Who should be shielding from Covid?

[Digger0]

Hi all. Last year I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis when I went for heart tests which showed I have a quite large, 1.8cm diameter, fenestrated septum in my heart - think a hole with strings across it. I am also on antibiotics every Mon, Wed and Fri. As I was not fully diagnosed until May 2020, should I have been on the shielding list? I am awaiting surgery for my heart at Liverpool Heart Hospital. I know we are not "shielding" any more but would like to have an idea. Mind you, I'm not going anywhere where there are a lot of people and will keep wearing a mask. I also spent 10 days in hospital last year with Covid. Many thanks

[Spacecat1]

I was shielding but iam slightly. I am careful about were we go like shops we try and check the quietest time to go in. Like we know that parents go go shopping straight after they have dropped their kids off at school. So we tend to go before they go and we never go in supermarkets at weekends. We still tend to do on line shopping. . A d so pleased that Boris apparently said wearing a mask is mandatory.

[MoyB in reply to Spacecat1]

Oh, has Boris changed his mind about the mask wearing? Is it still going to be mandatory? Hooray if that's the case. xx Moy

[dufflex in reply to Spacecat1]

no boris hasnt changed his mind on masks only that people will be expected to wear them in crowded spaces but the legal mandate will stop next monday

[B0xermad]

Hi Digger0 ,I have bronchiectasis and I was on the shielding list it was added during 2nd lockdown

[Spacecat1 in reply to B0xermad]

Totally agree just about to go out mask on.

[Biker88]

Yes definitely with lung and heart problems you can’t be too careful

[Aingeful]

I think that anyone with underlying health issues should still be shielding. My respiratory consultant told me bluntly that if I got Covid, that would be the end of me! I can't wear a mask due to breathing problems but am avoiding crowded places,also anyone who comes into my house wears a mask.

[MoyB]

I was on the shielding list but in January my husband was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis which has led to heart failure. I think his name should have been added to the list, but it wasn't.

As he was effectively shielding anyway, because of me, it hasn't been an issue and we are both retired so no need for a letter for the workplace.

I think it does beg the question 'Was the list updated at all?' .

I suppose there was always an option of adding ourselves - in a way - by registering with the Govt. website as you didn't need to be on the shielding list to do that, but I'm sure many people slipped through the net.

We are proceeding with caution! We're going out in the community and visiting places of interest sometimes but we do so in the safest way we can. So, no public transport; masks indoors or when in close proximity to others; plenty of sanitiser with us always and used after touching hand rails, for example, or cashpoint buttons - or anything else that may have been touched by others. We still get our main grocery shop delivered but have started to use our local butcher again as it is a tiny shop, so only one household inside at a time, and he wears his mask and keeps the door open rain or shine. I feel as safe in there as I do at home!

If our local Tesco Express has more than a few people inside, I wait until some come out. If it's busy with others going in then I don't bother to go in at all.

We meet up with our son and family after all doing LF tests. Similarly, I have done one this morning before some friends arrive for coffee in the garden.

I think we need to be out and about and socialising again, but I won't pretend to be delighted about the restrictions ending - especially the bit about masks. My son says we must move towards 'herd immunity' and I get that - but it still feels precarious to me!

I would suggest you make your own mind up - it sounds as though you already have, actually. I would follow the guidance for the CEV if I were you. Better safe than sorry! xx Moy

[CDPO16]

It was down to GPs to notify the government who needed to be on the CEV shielding list. Some, as you appear to have done, slipped through the net. You are doing absolutely the right thing to protect yourself but I am sorry that you had covid last year and hope that you have recovered from it. Good luck for your forthcoming heart surgery.

[Digger0 in reply to CDPO16]

I think the problem was that my diagnoses were both late, so didn't get through properly. I isolated/shielded anyway and only go to the village shop usually who are very good - 3 people in the shop and masks!

[Dream1]

I have Bronchiectasis but was never added to the shielding list. I chose to shield myself in the first lockdown. I think it depends on other health concerns and how serious the bronchiectasis is. Having said that, my consultant told me she was very worried about me when I last saw her in March 2020 and to take all precautions. Glad I listened because my GP practice was very wishy washy when I asked if I should be on the shielding list (they said I shouldn’t be). I will still wear a mask in some places after next week.