This is the open letter which has been signed by forty UK charities including six blood cancer charities of which CLL Support is one. Not sure quite how public it will be but it will be published today in The Observer on Sunday and will hopefully be broadcast by the news channels.
The message is also on all the social media platforms as ‘Proud to be amongst 40 other cancer charities in asking the public to keep wearing masks in enclosed public spaces, keep social distancing and get the vaccine’ and a link to the letter.
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Open letter from cancer charities to the public
"Tomorrow in England we will see Covid restrictions lifted, with people will no longer required to wear face masks in crowded places or maintain social distance.
Many people will be looking forward to tomorrow as the day they get their “freedoms back”. But for many people with cancer, tomorrow will be a day when freedoms are taken away. This is because their cancer, or their treatment for cancer, means the vaccine, even after two doses, is less likely to protect them from serious illness from Covid than it is for the general public.
Over the last few months, many people with cancer have been starting to get back to normal, meeting up with their friends outdoors or sitting outside at cafes and restaurants.
They have felt able to do this because the people around them have been wearing masks and keeping their distance. The more people exercise their freedom to stop wearing masks and stop social distancing, the more people with cancer will feel they have to stop their normal activities, and will feel more worried when they have to do things like use public transport.
We had hoped the Government would continue to insist people carry on wearing masks and social distancing in crowded places. But given the Government has decided not to do this, we are asking every person in England, knowing you already do so much for people cancer through the financial support you give us, to do three things to help them further over the next few weeks:
Keep wearing masks in crowded places. There is good evidence they stop the spread, and for all you know, that person sitting a few seats down from you on the bus might be on their way to their chemotherapy appointment.
Keep your distance from people you don’t know. There is no way of knowing if someone has cancer and so might be vulnerable to the virus, so it’s best to assume everyone you come into contact with might be.
Get vaccinated if you haven’t done so already. Particularly for people with cancer who have a compromised immune system, the more people who are vaccinated, the safer they will be.
These three things are especially important in England, where the restrictions are being lifted first. But they are also things will help people with cancer in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, too.
Just one person doing these three things could make a real difference to someone with cancer. And the more of us who do them, the more we will help keep people with cancer safe, and send them a message of solidarity during the difficult weeks ahead."
Jackie
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Jm954
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That’s really welcome, Jackie; a well-written letter.I don't use Twitter, or Facebook, but our sons do… is this something we can put out there, for even more people to see?
Hi jackyIt's really good to see this but I'm so angry that it needed to come to this , I just don't understand for the life of me the rationale especially how things are going now but it's done
Israel needed to reintroduce masks in June after the initial relaxing of mask laws ,,,Anyway enough of this because it looks like I'm bringing polical views into this I just don't understand any of the arguments for not keeping this in place
I think the public is torn between this issue in a lot of the surveys , I hope everyone keeps doing their bit keeping their masks on when in indoor spaces but I'm sure it will be a mixed response which may become even less as the days go on , I really hope I'm wrong but even with a 50 50 response the benefits we were getting my be lost
I really hope I'm wrong it will fantastic if there is little change
In the UK a lot of shops are saying that they are still insisting on masks after 19th and I applaud them for it. They need to protect their staff as well as the public
Hi jacky hope your right but I don't think they refuse entry if they don't , just looked at Tescos ...There will no requirement to wear a mask in Tesco stores and people who choose not to wear one will not be denied entry Hower wearing one will be recommended, same in all the big stores ,,recommended only Stewie
There’s been a very high level of compliance in my area and it’s interesting how many businesses and people have indicated an intention to continue with protection measures. The cafe we use will be still wearing masks and the hairdresser said she will too.
I’m concerned about increased numbers in places and tables etc. closer together however.
My Sister just posted this. Keep safe England keep safe.
I have been wearing a mask since we were first asked to do so. I’m not sure why being considerate to others for the common good is now being mocked by some who are calling it “living in fear”, but it needs to stop!!!... When I wear a mask over my nose and mouth in public and in the stores/supermarkets/pharmacies etc - I want you to know the following:
🔵 I'm educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
🔵 I don't "live in fear" of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
🔵 I don't feel like the "government controls me". I feel like I'm an adult contributing to the security in our society and I want to teach others the same.
🔵 If we could all live with the consideration of others in mind, the whole world would be a much better place.
🔵 Wearing a mask doesn't make me weak, scared, stupid or even "controlled". It makes me caring and responsible.
🔵 When you think about your appearance, discomfort, or other people's opinion of you, imagine a loved one - a child, father, mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle or even a stranger - placed on a ventilator, alone without you or any family member allowed at their bedside.....Ask yourself if you could have helped them a little by wearing a mask.
I am inviting you all to copy this and post it on your wall if you agree with me. 😷
I received a version of this, yesterday. I see you’ve ditched the last one on the list! Good move. I didn’t like it, either, and suggested a change to the person who sent it. It was well-intentioned, but didn’t quite ‘get it’!
Yep. It suggested that wearing a mask would help the ‘anxious and worried’ to be ‘more comfortable’. True, of course, and well-intentioned but is condescending, fails to acknowledge that the risk is real and undermines the seriousness of our situation.
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