Shielded, what does it really mean?

The letter sent to those on the sheilding list tells us we “have the highest clinical risk of mortality and morbidity” .
If that doesn’t scare you into adhering to the advice, nothing will.
There is no advantage being on a list like that !

The shielding letter advises if you are sheilding and another member in the household/ partner etc is working or has to go out to shop , you must eat separately, use separate bathrooms etc, basically lead separate lives if possible.
I'm sure for many this is not possible.

However, if your partner has decided to sheild with you and hasn't been out of the house, nor had contact with anyone else, there is no need to stay apart.

My husband made the decision to sheild with me, so as not to compromise me, we have not been in close contact with anyone since then and no-one has been over the doorstep.
We are extremely fortunate that my daughter leaves shopping in the back garden and we have managed to get a few Tesco deliveries. We are fine, but I do understand for some some it's very difficult.

Early in the morning, we have gone across the empty field behind our house and back, never met a soul. It's like an an extension of our garden.
I was advised to sheild before the official lockdown, so it's been a very long lockdown.
All my hospital and GP appointments have been postponed, as it's deemed too risky for me to go.

It is what it is and I envisage the sheilding continuing beyond the suggested date. I just have to accept it.

The problem with the shielding letters is that they were based on best assumptions at the start of the crisis, but have never been adjusted as we learnt more about CV19 and its risks so people are having to make their own assessments.

If youre black/Asian and have comorbitidies you may want to ramp up your strict shielding now that we know more about the disease. Whereas if youre white with just one well managed comorbidity, personally I would go out to exercise.

The lists need to be altered. The hierarchy of risk is not what we initially assumed it would be

I too had a hospital appointment on March 17th. The day my husband was taken to hospital and in isolation for a week, I rang and explained I couldn’t make it, told I would get another appointment but since then nothing and also since then not able to get out, within a week he was discharged TG andsheilded, The Letter states keep distances from anyone else in the household, and not to share a bed.

If neither of you have been out, remained inside your own home and not been in contact with anyone at all, you should be safe.
How are you going to catch the virus?

Exactly, Marydoll, so no need to keep separate within the house now if neither of you is going out.
DH is shielding as he has various health conditions though did not get the letter so is not in the most severely vulnerable group. I am going out for solitary walks but not to shops. The only people I have seen and spoken with close up are my daughter and her daughter, who are behaving the same way as me, but we keep 2m apart when we meet to share a delivery of food items. I think

I think our risk level is almost negligeable that way.

Marydoll, who knows. Maybe some of us with health problems not discussed are,ore fearful.

PS I am ordering lots more on line, not just food and even that worries me now.

I can't understand elderly 'shielded' neighbours who insist on doing their own shopping, every Monday, 'when it's quiet'.

Local volunteers have offered to do it for them, I've offered to add things to my deliveries - but no, they like to 'choose things' themselves. I'm really scared for them.

Yes Hetty, know one or two like this, they don’t seem to understand they may be putting others at risk.

I know someone like that, Hetty. She is in her eighties, but has refused any food parcels or help from volunteers.
Not only is she putting herself at risk, she is going to put others at risk if she becomes unwell. Unfortunately you can't force people to sheild.
The sheilding letter is only advisory.

I know someone who is sheilding, who had a friend in her garden for a chat.
This is in breach of the Covid regulations.

You should only be visiting someone sheilding if you are bringing food or medication.
Why are people so irresponsible? ?

Bit concerned we are going to be shielded for the rest of our lives........

I know Megs, it's a horrible thought.
I hope you don't mind me saying, but you appear to be struggling.

I'm coping ok, but my greatest fear is that, as my conditions have flared up badly, I will have to go to hospital.
I suspect I won't come back out!

My fear is probably the same as you, but concerning both of us.my husband problems are on going, mine relatively new.

Actually, I would argue that with camera trickery, it is impossible to tell if anyone other than family groups (those living in the same household) are closer together than 2 meters.

Having seen your post Daddima. I do wonder why anyone would class this as an essential reason to be outside. Wasting police time checking on them when I am sure they have more important matters to deal with.

As we decided to self isolate before official lockdown for those of 70+, this is more than six weeks for us. Missing our family and DGs so much. Being able to pop out whenever we feel like it but we are doing everything to keep ourselves and others safe. It really saddens me when I see what those who appear to have no conscience, as to the effect their behaviour, such as it could possibly have a dangerously negative outcome for others.

Megs please read Marydolls post of 16.45 . The only bed a shielded person can’t share is one being used by someone who goes out of the house to work etc. If you are both staying in you can share everything in the house - honestly

I agree Notanan, the criteria of who needs to be shielding needs to be updated. This might prove to be difficult given the number of people in the caring and support services who, it is now realised, are at greater risk.

I read yesterday that women with oestrogen in their systems seem to have more protection. I'm glad now I didn't give up HRT!

Our hospital has got itself organised and the Covid wards are completely separate from the rest of the hospital. Own entrance area etc. It's now taking all those who were put 'on the back burner' so its much safer to go now.

Those widowed in many instances, mine included, are used to periods of isolation normally, your family busy with their lives and just a phone call. I see all these people faces pressed up against the windows missing their parents and wonder where I went wrong. Lonliness amongst the elderly has always been a problem, there's helplines dealing with just that. I guess that is why I can deal with this. The only difference I'm not free to go shopping like I did, but I have spent a lot of time stocking up a pile of things for charity shops,m getting rid of what I used to accumulate. I think shopping was therapy.

We have a similar pile Sparkling. In all, it's been a good exercise in bringing us back to earth. A retreat. But retreats usually have an end date and it's getting a bit frustrating now!

I so agree Sparkling - those of us who have coped with being on our own might feel we have been taken for granted -or else there is a lot of virtue signalling going on by those who claim they are devastated because they cannot visit their mum or gran.

I too have a pile for the BHS charity shop, larger than normal! There is a realisation that I do no not need all this stuff and consequently I have found it much easier to let it all go!
Also the realisation of my own mortality has made me aware that I need to make things easier for my children, when the time comes to clear out my home! .

Rufus is an alien he is a non UK resident, different rules apply to different countries.
Looking on the BBC webpage and red button on TV , it looks like Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales will have there own rules .
As to myself, lockdown applied wef 23rd March, the Anchor _Hanover Residential home which is a rented tenancy , are abiding to the UK Government rules as to its policies laydown by them, anybody breaking rules such as going into the communal lounge would get written warnings if found out , this is covered under there Anti Social behaviour policy .
Mick

I think it's your second reason Maw. A lot of virtual signalling. And how many of these families bemoaning not being able to visit only used GPs for childcare. Obviously there are quite a few families who do live very closely intertwined lives have found it impossible to give this up.

Things haven't really been any different with our lot. Except we haven't been able to visit them! What'Apping has continued as per usual with perhaps a few more video calls. We tend to be a high days and holidays family with a bit of DGC sitting and random sleep overs thrown in.