Back to work...

[Mikeyb955]

Well back to work from 1st August eh... Hmmmm... A lot can change by then as Germany is finding out... Think if we get a second spike think it'll be worse than Germany... 😕

[sassy59]

Let’s hope we don’t get a second spike. Just trying to be positive. Xxxx

[Mikeyb955 in reply to sassy59]

We will get a second spike that's inevitable unfortunately... As China... Germany... South Korea are finding out.. Especially when they allow the borders to open properly... Then the shielded ones will be put be in lockdown without a doubt... question is tho will they risk the economy anymore by putting the whole country in lockdown...?

[sassy59 in reply to Mikeyb955]

We’ll see Mikeyb but it will probably send us shielders back into lockdown then. Oh well.

Stay safe. Xx

[Mikeyb955 in reply to sassy59]

I'm sure all will be revealed soon enough... Stay safe too... X

[CDPO16]

As I understand it, shielding is to continue until 1st August with a slight loosening of the guidelines before then allowing those who are shielding to meet with groups of up to 6 people. I would like to think that that group would be carefully chosen as I'm sure it will be by those of us with something to gain from that change in advice.

I agree that August is a way off and much can happen between now and then. We perhaps have to, as the saying goes, hope for the best and plan for the worst.

At least it may offer some explanation for anyone concerned about or being pressured to return to work.

[RoadRunner44 in reply to CDPO16]

Let's hope Boris knows that and is planning ahead. D o you think he is?

[CDPO16 in reply to RoadRunner44]

I don't think it is feasible to plan so far ahead.

[TG58 in reply to RoadRunner44]

I think Boris has proved he's not to clued up about planning for anything !

[RoadRunner44 in reply to TG58]

The Pandemic has opened the eyes of many people to the shortcomings of this Prime Minister. He is a disgrace!

[Steveb4257 in reply to CDPO16]

My company asked me yesterday to come into work this Thursday for an assessment and perhaps some back to work training, think they thought that shielding would end on 30th June. In light of last nights news not sure if I will get another phone call today.

[teresa297 in reply to Steveb4257]

I also, had a call from work askng if I would be back 1st July, as people are going back I said I would speak to my GP, having done that she told me to wait for a letter. I will have to call my manger today and say nothing has changed and wont till August not sure how that is going to go.

[ninelives in reply to teresa297]

If it's any help teresa297,I received my letter Tuesday this week so they seem to be sending them out promptly.

[teresa297 in reply to ninelives]

Thanks I’ve got my letter

[Steveb4257 in reply to teresa297]

Hi similar thing for me I had to send a copy of my original letter and told them I had rung the doctor who said that as I was high risk I should carry on shielding, firm rung me back this morning and told me not to come in.

[knitter]

So shielding ‘ pauses’ 31st July ....did he say all shielders will get a letter ? From July 6th can meet up to six people outdoors ...social distancing .

That’s in England.

Still get priority shopping slots , medication delivery .

Think that’s right ...BBC News site has info.

[CDPO16 in reply to knitter]

That is my understanding, knitter. I only caught the main points and can't say whether new letters were mentioned or not. I am retired so whether or not I get a letter isn't that important but I think that a letter is very important for people still in employment.

[teresa297 in reply to CDPO16]

I totally agree

[Hidden]

Mr Hancock’s going to write to us all this week. Whatever he says, I shall carry on making my own decisions, based on available data. Atm I’m going by the data supplied by the Covid Symptom Study, not the government’s. The Covid study reckons 3,612 cases daily, against the govt’s figure today of 958. Here’s a link to the study, for anyone not aware of it covid19.joinzoe.com/data#da...

I’m longing to get out more, but the virus is still out there & we’re just as likely to fall seriously ill, incur further lung damage, or die, as before. We all need to decide at what point we’re prepared to take that risk. I’m going to bide my time.

I just feel sorry for those who have to work and don’t get a choice.

[leo60 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for the link. Ironically, I had a call from my manager (I work on a checkout in Tesco) just before that announcement. She said "ok so you are coming back 12TH July (that's when the letter from my doctor runs out)" I had to tell her that I fully expected things to change by then, which to be fair she was fine about. Things , I am sure , will be different again by then, but it's good to have some other facts to hand so they will understand when I don't want to go back to what is quite a front line position. In all fairness Tesco have been really good, paying us and calling, not just to see when we're coming back, the store manager called last week for a chat, mainly to ask what he should do with a sickly clematis!

Can't wait for Mr. Hancock's "personal" letter, he's going to have severe writers cramp!!

I will be looking at all available evidence before I make any decisions, so thanks for that extra input Hanne, very grateful xx

Take care all, don't be bullied into doing anything you don't feel comfortable with and keep safe and happy xx

[Kristicats in reply to leo60]

Yes I agree leo60 what price can you put on your life?

[Hidden in reply to leo60]

Really pleased to hear Tesco are looking after their staff in this. Of course it’s good PR for them but credit where it’s due! Wish all employers were the same.

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

I have the COVID Zoe app Hanne and use it each day. It’s very helpful I think. I’m with you and we’ll be doing what’s right for us. Stay safe. Xxxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Can't agree more.

[SORRELHIPPO]

I feel I am in a lucky position, having been housebound for the last couple of years, and only able to go out 3 times in the previous year, I do not have to make the difficult decisions about restarting my life, just about who to let into my home.

I have just had a Text from my mobile 'phone provider, saying they are stopping the extra allowance they had give for calls etc, during the lockdown, will finish on 24th June.

[Jandm in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

I spend every viral season shielding and try to avoid everything as much as possible as just about anything can trigger a flare up lasting for months on end. My only issue will be when my partner has to stop working from home. Presently he’s doing virtual clinics from home, but when shielding finishes, he will be back at work. He sees hundreds of different people every week, working side by side with others when he’s operating. I’m not sure how they can make workplaces Covid free. A cold or a flu you can dodge because the signs are there, but how to you avoid a virus when people have no symptoms until it’s too late?

[Kristicats]

Mmm...... I’m not prone to panic attacks but fear I may succumb to them if I have to go back to work if things do not drastically change by August 1st. I will have to make a decision one way or another😳😔re working as I cannot social distance in my job and couldn’t tolerate wearing a mask for 8 hours+ a day. As for workplaces being COVID safe?....🤔

[Hidden]

I submit to the Zoe app daily, funny how I trust that one based on real data compared to the non-starter app the government has failed miserably on.

I’m not shielding but I certainly not going back to the office anytime soon, I’ve proven I can work from home so I’ll continue for as long as I can fight it out

[Hidden]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was a reintroduction of shielding, and Prof Whitty, the CMO, seems to be anticipating this.

At today’s briefing his deputy, Dr Harries, said they’ve commissioned Oxford Uni to undertake research into a “risk prediction model” which takes account of age, gender, ethnicity, obesity etc as well as health conditions & would mean any future shielding could be more targeted to the individual.

Here’s a link

ox.ac.uk/news/2020-06-22-ox...

[Hidden]

Thanks Jo!

[knitter]

More announcements due today from the UK government concerning pubs, museums , cinemas and two metre rule.

Overnight stays too .

Sorry Westminster government .......applies to England only .

Devolved governments different rules, so not Wales, Scotland , NI .

I wonder if yesterday’s shielding announcement was just a conciliatory move ....recognising shielders, giving us a little leeway, before the country reopens.

I am dreading the pubs opening as my OH is a daily visitor, the risk is scary , more cleaning etc for me to do.

In a way I wish I could get a antigen test to see if I contracted Covid at the beginning , even then no guarantee I can’t catch it again.

[TG58 in reply to knitter]

If you have a condition you can have a blood test now to see if you have had it, and you have the antibodies, I had one last Friday, hopefully I will get the results in the next couple of days, I kind of hope I've had it as their is less chance of getting it again.

[Bardear in reply to TG58]

Hope by now you will have had the results of your blood test.

Is this test just for health workers/people who work/are returning to work.

Can shielders apply.

If so who to?

eep safe xxxx

[TG58 in reply to Bardear]

As far as I know anyone can now get a blood test to see if they have the antibodies, I have not had any results from my test yet, so I will phone the surgery tomorrow, it's a shame I may have to make a phone appointment just to get blood test results, what a waste of time ! far easier to send me a txt or email 🙄

[Bardear in reply to TG58]

Thank you for your reply.

I agree such a waste of a phone appointment to get a blood test result.

Hope all goes well and you can get the results when you phone the surgery.

xxxx

[TG58 in reply to Bardear]

Well I had to phone the surgery to get results, the receptionist told me over the phone that my blood test for covid19 was negative, so at least I know it was the Bronchiectasis that was causing me the problems, it's funny but in a strange sort of way I was hoping that I had had it and now had the antibodies to fight it off, so I wouldn't have to worry to much in the future.

[Bardear in reply to TG58]

Glad to hear your test was negative for Covid19 TG58. I understand completely when you say "in a strange sort of way I was hoping that I had had it and now had antibodies to fight it off".

I am sure I would feel the same way and am sure lots of us would as well. It would perhaps give us a bit of comfort in the hope that we would maybe not catch it again or at least be stronger to fight it off.

Hopefully there will be no second spike in my part of town as the self isolation period of 12/14 weeks would be extremely difficult to do "all over again" as we are really looking forward to seeing our family and their families - albeit at a distance - after such a long long time in a few days time.

Stay safe

lol

xxxx

[Jandm]

According to some of my old colleagues, there are as many people in their hospitals just now as there was at the start. Some believe that the government is downplaying the figures to encourage people to feel safer about getting out and getting the economy moving again. They have been preparing for the second spike which seems inevitable

[Ladyindistress79]

We have just cancelled our family holiday in Spain from 6th August. I know we would be able to go but I know with having Bronchiectasis I will not get medical insurance and my son in law cannot take two more weeks holiday to be in isolation when we get back. So will not be seeing the grandchildren for a while yet.

[TG58 in reply to Ladyindistress79]

Why won't you get medical insurance because of Bronchiectasis ?

[Ladyindistress79 in reply to TG58]

Combined with my arthritis and covid 19, and I have recently had some hospital treatment the premium will be rather high and limited.

[Ramy22]

We have to take care and see what happens.

[OOB_Tigger]

A letter just landed on my doormat, the latest shielding guidelines. Interesting, after reading your posts on here. Was going to post a photo of it for info but don't know how. 🤔

[TG58 in reply to OOB_Tigger]

Is it the same type of letter as the first one ?

[Sunfloweronline]

I am apprehensive, same as you but I suppose gov will act speedily if and when! The world is certainly having to cope with the unknown, and nations leaderships are set an unprecedented task. God be with them