Shielding brought back at the last minute

[RishiMcRichface]

Just read shielding is back I think this last minute announcement was a bit rubbish and so unfair on shielders. I had read they would not be asked to shield. I suppose it gives some support and means people will not be asked to work. Any shielders on here, how do you feel about it?

It makes naff all difference to me. I'm WFH anyway, get Sainsbury's deliveries and the gym and the DC's after-school clubs are shut.

I got the email. It was no surprise as Boris said there would be new guidance.
It's pretty much the same as last time but you can go out for exercise.
Don't go to work. Don't go to Shops. Don't go to a pharmacy.
As before it is guidance not instruction.

And this time round there'll be no Fray Bentos pies. (Or any other specific support that I can see)

You had pies?

We had a box of tomato based tins and a can of lynx Africa every week. Once a month we got a can of pork (which I can only assume was a naked pork pie. I never dared open it).

Got to love how they’re encouraging people to apply for ESA — which hasn’t had the £20/week extra added for Covid-19 that UC has. It’s disgusting how they treat the sick and disabled.

Please sign and share the petition to make this right: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/318691

It's disgusting they can come up with a furlough scheme to save businesses almost overnight but not a decent payment and support scheme for the shielders after months.

@dannydyerismydad it was luncheon pork. No, me neither. My OH loved it.

It worries me that so much "support" is just financial. Not that I am saying that is not important, it is (I've signed the petition BoredOfIsolation) but there seems to have been a total disregard for other health issues., especially the mental health of shielders.
"Been really worried, isolated, othered and stayed in since March? Tough." Even a proper acknowledgement would be a start and perhaps a little pressure on local councils and individuals to see where they can make a decent difference.

dannydyer yes we had pies. We ate one and put the other aside for Armageddon.

Thanks @SeasonallySnowyPeasant

I don't see how it makes sense to still have kids at school as even if you dont go out? They can still bring it home to you.

I'm not cev but I have a lot of cv conditions which together meant we chose to shield as a family last time. I'm still really anxious about getting it but life hasn't changed much for us. We are still getting shopping delivered, doing school run, avoiding indoor spaces. I both want my kids in school, and they miss their club, whilst being anxious they will inadvertently kill me 🙄.

@FuzzyPuffling I think it's because they know shielding is so hard, and also that there isn't much that can be done to make it easier. But it would be nice for that to be acknowledged.

During the first shielding my OH was trying to follow the 2m rule and it was so hard not even getting a hug. I felt so rejected even though I knew it was for my benefit. We've reached more of a compromise now. At the start I couldn't understand whole families shielding, but I totally get it now.

We sheilded as a family first time round simply as if being in the same room for an hour or two was an aerosol risk, as they still think it is, then just me being home would make no difference.

You'd need quite a large house to be sure you were not sharing space at all (own room, bathroom...) and wasnt at all practical with my children who I knew wouldnt understand why I wasnt in the same room as them.

Even more so now there's more research on aerosol transmission...2m wont do much if you're living together.

I guess it's about minimising.

Our life looks much the same....

Letter arrived this morning. Signed again by "Matt".

Totally pointless when you have kids. We have 2 at home now self isolating.
We tried sd in home last time but it just isn't feasible.

I'm anxious this morning.

2 whole classes are home at DS's school self isolating because of a positive case. It feels very close to home.

Ds got the letter yesterday. Few phone calls confirmed that yes he is required to shield again.

Poor thing isn’t happy with being off school again. Thankfully his school (primary year 6) are being great and it’s full steam ahead with learning via teams from tomorrow - they said to let him have today to get used to the idea

@FuzzyPuffling thank you for signing the petition! I also agree tgatt th shielders need more than just financial help, and even an acknowledgement would help.

I’ve been intermittently shielding since the first lockdown until July, and have been shielding since. Just got my official CEV letter in the post today. Kinda used to it now but it still sucks.