British Lung Foundation

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock gives this advice:

Important the UK keeps moving - health secretary

Asked what people should do if their jobs do not allow them to work from home, Health Secretary Matt Hancock gives this advice:

"If you are healthy and not being asked to isolate because someone in your household has symptoms then of course you should still go to work.

"It is important that this country keeps moving as much as we possibly can, within the limits of the advice we have been given."

He also tells MPs that measures on shielding will be for those who have "significant health conditions”. They will be contacted by the NHS, he says.

But he adds the measures were not aimed at the "generality of over 70s who are healthy".

He says the guidance for those over 70 is the same as for people of working age, except that the government strongly advises social distancing measures.

49 Replies

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Omg I'm so angry, disappointed and sad with our assembly and our uk government. Cowards xxx

You must have watched it as well, I am not impressed either. Very "wishy washy". You could tell Boris was way out of his depth, when he had finished reading out his little written speech and took questions, he was struggling for words, constantly stuttering. What amazed me was there was a lot of talk about social distancing but nothing about banning large gatherings other than to say there would be no emergency service cover for them.

I suppose that in a very roundabout way, no emergency service cover, would mean there would be no insurance cover, so the event could not go ahead? Not the same as an outright ban though.

If they don't have emergency cover they can't take place. Theatres have announced they are closing

Far to many contradictions xx

I don’t think that can be right. I think Matt Hancock will be losing his job soon. He keeps sending out conflicting messages.

The pm and his two pals were very clear it was everyone over 70 and there will be more details about the other categories in the coming days.

As for me, I am not waiting for Boris or Matt to give me permission!

MH also got the number of deaths wrong as well, he said 53 when it is 55.

I’d really like a list of the ‘health conditions’! Between us, me and OH have several conditions and it would be really helpful if there was a definitive list!

Here’s the list published tonight by PHE

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Thankyou - I found that last night too

He said (verbatim)

"The measures on shielding are specifically for those who have significant health conditions and will be contacted by the NHS.

"They are not for the generality of over-70s who are healthy, for whom the guidance is the same as for people of working age except that we strongly advise, as oppose to advising."

So it seems there is as yet no list

That’s crystal clear then. Pete will

await a knock at the door or phone call from the NHS or GP perhaps. We will be setting up home delivery of drugs tomorrow with any luck.

Marvellous. Xxxx

That works well for me. Food delivery however is a big problem. Sainsbury's have no slots at all, looked well into april

That’s a problem then. Hoping to try home delivery but we’ll see,

Take care xxx

Apparently same for tesco and iceland. Same with click and collect

Oh well, maybe not then. Xxx

Normally it's brilliant, so much easier than going round the shop and carting bags. Neither of which i can do

Got my Ocado today. On time, no substitutions, nothing missing.

Maybe I’ll try Ocado then. Thank you Littlepom glad you got your delivery. Xxx

I am not sure if they are taling new customers because inundated. Can't help to try. Good luck. X

I’ll see what happens. Thank you. Xxxx

Could try Morrison's I put my first order with them today no problem. No chance with Sainsbury's. 😊 xxx

yeh thanks Majt,given up on my usual asda and sainsburys and now a fully paid up member of morrison with a delivery coming 01/04. i will live another week,thank you

happy ski's and a cat that will be fed xx

Hi Skis, I normally shop with asda home delivery but they didn't have a lot of the items I usually get. So I though I'll give Morrison's ago and had no problems with what I wanted. Makes me wonder how one have what you want but not others. Pleased you got what you wanted. 👍 😊 xx pleased Scruffy will be ok. 😊 😘

Thank you Majt. Our daughter has sorted things for now but will bear Morrison’s in mind. Xxxx

Sadly many alone cannot afford home delivery but no provision has been made for that.It would be a wonderful gesture if the minimum spend amount was reduced for those most vulnerable asking for proof if ness to stop those who would take advantage.No help though if no deliveries till April and isolation starts saturday xx

Try morrisons Comino.min delivery £40,00 and if that's too much send me the bill. sorry don't know their logo so will just slap my a**e asda style.

Comino.isolation is not compulsory and only advisory so f you can manage to travel,albeit at great cost in the early hours whilst most are asleep and it is safer it could possibly help you out in the short term?

Do you mean get a taxi in the middle of the night to an out of town retail park and get my shopping ? I know im a reluctant insomniac but that could be a big ask !!

I have supplies to last a while as I always have after being unable to get out in the past due to illness I learned my lesson and even more stashed this time as I have been putting a little bit by for months knowing that I potentially could be housebound for weeks after my proposed op so I will be ok for longer than some albeit in a few weeks I may have to be tucking into frozen peas on crackers xx

i am sorry i keep forgetting you are the lady of a camelot legend and require the assistance of a knight in shining armour to guard you on your nocturnal travels.

do you have a blender for those crackers and frozen peas and will you invite me to dinner?

Is there blue badge parking for horses in the car park ? xx

Only those animals suitably adapted to carry a wheelchair.

I have blue badge but no wheelchair,I will sit behind you side saddle clutching my' bag for life' in one hand and my nectar points card in the other. xx

Sorted then just saddling up a cat cunningly disguised as a horse.

Not a good idea one of us with a knackered back is enough xx

Oh too right. I should think we know that this is a respiratory illness and we have respiratory damage and serious problems already. Can't wait to be contacted. They won't even know what bronch is as usual.

Pregnant women, people over the age of 70 and those with certain health conditions should consider the advice "particularly important", he said.

People in at-risk groups will be asked within days to stay home for 12 weeks.

More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK - but the actual number of cases is estimated to be between 35,000 and 50,000.

In the first of a series of daily briefings on the virus, the prime minister - alongside the government's chief scientific and medical advisers - said the key new measures are:

Everyone should avoid gatherings and crowded places, such as pubs, clubs and theatres

Everyone should work from home if they can

All "unnecessary" visits to friends and relatives in care homes should cease

By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"

The UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe

If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days

Those people should, if possible, avoid leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials" - but they may leave the house "for exercise and, in that case, at a safe distance from others"

Schools will not be closed for the moment

Chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were: