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Covid

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Original poster

did people actually shield

92 replies

Sheilashielder · 21/01/2021 23:20

I live in an area where shielding was only paused in October and reintroduced in January and wa never allowed anything other than a few weeks where you could mix outside but not in gardens and a couple of weeks where you could mix in gardens. I’ve been seeing lots of posts saying people have “pretty much” shielded for a year and Anecdotal evidence from people o know suggests not many people actually followed the guidance at all who are now saying they’ve barely left he hosue for a year

OP posts:

CharlotteRose90 · 21/01/2021 23:26

I shielded from March till august last year without going out other then for dog walks. After that I’ve been going out but not loads.

PurpleDaisies · 21/01/2021 23:27

The shielding guidance hasn’t stayed the same for everyone all the way through.

What a lovely judgy thread attacking people have been in an awful position throughout the whole pandemic.

DaisyDreaming · 21/01/2021 23:29

Lots of people have shielded, the ones who have been doing it nearly a year are mostly out of sight and out of mind though!

Original poster

Sheilashielder · 21/01/2021 23:31

Purple not meant to be judged at all your misunderstood me but that’s totally my fault for being unclear. I have actually shielded and when I see people saying they have been shielding for a year but have also shared their holiday photos and had friends round every week it makes me wonder

OP posts:

smoothchange · 21/01/2021 23:31

My dad has only left his house once since March, to get his flu jab. The health centre is a 3 minute walk from his home.

NameChange84 · 21/01/2021 23:31

Yep. I did. Completely.

Kazzyhoward · 21/01/2021 23:34

Yep, my OH has done except for hospital appts which are essential due to his medical condition. Nothing else at all.

GrumpyHoonMain · 21/01/2021 23:34

People in general shielded above and beyond what was required on the whole. Only one of my parents needed to shield but my other parent (and sibling who lives with them) did too just to be safe. They stayed at home for months with only my sibling nipping infrequently to the shops.

SlippersForFlippers · 21/01/2021 23:35

We've shielded since it was introduced last March, we saw close family at a distance outside our house when it was allowed and we've been to a couple of medical appointments. I could count the times we've left our street since march on 2 hands.

JaimieLeeCurtains · 21/01/2021 23:37

@Sheilashielder

Well obviously they haven't then, so why are you asking - you're the one with the alleged evidence.

Bourbonic · 21/01/2021 23:38

Why does it matter?

When we were advised to shield we did, though we still went out for walks with the dog (exercise is one of the most important things for my husband's condition). When shielding was paused we went out, went into work and even went on holiday.

I don't know of any area where shielding stayed in place until October.

TheSmallAssassin · 21/01/2021 23:41

Everybody I know who was supposed to be shielding has actually shielded, and in a couple of cases at a huge personal cost. So please don't extrapolate your anecdata, it's not helpful.

ArosGartref · 21/01/2021 23:41

It was paused in August where I am. That is when we were able to see MIL again. Before that she hadn't left the house for 6 months. It was a tough time.

Ime, I agree with previous poster that it's more common that people have been trying to 'shield' when it wasn't medically advised. It may be these people who describe themselves as shielding but were not required to fully comply.

Mumisnotmyonlyname · 21/01/2021 23:47

But shielding (and I'm referring to official government list shielding) is a choice. So what does it matter? I do, mainly, but in times with less virus eg the summer I have been out a little. I also walk often.

chinateapot · 21/01/2021 23:47

What everyone else has said. Shielding was paused and has only recently been reinstated.

My daughter was on shielding list and we left the house once between March and the end of June - that was for an MRI scan.

We went on holiday in August (in the UK). Totally consistent with the advice.

Now not shielding as she is no longer classed as vulnerable though - yay!

RaininSummer · 21/01/2021 23:49

My Mother has shielded since last March along with my uncle.

WTAFIhavelosttheferret · 21/01/2021 23:51

@chinateapot

What everyone else has said. Shielding was paused and has only recently been reinstated.

My daughter was on shielding list and we left the house once between March and the end of June - that was for an MRI scan.

We went on holiday in August (in the UK). Totally consistent with the advice.

Now not shielding as she is no longer classed as vulnerable though - yay!

Sheilding wasn't paused for everyone.

The list as reduced in August (when my DH was taken off) but my DF had letters in August and November (at least) telling him that he must remain shielding. So he has always been shielding.

pepperaunt · 21/01/2021 23:56

I shielded completely (received numerous letters) until my consultant stopped one of my 2 immunosuppressants and said I could stop. I then started going out for a daily walk, which made a big difference to my mental health!

TheVeryHungryTortoise · 21/01/2021 23:58

My partner's grandmother hasn't left the house for anything other than hospital appointments since shielding began back last year. I'm genuinely so immensely impressed with her attitude and resolve-I'm not sure I would have been as strong for so long, especially as she lives alone.

QueenPawPaws · 22/01/2021 00:01

Yes. Except for a few occasions when I have had to go out to get prescriptions/bloods done/hospital
I've been to Starbucks/McDonald's drive through so I could run my car. Have my bubble as live alone but have only seen my family through the window

Onmyown1 · 22/01/2021 00:02

I shielded completely from March till august and so did my children. Then also November although my primary aged children were at school. Then in tier 4 in December and also this lockdown. I’ve only been out for medical appointments and school runs. Luckily I’m wfh.

CherryRoulade · 22/01/2021 00:02

My in laws haven’t left the house except for medical appointments and a brief daily dog walk, since March. No shops. No takeaways. No visitors. No volunteering or theatre. No bridge. Shopping still washed.
They are quite liking it.

QueenPawPaws · 22/01/2021 00:04

Mine also wasn't paused, advised to continue by my consultant

saffire · 22/01/2021 00:06

My family did for my mum. When schools re-opened dd was forced back (I was give the choice of de-registering and loosing place). Shortly after, my mum took a turn for the worst and then we had to have carers come in to look after her. Then we had a few family come to visit as it wasn't looking good.

Shielding is incredibly difficult- especially when you've got children in the house. Did everything we could, but it wasn't enough.

purplebagladylovesgin · 22/01/2021 00:07

People didn't really stop shielding. If you are this vulnerable you have other ongoing health issues and are often pretty poorly anyway. The only time most of them leave the house is for essential medical appointments.

Knowing how poorly you are even when shielding stopped how could you risk it? The biggest change in the summer was being able to go out for exercise, away from people.

To start with the advice was not even to go into your garden but to sit near an open window to get fresh air!

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