Are people still shielding?

[ApolloandDaphne]

Or still being extra cautious about going out?

I ask because I have a friend who still is (for a number of health related reasons) and I wondered if others were still doing this?

I'm seeing her next week ( I have to test before I'm allowed near her) and I wanted to get a feel for whether it's time to start persuading her to get out a little bit more. I am concerned the solitude has affected her mental health and sense of proportion regarding Covid.

Sorry to all the posters having such a rough time. It is a horrid virus and I wish as a society we at least aimed for less covid, especially in certain situations, so that it was less risky for all. Wearing a mask in a pharmacy is seen as a step too far by some, often the same people who will tell those at great risk that they should get on with it. Same for taking a test before seeing someone vulnerable.

If you RTFT you'd have seen that I was reacting negatively to that comment. I didn't make it and I don't agree with it.

Wasn't aimed at you. More a generic comment.

Yes, we have a critically vulnerable person in the household, risk assess continuously and don't really meet people indoors much.

It's really tough. And just another example of how some groups are "othered" asexpendable.

What would have made the most enormous difference would have been the provision of Evusheld - approved by MHRA last spring, v effective and provided in over 30 countries (even supplied free in US to the highly vulnerable)

UK was the only country that considered and rejected its roll out - despite the manufacturer offering a money-back guarantee if found insufficiently effective in further studies - and instead required more research before roll-out, which unsurprisingly found it was highly effective last year but has now been out-evolved by the virus.

We could have had months of normality. But this shite-show of a government wouldn't help, and people have died and hospital beds have been occupied. The Opposition did sod all, though a couple of individual MPs did excellent work.

And the population in general just doesn't seem to care. Even expecting people to wear masks inside hospitals (a place we have to go) is too much for some people. So we have to live limited lives, and know we cannot avoid risk. Because the idea that 'we're not safe until we're all safe' proved to be hollow lip-service

I just wish more people shared your attitude and approach.

Sorry, Periornot, I was referring to MeetPi's lack of comprehension skills.

I feel for you, Nether.

Not RTFT, but my Dad was CV, but once he was fully vaxxed he felt confident to mix a bit more. He got covid and it killed him. Some people are understandably cautious.

So sorry to hear of those who have lost loved ones. People forget and/or were only pretending to care in the first place.

I am not in this situation but one of my best friends is and I would not dream of trying to persuade her into changing her behaviour. Obviously she is assessing risk all the time and deciding on what is best - why would I presume to know better what is right for het?

Don't call it a half life for people, that is so horrible to read. Things need to develop at a pace comfortable for each individual. There are lots of different ways to live. There are lots of different ways to make life valuable and to appreciate what you have.

I respect my friends and trust them to do their own assessment of their own risk. They are likely to be much better informed than me.

I apologise, Spartacus, I didn't see your original comment - just a quote including what seemed to be your comment. I promise I have reasonable comprehension

I think there are many people,including myself,who cannot get there head around the idea that we have gine from restrictions to nothing at all. I am very cautious abd fortunately on the odd occasion I see people indoors we do tests before hand. Saying 'I have to test makes me wonder if you don't want to?

I'm not sure why people who need to take recommended precautions, taking those recommended precautions incenses so many on these boards and in real life.

I am also bemused by those who imagine their activities are what makes life worth living. Others are more introverted, intellectual, retiring, studious, or whatever. They are still living their lives, with precautions, just not your life.

My mum still does. Keeps out of anywhere unnecessary. She’s had 6 jabs and is on bad cancer treatment. She has survived once, with the help of the antibody infusion from the CMDU.

Same here

Really sorry to hear some people are still having to live like this. Must be awful.

It was very sad that we needed draconian restrictions to get people to take any precautions at all. Says a lot about modern society.

In the weeks before the first lockdown was announced, we were told to take precautions, wash hands thoroughly, try to social distance, avoid crowded places, etc., but because not enough people could be bothered, we ended up in lockdown where people were forced to avoid contact!

Now, it's all forgotten, we're back to people not washing their hands, back to unnecessary handshakes/hugs for everyone, back to crowding together in confined places. Back to crowded waiting rooms in hospitals/GP surgeries, back to long queues in pharmacies, etc.

It was an opportunity to change things for the better, to better prepare for future pandemics, but no, we, as society, couldn't be bothered, and it's now is if Covid never happened.

Same here.;)

My sibling is having chemo and has incurable cancer they have never shielded throughout the pandemic their motto is "life is too short". I feel sad for those who have shielded.

Very sensible girl. I hope she enjoys every last second of the time she has left 😘