I was on the NHS Shielding list like others, compromised immune system. My London office of 15 people have been told all back to work next Monday, 26th, and I was composing an email over the weekend in that I won't be getting on any crowded trains in rush hour and would work late if needed. I'm lucky in that I can walk to an overground train into London Bridge but there's only 4 trains an hour and they've been increasingly busy in the last few weeks (I've had to come in on odd days for roofers, cleaners, new starters etc). Management have reviewed their decision today in light of increased cases. Can you imagine, 15 of us getting off different public transport systems in rush hour working in the same office, sharing the same 2 loo's, same kettle etc, plus some of these colleagues working in still operational hospitals; without taking into consideration the home lives and whoever colleagues are mixing with or travelling with ... I really do think this is going to have a messy outcome in 10 -15 days.
Only one of my 15 colleagues has caught Covid, before Christmas, he lives alone and was quite unwell, but not ill enough to be hospitalised. One colleagues father in law has died of Covid (in Eastern Europe), one colleagues father (in India), another colleagues mother in law (lived with his family here in London and took care of the small children). Two other colleagues have had close relatives die of illnesses that could be put as the NHS too busy with Covid to ensure full care, a mother (aged 68) that was on blood thinners who had a fall, bleed to brain and died, another mother in law who was very poorly but sent home on two occasions only to be readmitted. So it's not just the pressure on the NHS for Covid cases, it's the knock-on to other treatments, surgeries etc.
