My husband had the letter. He hasn’t left the house in 5 weeks and I haven’t in 3. We now have separate bedrooms and use separate towels , clean everything that comes into house etc. I have just been informed by our surgery that we still should be isolating within house and he should stay in one room. I’m in melt down... I thought quitting work and also self isolating would be ok... apparently not😭.
What’s the reasoning?
Whilst I appreciate your response... effectively both my husband and myself have been shielding for weeks. Why can’t we sit in same room? There must be other situations where there are 2 shielded people at one address?
The information says this as well as lots of other advice about shielding. Perhaps have a look at the whole document in full.
' We understand that it will be difficult for some people to separate themselves from others at home. You should do your very best to follow this guidance and everyone in your household should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching their face, and clean frequently touched surfaces.'
Have you been able to speak to a GP from your surgery or did this advice come from a receptionist?
From the practice nurse. I don’t go out and practice safe hygiene, what more can I do...
It is very confusing especially if you are both self isolating.
It sounds as though you are doing everything you possibly can.
Perhaps give the BHF helpline a call and speak to one of Cardiac nurses?
Hi Pop007 Both me and my husband are lucky we have not had a letter for shielding, but I feel if we had to it would be very difficult, we have been married for 56 years we have had children together, we sleep in the same bed, when I was very ill he took me to the toilet and cleaned me up, washed me, looked after me, we have been there for each other whatever the situation all these years. I recently wrote a post about dying alone, and I would not want to be separated from my husband at this time. I wish you and your family well, take care and keep safe. Ruth
This is also news to me ,Although I haven't had the letter,heart failure wasnt on it.I thought it's ok for my Husband staying in same room sharing bathroom.He hasn't gone out for weeks either so he doesn't bring virus home to me.This has confused me somewhat
I’m not sure anyone knows ....
Hi
I am in the Shielded group and my Son lives with me
He only goes out to shop once a week comes home showers and washes clothes .All food items are wiped in hot soapy water .Door handles and items we both touch we clean 3 times a day .
We looked at one of us isolating them self's in thier bedroom but still have to share a bathroom.
We decided it would be too depressing having to stay in a bedroom for 3 months .So we share the lounge but able to keep the correct distance apart .
I do all the cooking so only one of us using the kitchen .I use bathroom first and he use it last then thoroughly cleans it .
We have a plan in place if one of us has any symptoms the that person would isolate in bedroom.
Thier are lot of people in same position and we can only do the best we can
There seems to be a lot of confusion about this, and I’m not really sure why. The guidance document is quite clear that social distancing within a household with a shielded person only applies if there are people routinely leaving the house for any reason. If you are both shielding, you absolutely can spend time together. The whole idea is about minimising risk, so if you’re also not leaving the house, how are you possibly a risk to them? Simply put, you’re not. I say this as a parent to a child that needs to be shielded, and for whom, although she’s 12, is more like a 5 or 6 year old in many ways due to being on the autistic spectrum. I ‘made the choice’ to shield alongside her because it’s a complete impossibility to social distance within the house as per the guidance: she lacks the capacity or understanding to be able to follow the social distancing rules within the home, and even if she could be trusted to eat in her room etc., the impact on her mental wellbeing by isolating her like that would be extremely harmful. All the services involved have supported this decision and recognise it’s the only way to keep her safe: I initially had issues getting food parcels and priority delivery to cover both of us as they said I should still be going out, but they’ve now completely reversed that decision so that I can shield alongside her.
I wish you and your little girl well, it must be difficult to try and get a child like your's to understand. Keep well both of you and keep safe
Good example, Charlie, of sense prevailing! I think it’s less about rules, or not getting caught.....more about taking responsibility to minimise risk. To you and others.
Good morning Pop007
My husband has also had the letter and my initial reaction was same as yours - why do we have to self isolate since I am staying in with him.
And then I reread the letter and found ‘If the rest of your household are able to follow this guidance, there is no need to take the full protective measures to keep you safe.’
So we interpreted that to mean that we can continue as normal except that neither of us go out and nobody else comes in.
I think the wording is unclear. Common sense says that if all people in the house are observing the ‘shielding’ guidelines then there is no need to distance from each other. It’s stressful enough having to stay home without also having to keep away from one’s partner!
Regards Nicole
Yes , I’ve just re read the letter ... but do they mean if you follow the guidance of keeping apart , you’ll be fine living together . Agree the wording is not great. ..
That’s our interpretation.
We’re fortunate in that we are both retired. Since we don’t have to go out it seems sensible to both observe the shielding rules.
I’m only 7.5 weeks post OHS so feeling a tad apprehensive myself.
Oh well, as someone on the radio just said ‘it’s a weird world just now’ ...
I haven't had the letter myself (yet......) so don't know what it says but whoever wrote it may have had other family situations in mind when it was written? Possibly as in - one person in the family goes out to work while the other needs to self-isolate?
There are some ridiculous over-reactions going on amongst officialdom. Thank God they haven't yet brought in a ban outdoor exercise! However the Ceredigion coastal path has been "closed" because it is "too narrow" for two people to pass each other without going closer than 2 metres. I just wish these people would have a sense of proportion.
Practice nurse just called - 3 days later. She now says yes I can stay in same room as my husband .. phew. Not sure if she realised how much upset she caused...
Shielding 
Partner needing advice
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