Does anyone know what the latest information on shielding is ? I have looked but it only goes back to the 5th of June online, their was supposed to be an update last week but nothing, this government is an absolute shambles on providing information, I am due to go back to work on the 1st July, but nobody knows if it's being extended, their is no phone number on the original letter so I can't even speak to anyone to find out what's going on, it's worrying really, particularly when the R rate has just gone up in Germany, it will probably be here next !
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TG58
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I have left shielding. The government stated that people who are in shielding can leave shielding as long as we protect yourself. We are at risk of a second that is correct but the government is slowly releasing lockdown which is lowering the chance of a second wave. We are level three of the 5 stage of the lockdown and coming out of it
I’m still shielding. The current date is 30th of June, so we should here something this week. We are supposed to be getting personalised advice. Letters are supposedly on there way.
The date is on the gov website. The information about letters and more personalised advice was given by Matt Hancock at a briefing, week before last, I think. He said the gov would review the status on 15th of June. Since then when asked when there would be announcements he has just said “soon.”
Yes I did see that, again the incompetence of it all really gets to me, what do they actually mean by soon, or maybe they should be asked how long is a piece of string, bloody idiots the lot of them !
I totally agree with you TG58. I wasn't even sent a letter by the government, checked online on BLF website. I should be on the shielding list for my asthma alone, never mind my Bronchiectasis.
Yes I seen somewhere in the gov website that were getting another letter. Far as I know we're supposed to be shielding till end June and wait further instructions.
Unfortunately their is no updates on there, this is what I said earlier, the last update was the 5th June, they really do need to keep regular updates preferably weekly, they have it on the BBC everyday but again nothing really that we don't already know.
Coronavirus: New advice on shielding will be given very soon ...bbc.co.uk › news
5 days ago - At the start of June, people shielding in England were told they could go out once a day ... reported that England's shielding programme will end at the end of July. ... Coronavirus in Scotland: Shielding extended until 31 July.
I feel the shielding group have been forgotten about. I too finish shielding on 30th June. I work in a Tesco express and don’t feel it’s safe, I can’t wear a mask because of my breathing. Really don’t know what to do
Apparently, the latest brainwave from Matt Hancock is for the shielding group to wear a ribbon, it was discussed on This Morning between Janet Street Porter and Matthew Wright, you really couldn’t make this up.
There are certain pond life in our society, who on seeing someone wearing this ribbon would see it as a reason to attack the vulnerable person wearing it!
Asthma UK website .....shielding advice for very high risk groups .
I feel sidelined by the government I must admit .
I still don’t know if I contracted Covid before testing was available ...but I feel breathless still and really not able to walk anywhere.....legs feel useless .
Have you been tested, as a vulnerable person you can now have the blood test for the antibodies to see if you have had it, when I first got diagnosed with Bronchiectasis the end of march, it was just about the time the virus was getting full blown in this country, I was very ill breathlessness etc, I don't know if it was the Bronchiectasis or the virus, it was suggested to me a couple of weeks ago I may have had the virus by the respiratory nurse, so she arranged for a blood test which I had last Friday, I should know the results this week, in a way I'm hoping I've had it and got over it, at least as a shielding person I will not worry so much about going back to work.
Just looked on Twitter to see what other shielders were saying .....many seem to feel sidelined and need to know what the government plans for shielders are......especially for those who are in paid employment.
I can’t say i hold out much hope with their system for notifying those at risk, my patient notes gave notification to shield on 15/4...nobody told me directly though...i finally received a NHS text a month later on May 14. Never received a letter. The first i knew was an emal from Asda on the 4 April...then Tesco checked & told me I wasn’t on the list.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed plans for the extremely clinically vulnerable - many of whom have not left their homes in three months - to begin easing their lockdown.
From Monday, 6 July, those shielding from coronavirus can gather in groups of up to six people outdoors and form a ‘support bubble’ with another household.
Shielding will then be completely paused from August with people with serious underlying health conditions including respiratory diseases, some cancers and transplant patients following the same rules as the rest of the public.
I wonder if they will actually send out letters now to confirm this so you can give to your employer, the first letter I received was dated 10th April, I never actually got it till 2 weeks after that date, I hope it will be more forthcoming this time.
The 2.2 million people who have been self-isolating in England during the pandemic will no longer need to shield from 1 August.
From 6 July, they will be able to meet up outdoors, in a group, with up to five others and form 'support bubbles' with other households.
The measures can be eased because infection rates are falling, the government says.
Support packages will remain until the end of July to help people transition.
What changes from 6 July?
Those who are shielding and live alone in England - including single parents who are shielding - will be able to create a support bubble with one other household of any size.
This follows the 'social bubble' rules which were introduced earlier this month for anyone living alone and single-parent households.
People shielding will also be able to meet in groups of up to six outdoors while maintaining social distancing rules.
What is changing from 1 August?
Extremely vulnerable people who are most at risk from becoming ill from coronavirus will no longer need to shield in England.
That means they can return to work, if they can't work from home, as long as their workplace is COVID secure.
However, they should still follow social distancing guidelines when outside their homes and wash their hands regularly to reduce the risk of being infected.
The changes mean those shielding will no longer be eligible for statutory sick pay - unless they develop coronavirus symptoms, or someone they know develops symptoms, and they are told to self-isolate and cannot work from home.
Free essential food boxes will stop being delivered, but support from NHS volunteers and local councils is still possible.
They will still qualify for priority slots for online shopping and will be offered help with medicine deliveries and getting to medical appointments.
Why is the advice changing?
The UK government says the advice can be relaxed because the chances of encountering the virus in the community continue to fall - one in 1,700 people are estimated to have the virus now, down from 1 in 500 four weeks ago.
The government says it has worked with clinicians, GPs, charities, the voluntary sector and patient groups on the changes.
But some charities are criticising the relaxing of the advice, saying many of the people they support do not feel it is safe to stop shielding.
Coronavirus: Who should be shielding?
"We know how difficult this period has been and the impact shielding has had on many people's mental health," says Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer.
"We believe it is the right time to relax some of the advice so people can start to regain a degree of normality once more in their daily lives."
But she added the advice on shielding could change again "if there are any changes in the rates of infection that could impact on this group".
What was the advice in England?
As the country went into lockdown, around two million people were sent letters by their GPs telling them not to leave home and to avoid contact with others.
This was to protect them from the virus because they were considered to be most at risk from Covid-19.
Among the list of people who should be shielding are solid organ transplant recipients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, pregnant women with heart disease and people with severe respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and severe asthma.
Over half of those shielding are under the age of 70; more than 90,000 are children.
Since the start of June, people shielding in England were told they could go out once a day - to meet one person from another household while adhering to social distancing.
From the beginning of August, that shielding advice is to be completely relaxed.
The NHS will keep the shielded list, in case more advice needs to given to this group in future.
It is very strange, I was told back at the beginning of May via a hospital letter to continue shielding until the beginning of August. The Gov must have known/planned for this over 7 weeks ago for me to get that letter. I am not alone with this, another member has had the same letter. It would seem that I am towards the top of the shielded list, even though we both have almost certainly had Covid-19 already and probably immune.
I will still continue shield after August as it will not make that much difference to me, my working life is over. It could however make a difference to the residents of the nursing home where Sharon works. The scenario being, I could pick up some contamination and in turn cross contaminate Sharon, who could then take it to work. If I continue shielding then that part of any risk will not exist. Shielding is not all about protecting the NHS alone.
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