Shielding reintroduced

[Cinderellashoes]

Just checked the government website and looks like it’s being reintroduced. I’m gutted.

I used to call him, my mate Matt as well, but I'm not so sure any more! This has kinda snuck up on us!

I had a battle with work yesterday, for them to let me stay working. I even had to phone my GP and get it confirmed that an agreement could be met between employer and employee. Doctor said, 'there will be no letters this time'. It was agreed I could stay in work, with some alterations and I'm very grateful that they care enough.

And then I got the email last night.... bugger. Think I might have a fight on my hands again today.

I used to call him, my mate Matt as well, but I'm not so sure any more! This has kinda snuck up on us!

I only call him that because the last letter I had saying that shielding was paused, he signed it "Matt". I personally can't stand the little tosser.

Work won't know I've got this, I won't be telling them.

I thought the new rules applied mainly to the extremely clinically vulnerable. My work place is certainly taking that line and is happy for previous shielders who are not ecv to come to work.

@Cleanmean it looks that way. The opening paragraph in the email is:

On 31 October, the Prime Minister announced new national restrictions to help control the spread of COVID-19. We are writing to you because you have previously been identified as someone thought to be clinically extremely vulnerable and at highest risk of becoming very unwell if you catch COVID-19. This letter contains important advice on how to protect yourself and how to access further support.

So it certainly matches what you are saying.

Our baby is on the shielding list, I just don't understand how he is meant to stay 2 meteres away from us... not going to happen is it. No way will work be able to furlough my husband again of it clearly states he should continue going to work. Wonder if I should send him to live with the inlaws

We have 4 ECV staff at our school. Spent this week bolstering risk assessments and changing working patterns to allow them to stay in work. All 4 had the email last night and all 4 will be staying home from today. Completely buggers up the timetable with no notice (all had the email after 9pm).

We are going to ‘wing it’ today and try to work out how to keep bubbles separate without the staff to cover and no money for supply.

No-one blames the staff, but what a shit show from the Govt - if we had a warning on Monday we may have been able to put things in place, now it will all be rushed and the kids will be even more unsettled. FFS.

Agreed! I was pissed that he felt he could sign a letter just 'Matt' last time!

Sadly, I know that someone else at my work will have got the letter, for the same condition as mine, so I may not be able to avoid disclosing it!

@exLtEveDallas that is exactly my job! I'm the Cover Manager. My mental health will not cope. I cannot possibly let my poor Head Teacher and my line manager have to pick up the pieces of today, without being there!

Wing it, is exactly what I'm on my way to do in a minute, I've already had permission to send classes home this afternoon if I can't cover all the lessons, but I fear I'll be sending them home by about 10am!

I've been confined to barracks, so to speak. Can't leave my office. I'm not allowed in any classrooms, so where I'd take a lesson in an emergency, I now can't. I feel bloody awful about it, but I do understand they have my welfare to think about. I won't let my team or the school down.

What a ‘mare @MaureenMLove, but your health comes first.

So far the only idea I have come up with is to ask 2 part time staff to work full time for 4 weeks and suspend interventions for younger children, releasing TAs to classes. I could also extend a ‘class’ I take (not a teacher). But if the 2 part timers cannot do overtime (and it might be a childcare issue) I’m not sure what we’ll do - hopefully SLT have some good ideas!

During lockdown I ended up an unofficial 1-1 for a child with SN and it worked quite well, but it would be hard to do that with my ‘normal’ workload...

I got an email saying I wasn't allowed to go to work but sheilding isnt as strict. I'm ignoring it and won't shield. I didn't before and won't now, but if I wanted to follow the advice on the email I wouldn't say it was completely clear what I was / wasn't allowed to do.

@MaureenMLove

Agreed! I was pissed that he felt he could sign a letter just 'Matt' last time!

Sadly, I know that someone else at my work will have got the letter, for the same condition as mine, so I may not be able to avoid disclosing it!

Matt! I felt exactly the same with the earlier letter - I'm not your mate!!

At least he had the decency to put his full name this time, along with his scientific backup 🙄🙄🙄

@Uhtredswoman that's exactly what I said ! I was really pissed off at the "matt" on the first shielding letter. It made it seem like a WhatsApp message from a mate. Ridiculous

DH had a shielding letter last time but hasn't had one yet this time. He rang his GP to see if he could continue to work (he's self employed and works by himself) and his GP said to ignore the letter and carry in as normal but be extra careful.

@TheWindOnTheMoon

DH had a shielding letter last time but hasn't had one yet this time. He rang his GP to see if he could continue to work (he's self employed and works by himself) and his GP said to ignore the letter and carry in as normal but be extra careful.

That's what my MS Nurse said, too!

Last time I followed all except for staying two metres distance in the house. This time will just not go into work - teacher, so that's my biggest risk.

I had an email tonight to. I will continue working - I can’t do my job at home. I genuinely don’t feel more at risk. I’m on steroids so that is why I receive them but the condition I have is very well controlled by the steroids, I’m on a low dose and never get ill so do not feel like my immune system is compromised.

@tobee I'm sorry to hear you haven't been able to kiss / hug your husband. Unfortunately these are the parts of sheilding that aren't publicised and people don't realise the mental strain on not just the shielded person but there family as well. Back in march (as I was on the sheilded list) my husband moved out and I stayed at home with the 2 children. By the end of June I was deeply depressed. I hasnt seen anyone or had a proper adult conversation and in the end my consultant told me to move my husband home, he said no government has the right to isolate you from your husband. This time round we've already decided my husband isn't moving out (being a keyworker he has to go to out)

Please consider if its damaging your mental health, some options I was provided by my consultant, have a full shower put clean clothes on, clean teeth and use a mouthwash etc

I have a big fight on my hands with work, I can do most of my work from home but have to attend 1 day a week to pick up work etc. Work don't want me to do that but I'm refusing to go on furlough again (as I said I went into a deep depression I'm struggling to deal with still) unfortunately according to my boss the sheilding rules say I'm not allowed to attend work and therefore they cannot let me attend to pick up work etc as its breaking insurance. Grrrr, why can't they just ask us to use our commen sense. Most of us on the ecv list have managed it for years, we don't need anyone in the government telling us how to protect ourselves

I understood that the vadt majority of shielding children had been taken off the list, yet posts on here suggest that's not the case?
if I wanted to follow the advice on the email I wouldn't say it was completely clear what I was / wasn't allowed to do
I thought it was pretty clear.

"We are advising clinically extremely vulnerable people to stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend essential health appointments. You may wish to meet up with one other person from outside your household or support bubble to exercise outdoors, for example in an outdoor public place, but we suggest that you always try to do so as safely as possible.

Try to keep all contact with others to a minimum and avoid busy areas. Whenever you go out continue to maintain strict social distancing, wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face.

You should also try to stay 2 metres away from other people within your household, especially if they display symptoms of the virus or have been advised to self-isolate.
You should avoid all non-essential travel by private or public transport, this includes not travelling to work, school or the shops. You should still travel to hospital and GP appointments unless told otherwise by your doctor.
You are advised not to go to the shops.
You are advised not to go to a pharmacy."

From the guidance and last night's last minute email (!!!):

Education settings
More evidence has emerged that shows there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from COVID-19, even for children with existing health conditions. Most children originally identified as clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to follow this advice. Speak to your GP or specialist clinician, if you have not already done so, to understand whether your child should still be classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend school while this advice is in place. Your school will make appropriate arrangements for you to be able to continue your education at home. Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend school.

Well, I made it a week in to the new lock down, before my Head Teacher said, 'Mo, pick up your desk, get an internet dongle and work from home. We don't want you here!'

Sadly, over the weekend 2 more members of staff have tested positive and we've had to close down year 10, due to 3 cases in a week. Not sure if it's a blessing or a curse, that in about an hour, I'll be firing up the computer and setting the cover for tomorrow. It's going to take a while, given that we're up to 11 staff isolating, as well as the 2 positive cases.

Dh also had same advice as those upthread - is in work today. Tricky isn't it if you are self employed.

So, as usual the shielded are left non the bloody wiser!

I'm desperate to be at work and was pinning my hopes on today to know one way or another if I could go in at the end of next week!

Working from home is OK, but awfully lonely at times!!!