Shielding and Teaching

[ElizabethMainwaring]

Hello All. Are you in the shielding group? Or your partner or children?
My husband is shielding and I'm a teacher. I'm very concerned about what is going to happen.
Apologies, this is yet another thread about the unknown that no-one actually knows the answer to...any supposition and guess work welcome! Thank you.

Madeline , here is what I learnt today, copied from something I posted on another thread:
*my DH got a callback (six weeks later!) from the GP today to clarify shielding.

It was not a GP but a switchboard person so chocolate teapot stuff really but anyhoo...

According to her there are not 2 , or even 3, categories of risk but 4! Viz:

1. extremely vulnerable (this is the shielded lot)
2. high risk 3)moderate risk
3. common or garden mortals

Obviously not the exact words. she basically said apart from group 1 everyone has to SD anyway so the advice fro groups 2 and 3 is the same for 4. He seized the opportunity as where this left the made up group 3s in terms of work and she obviously didn't really know but said she thought only 1s should not work. She was really only phoning to make sure he had shopping. So, in the same call as telling him he could go back to work, she told him not to leave home unless he had no one to do his shopping!
FFS none of this is helpful!

DH didn't ask who else was in 'moderate risk group 3' but I suspect pregnant women, the overweight, healthy over 70s, some diabetics, low grade asthmatics and, it would appear, anyone who has had heart surgery.

Her explanations weren't very reassuring as to the type of risk each group faced so I won't put those here.*

I have no idea where this leaves anyone!

Wow.

Well - i've just had a health questionnaire from my trust asking if i've had letter. So obviously everyone without one will be expected to be in. I'm on 2 inhalers at high dose and montelukast. I'm screwed if I get it. But i can't afford to be furloughed or off on no pay.

Phleb, remember the furlough scheme doesn't apply to publicly funded schools.

If you're classed as 'clinically vulnerable' :

Clinically vulnerable 'should work from home where possible. Education and childcare settings should endeavour to support this, for example by asking staff to support remote education, carry out lesson planning or other roles which can be done from home. If clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the safest available on-site roles, staying 2 metres away from others wherever possible, although the individual may choose to take on a role that does not allow for this distance if they prefer to do so. If they have to spend time within 2 metres of other people, settings must carefully assess and discuss with them whether this involves an acceptable level of risk.'

There should be some discussion of whether you could work from home according to the guidance.

Yes it's the "may choose" bit that worries me! I don't choose but there's a real problem with self martyrdom in my SLT. I am preparing to feel the pressure!

@phlebasconsidered me too but I have found before the best way is to say your family aren't happy with the situation and in the end they'll be the ones looking after you if you get ill so you can't ignore their wishes. Not like we should have to make up reasons though.