yet. So the job still needs doing.

I live alone & therefore need to be employed.no one to help/share the financial burden.

Any other job in my field is going to be even more 'risky' than my current job and therefore I'm going to have to do it. Masks, ventilation & prayer.

First half term didn't seem too bad with the nice weather, lots of ventilation & lower cases, but I'm dreading this next 6 weeks

That's helpful. Thanks everyone. It looks like it's ECV being told to work from home. I'd better just keep smiling and get on with it then. Roll on the Xmas hols.

Over this period, we are advising the CEV to work from home. If you cannot work from home, you are advised not to go to work and may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA). You are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, but are encouraged to go outside for exercise

Dp can’t afford to not work. He wouldn’t get SSP or ESA as he works days here and there for different people and we are all back on UC as hospitality closed down again.

He doesn’t want to stay in. It f**ked with his mind the last time. No way is he doing it again.

I was on the shielding list last time. Can’t WFH but will continue to work, if I’m allowed. I can’t afford not to.