Shielding announcement today from First Minister.

[ShieldingNotJailed]

Starting now.

Just watching as it will affect my dad x

So end of July.

Not unexpected.

I remain unsure as to why governments (UK and Scottish) are announcing Shielding Group exercise guidelines without reference to medical advice. Why don't these just state "ask your dr"?

There are so many variables. The advice has always just been that, nobody is barricading our doors! Living in a flat in a communal stair in a busy area should result in completely different advice to living in a remote house in a rural location for example. To my mind only individual medical teams can be fit to comment on such individual circumstances. Why is no reference made to this?

It worries me that there are people following the guidance to the letter who may now decide it is safe to go out if daily exercise is advised by the government as a blanket decision.

The good thing is my ex colleague was being expected to return to her work place when she's shielding was due to finish. Now it's the 31st July which will put her mind at rest. She's been working from home since they said she had to shield.

That is a plus, employers will be more likely to support shielders whilst the government do.

Genuine question. My elderly neighbours are both shielding. We don't have gardens so they are sitting outside their front door talking to all on sundry as they go past. We live in a kind of mews setup so their house faces into ours and they are not 6 feet away. Should shielding people be outside at all?

I really appreciate FM acknowledging that the WM government did not make their announcement about shielding exercise in an appropriate manner.

Also that mistakes have been made with communication and letters in Scotland. The reinforcing of guidance as "advice" is good, I have been very distressed by the growing disablist attitude that shielders are under lock and key.

It matters that FM has made clear that if things improve before end of July then restrictions will be lifted earlier.

@RaraRachael

Genuine question. My elderly neighbours are both shielding. We don't have gardens so they are sitting outside their front door talking to all on sundry as they go past. We live in a kind of mews setup so their house faces into ours and they are not 6 feet away. Should shielding people be outside at all?

Shielders are advised to stay home because of the heightened risk they face. How do you know they are both shielding and what help have you offered to help put social distancing in place around your door?

It is advice not the law.

Should shielding people be outside at all? is a deeply offensive question.

Shieldingnot jailed why on earth is that a deeply offensive question? I know they are shielding because I've heard them telling people. I haven't helped put any social distancing in place around my door.

Because shielding is advice and you are implying otherwise, if you were to continue that line of thought what would be your next question?

"Should I tell everyone I know they are being illegal?"
"Should I berate them and barricade their door?"
"Should I report them to authorities for disciplining?"

Wind your neck in. If you are worried about your neighbour then offer to help, have a conversation and employ empathy not judgement - you are not the boss of them, you are not them and you have no idea what their situation is.

The shielding requirements have been widely published, so it's easy to check what's ok.

Being outdoors in your own garden has been OK right from the start.

I'm not interested in helping them. We don't speak to them.

There's no point continuing this conversation.

The shielding guidelines say sitting in the garden or on your doorstep is fine. And its always been guidance, not law so of course they've always been 'allowed' outside 🙄

If you don't speak to them, how on earth do you know they need to shield?

As I said up thread they keep telling everyone they talk to that they are shielding

@RaraRachael

I'm not interested in helping them. We don't speak to them.

There's no point continuing this conversation.

Wow.

I have a neighbour who Death stares us any time we go out, won't speak since challenging one time "I am surprised you are allowed to do that..." and was bluntly told we are following medical team advice.

FWIW the only time we go out is to go to the hospital for essential (and very traumatic and painful) appointments. Neighbour doesn't know that since glaring and tutting is preferred communication. It is (and feels like) bullying, please don't do it. The same person could smile and wave and shout "how are you?" and make my dc day instead of tearing up my insides at an already viciously stressful time.

Stasi behaviour helps nobody.

We don't speak to them as they have subjected us to years of verbal abuse and damage to our property. So, no, I'm not going to be nice to them.

English daughter of Scottish shielding parents here. Please could someone point me the direction of the evidence that it’s too dangerous even for those shielding to sit far away from another in an open space when your hospital numbers are so incredibly low? My folks are devastated by this further period of shielding but sadly can’t be persuaded that its only “advice”. I fear for their marriage of 60 years and/or their mental health!